Munich is not one of Germany’s cultural capitals for nothing. Unlike almost any other city, there are countless leisure activities on offer, including the city’s many museums. Not only can you experience important art from all over the world here, but natural science museums and history centers also contribute to Munich’s impressive cultural scene.
A visit doesn’t even have to cost anything. Munich has numerous museums that offer free admission. Here you can see where you can experience art, history and culture for free.
1st City Hall Gallery
Have you always wanted to take a look inside the town hall? The Rathausgalerie makes it possible. In Munich’s town hall, you can experience one of the most popular exhibitions of contemporary art and admire the historic building from the inside. Local artists present their quality and diverse works of art in the gallery from March to November – admission is free.
Location: Marienplatz 8, 80331 Munich
2nd Paleontological Museum
Here you can admire a dinosaur up close: In the publicly accessible part of the Bavarian State Collection of Paleontology and Geology, fossils of animals and plants from all eras of the Earth’s history are on display.
These include, for example, centuries-old sequoia trees and the skeleton of the largest Bavarian dinosaur, Plateosaurus. There are few better places to experience the evolutionary history of the earth and life than in this free museum.
Location: Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 80333 Munich
3. art arcades
You can hardly experience art in a more experimental way – in Munich’s Kunstarkaden, the young, local art scene shows what it can do. The paintings, sculptures, comics and films come from all areas of the visual arts. The arcades also describe themselves as a “laboratory of contemporary art“, as young artists are given special support and a platform here. Here you could possibly meet the art stars of tomorrow!
Location: Sparkassenstr. 3, 80331 Munich
4th Biotopia Lab
At Biotopia Lab, science, art and design come together for free in Munich’s botanical garden. Not only can you see various exhibitions here, you can also join in: There are experimental workshops, you can try out a VR flight simulator and go in search of clues with the “Enigmatic Objects” series. Science could hardly be more alive. At the same time, the Biotopia Lab offers an insight into the development process of the future Bavarian Museum of Natural History.
Location: Botanical Institute, Menzinger Str. 67
5th Gallery District of Upper Bavaria
The motto here is “art inclusive“. The Galerie Bezirk Oberbayern has been showing contemporary art of all kinds since 1998. What makes it special is that artists with and without disabilities are involved in the exhibitions together.
The double exhibitions, which change three times a year, are structured in such a way that people with disabilities can experience them just as easily as those without. You can make direct contact with the artists and take part in free guided tours and workshops.
Location: Prinzregentenstraße 14, 80538 Munich
6th Maximiliansforum
You may have stumbled across this art space by chance: Maximiliansforum is a public project located directly in the pedestrian underpass beneath the Maximiliansstraße/Altstadtring intersection. Here you can experience impressive installations, take part in workshops or enjoy performances by various artists. As this special museum is open to the public around the clock and free of charge, the Forum has become one of the most important places for Munich’s art scene.
Location: Passage Maximilianstraße / Altstadtring
7th Lothringer 13 Hall
The Lothringer 13 Halle is located in the middle of an old factory building in Haidhausen. Today, the 700 square meter space is used for more than just industrial work: there are changing exhibitions of contemporary art on display. Internationally renowned artists have already made an impression with their works here. But local projects have also repeatedly met with recognition. Anyone wishing to visit this museum can enjoy the entire exhibition free of charge.
Location: Lothringer Straße 13, 81667 Munich
8th Munich Imperial Castle
It is the oldest seat of power of the ducal family in Munich: the Imperial Castle at the Old Court. It was the first castle of the Wittelbach family in Munich, who left their mark on the city like no other ruling family. Today, the castle is open to visitors free of charge as a museum.
If you stand under the late Gothic vaulted hall, you can experience at first hand how Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian lived here. A permanent exhibition shows the history of Munich, and there are also interactive hands-on stations and various films.
Location: Alter Hof 1, 80331 Munich
9th Monacensia in the Hildebrandhaus
The Monacensia is considered the “literary memory” of the city of Munich. In this famous library and artists’ villa, you can browse the history of the city’s literature in over 150,000 volumes. The archive’s treasures include, for example, the complete estates of Klaus and Erika Mann and over 800 letters and manuscripts by Thomas Mann.
There is also a permanent exhibition on the history of the Hildebrandhaus and various special exhibitions. Another highlight: the freely accessible reading garden offers the perfect place to retreat to read or to meet other authors in person as they work.
Location: Munich City Library, Rudolf-Vogel-Bogen 5, 81739 Munich
10th Lenbachhaus
The Lenbachhaus art museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Blue Rider art. This includes masterpieces by famous artists such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. The museum also presents other well-known works of art from the 19th century, classical modernism, post-war modernism and the present day. The beautiful garden of the Lenbachhaus is also very special: located in the middle of the city, it offers a green oasis of peace and relaxation.
This impressive museum can be visited free of charge every first Thursday of the month from 6 to 10 pm.
Location: Luisenstraße 33, 80333 Munich
11th America House
The wide world doesn’t have to be so far away: Everything that revolves around the USA, Canada and Latin America is on offer at the Amerikahaus in Munich. The museum aims to convey transatlantic ties in all their diversity. In addition to regular exhibitions, visitors can use the library, take part in concerts, readings or discussions or even plan a stay abroad.
The program of events is as colourful as the diversity of American countries: it has already included lectures on the Obamas’ path to the White House or the development of trans culture in America – and admission is free.
Location: Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 Munich
12th NS Documentation Center
The NS Documentation Center in Munich is a place to remember and learn. The museum aims to convey the history of National Socialism with a view to the present and future. The historical exhibition “Munich and National Socialism” is spread over three floors.
In addition, there are various guided tours, workshops and seminars that actively educate visitors about racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination. National and international guests and cooperation partners from the fields of science, art and culture are regularly invited. The difficult past is illuminated here as vividly as possible.
Location: Max-Mannheimer Platz 1, 80333 Munich
13th Bavarian State Library
The Bavarian State Library is the largest academic universal library in Germany. And it is already an impressive eye-catcher from the outside: the entire building is historically unique, and the magnificent staircase alone is worth a visit.
But you don’t have to stay here to study or research. On the upper floor, annually changing exhibitions show the full scope of the library, including, for example, an important collection of manuscripts as a UNESCO World Heritage Site or numerous photo archives of important personalities.
Location: Ludwigstraße 16, 80539 Munich
14th Museum for casts of classical sculptures
Fancy a trip to ancient Greece and Rome? The Museum for Casts of Classical Sculptures displays a wealth of ancient sculptures from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD.
Around 2,000 replicas of Greek and Roman sculptures and reliefs from Aphrodite to Julias Caesar can be seen here in full size. If you’ve always wanted to study proportions in more detail, this free museum is the place for you. In addition to the impressive permanent exhibition, there are also regular special exhibitions on archaeological, art-historical and cultural-historical topics.
Location: Katharina-von-Bora-Straße 10, 80333 Munich