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.
Alte Pinakothek
Munich's great Old Masters gallery, opened in 1836, with works by Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Leonardo, Raphael and Botticelli from the Wittelsbach collections.
At a glance
- Type
- Old Masters art museum
- Area
- Maxvorstadt, Munich, Germany
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- pinakothek.de
Good to know
- Café
- Free for under-18s
- Sunday reduced admission
- Combined ticket
Why we recommend it
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the oldest public art galleries in the world and holds the European paintings collected by the Wittelsbach rulers over several centuries. King Ludwig I commissioned the building from Leo von Klenze, and it opened in 1836. Badly damaged in the Second World War, it was rebuilt by Hans Döllgast, who left the repairs visible in brick on the facade, and reopened in 1957. Following a later renovation, all of its galleries have been open again since 2018.
The collection is strongest in German, Flemish, Dutch and Italian painting from the 14th to the 18th century. Albrecht Dürer's 1500 Self-Portrait with Fur-Trimmed Robe, in which the artist presents himself almost like Christ, is the best-known single work. Peter Paul Rubens is represented on a grand scale, with The Great Last Judgement and The Fall of the Damned among his large canvases. Other highlights include Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna of the Carnation, Raphael's Canigiani Holy Family, Botticelli's Lamentation, Rembrandt's 1629 Self-Portrait and Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Land of Cockaigne.
The museum sits in the Kunstareal, Munich's museum quarter, close to the Pinakothek der Moderne and Museum Brandhorst. A combined ticket, sold only at the museum ticket offices, covers the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst and the Sammlung Schack, and on Sundays admission to these museums is reduced to a token amount, which makes Sunday the busiest day. Visitors under 18 enter free.
Allow two to three hours if you want to see the main rooms properly; the building is large and the hang is generous. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00, staying open until 20:00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 18:00 on other days, and it is closed on Mondays. Late openings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are a good time for a quieter visit. The café on site follows similar hours.
The Alte Pinakothek suits art lovers and anyone with an interest in European history; younger children may find a full visit long. The entrance is on Theresienstraße. The U2 station Theresienstraße is a short walk away, and trams stop at Pinakotheken. Combine your visit with the Königsplatz museums nearby or a coffee in the Maxvorstadt university district.
Alte Pinakothek FAQs
What are the opening hours of the Alte Pinakothek?
Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 to 20:00, Thursday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays.
Is there reduced admission on Sundays?
Yes. On Sundays admission to the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst and Sammlung Schack is reduced to a token amount.
Is the museum free for children?
Yes, visitors under 18 enter free.
What are the most famous paintings?
Dürer's 1500 self-portrait, Rubens's Great Last Judgement, Leonardo's Madonna of the Carnation and works by Raphael, Rembrandt and Bruegel.
Where is the entrance?
The entrance is on Theresienstraße, on the north side of the building.
Is there a combined ticket?
Yes. A combined ticket covers the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst and Sammlung Schack and is sold only at the museum ticket offices.
How long should I allow?
Around two to three hours for the main galleries.
Is there a café?
Yes, a café on site opens daily except Monday, with longer hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.