Best Museums in Munich

Munich is a vibrant German city with a rich historical, cultural and artistic heritage. Its streets are home to a wide variety of museums, catering to all tastes and ages. You will find everything from ancient art to contemporary innovation.

Among the things to see and do in Munich, a visit to some museums is a must. You can take a look at the Glyptothek Museum, with its Greco-Roman art; the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt Museum, dedicated to the Bayern soccer club; the BMW Museum, with the history of this emblematic brand and many others that I will list below.

In the city of Munich is the FC Bayern Erlebniswelt Museum, whose exhibits are dedicated to the famous local soccer club, Bayern. Its history, achievements and impact on the sporting world.

The exhibition area of this museum is more than 3,000 square meters, where you will see all the trophies and awards that the club has managed to accumulate since its founding in 1900, including the UEFA Champions League, the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. Also, the evolution of the dressing room and the equipment used by the players.

In the museum rooms you will also have access to photographs and interesting multimedia and interactive content . You will enjoy a life-size projection in which you will meet German soccer legends such as Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. You will also see the current line-up.

Afterwards, you can take the opportunity to visit the home of FC Bayern, the Allianz Arena stadium. This soccer temple is located about two minutes away from the museum, so if you are a fan of this club, you could plan a guided tour of the FC Bayern stadium.

Useful information

• Admission: from €12 per person. The stadium tour is not included with the ticket.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Location: Werner Heisenberg Allee 25 80939 Munich. Germany.

With an area of about 5,000 square meters and an amazing circular architecture, the BMW Museum shows the evolution of automotive design and technology of this important German brand. An ideal destination if you like engines, cars and motorcycles.

The museum has interesting permanent exhibits that will take you deep into the history of BMW. You will see some of the treasures of the brand: the first engine manufactured for the aircraft (1916), the first motorcycle (1923) and the first car (1928). You will also find a room with advertising elements: ads, posters, etc.

Another attraction of the museum is the impressive collection of the BMW series, from the classic BMW 3 Series to the BMW M and motorcycles of the last 80 years. In addition, there is the virtual reality area. You can live a unique experience, driving a car or motorcycle of the brand.

The MRW Museum is well connected to the city center, so you can get there easily, it is only about 20 minutes away by car. In addition, this destination is included in the route and stops of the Munich tourist bus.

Useful information

• Admission: 10€ per person approximately.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Location: Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 Munich, Germany.

Another of Munich's top museums is the Glyptothek, built by Leo von Klenze between 1816 and 1830 by order of Ludwig I of Bavaria. This impressive neoclassical building reminiscent of the Athens of Greece, exhibits an impressive Greco-Roman collection: sculptures, mosaics and reliefs.

In the German Athens as this museum is known, you will have the opportunity to discover a large collection of sculptures dating from the 650th century BC to 550 AD. You will see a portrait of Homer, the Kuros of Munich, the Medusa of Rondanini, among others. There is also an exhibition of Roman busts.

If you are a lover of both Greek and Roman art, and plan to be in Munich for more than two days, the Glyptothek is a place that can be visited in a minimum time of one hour, so you will have time to enjoy other activities throughout the day, perhaps joining a guided tour of Munich, visiting the Viktualienmarkt, etc.

Useful information

• Admission: the cost starts at about €6 per person.
• Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (10:00 to 20:00). Tuesdays and Thursdays (10:00 to 17:00).
• Location: Konigsplatz 3 80333 Munich. Germany.

The Pinakothek Moderne in Munich is a museum opened in 1992, characterized by its impressive collections, ranging from modern art to graphic arts. In its rooms you will find paintings, sculptures, models, photographs and many other artistic treasures. More than 4,000 works are housed in the museum.

The museum was established in a five-story building, which stands out for its concrete and glass facade. Inside you will find several areas organized by themes, starting with the collection of modern art. This shows the main artistic movements of the 20th century such as Pop Art, Cubism, Surrealism, etc.

You can also see a collection of contemporary art, with pieces dating from 1960; thedesign collection**,** dedicated to the decorative arts with more than 70,000 objects; the collection of works on paper, which exhibits works by German, Italian and Dutch artists.

At the end of the visit, you can continue discovering the city. There are many places of interest nearby, such as Nymphenburg Castle(10 minutes), considered one of the best castles in Munich. You can also connect with a bicycle tour of Munich, take a ride on the sightseeing buses, etc.

Useful information

• Admission: the price is about 10€ per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 am to 6:00 pm), closing time on Thursdays until 8:00 pm.
• Location: Barer Str. 40, 80333 Munich. Germany.

A place that exhibits everything related to the art of southern Germany is the Bavarian National Museum, founded in 1858 by order of King Maximilian II of Bavaria. The museum houses important collections with paintings, sculptures and objects that will take you on a journey through 11 centuries, starting from the Middle Ages.

The museum has three floors distributed over 13,000 square meters. Its rooms exhibit various elements belonging to the 18th and 19th centuries. You will see the collection of Gothic sculptures by Riemenschneider from Würzburg. Also, Baroque and Renaissance works, a series of silver pieces, musical instruments, armor, costumes and furniture.

Also noteworthy is an exhibition of approximately 1,600 nativity scenes, handmade between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. Access to these rooms is available all year round, but it is certainly not to be missed if you visit this Munich museum at Christmas.

