Munich Museums: Our Top 20 Picks You’ll Actually Love

The Best Art Museums in Munich

A large chunk of Munich’s art museums are clustered in the Schwabing Kunstareal. On Sundays, admission to many museums in Munich — including the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst, and Museum Fünf Kontinente — costs just 1 euro, though they get very crowded on those days.

Alte Pinakothek

Since 1836, the Alte Pinakothek has housed the impressive Bavarian State Painting Collection. On display are more than 700 paintings by artists from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque, and the Rococo periods — plus rotating special exhibitions.

It’s worth deciding in advance which of the 19 halls and 47 cabinets you want to prioritize, because you could honestly spend days in here.

Right next door is the Neue Pinakothek, which is currently closed until 2029 for renovations.

Our tip: Maxvorstadt is right next to the Pinakothek and many other top museums, making it a great base for your stay. Check out our Munich hotel tips and our Munich boutique hotels guide for the best options nearby.

Pinakothek der Moderne

The Pinakothek der Moderne sits right across from the Alte and Neue Pinakothek. It features all the big names in modern art — Picasso, Dalí, you name it.

But it also showcases design pieces, especially from the Bauhaus movement. This is a practically oriented era that you’ll probably enjoy even if you don’t normally think of yourself as an art lover.

Haus der Kunst

Just south of the English Garden stands an imposing building constructed by the Nazis. Today it’s home not only to the famous celebrity club P1, but also to one of the most important contemporary art venues in the world.

And that’s despite having no permanent collection: instead, the Haus der Kunst runs two rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary art at a time, plus performance art — where the artist becomes part of the work itself, almost like a mini theater piece.

Our tip: Every last Friday of the month is “Open Haus” with free admission from 10 AM to 10 PM.

Kunsthalle

The exhibitions at the Kunsthalle are consistently excellent: it showcases works by classic artists, fashion designers, and covers some genuinely interesting historical themes too.

The space is perfect for it — modern, airy, and the pieces are staged with light and music in a way that really draws you in.

Our tip: Admission is really affordable for families. Children under six get in free, and after that it’s just 4 euros.

Museum Brandhorst

Museum Brandhorst is completely colorful inside and out — which makes total sense, because the focus here is on pop art.

The collection includes pieces by legends like Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Roy Lichtenstein, as well as David LaChapelle and Damien Hirst.

It’s on the smaller side — you can see everything in about two hours. Admission is 7 euros.

Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art

MUCA stands for Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art. It sounds fancy, but in reality it’s the opposite — this is all about urban street art.

You’ll especially love it if you want a counterpoint to the more highbrow spots you’ll find elsewhere among Munich’s museums. MUCA also features works by street art legend Banksy.

The museum is housed in the former electrical substation of the city’s public utility company, near Marienplatz. It’s a seriously cool location, and there’s plenty of street art to discover outdoors in the surrounding area too.

Lenbachhaus and Kunstbau

The Lenbachhaus features art from various movements of the 20th century, including Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) that emerged after World War I and the Blue Rider movement.

If art isn’t really your thing, the movements closer to the present day are a bit more accessible and a great starting point.

Our tip: Every first Thursday of the month, admission is free from 6 PM to 10 PM.

Historical Museums in Munich

Müncheners are proud of their history, so it’s no surprise there are plenty of museums dedicated to it. Here’s our guide to which history museums in Munich are truly worth your time.

State Museum of Egyptian Art

Just a stone’s throw from the Pinakotheken is the State Museum of Egyptian Art. The space itself makes you feel like you’re inside a pyramid — the first exhibition rooms are located entirely underground.

Even if ancient Egypt has never been on your radar, the collection will win you over. There are ancient sculptures and portrait busts, and you can try to decode Egyptian hieroglyphs. The museum also raises some genuinely fascinating questions about religion and the afterlife.

Our tip: Admission is free for visitors under 18.

Bavarian National Museum

The Bavarian National Museum is definitely one of the best museums in Munich and one of the largest in Germany. The collection includes the art holdings of the noble Wittelsbach family and even an old suit of armor.

We especially recommend visiting around Christmas, when the museum puts on an impressive exhibition of nativity art displayed in complete darkness with only the nativity scenes illuminated — a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Our tip: Admission is free for visitors under 18.

Glyptothek

The Glyptothek is Munich’s oldest public museum and the only one in the world dedicated exclusively to ancient sculpture.

Here you’ll find statues that are a staggering 2,500 years old or dating back to the Roman Empire.

Your ticket also gets you into the State Collection of Antiquities right next door.

NS-Dokumentationszentrum

The former headquarters of the Nazi Party has been converted into a museum that examines one of the darkest chapters in Munich’s history.

