Bucket list experience:
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Munich’s Kunstareal (art district) is one of the world’s great cultural hubs. It’s home (at last count) to over 40 art galleries and 18 museums – three of which rank among the world’s greatest art museums.
The Old (Alte) Pinakothek shows masterworks from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, its forte being old Dutch and German masters such as Rembrandt and Dure. It also has one of the world’s best collections of Rubens.
The New (Neue) Pinakothek has iconic canvases by Romantic and French Impressionist painters – with works by Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh.
The Modern Pinakothek (der Moderne) takes over from the mid-20th century with paintings by artistic giants such as Dali, Picasso and Warhol.
Munich’s world-class art horde is largely thanks to Bavaria’s art-loving monarch King Ludwig I (1786-1868), who passionately collected priceless objets d’art from across the world.
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
A more recent addition to the Munich art scene (2009), the Brandhorst specialises in artworks from 1960 onwards, and notably the biggest Andy Warhol collection in Europe. Other featured artists include Damien Hirst and Cy Twombly. Closed Mondays.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Der Moderne Pinakothek specialises in mid-20th century art, and is one of the world’s leading modern art institutions. The collection includes more than 20,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs and new media, with paintings by artistic giants such as Dali, Picasso and Warhol.
Best for ages: 13+ | £6
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
The Neue Pinakothek holds iconic canvases by Romantic and French Impressionist painters – with works by Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh. Look for one of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1888).
Best for ages: 13+ | £6
Take the U-Bahn to Odeonplatz or Theresienstrasse, or the museum bus line 100 to the Pinakotheken stop.
You can buy a day pass (around €12) which gives you access to the big three, or individual entry prices are around half that.
The big three museums are open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.
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The top cities and regions for world-class art museums and cutting-edge galleries. A feast for art lovers, and home to the masterpieces everyone should see.
