How to Visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Germanisches Nationalmuseum was one of our favorite museums in Bavaria.
Read our travel guide on the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Germany. It includes tips on what to expect, how to get, where to stay, when to go, and much more.
One of the things you should know about visiting Germany is that you get a chance to see countless museums. A great example illustrating this fact was our Bavaria road trip. After visiting Regensburg, which has its fair share of museums as well, we headed to Nuremberg. This city is home to a couple of eye-opening museums such as Memorium Nuremberg Trials or Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. If WW2 is not your thing or you are not in the mood to read about the horrors this dark period brought, Germanisches Nationalmuseum is a great alternative.
The museum houses an extensive collection of German art from prehistoric times to the present day, allowing you to see German history and culture from a new perspective. It's also home to Behaim Globe, the oldest globe in the world. And that's something you don't see every day. So here's everything you should know about Germanisches Nationalmuseum before you go.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum collections range from prehistoric artifacts to contemporary art.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
As the name suggests, Germanisches Nationalmuseum offers a great insight into German history and culture. If you've just arrived in Germany and Nuremberg is one of the first stops on your itinerary, make sure this museum is on your list. The museum was founded in 1852 to document and preserve German culture and history. Today, it houses more than 25.000 display objects, so you can be sure that there is so much to see in Germanisches Nationalmuseum that one visit might not be enough.
One of the coolest things about the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is that it is a mix of old and new. From the outside, the modern building is strikingly in contrast with the colorful houses you can find in Altstadt. Even the lobby interior is very modern, at least until you see the inner courtyard with traditional architecture.
Some parts of Germanisches Nationalmuseum are housed in beautiful historic buildings.
That same can be said about the displayed items. You will see paleolithic tools, Middle-Age paintings (some by Albrecht Durer), scientific instruments, Baroque furnishings, Early Modern Age weaponry, 18th-20th century clothing, the art of the 19th and 20th centuries, and much more. On top of that, the museum has several temporary exhibitions that complement and expand the experience. For instance, we got a chance to see drawings of German post-war modernism and funerary hatchments. There was even a model of Hallstatt burial mounds that reminded us of Bru na Boinne, which we saw a few years back on our Ireland road trip. However, the main attraction at Germanisches Nationalmuseum is the Behaim Globe.
Behaim Globe
We weren't sure whether we would have enough time to fit Germanisches Nationalmuseum into our packed itinerary. There are so many things to see and do in Nuremberg, so you need to plan the whole thing right. But we happen to like traveling and don't find geography boring. So we couldn't miss the chance to see the oldest surviving globe in the world once we found out it's housed in this museum.
Behaim Globe is the oldest globe in the world.
Sure, the globe itself might not be as spectacular as some items we had seen in places such as MET and other museums, at least at first glance. However, the globe was created in 1492, just before Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas and a year before he returned to Castile. This means the Americas are not on the world map yet (and no, Behaim didn't take notes from Vikings). From today's perspective, the globe that has Europe, Africa, and Asia on one side, with the other side being just a vast oceanic area, is truly strange. Behaim Globe is often used as a testament to globalization and all the pros and cons it has brought to our world. By the way, there is a bit younger globe right next to Behaim that already includes the Americas.
Guided Tours
You can easily visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum without a guide. This is our preferred way of exploring most museums because it allows us to have enough time to explore exhibits that interest us and skip the ones that don't. However, if you prefer to see the highlights without worrying about navigating unfamiliar corridors, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum also offers guided tours for a small fee. Alternatively, you can rent an audio guide for a few Euros (it also includes a highlighted route).
We saw the Germanisches Nationalmuseum at our own pace.
Photography
By the way, photography is allowed at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, except for temporary exhibitions, which usually have their own policy.
Opening Hours
Germanisches Nationalmuseum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from Tuesday to Sunday and from 10 AM to 8:30 PM on Wednesday. The museum is closed on Mondays.
The modern entrance hall of Germanisches Nationalmuseum is super photogenic.