It’s obviously not a cheerful subject, but it is genuinely fascinating and moving. There are also rotating special exhibitions, such as one on homosexuality between 1900 and 1950.

Great Munich Museums for Kids

Kids don’t like museums? That’s definitely not true — you just need to find the right ones. Here’s our guide to which places to visit in Munich are great for families.

Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum is perhaps the most famous of all the museums in Munich — and one of the largest science and technology museums in the world.

It features 19 exhibitions spread across an area equivalent to 28 soccer fields, covering topics like media technology, natural sciences, and environmental issues.

We think the space travel and model railroad sections are especially exciting for families. The aviation hall also has its own children’s area where kids can explore the laws of gravity or find out how a fire truck works.

Our tip: Admission is free for children under five; from age six onward, children and teenagers pay 8 euros.

Museum Mensch und Natur

At the Museum Mensch und Natur, visitors of all ages can explore natural science interactively. It tackles some truly fascinating questions: How did the solar system form — and the Earth? How is the human body put together? And so much more.

A great bonus: the museum is located inside the beautiful Nymphenburg Palace. Afterward, you can check out one of the top attractions in Munich right on the doorstep.

Our tip: Admission is free for visitors under 18.

Kindermuseum

The Kindermuseum invites you to get involved: you and your children actually help shape the exhibitions. There are no fixed themes — instead, there are rotating workshops on topics ranging from eating habits to soap bubbles to the refraction of light.

Educational staff are on hand to support your kids as they create and explore.

It’s best to check the website ahead of time, as opening hours vary depending on whether it’s a school day or school vacation.

Our tip: There is a family ticket for 16 euros.

Biotopia Lab

If you’re visiting the Museum Mensch und Natur, it’s super easy to make a side trip to the Botanical Garden next door.

Inside the garden you’ll find the Biotopia Lab, where you can take part in various workshops all about plants. There are also great raised garden beds and an experimentation workshop. The open participation program usually only runs on weekends.

Admission to the lab is free, but you do need to pay the entrance fee for the Botanical Garden.

Flugwerft Schleißheim

The Flugwerft Schleißheim is a 15-minute walk from the Oberschleißheim S-Bahn stop, not far from Schleißheim Palace. It was founded thirty years ago as a branch of the Deutsches Museum.

Over seventy impressive flying objects are on display here, including the Lilienthal glider, the Eurofighter, and even a rocket. You can also get up close to enormous engines and jet turbines. In total, the museum covers a whopping 8,000 square meters.

Our tip: There is a family ticket for 17 euros.

Unique Museums in Munich

Of course, a diverse city like Munich also has museums of a very different kind. Here are our picks for the most unique spots in Munich. We highlight two more cool museums in our article with genuine insider tips for Munich.

Museum Fünf Kontinente

At the Museum Fünf Kontinente, you feel as if you’re traveling around the world. It features exhibits and artworks from every corner of the globe.

We especially love the Myanmar section, where an entire marketplace — just like you’d find in Myanmar — has been recreated in full detail.

Our tip: Admission is free for visitors under 18.

Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum

This museum is all about two things we immediately associate with Bavaria: beer and the Munich Oktoberfest. You’ll find historic photos from the 14th century, antique beer steins, and even an old brew kettle.

For a few extra euros, you can join a beer tasting — you’ll want to find out for yourself why Bavarians are so proud of their beer.

We recommend booking a guided tour in advance, as the museum only lets in 60 people at a time. Afterward, you can sit down in the Museumsstüberl and grab a bite to eat.

BMW Museum

From the outside, the BMW Museum looks a little quirky — like a futuristic silver bowl. Inside, there are 25 exhibition areas that will captivate more than just car enthusiasts.

You can check out cars from the last 100 years and get a glimpse of what the future might hold. The sleek sports cars are of course a standout. You’ll also get the full story of BMW’s company history.

FC Bayern Museum

Love them or hate them: FC Bayern is simply part of Munich. So of course they have their own museum — and it’s the largest club museum in Germany, right inside the famous Allianz Arena.

There are around 600 exhibits, including original trophies, shoes, and jerseys from famous players. You can also see the reconstructed original boardroom.

Young fans will love the cool photo spots, interactive stations, and craft corners. The experience is also accompanied by the lovable mascot Bernie.

Our tip: You can also experience FC Bayern as part of a city tour with an Allianz Arena tour. You can find more information in our article about activities in Munich.

Note: On match days, you can only visit the museum with a valid match day ticket.

If you feel like a change of scenery after your museum visit, our article on the most beautiful day trip destinations from Munich has plenty of ideas for excursions into the surrounding area.