The German science and technology museum (Deutsches Museum in German) in Munich is one of the best museums I have ever visited. It has over 100 000 exhibits!
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The German science and technology museum is the biggest of its kind in the world, and I ensure you that it really is BIG! It took me hours to get through the museum. I really wish I would have gone earlier as by the time I got to the planetarium – which I have heard is one of the best in the world- the museum was closing.
Where is the German Science and Technology Museum
You will easily find the Museum if you are staying in central Munich. It’s only a short walk from the Marine Platz. The Museum is built on an island in the center of the Izer river.
As we were visiting in the middle of August, we stopped to enjoy the fresh cool water of the Izer before we crossed the bridge leading to Munich’s best museum. Looking at the beautiful building from the outside you would never know that it was first opened in 1903 and suffered severe damage during World War 2.
I have a weakness for curio shops and the first thing I did when we got in was to look around the shop for little trinkets I could take home with me. Needless to say, I walked out with a magnet which is the centrepiece of my Munich collection.
Related Reading: Munich City Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Visit.
The Exhibits at this Great Munich Museum
The Mining Exhibit
The first exhibit you walk through on entering this unique Munich museum is the mining exhibit. For the most part, unless your an engineer, it’s pretty boring until you get to the tunnels. The museum has a small underground section that you can explore. It feels like your in a turn of the century mine!
My imagination was a few steps ahead of me here. I felt like a kid again. As much as I enjoyed the recreation, including the sounds and life-size figures, I couldn’t help but wonder what a miners life was like in those conditions.
Although Germany’s mining industry has greatly evolved, what is it like in the rest of the world? I also learned about the salt mines in Germany, which the nerd in me appreciated for some reason. I now know where Salzburg gets its name from.
The Transport Exhibits
The mining exhibit is quite big but you finally make your way back to ground level where you will find the first of the transport exhibits. Since Germans have engineered some of the most prominent transport inventions it is just fitting that they dedicate a large part of the museum to it. There are 3 levels of transport exhibits. The lowest is the nautical exhibit, the middle is the automobile and train exhibit and the highest level is the aeronautical exhibit.
But if you really want to see something that stands out then make a b-line for the nautical exhibit. This is everything from the first diving suits (which were ridiculously heavy and lumpy compared to what we have now) to a life-sized World War 2 U-Boat that you can walkthrough.
The U-Boat never really saw much action during the war but it is still amazing to see firsthand. The U-Boat has been separated down the middle so you can walk through it and see exactly how many details went into creating such a machine. Months later and I still can’t stop thinking about how such a heavy steel hulk can rise and sink into the ocean as deftly as a whale. I even got to touch a real torpedo. They’re massive!
I was also excited that they had recreated a part of the Titanic. The Titanic deck gives you a 3D experience, including sounds of seagulls and the ocean as you stroll through. I can just imagine Jack and Rose walking across the deck enjoying their last day together. They even re-created the captains’ cabin and the lower decks.
While browsing the collection you will find the ship’s logs and letters that document the accounts of survivors. They even have the original SOS signals that were sent out that day. It is bittersweet walking through this exhibit as you realize how much life was really lost that day.
The Electricity Exhibit
The exhibit starts off quite boring to be honest, just models of windmills and water pumps used in medieval times, before the industrial revolution and the discovery of electricity. But as you walk through the exhibit things get a little louder and a whole lot more interesting. There are electrical reactors from throughout history that make a real noise. It sounds like Dr. Frankenstein’s lab in there. Be careful, maybe there’s a half-human monster lurking around one of the dark corners. I love interactive exhibits and enjoyed trying out some of the activities in this exhibit.
Related Reading: The Cat Cafe in Munich.
The Technology Exhibits
These were the exhibits that I was too tired to really appreciate and to be honest. I am not much of a technology person but I must admit that some of the exhibits were interesting. There was one exhibit that dealt with technological advancements in medicine. Until then, I never really thought about how technology can help prevent and cure illness.
The computer exhibit was also fun. They have different types of computers and games that-if you have the time- you can play with. It made me realize how little I did not miss a world without speedy internet. After this is the space exhibit, which, unfortunately, like the planetarium, I didn’t get a chance to see as it was time for the museum to close.
The exhibits I mentioned here are only a few that I found interesting but are so many more that are worth exploring. Make sure to plan the entire day and wear comfortable shoes. The museum really is massive. I regret not having the opportunity to visit the planetarium when I was there. I hope to visit again soon. Hopefully, I’ll catch the show.
Visitor Info for the German Museum of Science and Technology
- The Museum is open from 09h00 to 17h00 daily
- I would recommend getting there early as there is a lot of ground to cover and you don’t want to miss anything.
- Admission is €14 for adults and €4.50 for children
- Click here for directions to the Museum of Science and technology
- The planetarium show takes place on weekdays at 12h00 and 14h00 and costs €3
Take a Tour
Take a segway tour through Munich and see some of the best attractions that the city has to offer including the German Museum of Science & Technology. If you’re not one for tours then buy yourself a Munich card and get great discounts on transport and museums (German Museum of Science and Technology not included, unfortunately). You can choose the duration of the card, anything from 1 to 5 days.
Accommodation
If you’re looking to stay near the museum but also want to be close to the Munich old town there are some good options in the area. Hotel Torbräu is located just a 9 min walk away from the German (Deutsches) Museum. This beautiful 4-Star hotel is furnished traditionally and offers a great buffet breakfast.
Hotel Isartor is a modern hotel that has a sauna and gym as well as bike rentals, perfect for exploring Munich. The hotel is located a short 6 min walk away from the German Museum. Be sure to ask for a room with a balcony to enjoy views of the city.