Germans and machines are inseparable. The sheer number of car museums in Germany is clear evidence of this. Germany has more history of automobiles than any other nation.
German car collections have a natural next stop across the border. the best museums in the Netherlands covers the Dutch institutions worth the train ride.
If vehicles captivate you, then making a trip to various car museums in Germany should be a priority. Museums in Germany are as famous for classy cars as they are for magnificent architecture.
Germany remains the epicenter of state-of-the-art car manufacturing. For over 130 years, Germany has built high-quality machines with excellent functionality, ranging from Mercedes-Benz and BMW to Porsche.
Though the interior and exterior designs keep changing, most of these vehicles scream class, style, and luxury from a distance.
Germans’ impressive fine art in vehicle building is displayed in car museums nationwide. Plan a German car vacation today and tour these fantastic car museums in cities from Stuttgart to Munich.
If you have no idea which one to start with, look at this list. It provides some of the best car museums in Germany that you can pay a visit to:
Best Car Museums in Germany to Visit
1. BMW Museum
Address: Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 Munchen, Germany
The BMW Museum is located near Olympia Park in Munich, Germany. This is an automobile museum showcasing BMW’s history. The museum began in 1973, a while after the Summer Olympics opened.
It was revamped in connection with the construction of the BMW Welt from 2004 – 2008. On 21st June 2008, the museum was reopened. The museum currently presents 120 exhibits in 5,000 square meters, creating the best car scene in Germany. The museum shows the technical development throughout the company’s history.
It comprises multiple variations of engines, motorcycles, aircraft, turbines, and vehicles. There are futuristic-looking conceptual models from as far back as twenty years ago, in addition to the actual models.
The BMW Museum ranks third in its attendance figures after the Deutsches Museum and the Pinakothek der Moderne, making it one of the best museums in Munich. Over 250,000 people visit this German transportation museum annually.
The exhibition’s peaceful atmosphere is due to headphones and lighting. The BMW museum hammers out technical development and the pros of modernity. The building reflects the exhibition concept.
The Viennese professor Karl Schwanzer, the architect of the BMW headquarters, designed the futuristic tower known as the white cauldron or the Salad Bowl.
See Related: Hotels in Berlin
2. Classic Remise Dusseldorf
Address: Harffstrasse 110a, 40591 Dusseldorf, Germany
Classic Remise Dusseldorf is located in a historic locomotive’s roundhouse. Typically, it’s home to garages, restaurants, spare parts shops, model cars, clothing, and even accessories.
A blend of old quaint architecture and a display of historic/vintage vehicles guarantees a unique automotive experience. This center is the second of its kind globally, with the one in Berlin taking first place.
This museum opened its doors in 2006. In 2010, Meilenwerk AG bought the former name from one of the previous owners. After this, the center’s name became Classic Remise Dusseldorf.
With its unique combination of the historical locomotive roundhouse and extensive showcase of vintage cars, the museum provides an event venue that is unavailable anywhere else. It can be used for parties, symposia, exhibitions, workshops, trade shows, etc.
With all these great features, it’s quite true that this is among the car museums in Germany that you shouldn’t miss on your to-do list.
Things You Can Find at Classic Remise Dusseldorf
The following are some of the things you can find at the Classic Remise Dusseldorf:
- Car and Motorcycle Workshops: Refurbishing services such as motor and mechanical work, bodywork and repainting, custom upholstery, and interior work are offered by skilled specialists.
- Related retail shops: Products offered include model cars, spare parts, accessories, books, and magazines.
- Classic car sales and showrooms: Dealers can display classic cars for sale in the spacious showroom of the Classic Remise Dusseldorf.
- Glass boxes for classic cars: Owners of individual cars can rent these to help protect them from the weather. Visitors can also see and enjoy them.
- Bistro and beer garden: There is an indoor cafe for snacks and small meals, and a beer garden is open in the summer for outdoor relaxation.
In 2003, the Classic Remise Berlin, a hub for classic cars, was opened to the public in a historic tram depot initially built in the imperial era. Its construction began in 1899.
