6 art spaces to visit in Munich

While Munich might be better known for drawing crowds dressed in traditional dirndls and lederhosen for its annual Oktoberfest, or sporting red jerseys at a raucous Bayern Munich football match, the contemporary art scene has also been luring increasing numbers of visitors to the city. The range and quantity of Munich’s more than 80 museums and galleries is a product of its prosperity and centuries-long tradition as a centre for the arts. The gems on view stretch from antiquities to potato-paraphernalia (the Kartoffelmuseum is dedicated to the history of the humble tuber), but Munich’s greatest riches are in modern and contemporary art. Here’s our list for where to see them:

Haus der Kunst

Originally built by Hitler to showcase “good” German art in contrast to the modern art mocked in the Degenerate Art Exhibition, Haus der Kunst has since been recuperated as one of the most avant-garde art spaces in Germany. Dedicated to exploring diverse global histories in contemporary art, the museum pushes cartographic, conceptual, and cultural limits. Currently on show is a solo exhibition by Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui.

Haus der Kunst, Prinzregentenstraße 1. Open Mon to Sun 10 am to 8 pm Thur 10 am to 10 pm

Pinakothek der Moderne

Situated in central Munich’s Kunstareal, the Pinakothek der Moderne is one of the world’s largest museums for modern and contemporary art. Filled with highlights from the most important movements of the 20th century, from German Expressionism to Ab Ex and Pop, the sleek concrete building by Stephan Braunfels is a masterpiece of its own.

Pinakothek der Moderne, Barer Straße 40. Open Tues to Sun 10.00 to 18.00, Thur 10.00 to 20.00. Closed on Monday

Galerie Lenbachhaus

The freshly renovated former residence of the artist Franz von Lenbach now houses a world-class collection of works from the artists of The Blue Rider group, including Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc, and Paul Klee. The gallery also holds changing exhibitions around contemporary themes. The current exhibition, BODY CHECK, brings together two protagonists of 20th century painting, Maria Lassnig and Martin Kippenberger.

Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Luisenstraße 33. Open Tue 10:00 to 20:00, Wed to Sun 10:00 to 18:0

Sammlung Goetz

This internationally renowned private art collection is presented to the public in a series of themed exhibitions in a purpose-built museum designed by Herzog & Meuron. The Sammlung Goetz includes nearly 5,000 works by over 500 artists, including a wide variety of video works and site-specific installations. Its inventory, continually expanded by the intrepid Ingvild Goetz, includes works by American artists of the 1980s, the Young British Artists and many contemporary German artists.

Sammlung Goetz, Oberföhringer Straße 103. Open Thur and Friday 14:00 to 18:00, Sat 11:00 to 16:00

Museum Brandhorst

Opened in 2009 to exhibit works from the art collection of the heirs of the Henkel trust, the Museum Brandhorst adds to the city’s already impressive riches in contemporary art available to the public. Along with a large selection of Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly paintings, the collection includes key works from Joseph Beuys, Georg Baselitz, Gerhard Richter, Mike Kelley, Rober Gober, Alex Katz, Jannis Kounellis and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Museum Brandhorst, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen Theresienstraße 35 a. Open Tue to Sun, 10:00 to 18:00, Thur 10:00 to 20:00

Pinakothek der Moderne at Schloss Herrenchiemsee

Located 60 km south of Munich on a pristine island in the Chiemsee lake, the new outpost for the Pinakothek der Moderne is a perfect reason to get out of the city. Looking for more space to show its astonishing collection, the Pinakothek der Moderne has transformed an unfinished wing of the Bavarian palace built by King Ludwig II as a replica of Versailles into a space for contemporary art. The high-ceilinged rooms are full of natural light and house works from Wolfgang Laib, Dan Flavin, Etal Adnan, and more.

Pinakothek der Moderne at Schloss Herrenchiemsee, 3209 Herrenchiemsee. Open Tue 10:00 to 20:00, Wed to Sun 10:00 to 18:00