Munich's Art Collections: From the Old Masters to Contemporary Art

In a single day, this tour takes you through three major Munich art collections that together span a wide arc: from the European paintings of the Old Masters through sculpture and decorative arts to contemporary art. Rather than ticking off as many museums as possible, you take enough time at each one to really look.

The day begins in the Kunstareal in the Maxvorstadt district with the Alte Pinakothek, where you should plan on a good two and a half hours. Afterward, you walk along Brienner Straße and across Odeonsplatz into the Old Town, where lunch awaits at Schreiberei near Marienplatz. In the afternoon, you head to the Lehel district on Prinzregentenstraße: the Bavarian National Museum showcases art and crafts from many centuries. After a coffee break, the Haus der Kunst with its changing exhibitions rounds off the day, before you walk or take the U-Bahn back to the city center.

The distances are manageable and easy to cover on foot; for individual stretches you can use the tram or U-Bahn. This tour is for you if you're interested in painting, sculpture, and exhibitions and prefer a quiet, content-rich museum day to a quick sightseeing spin through the city.