Munich is renowned for its grand museums, but there are also some smaller venues in the city that offer exciting exhibitions and are sometimes real insider tips!
The Kunstareal München (art quarter) comprises 18 museums, one of which is the Paläontologisches Museum (Palaeontological Museum) on Königsplatz (square). Admission is free and the exhibition is well-organised and attractively designed so that it is also suitable for children. The museum focuses on the formation of the earth and showcases various fossils and skeletons – including a giant deer, a cave bear and a sabre-toothed tiger.
A journey into pre-historic times that is anything but old fashioned!
Highlights include Bavaria's largest dinosaur, a prehistoric elephant and the ancient bird Archaeopteryx. The museum, which forms part of the Bavarian State Collection of Palaeontology and Geology, not only serves as a teaching facility for courses of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, but also as a research hub. Embark on a journey into pre-historic times that is anything but old fashioned!
Paläontologisches Museum
Richard-Wagner-Strasse 10, Maxvorstadt
Founded in 1910 by Munich actress Clara Ziegler, the Deutsches Theatermuseum (German Theatre Museum) initially housed its exhibition in her villa in the Englischer Garten (park), which was then bombed during the Second World War. In 1953, the museum moved to the arcades in the Hofgarten (court garden), where it has since showcased changing special exhibitions, as well as a remarkable collection of theatre objects, some of which date back to the Renaissance. Over 250,000 graphic sheets, 400 stage design models and 500,000 autographs are on display here. The Munich Museum also has the world's largest collection of theatre photographs, comprising five million analogue images. A must-see for theatre fans!
Deutsches Theatermuseum
Galeriestrasse 4A, Old Town
Even though it has been nominated for the European Museum Prize in 2023, the Sudetendeutsches Museum (Sudeten German Museum) remains a hidden gem in Munich. Tucked away in the Haidhausen-Au district, stands the modern building that would be worthy of an architecture prize. Inside, the museum delves into the history and traditions of the Sudeten Germans and their expulsion during the Nazi era. Visitors can explore 1100 years of cultural history across five floors, with around 40,000 exhibits from various areas, including everyday objects, arts and crafts, and photographs. Those interested in delving deeper into the topic, should definitely join a guided tour: These open tours are offered every Thursday at 11 am and are included in the ticket price.
Sudetendeutsches Museum
Hochstrasse 10, Haidhausen
Small, historic, cosy: the Haidhausen Museum fits perfectly into the Munich quarter.
Small, historic and charming: The Haidhausen-Museum (Haidhausen Neighbourhood Museum) is situated in a listed building dating back to 1862, and thus blends in perfectly with the neighbourhood. It was founded in 1977 by the Munich writer and painter Hermann Wilhelm, who still runs the museum privately today. Two to four temporary exhibitions are held each year on the ground floor and upper floor, focusing on the culture and history of the neighbourhood – from the Auer Dult to the Isar bridges. The creative scene in Haidhausen also finds a place in the museum: Artists exhibit paintings, while journalists deliver lectures. Admission to the small museum is free, but donations are greatly appreciated!
Haidhausen-Museum
Kirchenstrasse 24, Haidhausen
While the Glyptothek (art gallery) and the Staatliche Antikensammlung (State Collections of Antiquities) on Königsplatz enjoy great fame, very few people know about the free Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke (Museum of Casts of Classical Statues) right next door. This is despite the fact that it is one of the largest collections of casts in Germany: Around 2000 casts of ancient sculptures can be admired here; some of them are permanent loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Through this technique, which involves creating plaster casts as exact replicas of the originals, it is possible to experience lost or distant works of art at a single location. Sculptures from Greek and Roman antiquity can be seen here. The impressive building harbours a wealth of history – it used to serve as an administrative building for the NSDAP.
Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke
Katharina-von-Bora-Strasse 10, Maxvorstadt
The Latin word “Monacensia“ translates as “Munich“ – everything here revolves around the city's literary heritage.