Useful information

• Admission: the cost is around 12€ per person.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 am to 5:00 pm), Thursday hours are extended to 8:00 pm.
• Location: Prinzregentenstraße 3, 80538 Munich. Germany.

Inaugurated in 1903, the Deutsches Museum stands out as another must-see in Munich. Its halls are dedicated to technology and science, offering a collection of more than 100,000 objects, permanent exhibitions, a series of interactive exhibits for all ages, science shows and laboratories.

The building is located on an island in the Isar River (city center) and its interior is divided into some 35 sections. You will see interactive models showing technological and scientific development; physics and astronomy exhibits, with telescopes, some discoveries and experiments.

Also, the museum houses exhibits of maritime exploration, featuring historic ships, a U1 submarine, etc; natural science exhibition, focusing on biology and ecology. Ideal if you are in Munich with children, as they can learn about the environment in an entertaining way.

Useful information

• Admission: the cost is approximately 15€ per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Location: Museumsinsel 1 80538 Munich. Germany.

The Old Picture Gallery of Munich was founded in the 16th century as a royal collection and is now one of the most important museums in Germany. Its halls exhibit an extensive collection of paintings, ranging from the medieval period to the early 20th century.

Over the years, the museum's collection, initiated by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, was enriched. Today, it houses approximately 8,000 works of art, of which at least 700 are on display.

During your tour of the Old Munich Picture Gallery you will see an amazing display of old paintings of Spanish, Italian and French origin , chronologically arranged from the 16th to the 18th century. You will also have the opportunity to discover interesting works by some German and Flemish masters.

A curious fact about this museum is that it is the only one in Germany that has a work by the Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is the Virgin of the Carnation, made between 1478 and 1480. You will be able to delight yourself contemplating this painting of 62 centimeters high and 47.5 centimeters wide.

Useful information

• Admission: the price is around 9€ per person.
• Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday (10:00 am to 6:00 pm), Thursday to Sunday (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). Closed every Monday.
• Location: Barer Str. 27, 80333 Munich. Germany.

The Brandhorst Museum has been present in the city since 2009 and came into being thanks to the initiative of private collectors Udo Fritz-Hermann and Anette Brandhorst. Although it is a fairly young museum, its rooms offer more than 700 valuable works of contemporary art from the end of the 20th century.

The building has a picturesque facade, clad with some 26,000 tiles in 23 different colors. All of them, joined together vertically, creating an amazing chromatic effect.

Once inside the museum, you will have three exhibition halls distributed in a space of at least 3200 square meters. You can see a selection of important artists such as Andy Warhol, Sigmar Polke, Joseph Beuys, Mario Merz, John Chamberlain, among others.

It should be noted that the work of the artist Cy Twombly occupies an entire room of the museum. It is an exhibition composed of 12 large format paintings, which is the basis of the style of this American abstract painter.

Useful information

• Admission: approximately 7€ per person.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Thursday (10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). Closed every Monday.
• Location: Theresienstraße 35 Munich. Germany.

If you are enthusiastic about the subject of Egyptian culture, then the State Museum of Egyptian Art in the city of Munich is the place for you. There, you will discover an amazing collection of statues, reliefs and paintings, spanning an extensive period from the pre-dynastic to the dynastic.

In the halls of the museum you will see the so-called Munich State Collection of Egyptian Art, which originates from the Bavarian princes of the Renaissance. These made important acquisitions of sarcophagi, papyri, among other pieces, for their personal collections. Today, these relics are gathered in the same building.

Throughout the rooms you will see a large collection of Egyptian statues, considered the most important in Europe. Also, reliefs, textiles, cult objects, clay vessels, models, sarcophagi, amulets, ancient artifacts and much more. In total, there are more than 8,000 exhibits.

It doesn't matter whether you visit Munich in winter, summer or any other time of the year. If you are interested in ancient Middle Eastern art, the Museum of Egyptian Art is a good choice to incorporate into your museum tour of the city.

Useful information

• Admission: the price is around 7€ per person.
• Hours: Tuesday (10:00 to 20:00 hours), Wednesday to Sunday (10:00 to 18:00 hours). Closed every Monday.
• Location: Gabelsbergerstraße 35 80333 Munich. Germany.

Erected on the former headquarters of the Nazi Party in Munich, the Braunes Haus, stands today a modern building, home of the Documentation Center of National Socialism. It is a museum that shows the different aspects of the Nazi regime in the city and its effect on society.

Exploring the museum you will find an interesting permanent exhibition consisting of a series of original photographs and documents, propaganda and some objects of the time, which perfectly illustrate the ideology of Nazism. You will see all this material organized chronologically in the rooms, which makes it easy to walk through and understand.

You will have the opportunity to learn about the origin of the Nazi party in the city until the arrival of democracy, through the development of the regime during the Second World War and its inevitable fall. In addition, the museum has a library with multimedia tables and lots of information for you to delve deeper into the subject of National Socialism.

In fact, if you are passionate about this historical subject and the timing of your itinerary allows it. During your stay you could join one of the best World War II tours in Munich.

Useful information

• Admission: free of charge.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday (10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). Closed on Mondays.
• Location: Max Mannheimer Platz 1 80333 Munich. Germany.