Architectural modifications were made to the building in the 1920s. The building was damaged during the war, and the places where firebombs hit can still be seen in the ceiling.
After the tram system was discontinued in West Berlin, the depot was not used and decayed until its owners acquired it in 2002. The new owner renovated it into a vintage car center.
This building contains shops for spare parts, clothing, model cars, garages, services, dealers for vintage cars, accessories, and restaurants. It is one of the best locations in Berlin for events you do not want to forget in a hurry.
To make your tour even more exciting, check out the Classic Remise Berlin tours in Viator, including a Berlin Photography tour and a Private Classic Remise tour.
See Related: Best Museums in Berlin, Germany
3. Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz
Address: Ilvesheimer Str. 26, 68526 Ladenburg, Germany
The Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz is a privately owned German car museum in Ladenburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Its primary focus is on the career of the automotive trailblazer Carl Benz (Also known as Karl Benz) and the history of the automobile manufacturers affiliated with him.
The museum, established in 1984, is in a former factory building used from 1908 to produce automobiles under the umbrella of the “C. Benz Sohne” brand. This museum documents the elementary stages of the motor car.
Carl Benz’s factory designed/built the first practical car with an internal combustion engine. He produced his first three-wheel car in 1883 and a four-wheel car in 1893. In 1926, the company metamorphosed into Mercedes-Benz.
The museum boasts a fantastic collection of vehicles Benz and associates made, ranging from the earliest cars in 1880 to racing cars and limousines of the 1960s.
Here, you can find an accurate depiction of motoring history – from bicycles to motorbikes to cars. It also houses a recreation of Carl Benz’s workshop. Over a hundred vehicles are displayed together with memorabilia from the Benz family’s life.
4. Merks Motor Museum
Address: Klingenhofstrasse 51, 90411 Nurnberg, Germany
The Merk family affectionately revamped the hitherto production hall of a window factory, which spanned just about 2000 square meters, in 2010. This museum prominently features a private Classic Car collection opened in 2011.
All the vehicles the exhibition covers – 90 automobiles and around 100 motorcycles – are from past Nuremberg production lines. Other small exhibitions are also presented alongside the automobiles, e.g.
Triumph typewriters, old radios, telephones, etc., cause the spirit of the previous eras to live again. About 2000 model cars are showcased, plus a kitchen from the 1930s and an office from the 1950s. You could purchase a second-hand classic magazine from different decades for a fee.
Merks Motor Museum has been Nuremberg’s first car museum since 2011. It is made up of the family’s private collection. The museum possesses a shop and a cafe that can be leased for intimate/private events. Flea markets and auctions can also be held at the museum.
See Related: Things to Do in Aachen
5. Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart
Address: Mercedesstrasse 100, 70372 Stuttgart, Germany
German automotive history goes back 130 years to the ‘Patentwagen’ of 188, and Mercedes is one of the oldest vehicle manufacturers in the world.
The magnificent Mercedes-Benz museum is located in Stuttgart, right next to Mercedes-Benz’s main manufacturing plant in Unterturkheim. This museum is home to over 1,500 car items and 600 vehicles. On display are Princess Diana’s red SL and the Grand Mercedes Type 770 that Emperor Wilhelm II and Emperor Hirohito once owned.
This museum documents over 125 years of resilience, which began in a tiny workshop and blossomed into a world-renowned brand. Over 7 million visitors have been here since it was opened in 2006. You can not mention car museums in Germany without mentioning Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz museum.
The museum is positioned around a double helix to help visitors follow the two routes to view the amazing displays. One comprises seven rooms with charts of Mercedes-Benz history displayed chronologically.
The other route is divided into five areas with a thematically grouped collection of cars, and it finishes on an outstanding track that showcases the brand’s ‘Silver Arrows race cars.’
Mercedes has a classic sales operation, ‘All Time Stars,’ in the basement where you can buy a classic Benz. The machine may cost you top dollar, but you’re guaranteed a car in exceptional condition.
If you wish to tour this stunning museum, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour will do the trick. And for a side trip, you can join a Mercedes-Benz Arena VIP Stadium Tour.
