Attraction
Marienplatz and New Town Hall
Munich's central square, overlooked by the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall with its Glockenspiel, an 85-metre tower reached by lift and a courtyard open to all.
Deutsches Museum
One of the world's largest science and technology museums, on an island in the Isar, founded in 1903 and in the middle of a long modernisation.
At a glance
- Type
- Science and technology museum
- Area
- Isarvorstadt, Munich, Germany
- Official site
- deutsches-museum.de
Good to know
- Online tickets
- Audio guide app
- Shop
- Accessibility information
Why we recommend it
The Deutsches Museum was founded in 1903 on the initiative of the engineer Oskar von Miller and has grown into one of the largest museums of science and technology in the world. Its main site fills Museumsinsel, a former gravel bank in the Isar river between the Ludwigsbrücke and the Corneliusbrücke, and its tower is a landmark from the riverbank paths.
The collection runs to about 125,000 objects across dozens of fields, from mining and shipping to musical instruments and atomic physics. Since 2015 the main building has been going through a comprehensive renovation that the museum calls a century project, carried out in phases so that the museum can stay open. The first renovated section opened in July 2022 with a run of new permanent exhibitions, including photography and film, electronics, mathematics, health, agriculture and nutrition, chemistry, classical optics and musical instruments. The Foucault pendulum in the tower was also made accessible again. In total the museum now lists 20 permanent exhibitions on the island.
Because work continues, some well-known sections are closed at any given time and routes inside the building can change, so check the website before you go if there is a particular gallery you want to see. The museum offers an audio guide app and has been trialling an English-language highlight tour at weekends, which is a good way to get your bearings in a very large building.
The museum suits curious adults and families with school-age children, and you can easily spend a whole day here. If you have less time, choose three or four exhibitions in advance rather than trying to see everything. Tickets can be bought online through the museum's shop. It opens daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30, and closes on a handful of days a year, including Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, 1 May, 1 November and over Christmas and New Year.
The Deutsches Museum also runs two other sites in Munich: the Verkehrszentrum at Theresienhöhe, focused on transport, and the Flugwerft Schleißheim aviation collection north of the city. To reach the main site, take the S-Bahn to Isartor or Rosenheimer Platz, the U1 or U2 to Fraunhoferstraße, or tram 17 to the Deutsches Museum stop. From Isartor it is a short walk across the Ludwigsbrücke.
Deutsches Museum FAQs
What are the opening hours of the Deutsches Museum?
Daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30.
Is the Deutsches Museum fully open?
No. The main building is being modernised in phases, so some exhibitions are closed. Check the website for what is open.
How long should I allow?
Plan at least three to four hours. A full day is easily filled if you have children or a strong interest in science.
Can I buy tickets online?
Yes, through the museum's online shop. An annual pass is also available.
How do I get there?
Take the S-Bahn to Isartor or Rosenheimer Platz, the U1 or U2 to Fraunhoferstraße, tram 17 to Deutsches Museum, or bus 132 to Corneliusbrücke.
When is the museum closed?
On a few days a year, including Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, 1 May, 1 November, 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Does the museum have other sites?
Yes. The Verkehrszentrum transport museum at Theresienhöhe and the Flugwerft Schleißheim aviation museum are also in the Munich area.
Is there an audio guide?
Yes, the museum offers an audio guide app.