Museum Five Continents

Museum Five Continents on Maximilianstraße in Munich presents art and cultural objects from outside Europe. Its collection spans North and South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with displays arranged across three floors. Look for striking statues, objects from the Punjab and Nuristan sections, and material from Pacific island cultures. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions, including a past show on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some labels are only in German, so check whether translations or an audio guide are available before your visit.

Objects from across the world

The museum’s collection contains more than 200,000 objects, with displays focused on cultures outside Europe. The regions represented include North and South America, Africa, South and East Asia, Oceania and the Islamic Orient. The range gives the museum a broad scope, from artworks to tools and other cultural objects.

The displays are arranged by region, so you can move between different parts of the world as you explore. Some visitors find the Pacific island section especially dense with objects. If you prefer to take your time with each display, plan to pause and choose a few areas that interest you most.

Highlights in the galleries

Statues are among the most striking sights in the collection. The museum also has Buddhist sculptures and objects from North American Indigenous communities. Sections on Punjab and Nuristan offer another point of focus, alongside displays devoted to South American and Asian material.

The collection includes the world’s oldest kayak, according to material about the museum. Regional music plays softly in some areas. The arrangement and interpretation can vary between sections, and some descriptions are available only in German. Check for English-language resources or an audio guide if you want more context as you go.