City: Bavaria
Top Things to do in Bavaria
Things to do in Bavaria, Germany: The Best Specialty Museums
Anthem: Bayernhymne (German)
"Hymn of Bavaria"
Restaurants in Bavaria
1. German Pharmacy Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,005 reviews
This intriguing museum with its exceptional collection explores the history of pharmacy. It is located in the beautiful place of Heidelberg castle.
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is included in your castle ticket and although it seems an odd museum to have here, it really is worthwhile. Whilst it might not strike you as the most interesting sounding museum in the world, I found it unexpectedly fascinating. The main feature is a display of several 18th and 19th century apothecary/pharmacy shops. These are real shops that have been moved here. One is from a Benedictine abbey (1720s), another from the royal court in Bamberg (1730s) and another from the city of Ulm, (1812). I particularly liked the collections of decorative drawers, bottles and beautiful jars - so colourful and such a contrast to today’s sterile chemist shops and hospitals. They looked almost Harry Potter like. You can easily imagine that each little jar or bottle could have something precious or magical in it. Keep an eye out for the crocodile and the porcupine fish too. If you’re interested in the history or science of medicine, the museum traces the development of pharmacy from the days of superstition and alchemy through to the development of a scientific discipline with standards and regulations. It also traces important moments like the discovery of penicillin, quinine, salvarsan. Most intriguing were the specimen rooms. Unfortunately, there is almost no English signs or labels in these rooms which meant we had to resort to guessing what some of the treatments were & what they were supposed to cure. This was probably more fun anyway. Among the specimens were narwhal tusk, snake venom, an odd fish with legs, a toad and something that definitely looked like excrement. It’s only a fairly small museum and I’m very pleased that we didn't overlook it. We probably would have had it not been included in the ticket.
2. BMW Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,863 reviews
Hundreds of thousands of people visit BMW's four-cilinder BMW tower and the bowl-shaped museum next to it each year. The museum showcases the technical development of cars and motorcycles and also has some exhibits about the history of the company. Many old cars and motorcycles are on display along a spiral ramp that curls along the inside of the bowl-shaped building.
Reviewed By bilboHobbiton - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Thoroughly enjoyed this "must do" guided tour of the BMW Museum in Munich. Arrived to explore the future of BMW in the Bowl Building. Then rested at M1 Bistro on the terrace before the guided tour started. The guided tour is very informative and relaxing in the new 3-storey building and covers history of motorcycles, aircraft engines and cars, including 2 cars used in James Bond films. Several years from design to production and I now appreciate how much effort BMW apply to maintaining their exemplary reputation. I would also like to thank our guide for a job well done and there was time after the guided tour to revisit and take photos.
3. Toy Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 839 reviews
Nuremberg has been a city of toys since the Middle Ages. With an abundance of extraordinary exhibits from antiquity to the present, Nuremberg's world famous Toy Museum presents the "world in miniature" in 1,400 square meters of space, featuring dolls, shops, tin figures and tin toys, wooden toys and a large model train set (Track S), as well as more recent toys, such as Lego, Barbie, Playmobil, and Matchbox. The imaginatively designed children's area in the attic is staffed with trained educational personnel. Summer attractions include a large outdoor playground and a museum cafe in the secluded inner courtyard. There are audio guides tailored for adults and children to escort you through the museum, and also a droll photographic treasure hunt.
Reviewed By MattSRob - Potsdam, Germany
A great wee museum full of toys of the past ranging from the likes of wooden toys and dolls right up to Game Boys and He-Man. Kids here were having blast running around looking at all of the old items, and some of the delicate doll houses are definitely impressive. I was pleasently surprised to find that their big model railway was based on the train lines around Omaha, Nebraska, my former home for a few years - brought back some nice memories! Good fun overall.
4. Residenz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,470 reviews
Reviewed By Tuppence1005 - London, United Kingdom
The Residenz visit exceeded our expectations. It is well worth it to get the combined ticket to the museum, palace, treasury and Cuvillies Theatre. You are also able to photos without a flash.
5. Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,111 reviews
Reviewed By kenwood5106 - Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Why do people moan about visiting a museum when they aren’t interested in the history, beats me. So to all those people who moan about being ripped off or the staff not speaking English (which they do by the way) etc, go on the web site and everything you need to know is written in black and white, ‘O’ and in English. The cost to get in is €3 which includes the Audio guide, free for school kids, Military and Emergency Services etc, so what’s to moan about..... This is the 3rd time I’ve been here, the Bunker System was great, the new museum being built, due to be open in 2 years will be brilliant. So at the moment it is a bit cramped but that’ll all be rectified come 2021 ‘ish’...... Ps if you want to moan about what’s exhibited and written then write to these people instead of moaning at the staff..... (A permanent exhibition on the history of Obersalzberg and the Nazi dictatorship by the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History)......
6. Audi Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 827 reviews
Reviewed By tomast863 - Prague, Czech Republic
We were there on Saturday in 12/19 and there was no entry fee!! Might be there free on weekends. Perfect museum with whole history
7. BMW Welt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,684 reviews
BMW Welt is the company's experience and automobile collection centre. It features fascinating, futuristic architecture and hosts a wide range of exhibitions and events. One unique area is the section dedicated to the personalised handover of models of the BMW brand. As of the fifth anniversary of BMW Welt in October 2012 you can discover not just the BMW brand and BMW Motorrad but also the subbrands BMW i and BMW M as well as the BMW Group and its other brands MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, each with their own world of experience.
Reviewed By Icevid - Island of Malta, Malta
If you like cars, and especially new BMWs, this is a must visit, there are all the new models on display from all the BMW companies (BMW, Mini, Rolls Royce) in an amazing building.
8. Museum der Stadt Fussen
9. Augsburger Puppentheatermuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 306 reviews
Reviewed By tonyandcarmen - London, United Kingdom
I (Carmen) grew up in Augsburg and the Puppenkiste was part of my upbringing. Now I'm sad (though it's not surprising) to say that all plays are only in German, some even in native tongue but all are amazing. When I was younger there was a tour offered and I am not sure if it is still around but if it is, just to get a view behind the scenes, I'd go for that any time again. Last time we went, as my husband is english/french, we only passed it and I showed him the outside. It's also close to the 'Rotes Tor' water tower and open air theater which is only on in summer. There are several tram and bus stations near by which can get you there.
10. Geigenbaumuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 121 reviews
Reviewed By MarieKenny - Philadelphia, United States
This was so interesting, so informative, and easy to see in an hour or two. History of the violin making in this area, and lots of old, and historical tools, photos, lots of explanation, and so informative. Just a short walk around the back of the church in Mittenwald.
