Discover Bavaria's museums by train

Bavaria has much more to offer than Alpine peaks, lakes and peaceful forests. Behind historic façades and modern architecture, works of art, technical inventions and stories from centuries past are waiting to be discovered. Many of these museums are easy to visit on a day trip by train.

From the Buchheim Museum in Bernried and dinosaurs and fossils in the Altmühl Valley to the Augsburger Puppenkiste: our selection takes you to six destinations where art, history, technology and natural history take on many different forms.

In the Altmühl Valley, our journey of discovery takes us millions of years into the past. Fossils preserved in the limestone tell of a time when this region was covered by a tropical landscape of islands, reefs and lagoons. At the Museum Solnhofen, we encounter fossilised fish, crustaceans, plants and reptiles. Particular attention is devoted to Archaeopteryx, the prehistoric bird that made the region famous around the world. The museum also explores Solnhofen limestone and its importance in the history of lithography.

If you want to experience prehistoric life beyond the museum displays, you can search for fossils at the nearby visitor quarry. Using a hammer and chisel, explorers of all ages split the soft layers of rock and look for ammonites, shells, crustaceans and fossilised plants. Tools can be hired on site. From the museum, a walk of around two kilometres leads up the Mühlberg hill to the quarry.

More traces of prehistoric life await at the Jura Museum in Eichstätt. High above the Altmühl Valley in Willibaldsburg Castle, the museum displays fossils from the Solnhofen limestone, including the predatory dinosaur Juravenator and a complete Archaeopteryx specimen. Aquariums containing coral fish and so-called living fossils create a link to the region’s ancient underwater world. Solnhofen and Eichstätt are only around 25 minutes apart by train and, with a little planning, can be combined in one day.

A short distance north of Munich's main railway station lies the Munich Art Area. Here you will find an unparalleled range of cultural attractions during your excursion by train. On Königsplatz you will find two museums dedicated to the art of antiquity - the Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlung - as well as the Lenbachhaus, a museum of modern art in the former villa of the painter Franz von Lenbach, which exhibits works by the Blaue Reiter, among others. The heart of the art area a little further away, however, is the Munich Pinakotheken. The three museums offer a unique insight into European art history. 

While the Alte Pinakothek houses an impressive collection of European artworks from the 14th to 18th centuries, the Neue Pinakothek displays works of European art from the 19th century, including masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Gustav Klimt. The Pinakothek der Moderne houses an impressive collection of modern art, including works by Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo. Here you can discover and understand the art of the 20th and 21st centuries. In addition to the Pinakothek museums, there are numerous other museums in Munich's Kunstareal waiting to be explored during your visit.

How about a visit to the heart of Bavaria on the banks of the Danube? The university town of Ingolstadt enchants guests with its historic old town and the Liebfrauenmünster. In addition, the New Palace, built in the 15th century, has housed the Bavarian Army Museum since 1972, an important collection of uniforms, weapons, flags and other artefacts showing the history of the Bavarian troops. The museum was originally founded in 1879 by Ludwig II to unite the collections scattered throughout Bavaria. Since 1972, the collection has resided in Ingolstadt. The focus of the exhibition is the critical and historically accurate reflection of military and martial violence in history and its effects on people, society and the state. The museum also regularly offers visitors significant special exhibitions outside military history.

Augsburg is the oldest city in Bavaria and offers a multitude of sights and museums to discover. Not only if you are interested in culture and history, you should definitely plan a visit to the Fuggerei during your trip to Augsburg. The Fuggereimuseum is a unique experience because it is integrated directly into the historic residential complex. Built in 1521 by the Fugger family, the Fuggerei is now the oldest social housing complex in the world that has been continuously inhabited since its construction. Visitors can take a guided tour to see an 18th-century-style show flat and learn about the history of social housing. 
Another highlight that will delight young and old alike is a visit to the Augsburger Puppenkiste. With its artistry and charm, it has delighted generations of viewers. In the adjoining puppet theatre museum, called "Die Kiste", you can explore the history and technology of puppetry and experience the most famous characters from the Augsburg Puppet Box, such as Jim Knopf and Lukas the Locomotive Driver or Urmel aus dem Eis, up close. Workshops and events complement the programme around this fascinating form of puppetry.

A visit to the Buchheim Museum in Bernried on Lake Starnberg lets you experience art with all your senses. This is why the museum is also called the Museum of the Imagination. For the visitor, there are three perspectives of contemplation: art, architecture and nature. At the centre is the expressionist collection of the museum's founder, Lothar-Günther Buchheim. He brought together paintings, works of art and artefacts, but also furniture from all over the world and united them under one roof. The exhibits are constantly rearranged to surprise and inspire visitors. A special feature of the museum, for example, are two benches in the exhibition that move back and forth.... The Museum of Imagination is a place for everyone who wants to understand art not only with the mind, but with the whole body.

In addition to the art in the exhibition rooms, the building itself is also a real eye-catcher. With its multi-layered and varied modern architecture, the museum building resembles a ship anchored on the shore of Lake Starnberg, connecting the waves of art with the nearby mountains and nature. The museum opens its balconies, its long pier and its windows to the visitors, giving them a glimpse of the beauty of the landscape and the creativity of the artworks. The museum building thus forms a bridge between two worlds. 
The third perspective deals with the museum's surroundings, for the museum is located in an enchanting park on the shores of Lake Starnberg. Höhenrieder Park is a place where art and nature blend harmoniously. You can stroll through different areas, sometimes designed by man and sometimes left to nature. In the process, you will repeatedly encounter fascinating works of art between old trees that invite you to pause and contemplate. In the café, you can relax and let your gaze wander over the glittering lake and the sculptures in the greenery.

Bavaria is home to numerous museums dealing with art, history, technology or the natural sciences. From art museums with masterpieces by famous artists to historical museums that bring Bavaria's past to life, there is much to discover here. The easiest way to experience the diversity of Bavaria's museums is together with friends or family on a day trip by train.