Germanisches Nationalmuseum

An impressive and very well-organized collection. The museum features various areas with different themes, a large number of rooms, and plenty of information (in German, with the most relevant pieces also in English). Allow at least 3 hours for an overview, focusing on the most interesting points.

This one of those places where you could lose an entire day and still feel like you’ve only skimmed the surface. It’s not just a museum; it’s a labyrinth of European culture, stretching from the Middle Ages to the modern day. Walking past glittering suits of armor, finely crafted weapons, and medieval sculpture, I kept getting pulled deeper into the collections. One moment I was in a Gothic cloister, the next in a Baroque hall surrounded by paintings, then suddenly standing in front of contemporary art. What struck me most was the sheer variety: a 16th-century tiled stove covered in vivid detail, a carved sleigh with a grotesque face, entire chapels reconstructed stone by stone, and galleries that shift seamlessly from religious devotion to modern abstraction. It felt like wandering through centuries of human creativity under one roof. For me, it was overwhelming in the best possible way; a reminder that history isn’t just dates and events, but objects people lived with, prayed before, fought in, and admired. If you enjoy art, history, or simply being surprised around every corner, this museum is a must. Just be prepared: you won’t be in and out quickly.

This is an impressive collection in an enormous complex of buildings. We had only 2 hours, which was not enough time. I would allow 3-4 hours to not feel rushed. It's a great place to find respite from the heat and see historical artifacts from early man, medieval to modern art, and even a chapel.

We arrived at 17:10 and they suggested us to wait 20 more minutes because starting with 17:30 the entry is free. We had only one hour because they were hosting an event or sth like that. The museum is big and you need at least 2 hours. Anyway, it was a great experience!

The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is a true ode to German history and culture, and well worth exploring. From the grand armoury, filled with cannons, suits of armour, and medieval weaponry through to the intricate carvings and religious artefacts, it’s incredibly easy to lose track of time wandering its halls. One thing that really stood out to me, being English, was the number of artefacts relating to England’s patron saint. Yes, that famous knight of Turkish origin who supposedly slew a dragon and became the protector of England (despite never setting foot in the country) is also celebrated in medieval German society. Absolutely fascinating. This museum also might answer the question, what inspired Starbucks to use a two tailed mermaid as a logo... for those who know, well done. For those who don't, check the pictures. You're welcome So if you ever find yourself passing through Nuremberg with a free afternoon, make a stop. It’s a brilliant way to connect with the deep and layered history of this nation.

Top quality museum. The family tickets are a great value for any family. The museum has a lot of things on display and is well laid out. Complete with free lockers for coats and bags. Great thing to do in Nuremberg

Huge museum, with perhaps too much on display. The plan does pick out a few highlights which helps. For me the Adam Kraft sculptures, which predate Michaelangelo, demonstrate once again that in some respects German sculpture and carving equals anything in contemporary Italy. (2 examples here)

A great way to lose a morning, or afternoon, or a day. There's so much to see, even if some rooms/exhibitions were closed. It has a decent cafe too. Great value for €10.

Enjoyed my visit here. As in many German cities, most of the town bears to the markings of post-war reconstruction owing to the bombing raids of the Royal Air Force and US Army Air Force. This museum only retains one of its old gates. The rest is newly built over several decades. They even integrated a church in the museum. This makes for tough navigation (just as one of the attendants for directions to specific exhibits), but also contains the different eras to different buildings and atmospheres. Gotta love Germany: the museum offers a family ticket that afforded us acces for about 10 euros. Cool works allround make this museum a pleasant place to check when in Nürnberg.

A slightly surprising find in Nuremberg is this museum of national importance: an expansive collection of German art, culture and history from the Neolithic to the present. If you want to understand the complex cultural history of Germany prior to its political unification in the 19th Century, this is the place to come. Set aside at least half a day to do it justice. The museum itself has its origins in the growing sense of pan-German identity in the mid 19th Century, around the time the forces of unification were in the ascendent. Some of these elements (such as frescoes and stained glass) were rather Wagnerian in their somewhat romantic appropriation of German history, though much was destroyed in the 1945 bombing. (The curation is very honest in explaining how it differs from modern understanding of German culture.) The building itself is very modern, but incorporates much of a previous convent - an excellent setting for some of the religious works. It's hard to cover the scope of the collection here, but it starts with grave goods, arms and jewellery from the Neolithic to the period up to the Roman invasions in the first century BC. There is then a huge (and I mean huge) collection of devotional Christian art from the Frankish period right up to the 18th Century: this includes sculpture and metalwork, but above all, a vast collection of religious paintings, the highlight of which is a collection of works by Albrecht Dürer. This is all supplemented by galleries on domestic objects, costume, scientific instruments and the secular decorative arts; and world-class collections of musical instruments, early mediaeval tapestry and mediaeval armour. It includes the first ever globe of the world (contemporary with Christopher Columbus - so it misses out the Americas!); and a self-portrait by Rembrandt. The displays are for the most part in English and German, but audio guides are also available. There's a lot of emphasis on level access but it's worth checking access to some of the galleries. The museum has a complex and rather sprawling layout, and we walked just shy of two miles around the exhibits in four hours. Afterwards, there's an excellent cafe to rest your feet (you'll need it) and a very educational gift shop.

On Wednesday's , 6-9pm, admission is free. So, after a day of touring we came here to top it off. We went to the second floor, for the period art and Paintings. German and English translations. Many discovery's to us, including a Rembrandt re-discovered in 1988. Self portrait, as a young Artist. Special night.

I love museums, but this one is over the top. Not the best art collection by European standards (it ain't the Louvre), but a fine collection of German art. It's strikingly dissimilar to Italian art; more earthy and stylized, but gorgeous. BUT the best part is the music hall. It's tricky to get to, but worth the price of admission. I'm a musician (brass), so to see pousane and crumhorns and natural and keyed trumpets was like Nirvana (the state of mind, not the group). There were a hundred keyboard instruments as far back as the 16th century. I was blown away. You need a half day twice - after a half day your brain explodes and you need a break.

We only had a short time in Nuremburg but this sounded like the best bet to explore given proximity to our hotel and the fact we had not gone to a major German history museum during our long drive. This place is incredible, you could spend a couple days alone exploring it! Many rooms exploring all eras of history, it feels like many buildings in one (which it is). We spent more than our allotted time since just couldn't help it. We were so drawn in to the history and amazing crafts of times past.

Great museum, a must to in Nuremberg, almost translated in English, great architecture, quite coffee-shop, great bookshop. Don't miss Dani Karavan "Human Rights" work in front the museum.

If you are in Nuremberg, you must go to this museum. The building is so beautiful and huge. It shows you a history of Germany. I love the modern art. It had a lot of historical items. The cafe was fantastic. For the English speaking folks, they do have English translation.

The German National Museum in Nuremberg has an amazing collection of artifacts from German history spanning from Celtic and Roman times to the 19th century. Roman legionary helmet? We have that. Gold Celtic conical hat? We have that, too. Midieval armor for man and horse? Weapons? Antique musical instruments? Religious art? Painting by Durer? We have that, too. Part of the museum encompasses the remnants of a Carthusian Church and Monastery, with incredible religious art, including a statue of St Michael the Archangel and an amazing triptych mounted above the altar. As an example, there was an special exhibit on contemporaries Columbus and Luther and their changing world drawn from the museum's collections that encompasses discoveries in medicine and geography. In another section of the museum, there are also furnished rooms from houses of the 16th and 17th centuries. And there's a huge furniture collection and another of German folk art. Truly an amazing place.