The world's largest science and technology museum with 73,000 exhibits on 68 kilometers of corridors. Hands-on exhibits cover aviation, astronomy, chemistry, and historic engines. The planetarium is separately ticketed.
The Deutsches Museum (German Museum of Masterworks of Natural Science and Technology) in Munich is the world's largest science and technology museum by exhibition area, occupying its own island — Museumsinsel — in the Isar River in central Munich. Founded in 1903 by electrical engineer Oskar von Miller and opened at its current location in 1925, the museum houses approximately 73,000 exhibited objects arranged across 68 display kilometres, spanning fields from mining and metallurgy to aerospace, marine technology, chemistry, musical instruments, astronomy, and communications. The collection's scale is vast enough that a committed visitor covering every gallery would need several days; most visitors focus on selected departments over a full day. Among the most celebrated exhibits is the U1 submarine (1906), Germany's first operational submarine, moored in full inside the marine hall. The aviation collection ranges from Otto Lilienthal's 1891 glider — the pioneering hang-glider that preceded powered flight — to early jet aircraft. The chemistry section preserves the laboratory where Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann conducted the first controlled nuclear fission experiment in December 1938, a discovery that changed the course of the twentieth century; the laboratory is maintained as a historical working space. The aerospace hall contains aircraft from World War II alongside post-war jets and space exploration hardware. The astronomy section includes the Zeiss Planetarium with separately ticketed shows. The museum has undergone a major renovation programme beginning in 2021, updating and expanding several galleries while maintaining access to the core historic collection; current gallery availability should be confirmed on the museum website before visiting. The Deutsches Museum's educational approach combines authentic historic artefacts with daily live chemistry and physics demonstrations staged in dedicated rooms.
| Admission | €15 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 9AM-5PM |
Highlights
- U1 submarine (1906): Germany's first operational submarine, preserved in full inside the marine hall
- Nuclear fission laboratory: the preserved Munich room where Hahn and Strassmann demonstrated fission in December 1938
- Aviation hall: Otto Lilienthal's 1891 glider through early jet aircraft in a single chronological gallery
- Zeiss Planetarium: separately ticketed dome shows on astronomy and cosmology
- Daily live science demonstrations: chemistry and physics experiments staged in dedicated demonstration rooms
Tips for visiting
- Buy tickets online in advance; visitor numbers are high in summer and the museum is closed on major Bavarian public holidays
- Download the museum's floor plan before arriving — the building is large enough to become disorienting without a plan
- The nuclear fission laboratory and the U1 submarine are the two most historically significant single exhibits and should be prioritised
- Planetarium shows require a separate ticket purchased at the museum; check the daily schedule on arrival to plan timing
- The museum café and restaurant on the ground floor serve food during museum hours; outside food is permitted in designated areas
Accessibility
Most of the Deutsches Museum is wheelchair accessible with lifts between floors. Some historic exhibition areas have limited access due to the original building structure; current accessibility details by gallery are provided on the museum's official website.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
A typical visit covering the main highlights takes 4–5 hours. A thorough visit across all 68 display kilometres would require multiple days. Most visitors focus on three to five departments in a single day.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes. The Deutsches Museum has a dedicated children's zone (Kinderreich) for ages 3–8 with hands-on experiments. Older children and teenagers engage well with the aviation, astronomy, and engineering exhibits.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible with lifts serving multiple floors. Some historic sections have limited access due to original building construction. Detailed accessibility information by gallery is available on the museum's official website.
Are English-language materials available?
English labels are present in most galleries. English audio guides are available to rent. The planetarium offers shows in English on selected days — check the current schedule at the ticket desk.