Open-Air Museums Worldwide
Historic buildings, villages and crafts in the open air.
Open-Air Museums Worldwide: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 188 open-air museums worldwide, spread across 3 countries and 182 towns and cities. Of these, 146 are in Germany, 36 in Denmark, and 6 in the Netherlands.
Among regions, Bavaria (31), Lower Saxony (24), and Baden-Württemberg (21) have the most; among cities, Berlin (3), Gudhjem (2), and Hamburg (2) lead the way.
28 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, and the middle half charge between €5 and €9.
14 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 158 offer dedicated programs for families, and 106 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 open-air museums worldwide
The best-known open-air museums worldwide
Zaanse SchansOpen-air · Zaandam
Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
Den Gamle ByOpen-air · Aarhus
Keltenmuseum Hochdorf/EnzArchaeology · Eberdingen
Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider HofOpen-air · Konz
Deutsches Landwirtschaftsmuseum Schloss BlankenhainOpen-air · Crimmitschau
ZuiderzeemuseumOpen-air · Enkhuizen
Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum Groß RadenOpen-air · Sternberg
MiddelaldercentretOpen-air · Nykøbing Falster
Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum VogtsbauernhofOpen-air · Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn)
Open-air museums worldwide with free admission
- Zaanse SchansOpen-air · Zaandam
Archäologischer Park Ostkastell WelzheimArchaeology · Welzheim
Grenzmuseum SorgeHistory · Oberharz am Brocken
Vingsted JernalderOpen-air · Bredsten
Bajuwarenhof KirchheimOpen-air · Kirchheim bei München- Bunkermuseet HirtshalsHistory · Hirtshals
Feldbahn- und Industriemuseum WieslochTechnology · Wiesloch
Historischer Hafen BerlinTechnology · Berlin
Mithräum KönigsbrunnArchaeology · Königsbrunn
Skulpturenpark HeidelbergArt · Heidelberg
Open-air museums worldwide with programs for families
- Nederlands OpenluchtmuseumOpen-air · Arnhem
- Den Gamle ByOpen-air · Aarhus
- Keltenmuseum Hochdorf/EnzArchaeology · Eberdingen
- Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider HofOpen-air · Konz
- Deutsches Landwirtschaftsmuseum Schloss BlankenhainOpen-air · Crimmitschau
- ZuiderzeemuseumOpen-air · Enkhuizen
- Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum Groß RadenOpen-air · Sternberg
- MiddelaldercentretOpen-air · Nykøbing Falster
- Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum VogtsbauernhofOpen-air · Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn)
Wikinger-Museum HaithabuArchaeology · Busdorf
Wheelchair-accessible open-air museums worldwide
ArcheonArchaeology · Alphen aan den Rijn
Alamannen-Museum VörstettenArchaeology · Vörstetten
Deutsch-Deutsches Museum MödlareuthHistory · Töpen
Deutsches Erdölmuseum WietzeTechnology · Wietze
Holzknechtmuseum RuhpoldingHistory · Ruhpolding
Ribe VikingeCenterOpen-air · Ribe
Römerpark RuffenhofenArchaeology · Wittelshofen
Erzgebirgisches Spielzeugmuseum SeiffenSpecial · Kurort Seiffen
Museumdorp De LochtOpen-air · Melderslo
Bronzezeithaus HahnenknoopOpen-air · Stadland
Open-air 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
FrilandsmuseetOpen-air · Kongens Lyngby
Freilichtmuseum HessenparkOpen-air · Neu-Anspach- Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum VogtsbauernhofOpen-air · Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn)
Freilichtmuseum am KiekebergOpen-air · Rosengarten- Wikinger-Museum HaithabuArchaeology · Busdorf
Freilichtmuseum Neuhausen ob EckOpen-air · Neuhausen ob Eck
Current special exhibitions at open-air museums worldwide
- VOC-mentaliteit – Wat is jouw aandeel?Nederlands Openluchtmuseum · Arnhem
- DesignrouteZuiderzeemuseum · Enkhuizen · until October 25, 2026
MATERIA. Holz, Lehm, Stroh, BetonLWL-Museum Hellerlecht · Detmold · until April 4, 2027- Gesichter aus HessenFreilichtmuseum Hessenpark · Neu-Anspach · until December 27, 2026
Grässliche Glückseligkeit. Faszination KitschLVR-Freilichtmuseum Kommern · Mechernich · until April 4, 2027
Mathemagisch – Wilde Zahlen, verrückte FormenLWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen · Hagen · until October 31, 2026- Zeit am Handgelenk – Technik und Design von ArmbanduhrenLWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen · Hagen · until October 31, 2026
- Metallophon. GlockenSpiel und HeavyMetalLWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen · Hagen · until October 31, 2026
Rebecca Louise Law – State of NatureFreilichtmuseum Molfsee · Molfsee · until November 1, 2026- Läuft. Die Ausstellung zur MenstruationFreilichtmuseum Molfsee · Molfsee · until June 4, 2028
By country
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many open-air museums are there worldwide?
Our directory currently lists 188 open-air museums worldwide across 182 towns and cities.
What are the best-known open-air museums worldwide?
Some of the best known are Zaanse Schans, Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Den Gamle By, Keltenmuseum Hochdorf/Enz, and Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof.
Which open-air museums worldwide offer free admission?
28 museums are free to visit – for example Zaanse Schans, Archäologischer Park Ostkastell Welzheim, Grenzmuseum Sorge, and Vingsted Jernalder.
Which open-air museums worldwide are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 51 are open, such as Zaanse Schans, Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, and Den Gamle By.
Which open-air museums worldwide are wheelchair accessible?
14 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Archeon, Alamannen-Museum Vörstetten, and Deutsch-Deutsches Museum Mödlareuth. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit open-air museums worldwide?
A regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, with prices ranging from €1.50 to €28.95. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums