The Deutsches Museum (Munich)

Known officially as the German Museum of Masterpieces of Technology and Science, the Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest centre for science and technology and a definite must for all family city breaks in Munich. It is a deservedly popular place, seeing over 1.5 million captivated visitors a year and renowned for its historic exhibits and modern interactive gizmos and gadgets. Its collection of around 30,000 objects covers the full gamut of science and industry ranging from transportation, civil engineering, chemistry, telecommunications, computing and much more besides. The major flagship exhibits include historic trains, planes and the first car ever produced.

 

The museum will have kids pressing buttons, turning wheels and flipping switches all day and there is little chance for boredom here. Must see exhibits include a quite frightening display of real lightning, a recreated underground coal mine and a high tech planetarium that will blast you off into the dark recesses of space. It is the perfect remedy for a rainy day during short breaks in Munich and mums and dads will also enjoy some nostalgic fun with lots of weird and wonderful household gadgets from the 1970s and 1980s.  

 

The Deutsches Museum is all about kids however and the KinderReich Children’s Centre will have the little ones losing their inhibitions straight away. It is a place where they can literally run wild and try out activities such as glass blowing, metal forging and papermaking and there are fabulous interactive sections on astronomy, microelectronics and an engaging exhibit on prehistoric cave painting. It makes for a captivating and possibly tiring day out on weekend breaks in Munich and there is little chance that you will be able to take in everything in a single visit.