BMW Museum

The BMW Museum in Munich is one of the top things to do in the Bavarian capital for anyone who loves cars, motorcycles or bold architecture. Housed in a silver "bowl" next to BMW's four-cylinder headquarters tower and opposite BMW Welt, it tells more than a century of company history, from aircraft engines to race cars and electric vehicles. It sits right beside the Olympic Park, so it pairs easily with other sights in the north of the city.

Where it is and how to get there

The museum is at Am Olympiapark 2, a few miles north of Munich's old town. The easiest way to get there is the U3 subway line to Olympiazentrum station; the entrance is a short walk away. From the city center the ride takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes, and from Munich Airport you can take the S-Bahn into town and change to the subway.

If you drive, follow the signs for "BMW Welt / Olympiapark / SAP Garden." The underground garage at BMW Welt charges €3.50 per hour after the first 15 free minutes, with a daily cap of €23; it takes cards only and has a 2-meter height limit. The operators themselves recommend public transit, especially on event days at the Olympic Park.

A short history

The museum opened in 1973, right after the Munich Olympics. Viennese architect Karl Schwanzer designed both the bowl and the neighboring BMW tower, and locals soon nicknamed the museum the "salad bowl." It closed in 2004 for a major expansion tied to the construction of BMW Welt and reopened on June 21, 2008 with about five times more space. Today it draws a huge crowd: more than 847,000 visitors in 2025.

What you will see

The museum covers about 5,000 square meters. The permanent exhibition fills roughly 4,000 of them and shows about 125 original exhibits across seven themed "houses": design, company history, motorcycles, technology, motorsport, model series and the BMW brand. The route through 25 exhibition areas is about one kilometer long. Highlights include the famous BMW 328 sports car in the motorsport house and BMW's Art Cars, painted by well-known artists. Rather than walking through history year by year, you follow each theme from its beginnings to the present.

Special exhibitions run in the bowl itself. As of October 2026, the official site lists "Belle Macchine" through the end of 2026 and an anniversary show on the 6 Series into early 2027.## Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, according to the official website:

• Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry at 5:30 p.m.; closed on Mondays. On October 24, 2026, the museum closes at 5 p.m.
• Standard ticket €17, reduced €9, family ticket (up to two adults and three children under 18) €38, groups of five or more €16 per person.
• Tickets are valid for five hours after you enter. Payment is cashless only, and you can also buy online.
• Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

BMW Welt across the street is free to enter, so you can see the current models and the striking building without a ticket.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you combine it with BMW Welt and a walk up the hill in the Olympic Park for city views. Plan two to three hours for the museum itself. Weekday mornings are the quietest time. The exhibits are presented in a very visual way, with lots of light, screens and sound, so the museum is enjoyable even if you do not read German. Guided tours can be booked through the official website.