1. Overview of Munich’s Museums
Munich is blessed with an abundance of wonderful museums and it can be hard to decide which museum to visit first. From grand masters to beer and Oktoberfest to one of the oldest and largest science and technology museums in the world, Munich has your museum wants covered.
2. Long Night of Museums
If you are here in October, don’t miss the Long Night of Museums: Munich’s art galleries, museums and cultural institutions all stay open past midnight and offer many special exhibitions, readings, concerts, and film screenings.
3. Top Museums to Visit
Alte Pinakothek
The Alte Pinakothek, located close to Munich’s English Garden, is home to over 800 European masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the end of the Rococo period. A highlight is its Ruben’s collection, one of the largest in the world.
Address: Barer Str. 27, 80333 München
Pinakothek der Moderne
The Pinakothek der Moderne, completed in 2002, is the largest museum for modern art in Germany. It unites four collections under its roof:
- State Graphic Collection with over 400,000 prints, drawings, and works on paper
- State Museum for Applied Arts
- Museum of Architecture of the Technical University of Munich, the largest of its kind in Germany
- State Gallery of Modern Art featuring works by stars like Picasso, Magritte, Kandinsky, Francis Bacon, and Warhol
Address: Barer Str. 40, 80333 München
Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum (German Museum) is one of the oldest and largest science and technology museums globally, showcasing an impressive collection of historic artifacts, from the first automobile to the laboratory bench where the atom was first split. Other highlights include exhibitions on astronomy, transportation, mining, printing, and photography.
To make the most of your visit, time it for the daily interactive demonstrations. If you bring children, take them to “Kid’s Kingdom”, which has numerous kid-friendly activities.
Address: Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München
Beer and Oktoberfest Museum
This being Munich, there is a museum dedicated to its most famous product: beer. Set in Munich’s oldest residential home from the 14th century, the Bier and Oktoberfest Museum explores the art and culture of beer, examining its brewing history, from the pharaohs in Egypt to the Bavarian monks and today’s state-of-the-art brew masters.
The upper floor of the museum focuses on the cultural history of Oktoberfest. The museum offers beer tastings, tours, and features a pub where Munich’s six major breweries meet to sample each other’s festival beers. This stop is essential for understanding the 500-year-old Beer Purity Law.
Address: Sterneckerstraße 2, 80331 München
Lenbachhaus Museum
The Lenbachhaus Museum is dedicated to paintings by Munich artists. It is renowned for its wonderful collection of Expressionist art by the group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), which was established in Munich before the First World War. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Franz Marc, and August Macke are among its most celebrated members.
Address: Luisenstraße 33, 80333 München
Bavarian National Museum
Founded by King Maximilian in 1855 and located on royal Prinzregentenstrasse, the Bayrisches Nationalmuseum houses the cultural and historical treasures of Bavaria. Its collection includes art and sculptures from the Middle Ages to Art Nouveau. Look for traditional Bavarian furniture, pottery, costumes, and religious folklore artifacts in its folklore section. Don’t miss the stunning woodcarvings and century-old Nativity scenes.
Address: Prinzregentenstraße 3, 80538 München
