City & Regional Museums Worldwide
State, city and local history museums that bring the history of their region to life.
City & Regional Museums Worldwide: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 1,164 city and regional museums worldwide, spread across 3 countries and 921 towns and cities. Of these, 956 are in Germany, 173 in Denmark, and 35 in the Netherlands.
Among regions, North Rhine-Westphalia (169), Bavaria (150), and Baden-Württemberg (119) have the most; among cities, Hamburg (12), Berlin (11), and Stuttgart (7) lead the way.
248 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €5 at the median, and the middle half charge between €4 and €7.
266 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 697 offer dedicated programs for families, and 324 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 city and regional museums worldwide
The best-known city and regional museums worldwide
Zaanse SchansOpen-air · Zaandam
Kreismuseum WewelsburgHistory · Büren
Bayerisches NationalmuseumArt · Munich
Amsterdam MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
Museum für Hamburgische GeschichteHistory · Hamburg
Den Gamle ByOpen-air · Aarhus
Sorbisches MuseumRegional · Bautzen
Märkisches MuseumHistory · Berlin
Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider HofOpen-air · Konz
City and regional museums worldwide with free admission
- Zaanse SchansOpen-air · Zaandam
Münchner StadtmuseumRegional · Munich
Naturkundemuseum LeipzigNature · Leipzig
Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte DortmundHistory · Dortmund
Schifffahrtsmuseum FischhalleHistory · Kiel
Aalborg Historiske MuseumHistory · Aalborg
Bergisches StraßenbahnmuseumTechnology · Wuppertal
Historische Fabrikenanlage Maste-BarendorfTechnology · Iserlohn
Museum Het Leids WevershuisHistory · Leiden
OrganeumSpecial · Weener
City and regional museums worldwide with programs for families
- Kreismuseum WewelsburgHistory · Büren
- Bayerisches NationalmuseumArt · Munich
- Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
- Den Gamle ByOpen-air · Aarhus
- Sorbisches MuseumRegional · Bautzen
- Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider HofOpen-air · Konz
Bornholms KunstmuseumArt · Gudhjem
Hessisches Landesmuseum DarmstadtArt · Darmstadt
Sønderborg SlotHistory · Sønderborg
Wendisches MuseumRegional · Cottbus
Wheelchair-accessible city and regional museums worldwide
- Sorbisches MuseumRegional · Bautzen
Københavns MuseumRegional · Copenhagen
Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum HildesheimArchaeology · Hildesheim
Rheinisches Landesmuseum TrierArchaeology · Trier
Pommersches LandesmuseumRegional · Greifswald
Altonaer MuseumHistory · Hamburg
Ephraim-PalaisHistory · Berlin
LVR-Landesmuseum BonnArchaeology · Bonn- Münchner StadtmuseumRegional · Munich
Zaans MuseumRegional · Zaandam
City and regional museums worldwide with the highest published visitor numbers
- Zaanse SchansOpen-air · Zaandam
- Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
- Den Gamle ByOpen-air · Aarhus
Museumsdorf CloppenburgOpen-air · Cloppenburg
Ruhr MuseumRegional · Essen
Freilichtmuseum HessenparkOpen-air · Neu-Anspach
Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum VogtsbauernhofOpen-air · Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn)
Freilichtmuseum am KiekebergOpen-air · Rosengarten- Bayerisches NationalmuseumArt · Munich
Nationaal GevangenismuseumHistory · Veenhuizen
Current special exhibitions at city and regional museums worldwide
- Home, sweet home – Wohnen im Paderborner LandKreismuseum Wewelsburg · Büren · until November 29, 2026
- Vielleicht erlebe ich den Frieden noch. Überlebende der NS-Verfolgung in der UkraineKreismuseum Wewelsburg · Büren · until November 1, 2026
- „Kein Zeuge darf überleben!“ Lernen von einer einzigartigen Erinnerungs- und Versöhnungskultur – Eine Reise nach RuandaKreismuseum Wewelsburg · Büren · until January 10, 2027
- Kuckuckseier. Neue Kunst trifft alte KunstBayerisches Nationalmuseum · Munich · until November 15, 2026
- Liminal Spaces. Hinterglasmalerei von Fride Wirtl-WalserBayerisches Nationalmuseum · Munich · until January 17, 2027
- StadtLandschaft. Bayern in historischen AnsichtenBayerisches Nationalmuseum · Munich · until February 14, 2027
- VOC-mentaliteit – Wat is jouw aandeel?Nederlands Openluchtmuseum · Arnhem
- Sammeln. Bewahren. Begeistern. Vom Wendischen Museum zum Sorbischen WissensforumSorbisches Museum · Bautzen
- Hedwig Kruse – Eine Druckkünstlerin lebt ihren TraumHessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt · Darmstadt · until October 18, 2026
- Wiederentdeckt! Textile Bilder für das Hessische Landesmuseum DarmstadtHessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt · Darmstadt · until October 25, 2026
By country
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many city and regional museums are there worldwide?
Our directory currently lists 1,164 city and regional museums worldwide across 921 towns and cities.
What are the best-known city and regional museums worldwide?
Some of the best known are Zaanse Schans, Kreismuseum Wewelsburg, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Amsterdam Museum, and Nederlands Openluchtmuseum.
Which city and regional museums worldwide offer free admission?
248 museums are free to visit – for example Zaanse Schans, Münchner Stadtmuseum, Naturkundemuseum Leipzig, and Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund.
Which city and regional museums worldwide are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 147 are open, such as Zaanse Schans, Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, and Den Gamle By.
Which city and regional museums worldwide are wheelchair accessible?
266 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Sorbisches Museum, Københavns Museum, and Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit city and regional museums worldwide?
A regular adult ticket costs €5 at the median, with prices ranging from €1 to €26.50. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums