Germanic National Museum
History museum · Nuremberg ·

Germanic National Museum

History museum · Nuremberg ·

German art, culture, history from prehistory to present

german history
art collection
albrecht dürer
musical instruments
medieval armour
religious art
spend half a day
spend at least 3 hours
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by Photo by Uwe Niklas
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null
Germanic National Museum by null

Information

Kartäusergasse 1, 90402 Nürnberg, Germany Get directions

Restroom
Family friendly
Free Wi-Fi
LGBTQ friendly
Trans safe

Information

Static Map

Kartäusergasse 1, 90402 Nürnberg, Germany Get directions

+49 911 13310
gnm.de
𝕏
@gnm_nuernberg

Features

•Restroom
•Family friendly
•Free Wi-Fi
•LGBTQ friendly
•Trans safe
•Wheelchair accessible entrance
•Wheelchair accessible parking lot
•Wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Dec 23, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,699 Cities

"The largest museum of its kind in the country, the German National Museum explores the country’s history through a heady mix of art, science, technology, and culture. Founded in 1852 by Franconian merchant Hans Philipp Werner, Freiherr von und zu Aufsess, it boasts 26 different sections and over 1.3 million objects, with more than 20,000 on display at any one time. The highlights are too numerous to list, but range from Paleolithic hand axes and the first pocket watch in the world to portraits by Albrecht Dürer and exhibitions on the Bauhaus movement. The museum also has several archives, a numismatic collection, a Department of Prints and Drawings that deals with graphic arts, and the largest collection of historical musical instruments in Europe. For even more, visit the affiliated Kaiserburg Museum, which includes weapons, suits of armor, archaeological items, and more relating to the Middle Ages."

The Essential Guide to Franconia
Photo by Uwe Niklas
Germanisches Nationalmuseum

Eren M.

Google
Great museum, it took me around 4 hours to see, with some sections closed. Not crowded an well-structured layout. Lockers for coats and bags, a restaurant on the lower floor, plenty toilets. Highly recommended

Pelin D.

Google
Bring your walking shoes, this museum is enormous! Housed in a beautifully preserved former monastery, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is packed with centuries of history and art. There’s so much to see that you could easily spend all day wandering through its halls. They have convenient lockers for purses and coats (it costs just one euro, which you get back when you return the key), and there's a cozy café downstairs if you need a break before continuing your visit. And of course, you’ll find the world’s oldest surviving terrestrial globe here, Martin Behaim’s “Erdapfel,” a must-see piece of history. Absolutely worth the visit!

SPODO

Google
Just amazing we spent 5 hours inside so much history in one place. The cashiers where very helpful and kind. It's a place you mustn't miss . Keep in mind you will spend 3+ hours inside it's very big and it has so many things to see.

Wladimir L.

Google
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.

Prayukth K V

Google
An absolute must visit for those interested in learning about German history. You need to spend at least a day here to understand the place and it's contents. The astronomy section and the painting exhibits are out of this world. Make sure you pay the entrance fee at the venue itself and dont book online as the vendors apply a 60 pc markup on the entry fee.

Yulan Z.

Google
I didn’t schedule sufficient time for this one which was a mistake. At least half day is needed to allow for a proper look of these exquisite collections. I was amazed but had to glance these marvelous pieces briefly. I will come back if I get a chance to be in Nuremberg again. The staff is very nice and friendly, given that there was less than two hours before closing time, she specifically clarified where the masterpieces were located 😃. But still, every piece is just marvelous.

Kent R.

Google
Excellent museum with an incredible collection or art and middle ages weapons and armour displayed in one of the biggest museums in Germany. Make sure you allow for at least 2 hours to visit the entire museum.

Linda L.

Google
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.
google avatar

David H.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

David J.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

Marshall G.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

Darren B.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

Brandon B.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

Alex M.

Yelp
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.
google avatar

Lakesha J.

Yelp
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.

Bob C.

Yelp
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.