Exploring the Best Museums in Munich

Do you want to experience a memorable trip to another culture? In Munich, the capital of Freistaat Bayern, you can do it. This German state boasts centuries of Bavarian artistic tradition, which manifests very rich expressions that have been developing non-stop since medieval times. Munich is home to impressive museums ranging from classical art to history, science, and Jewish culture. If you are an art lover and want to know the culture of this part of Europe. Save this travel guide to your favorites and write down your itinerary for the route through the best museums in Munich.

Table of contents:

Best art museum in Munich

Pinakothek der Moderne

For lovers of modern and contemporary art, Munich offers countless proposals when you’re exploring its streets. One of the most important is the Munich modern art museum called Pinakothek der Moderne. This museum houses an impressive collection that is divided into 4 visual categories: art, architecture, design, and graphic work. It's the ideal place to spend the morning admiring the work of some of the most important artists, designers, and architects in the world. Also, if you have never been in front of an artwork by Picasso, Kandinsky, and Warhol, this is the place to make that happen.

Admission is around €10, and the museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Also, the fastest way to get there is in the U-Bahn metro to the Universität station, using the lines U5, U6, U4, and U2.

Alte Pinakothek

But if you are one of those who prefer classical art, the Alte Pinakothek museum offers you an entertaining walk near the best hotels in Munich. There you can enjoy one of the most prestigious collections of European art, with more than 700 artworks from the 14th to 18th centuries. Making it the ideal place for fans of Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. In addition, the museum offers a curatorship that puts the evolution of painting throughout this time into perspective.

This museum is located near the Universität station of U-Bahn metro. You can get there using the metro lines U5, U6, U4, and U2, or you can reach the tram lines 16 and 17 to the Pinakotheken stop. Also, you can opt for bus line 100 which stops near the museum.

History museums in Munich

Munich City Museum (Münchner Stadtmuseum)

If you want to delve into the history of the city, you must go to the Munich City Museum, to learn about the medieval times in the city. Here you can see exhibitions about the cultural, social, and political development of this region. Moreover, you will see one of its most interesting collections dedicated to the famous Oktoberfest festival, which explores the cultural and economic impact of this event in Munich.

To get to this museum is located at St.-Jakobs-Platz 1, in the Altstadt-Lehel district, near the Marienplatz metro station. Taking the lines U3 and U6 of the U-Bahn subway to that station. Or you can use tram lines 16 and 17 to the Isartor stop, which is 5 minutes away from the museum.

Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum)

If you want to immerse yourself in the local culture, you can include a visit to the Bavarian National Museum in your travel itinerary. It was founded in 1855, and has a collection of artifacts for daily use and artworks from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. That’s why we can find some everyday objects in the museum like furniture, decorations, weapons, medieval armor, and traditional clothing, among other things.

This is one of the best museums in Munich and has an entrance fee of approximately 7 euros. It’s located in Prinzregentenstraße, and you can get to it by U-Bahn metro to Lehel station. Or take tram lines 16 and 18 to the Prinzregentenplatz stop.

Jüdisches Museum München (Jewish Museum in Munich)

Another museum that you cannot miss in Germany is the Jewish Museum in Munich. There is a Jewish memorial in honor of the victims of the Holocaust, to remember their lives during the Nazi regime, as well as to preserve the memory of the survivors. Also, this museum has many interactive exhibits, photographs, and artifacts that highlight the contributions of Jews to the culture and life of Munich.

This museum is located at St.-Jakobs-Platz 16, and admission costs approximately 3 euros. It is one of the most accessible museums in the area. You can get there by taking the U-Bahn metro lines U3 and U6 to the Marienplatz station.

Science museums of Munich: Which ones do you have to visit?

Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum is one of the most special because it’s dedicated to science and technology. And thanks to its large collection, it has become one of the most important in the world. But what makes it so special? Well, it has more than 100,000 exhibits in areas such as physics, chemistry, aviation, navigation, and computing. If you are passionate about engineering or science, this is one of the best museums in Munich to visit, because here you will be amazed every second.

Take into account that the entrance price is approximately 14 euros, and it’s better to buy it in advance. Also, the fastest way to get to the museum is with the U-Bahn metro to the Sendlinger Tor station. To do this you must take lines U1, U2, U5, and U8. Or you can also get off at Fraunhoferstraße station on line U1, which is located near the museum.

Museum für Mensch und Natur

For nature and biology lovers, Munich offers you guys the Museum für Mensch und Natur. This should definitely be on your travel itinerary, located in Nymphenburg Castle, where you can explore everything about the environment. The museum features exhibitions on evolution, ecosystems, biodiversity, human impact on the environment, and the importance of conservation.

The entrance to this museum costs approximately 7 euros, and you can get there using the metro U-Bahn lines U3 and U6 to the Universität station.

Best museums in Munich for families

If you want to visit Munich with your family and want to have a fun day in the best art museum in Munich. You have to visit the Museum Mensch und Natur, because you can be sure your kids won't get bored pressing buttons, solving puzzles, and interacting with exhibits about the history of life on Earth. Get ready to explore exhibits such as ‘How Does the Brain Work?’, ‘What Do Animals and Humans Eat?’, and more. Or you can go to the Deutsches Museum and play in the interactive zone which offers special exhibitions for children.

Summary

Germany is a country that nearly flawlessly blends modernity and heritage. This explains why their impressive museums of classical and modern art, as well as the historical and scientific institutions, know how to adapt themselves to current times. So, if you want to be closer to understanding authentic German culture, and see how this society evolved. You have to visit the best museums in Munich that we put together in this travel guide in Munich. Start packing your suitcase because this desired trip is coming!.

FAQ’s about the best museums in Munich

How many art museums are there in Munich?

There are 18 art museums in Munich dedicated to European art. In this article, you will discover those must-see museums that you have to visit on your trip to Munich.

Which one is the most interesting museum in Munich?

The most interesting museum in Munich is the Deutsches Museum because there you will find not only scientific expositions but also some pieces about German technology history.

What is the most visited museum in Munich?

The most visited museum in the city is the Deutsches Museum with around 1.5 million visitors annually. Due to its variety of exhibitions on topics such as mining, atomic physics, the environment, textile technology, paper, musical instruments, railways, oil, glass, aviation, engines, ceramics, and physics.

Can I visit museums in Munich for free?

In Munich, museums are not free. You must purchase an individual admission ticket for most museums. However, you can purchase the München Card or the Munich City Pass to have free access to almost all museums.