Entrance Fee
The entry fee for the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is €10 per adult. Guided tours of the Permanent Collection in English are available for a small additional fee (just a few extra euros). Even though we were traveling around Germany on a budget (as usual), we thought the entry fee to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum was reasonable, and it gave great bang for the buck.
How Much Time Do I Need
It typically takes around 2 to 3 hours to thoroughly explore the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. This is about the amount of time we spent in the museum ourselves. However, the time spent can vary greatly from person to person. Some visitors may only visit to see specific exhibits, such as the Old Globe, and then leave. Others may find themselves easily spending an entire day exploring all the interesting exhibits the museum has to offer. And some may return the very next day.
When to Visit Germanisches Nationalmuseum
You can visit Germanisches Nationalmuseum at any time of the year. Nuremberg is wonderful from spring to autumn, with summer being the main tourist season. That said, the museum is an ideal place to explore if the weather doesn't cooperate. So if you're looking for fun things to do on a rainy day in Nuremberg, Germanisches Nationalmuseum is an obvious choice. Winters are perfect for exploring European museums, and Germanisches Nationalmuseum is no exception.
The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is great for those rainy, cold days.
What to Pack
Wear comfortable shoes, and remember that you must leave your daypack in the locker in the main lobby area.
How to Get There
There are several ways to get to Germanisches Nationalmuseum, including on foot, by bike, public transport, or car.
On Foot: If you're already in Nuremberg, consider walking to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. The Hauptmarkt with Frauenkirche is only 800 meters away, and the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg is less than 1.5 kilometers from the museum. This proximity allows you to enjoy the city's charm as you make your way to the museum.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum shows German history and culture from prehistoric to modern times.
By Bike: For a more active and eco-friendly option, consider biking to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg is renowned for its bike-friendly infrastructure, and there are numerous rental shops where you can easily find a bike or e-scooter.
By Public Transport: It's easy to get to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum by U-Bahn. The nearest stations are Opernhaus, Lorenzkirche, and Nürnberg Hbf. By the way, the museum is located less than a 10-minute walk from the main train station.
Car: If you arrive in Nuremberg by car on a day trip, note it's easy to find a parking space near the museum. Otherwise, there is no point in driving there as you can use other means of transport. Germanisches Nationalmuseum is about two hours from Munich, 90 minutes from Wurzburg, and 75 minutes from Regensburg. If driving sounds good to you, check out rental car rates here.
Parking
While Germanisches Nationalmuseum doesn't have designated parking, several Parkhauses (such as Sterntor, Jakobsmarkt, etc.) are within a short walk, ensuring you'll find a secure spot for your vehicle.
Where to Stay
The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is located in Nuremberg's Old Town, so you can be sure to find a great hotel that fits your budget. We made it really simple for you, as all the hotels below are less than a 10-minute walk from the museum. Or check our guide on the best hotels in Nuremberg.
Budget | BB Hotel Nürnberg-City - This affordable hotel with functional rooms and breakfast buffet is only 300 meters from the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. It's a great choice for budget travelers.
Mid-range | Park Inn by Radisson Nürnberg - Situated just 700 meters from the museum, the Park Inn by Radisson is a popular choice. It offers comfortable rooms at reasonable prices, making it a great option for most travelers.
Hostel | Five Reasons Hostel and Hotel - This budget-friendly property offers private rooms, dormitories, and a shared kitchen. It's situated only 200 meters from the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
More than 25.000 items are on display at Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
Is Germanisches Nationalmuseum Worth Visiting?
Germanisches Nationalmuseum is one of the best museums in Nuremberg, so it's definitely worth seeing. It houses an extensive collection of items connected with German history and culture, ranging from prehistoric to modern times. The Behaim Globe is a rarity that's worth seeing on its own. Another big reason for visiting the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is that it offers a quiet and relaxing experience, especially compared to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg and the Altstadt area, which were packed with tourists.
If you want to explore more museums in Bavaria, we enjoyed visiting the BMW Museum and Deutsches Museum in Munich and the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth. We can also recommend two additional places in Bavaria that are connected to German history, the Walhalla Memorial and the Hall of Liberation; both sites are near Regensburg.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
