iMuseum Five Continents
Housed in a grand 19th-century building on Maximilianstraße, Museum Fünf Kontinente (Museum Five Continents) is Germany's second-largest ethnographic museum, holding around 200,000 objects from Africa, the Americas, the Islamic world, South and East Asia and Oceania. Founded in 1862 as the Royal Ethnographic Collection, it is the country's oldest museum of its kind. Alongside its regional permanent galleries, it stages rotating special exhibitions and holds the world's oldest surviving kayak.
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What's On
Permanent Collections
North America. Indigenous Cultures from the Arctic to the Sonora Desert
Kwakiutl raven masks, Sioux beadwork, Hopi kachina dolls and a painted tipi cloth spanning Indigenous cultures from the Arctic to northern Mexico.
Africa
Contemporary African art and everyday objects, from Paa Joe's sneaker-shaped coffin to Romuald Hazoumè and Pieter Hugo, alongside Africa's influence on Western design.
Myanmar: Of Pagodas, Longyis and Nat Spirits
Built on the 1911 Scherman collection of over 2,300 objects, spanning Myanmar's ethnic groups, everyday life, festivals and contemporary art.
Oceania. Island Worlds in the Pacific
Wayfinding and seafaring across the Pacific, with a Botel Tobago fishing boat, a Marshall Islands stick chart, Malanggan masks and Papua New Guinean ceremonial boards.
Central and South America: Stories on Ceramics and Textiles
South American Indigenous cultures, including an Abya Yala gallery on Andean, Kayapó, Shipibo, Maya, Guna and Mapuche clothing and adornment.
Plan Your Visit
Getting there
Maximilianstraße 42, 80538 München, Germany
Nearest station: Lehel (U4/U5), Maxmonument (Tram 17/19/21) and Isartor (S-Bahn)
Show on mapHours
| MonToday | Closed |
| Tue | 09:30–17:30 |
| Wed | 09:30–17:30 |
| Thu | 09:30–17:30 |
| Fri | 09:30–17:30 |
| Sat | 09:30–17:30 |
| Sun | 09:30–17:30 |
Admission
From €5
Reduced €4; free for under-18s and pupils; €1 on Sundays
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Visitor Information
- How much does Museum Five Continents cost?
- Standard adult admission to Museum Five Continents is €5. Reduced €4; free for under-18s and pupils; €1 on Sundays. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
- What are the opening hours of Museum Five Continents?
- Museum Five Continents is open Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:30pm, closed Mondays (open on some public holidays).. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
- Where is Museum Five Continents?
- Museum Five Continents is located at Maximilianstraße 42, 80538 München, Germany, in the Lehel area of Munich. The nearest stations are Lehel (U4/U5), Maxmonument (Tram 17/19/21) and Isartor (S-Bahn).
- What can I see at Museum Five Continents?
- Germany's oldest ethnological museum, with 200,000+ objects from Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Current highlights include North America. Indigenous Cultures from the Arctic to the Sonora Desert, Africa and Myanmar: Of Pagodas, Longyis and Nat Spirits.
- Do I need to book Museum Five Continents in advance?
- Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
- When is the best time to visit Museum Five Continents?
- Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Image credits
4
- Museum Five ContinentsStrubbl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alpine MuseumBurkhard Mücke (Pimpinellus), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
- Munich ResidenzAvi1111 dr. avishai teicher / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bavarian National MuseumRufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0