12 Unmissable Museums In Munich

What instantly pops to mind when you hear the name ‘Munich’? For the most part, people almost tend to associate the city with beer – and they’d be right! Munich, after all, is the home of the world famous annual beer festival, Oktoberfest. Other than that, some may point out that Munich is among the fastest-rising digital nomad hotspots in Europe. They’d be correct, too, as reports and statistics will confirm.

However, potential tourists and visitors may also want to note that there’s a wide spectrum of world-class museums in Munich. Yes, history buffs, art lovers, dinosaur fans and others can all find somewhere fascinating to visit in this fabulous German city.

If you’re visiting Munich soon, here are 12 museums you really should consider including in your itinerary. There are many others, of course, but this is a very good start – and we’ll cover more in future articles!

So whether you’re traveling alone, with your friends, or with family members, here are our recommendations:

Bavarian National Museum

One of Germany’s largest museums, the Bavarian National Museum is a must-see for art and history enthusiasts.

Founded in 1855 by King Maximilian II of Bavaria, the museum features “exceptional art from late antiquity up to art nouveau.” Moreover, the official website adds that the museum “explains European cultural history in Bavaria in a unique way.”

Indeed, this 3-floor museum with 13,000 square meters of space has so much in store for visitors. If you’re the type of museum-goer who enjoys seeing historical and folklore artworks, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Beer and Oktoberfest Museum

Up next, we have the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. As mentioned earlier, the city is home to the world’s foremost beer celebration. Which is why it’s no surprise that this is one of the most well-known museums in Munich.

Opened in September 2005, this unique attraction features “interesting facts about the number 1 staple food of the people of Munich.” Guests can view displays of historic mugs and other beer-related items. Plus, there’s a tavern on the first floor for those who want to take a break to sample Munich’s favorite beverage!

Whether you’re a beer lover or simply someone curious about understanding beer’s cultural significance in Munich, you’ll surely appreciate this place.

BMW Museum

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As anyone can easily tell, the BMW Museum is highly recommended for motorheads of all ages. This 5,000-square meter automobile exhibition was built in 1973 and continues to attract huge crowds to this day.

Their website tells us:

“The BMW Museum brings to life over 100 years of automotive fascination, innovation, dynamism and the joy of driving.”

In this museum, people can get revved up about the past, present, and future of BMW vehicles. What’s more, the Junior Museum specifically accommodates young guests. In addition, different workshops are offered for children, teens, and adults.

FC Bayern Museum

Meanwhile, the FC Bayern Museum is the largest soccer club exhibition in the country. It features the impressive range of trophies the team has won through the years. There’s also a Hall of Fame that honours top players of the past.

Located at the iconic Munich Allianz Arena (our featured image), the museum opened in May 2012 and has since been a favorite destination for soccer fans. Its “prime motivation,” of course, is to “convey the values and traditions of the club to young and old alike.”

Also, the hugely popular museum has a shop for those who want to purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

The FC Bayern Museum is open daily from Mondays through Sundays, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Gallery District of Upper Bavaria

Founded in 1998 and locally known as ‘Galerie Bezirk Oberbayern,’ the Gallery District of Upper Bavaria is located in Prinzregentenstrasse, Munich.

The place promotes inclusivity by featuring works from artists with and without disabilities. Moreover, we learn that the exhibits are specifically designed “in such a way that people with disabilities can also experience it.”

When a call for entries is posted, interested artists from Upper Bavaria may send in their applications to have their artworks featured in the exhibition.

Young visitors with and without disabilities may also join workshops and guided tours.

Munich Children’s Museum

Kids and kids-at-heart will surely be captivated by the Munich Children’s Museum. In addition to fun exhibits, this interactive space also has lots of games, workshops, and more. Unlike in other museums, touching is allowed here – and even highly encouraged! Visitors can play and experiment with a lot of objects for a truly tactile experience.

In short, this is more than just a place to see exciting exhibits. It’s also a place that inspires children and adults alike to expand their imagination by using their creativity and exploring new ideas.

The exhibits change yearly in the Munich Children’s Museum so that should convince families to keep coming back.

Museum Brandhorst

Another one of the must-see museums in Munich is the Museum Brandhorst. This amazing contemporary art museum started in 2009. The first thing visitors notice here is the one-of-a-kind exterior featuring 36,000 colorful ceramic rods.

Museum Brandhorst highlights modern works of art from the 1960s to the present. According to their website, the museum aims to showcase the works of “internationally renowned artists and younger voices under one roof.”

It prides itself on having Europe’s biggest collection of Andy Warhol pieces, along with works from Cy Twombly, Ed Ruscha, Louise Lawler, and others. Indeed, Museum Brandhorst “sees itself as a place of creativity and free thinking.”

Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art

The Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art isn’t only one of the most innovative museums in Munich. It’s also known as Germany’s first urban art museum.

Founded in 2016, MUCA firmly believes that “art has the potential to change perceptions of the world,” their website declares. Furthermore, we learn that the museum aims to promote the works of internationally known artists, along with “experimental formats and interesting positions.” Case in point, among their current exhibits are works by adhesive tape artist Max Zorn.

On top of putting the spotlight on urban art, the museum also hosts talks and workshops from the artists themselves.

Nymphenburg Palace

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A 200-hectare Baroque royal palace, Nymphenburg Palace is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Designed by Agostino Barelli and Enrico Zuccalli, the ‘Castle of the Nymphs’ has become a top attraction in the city of Munich. Today, families and individuals love visiting the palace to explore its historical museums. Other than that, guests also enjoy the fabulous gardens, fountains and lakes in the area. It’s definitely a place for relaxing and learning about history at the same time.

Also, themed tours are available for children and adults, so be sure to inquire about this if you’re interested.

Palaeontological Museum

A national natural history museum, the Palaeontological Museum is the place to go for paleontology fans of all ages. They have a massive collection of animal and plant fossils, ranging from dinosaurs and Ice Age mammals to many other extinct creatures.

As it’s part of the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology, visitors can enter for free. Relatively small in size, the museum is perfect for kids and grownups who have an hour or so to explore the exhibitions.

In-house scientists can provide guided tours for groups, plus it’s also possible to request special guided tours for children and schools.

Pinakothek der Moderne

Everyone under the age of 18 may avail of free tickets to the Pinakothek der Moderne. Discounts are also offered for senior citizens aged 65 and above. The museum is open daily, except on Mondays.

Pinakothek der Moderne is a modern art museum that can be found in Kunstareal, Munich.

As their website says, this massive space actually houses “four museums under one roof”: The Modern Art Collection, the New Collection, the Architecture Museum, and the Graphic Collection.

State Museum of Egyptian Art

This archaeological museum is definitely one of the most famous museums in Munich. Displays in the State Museum of Egyptian Art include exhibits from both the predynastic and dynastic periods.

“The focus is on art with its sculptures, portrait heads and reliefs,” their website explains. Meanwhile, “themes such as religion, belief in the hereafter, royalty or writing and text are grouped.” The exhibitions cover around 5,000 years of Egyptian art and culture.

“The range of artifacts provides a good balance,” wrote one visitor on Google. Written guides in English and German also help visitors make the most of their visit. Plus there are interactive computer screens.

So for anyone interested in learning more about Egyptian culture, this museum is perfect for you.

Conclusion

Truly, there is no shortage of wonderful museums in Munich. Whether you prefer visiting popular attractions or more unconventional ones, you have diverse options while in the city. Of course, you will need to do a little research online to find updated information. Schedules, ticket rates, and others may change without notice, so it’s always best to check ahead before actually visiting any of these Munich museums.