The Latin word “Monacensia“ translates as “Munich“ – everything here revolves around the city's literary heritage. The artists' villa in the Bogenhausen district not only houses various exhibitions in its literary archive and library, but also sees itself as a hub of exchange. It forms part of the Munich City Library and boasts a collection of around 150,000 volumes that can be borrowed or read on site. Visitors can take a seat in the lounge, the study room or the reading garden – or treat themselves to a cup of coffee afterwards at Cafébar Mona. One of Monacensia's most prized collections is that of the Mann family, with the permanent exhibition “Literary Munich in the Time of Thomas Mann“ offering a fascinating glimpse into the city's literary history.
Monacensia
Maria-Theresia-Strasse 23, Bogenhausen
When it comes to the smaller special museums in Munich, the Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum in the towers of the Isartor (gate) is a must-visit. It is dedicated to the comedian couple Karl Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt, who lived and worked in Munich at the beginning of the 20th century. Since its opening in 1959, this special museum in the historic city centre has delighted locals and tourists alike.
You can find here delightful absurdities, such as a fur-covered winter toothpick, a melted ice sculpture, or a bricked-up viewing window.
For a modest entrance fee of 2.99 euros, visitors can expect a treasure trove of puns, jokes, political satire and everyday humour. You also find delightful absurdities, such as a fur-covered winter toothpick, a melted ice sculpture, or a bricked-up viewing window. To round off the visit, guests should definitely stop off at the Turmstüberl for coffee and cake or a Weisswurst breakfast (veal sausages).
Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum
Tal 50, Old Town
The bronze statue of the wild boar in Munich's city centre is familiar to most of the locals, but few know that it actually points the way to the Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum (German Fishing and Hunting Museum). Not only is it located in the heart of the Fussgängerzone (pedestrian zone), but also in one of the city's oldest churches: The Augustinerkirche originally housed Munich's Augustinian monks, while the Jagd- und Fischereimuseum has been welcoming visitors here since 1966. Today, the premises showcase a fascinating collection of taxidermy and historical hunting artefacts. Spread over three floors, the museum features permanent exhibitions, as well as rotating special exhibitions on topics such as hunting, fishing, environmental protection, and ecology. The museum also offers an educational experience of the local animal world for the younger visitors, for example on the interactive “forest trail“!
Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum
Neuhauser Strasse 2, Old Town
No other museum in Munich is as centrally located as the Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum): On four floors in the tower of Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), between Marienplatz (main square) and Viktualienmarkt (market), visitors can explore a remarkable collection of historical toys, including dolls, soft toys, model trains and tin toys from Europe and America, some dating back as far as 200 years. Older museum visitors will be delighted to recognise the one or other toy from their childhood. The historical ambience of the Altes Rathaus fits in well with the exhibition – it feels a bit like stepping into a doll's house!
Spielzeugmuseum
Marienplatz 15, Old Town
Before leaving, be sure to round off the visit in the cosy museum pub on the ground floor, which is still a bit of an insiders' secret in Munich.
The Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum (Beer and Oktoberfest Museum) is located in a listed town building from the 14th-century, nestled in a small side street in the valley. Special exhibitions are on display on the fourth floor, while on the third floor, visitors can immerse themselves in the origins of the Oktoberfest, the Wiesn.
On the second floor, guests can explore beer culture and the art of brewing. The museum is supported by the Edith-Haberland-Wagner Foundation, which also holds the majority ownership of the historic Augustiner brewery – so it is only natural that beer tastings are also available. Before leaving, be sure to round off the visit in the cosy museum pub on the ground floor, which is still a bit of an insiders' secret in Munich.
Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum
Sterneckerstrasse 2, Old Town
A great tip not just for railway enthusiasts: The MVG Museum in the Giesing district offers a fascinating glimpse into Munich's past and the evolution of traffic. Spanning an impressive 5000 square meters, the museum showcases 25 historic trams, buses, and work vehicles from the last 130 years. It also features hundreds of display boards, a small cinema and an underground simulator that takes visitors back to the 1980s. True to the motto, the museum is located in the hall of the former bus workshop. The location is also rented out for events and the museum is only open on two Sundays per month. The exact dates are available on the MVG website. After exploring the museum, guests can unwind in the bistro in the entrance area or buy a souvenir.
MVG Museum
Ständlerstrasse 20, Giesing
