Munich is one of the most important cities in Europe, so it’s no surprise that it is home to numerous museums. Here are eight exciting museums to explore!
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Best museums in Munich
Deutsches Museum (German Museum)
Located on Museum Island, this is the world’s largest museum of technology.
The museum boasts a collection of about 28,000 items. In the gigantic building, you can trace the development of mining as well as astronomy, and even see the first German submarine, cut open to reveal its inner workings. A main attraction of the museum is a realistically constructed underground mine.
All information can be found here!
Alte Pinakothek (Old Picture Gallery)
Founded in 1836, this picture gallery is housed in a large neoclassical building and contains nearly 900 paintings.
The displayed paintings range from the works of medieval painters (14th century) to the mid-18th century, considered one of the best museums in the world in its field. The collection was established in the 16th and 17th centuries by Bavarian dukes, particularly with works by Albrecht Dürer.
Significant are the works of 15th-16th century German masters, including Stephan Lochner, Hans Memling (who painted the life of the Virgin Mary), Michael Pacher, Martin Schongauer, Hans Holbein, Matthias Grünewald, Albrecht Altdorfer. The collection is rich in Italian and Netherlandish works, including more than 30 paintings each by Tiziano Vecellio, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck.
All information can be found here!
Neue Pinakothek (New Picture Gallery)
Located opposite the Old Picture Gallery, it primarily focuses on 19th-century European fine arts.
It was the first fine arts museum in the world to collect and display contemporary artists’ works. Notable are the works of Munich painters.
Today, the collection of about 6,000 paintings and sculptures spans from the Enlightenment, with works by Goya and Jacques-Louis David, to Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, covering the late 18th century to the early 20th century. The main artistic movements represented are Classicism, Romanticism, Art Nouveau, and Impressionism.
All information can be found here!
Pinakothek der Moderne
One of Munich’s most significant modern and contemporary art museums, comprising four different museum institutions: Modern Art Collection, International Design Museum, New Collection (Sammlung Moderne Kunst), and Graphic Collection.
The museum’s vast collection spans artworks from the early 20th century to the present day. Included are works by well-known artists such as Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, and Andy Warhol.
The design section features significant works by designers like Eames, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier.
All information can be found here!
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum)
One of Germany’s largest art museums, divided into two main groups: art history and ethnographic collections.
The art collection displays artifacts in more than forty rooms, ranging from Late Antiquity and Romanesque art to Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Art Nouveau. The museum’s western wing houses the Bollert collection with late medieval sculptures.
The museum is particularly renowned for its collection of carved ivory, goldsmith works, textiles, stained glass, tapestries, and altarpieces.
All information can be found here!
Lenbachhaus
Primarily focuses on 19th and 20th-century arts. The museum is named after Franz von Lenbach, a famous 19th-century German painter, whose neo-baroque home and studio were transformed into a museum.
Its significance is largely due to the „Der Blaue Reiter” expressionist art group. This collection includes works by Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, August Macke, and Paul Klee, which had a significant impact on modern art.
The museum also features works by 19th-century Munich painters, as well as other modern and contemporary art pieces.
All information can be found here!
BMW Museum
Presents the history of the BMW car manufacturing company over 5000 square meters, with more than 120 exhibits.
The building itself is futuristic, designed by Karl Schwanzer, a professor from Vienna, who also designed the BMW headquarters. The roughly circular base is only 20 meters in diameter, with a flat roof extending about 40 meters.
The museum exhibits include engines, turbines, airplanes, motorcycles, and vehicles, with many real models on display.
All information can be found here!
Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum (Beer and Oktoberfest Museum)
Since Munich hosts the world’s largest beer festival, naturally, a museum was established for it.
The long history of beer brewing in Munich is showcased, along with its process. There’s also a tavern for thirsty museum visitors.
A separate floor is dedicated to the more than 200-year history of Oktoberfest, with impressive exhibition items waiting for visitors.
All information can be found here!
Best museums in the world
There are many great museums in the world. Here are some of the best!