Senckenberg Natural History Museum

The Senckenberg Natural History Museum (Senckenberg Naturmuseum) in Frankfurt am Main is one of the largest natural history museums in Europe and a favorite with families. A replica Tyrannosaurus rex greets you outside; inside are dinosaur skeletons, a rare "mummified" Edmontosaurus with fossilized skin, fossils from the Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Site, whales, birds and a cast of the famous early human "Lucy." It is also a working research museum, which gives the exhibits real scientific depth.

Where it is and how to get there

The museum stands at Senckenberganlage 25 in the Westend district, next to Goethe University's Bockenheim campus. Take the subway (U4, U6 or U7) to Bockenheimer Warte; the entrance is a short walk away. From Frankfurt Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), the U4 gets you there in a few minutes. From Frankfurt Airport, ride the S-Bahn to the Hauptbahnhof and switch to the U4 – a simple trip if you have a few hours to spare. The Deutschlandticket covers all of these lines. Parking nearby is limited, so public transit is the easiest option.

A museum with a long history

In 1817, thirty-two Frankfurt citizens founded a society for natural research, named – partly at Goethe's suggestion – after the physician Johann Christian Senckenberg. Their collection went on public display in 1821. The present building, designed by Ludwig Neher, opened on October 13, 1907. For the occasion, the American Museum of Natural History in New York gave the museum a Diplodocus skeleton – its first dinosaur and still a highlight today.

What to see

• Dinosaur hall: one of the most extensive dinosaur displays in Germany, led by the 18-meter (59-foot) Diplodocus, assembled from original bones except for the skull.
• "EDMOND – The Last Days of the Dinosaurs": the museum has owned one of the few known Edmontosaurus "mummies," with preserved scaly skin, for more than 100 years.
• Archaeopteryx No. 11: one of only 13 known fossils of this early bird, notable for its well-preserved feathers, on loan from a private collection.
• Messel Pit fossils: bats, early horses and other animals from about 50 million years ago, from the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Lucy: an upright-mounted cast of the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton in the human evolution section.
• Birds, whales and elephants, the deep sea, a coral reef and classic dioramas. The bird collection, with around 1,000 specimens, is among the largest on display anywhere.

Special exhibition: "Secret Service: Women in Natural Research" runs from September 25, 2026, to October 31, 2027.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Weekends and holidays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Closed Good Friday, December 24 and 31, and January 1

Adult tickets cost €12; ages 6–17 and students pay €6, and children up to 5 go free. A family ticket (two adults and up to three children) is €30. On Wednesdays from 5 p.m., adults pay €6. Buy tickets online to skip the line at the desk.

Tips for your visit

• Allow two to three hours; dinosaur fans can easily spend longer.
• A media guide is available in six languages, including English.
• The hands-on Aha?! research workshop is great for kids; children up to 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Food and drinks are allowed only in the break room on the first floor (the second floor in American terms); there is also a shop and bistro.
• About 90 percent of the exhibition space is wheelchair accessible, but a lift is currently having technical problems, so check ahead. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially with kids or on a rainy day. Pair it with the Palmengarten botanical garden a few minutes' walk from Bockenheimer Warte, then take the subway downtown to the Main Tower, Goethe House and the New Old Town.