Munich is a lot of things. Home of Oktoberfest. Headquarters of BMW. The place where you can see distinctive twin domes of the Frauenkirche dominate the skyline.
It’s also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the Alte Pinakothek and the Deutsches Museum.
But did you know Munich also has a bunch of lesser-known, equally fascinating museums?
Maybe you’ve been to Munich before and are looking for fresh places to visit, maybe you’re a contrarian and would rather visit off-the-beaten path sites instead of the usual attractions, or maybe you’re simply interested in what these museums have to offer. No matter who you are, I hope you check out these hidden gems of Munich:
Table of Contents
1. Beer and Oktoberfest Museum
What this museum is about: Beer! Oktoberfest! You know, in case it wasn’t obvious.
Tucked into a quiet side street near the Isar Gate, this small museum is an homage to beer making and German beer culture.
You’ll find information on how beer is made, the history of beer in Munich, and the beloved drink’s cultural impact on Munich as a city and on Bavarian culture.
The museum is in the upper stories of a restaurant. The layout is a little confusing, but the place isn’t very big, so you should be able to make your way around easily enough. (Unless you’re me and you end up in the same room no matter how many staircases you seem to take.)
Another cool fact about this museum? The building it’s in is 700 years old (which also means the stairs are very narrow and uneven).
Once you’ve finished touring the museum, what better way to put your new knowledge into practice by having some beer and a meal in the downstairs restaurant? It’s got delicious authentic traditional food, and unlike more famous Hofbräuhaus, it’s mostly frequented by locals.
Why I recommend it: Can’t think of a better introduction to Munich than learning all about its beer culture. Even a local teacher friend of mine takes his students here at the beginning of each semester as a welcome to the city.
Travel tip: In case you’re confused (as I was), tickets are purchased at a machine at the entrance of the museum/restaurant. Then, turn right, into the stairwell, and go up the stairs to the museum.
This tour takes you to the museum after hours, so you’ll have the museum all to yourself (although there’s a good chance you’ll be the only one around anyway), followed by dinner at the downstairs restaurant. And no, this is not an affiliate link – I just really enjoyed this tour.
2. German Hunting and Fishing Museum
What this museum is about: Historical hunting and fishing
Hunting was an important part of Bavarian culture for many centuries. It was so ingrained in fact, that King Ludwig II – Mad King Ludwig – was considered strange in part for not partaking in the pastime.
Around 1900, hunting was still popular enough that people begged the government to open a museum dedicated to the sport. Thus, the German Hunting and Fishing Museum was born.
Today the museum is located in a former church located right on the main pedestrian zone in Munich’s Altstadt. It boasts the world’s largest collection of field sports equipment.
It’s divided into 3 floors:
1st floor – Taxidermy animals. Animal names are written in German, English, and French.
2nd floor – Fishing, including ancient fishing hooks and other historical fishing gear. Information only in German.
3rd floor – Historical hunting gear, antlers, skeletal remains, and sleds. Information in German and English.
Why I recommend it: This museum isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re a fan of stuffed animals, you’ll enjoy it here. Kids usually love it, too.
You can even take some up-close-and-personal photos with the animals.
Travel tip: While you’ll see many animals you’re probably familiar with among the displays, keep an eye out for the Wolpertinger, a creature from folklore that is said to inhabit the forests of southern Germany.
3. Paleontological Museum
What this museum is about: Dinosaurs, fossils, and other extinct prehistoric animals.
Part of the Bavarian Natural History Collections and associated with the nearby Ludwig Maximilian University, this small museum contains the skeletal remains of some of the animals that roamed Europe during pre-historic times – Woolly Mammoth, Cave Bear, Giant Deer. You can also find dinosaur bones – including a Triceratops skull!
The first floor contains helpful information in English and German. The upper floors contain lots of fossils, but information is all in German.
Why I recommend it: Honestly, because the first-floor exhibit just looks cool. Also, the museum is pretty small; you can easily pop in here for a few photos and a quick look around, then head to nearby Königsplatz to check out some of Munich’s more major museums.
Travel tips: It’s completely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.
Also, while normally closed on the weekends, about once a month the museum hosts a “Family Day” that includes guided tours and quizzes with prizes (in German, naturally).
4. State Museum of Egyptian Art
What this museum is about: Ancient Egyptian art
This sleek museum (Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst in German) houses the Bavarian state collection of Egyptian art, which up until 2013 was kept at the Residenz. Here you’ll find all kinds of fascinating objects, including statues, papyri, jewelry, an obelisk, and of course, mummies.
There are also minor objects for Assyria and Nubia.
The basis of the collection started in the 1500s, but was added to significantly by King Ludwig I, who was a big fan and avid collector of Egyptian art. A portrait of him with his antiquities can be seen in the museum.
Why I recommend it: It’s got a really good collection of Ancient Egyptian art, it’s a sleek looking museum, and it has really instructive information on everything in the museum, both in German and English. What’s not to love?
Travel tips: Entrance fee is €1 on Sunday.
The museum is underground (I guess to feel like you’re underground in an Egyptian tomb), in the basement of a large building across the street from the Alte Pinakothek (on the south side). There’s one black sign on the outside pointing you down steps to the entrance.
Also, large bags and coats are not permitted in the museum, but they have lockers where you can deposit your items. Be sure to have coins on you to operate the locker.
5. White Rose Memorial Exhibition (DenkStätte Weiße Rose)
What this museum is about: The student-led World War II resistance group
Beginning in 1942, students and professors from Ludwig Maximilian University began calling for active resistance to the Nazi regime. They printed thousands of leaflets, which at first were only distributed in Munich but eventually made their way to other parts of Germany and Austria.
The leaders of the group were arrested in 1943. They were condemned to death and executed; most were in their early to mid-twenties.
Today, the heroic actions of the White Rose are known throughout the world.
Why I recommend it: Much of Munich’s history before and during World War II is dark (Hitler dubbed in the “capital of the movement” thanks to its role as the birthplace of the Nazi Party), but the White Rose is a reminder that no matter the odds, there were people brave enough to take a stand for what they believed was right.
Travel tips: It’s completely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.
If you’re interested, several of the group’s leaders – Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, Christoph Probst, and Alexander Schmorell – are buried in the Perlacher Forst Cemetery, in the south-west of Munich.
6. Museum Five Continents
What this museum is about: Non-European art and cultural objects
Known in German as Museum Fünf Kontinente, the museum was founded in 1862 and was the first of its kind in Germany. Today it’s the second largest in the country.
Here you can find important works of art from North America, South America, Africa, the Islamic World, and Asia. There are masks, statues, clothing and textiles, carvings, puppets, and even a coffin.
Why I recommend it: You get to learn about other cultures’ rich heritages, which is unique among Munich’s museums.
Travel tips: Entrance fee is €1 on Sunday.
My personal favorite exhibit was the one titled “Myanmar: Pagodas, Longyis and Nat Spirits.” Much of the basis for this section came from one of the museum’s directors, who travelled to Myanmar in the early 1900s.
There you have it! Munich’s top hidden museums. Which one are you most excited to visit? Let me know in the comments!
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