6. Automuseum Melle
Address: Pestelstrasse 38-40, 49324 Melle, Germany
In the industrial palace of the historic furniture factory Malchersmann, The Melle car museum showcases “History on Wheels.” On three floors, it has 200 to 300 vehicles from distinct periods of automobile construction.
While this is amazing, the unique thing about the Melle Automuseum is that all the exhibits are ready to be driven and used frequently. In 1984, the museum was founded, and it moved to the former Melchersmann furniture factory on Meller Pellestrasse in 1997. About 2000 distinct historical vehicles have been presented on loan so far.
This auto museum is run the way a non-profit is, and it has 27 equal associates, the city of Melle being one of them. The museum has no employees, only volunteers.
The Automobile Museum Melle is in a class of its own. Its special concept showcases first-class automobiles and motorcycles from the inception of motorization to exceptional exhibits of more recent times, constantly changing. It is always a fresh experience, no matter how often you visit.
The automobile museum approaches owners of fascinating cars with the appeal of lending their vehicles to the museum. The conditions for acceptance are that the vehicles must be ready to drive and accepted into the museum for six months.
After this, the vehicles must be used again. The museum hosts events like club meetings, trips, tours, etc.
See Related: Christmas Markets in Germany
7. Porsche Museum, Stuttgart
Address: Porscheplatz 1, 70435 Stuttgart, Germany
Porsche Museum is yet another awe-inspiring car museum in Stuttgart. It is located across town in Zuffenhausen and is easily accessible even by public transport.
This museum is housed in a splendid contemporary building beside the factory. It is dedicated to Germany’s extreme sporting marque. Opened in 2009, the Porsche car museum has a moving walkway that displays a spectacular collection of over 80 cars at any given time.
The first beetle of the founder, Professor Ferdinand Porsche, is on display. The show also includes racing cars, prototypes, and production models.
In this museum, you will also enjoy viewing many moving pictures from the collection. They display the resilience journey since the first Porsche was first tested in 1948 by Ferdinand Porsche himself.
You may combine your museum tour with the Porsche factory tour to see the amazing work done there. Also, you can hire one of their newest models and enjoy riding it for the day. You’ll need to make a reservation in advance for both of these, though.
See related: Driving in Germany
8. Audi Museum Mobile, Ingolstadt
Address: Auto-Union-Strasse 1, 85045 Ingolstadt, Germany
Audi is one of the top three car manufacturers in Germany. This marque manufacturer builds vehicles that mix lush and technical innovation.
The Audi Museum is one of the incredible car museums in Munich. Besides the museum, the place hosts a lavish center, and the Audi Forum is also situated in Ingolstadt, which is around 80km or 50 miles north of Munich.
The museum showcases the history of Audi cars. Also on display are other models that joined together to form the Auto Union during the 1930s: Wanderer, DKW, Horch, and NSU.
One of the museum’s distinctive features is the huge open elevator called ‘paternoster. ‘ It offers a constantly changing view of various models manufactured in the 20th century.
Read Also: Museums in Bremen to Visit
9. Volkswagen in Autostadt, Wolfsburg
Address: Stadtbrucke, 38440 Wolfsburg, Germany
Wolfsburg is home to Volkswagen, Germany’s biggest car inventor. You can tour the Volkswagen automotive center and car museum here, one of Germany’s most stunning car museums.
The new Volkswagen car factory is housed in a former clothing factory near the Volkswagen Werke. This car museum has around 130 cars permanently displayed, from the earliest Volkswagen Beetles to the latest concept models.
Since January 1992, Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen, a charitable foundation, has run the museum. At Autostadt, you can also tour a nearby holiday park that attracts over 2 million visitors annually.
The park has different pavilions dedicated to each of the Volkswagen Group’s brands, ranging from Lamborghini & Bugatti, Seat & Skoda to Volkswagen. You can take your admission ticket here.
The ‘Zeithaus’ has a wider variety with a permanent display from all those manufacturers whose vehicles marked significant milestones in the auto industry. Also in the park, you can shop, eat and drink, or even enjoy watching the circus festival usually held between 23rd June and 3rd July.
