World Cultures Museums Worldwide
Ethnological collections and museums about cultures from around the world.
World Cultures Museums Worldwide: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 107 world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide, spread across 3 countries and 79 towns and cities. Of these, 90 are in Germany, 9 in the Netherlands, and 8 in Denmark.
Among regions, Bavaria (19), North Rhine-Westphalia (15), and Baden-Württemberg (13) have the most; among cities, Berlin (9), Copenhagen (4), and Leiden (4) lead the way.
14 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 €10.
54 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 75 offer dedicated programs for families, and 42 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 world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide
The best-known world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide
Jüdisches Museum BerlinHistory · Berlin
NationalmuseetHistory · Copenhagen
Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
Humboldt ForumWorld cultures · Berlin
Sammlung PhilippiSpecial · Tholey
Haus der Kulturen der WeltWorld cultures · Berlin
Ethnologisches Museum BerlinWorld cultures · Berlin
Wereldmuseum LeidenWorld cultures · Leiden
Joods MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
Museum für Islamische KunstArt · Berlin
World cultures and ethnology museums worldwide with free admission
- Jüdisches Museum BerlinHistory · Berlin
Alte Synagoge EssenWorld cultures · Essen
Davids SamlingArt · Copenhagen
Dokumentations- und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und RomaMemorial · Heidelberg
Museum für Völkerkunde DresdenWorld cultures · Dresden- Deutsches SpielkartenmuseumSpecial · Leinfelden-Echterdingen
AntikmuseetArchaeology · Aarhus
BASA-MuseumWorld cultures · Bonn
Ikonenmuseum BiedenkopfArt · Biedenkopf- Jüdisches Museum Rotenburg an der FuldaHistory · Rotenburg an der Fulda
World cultures and ethnology museums worldwide with programs for families
- Jüdisches Museum BerlinHistory · Berlin
- NationalmuseetHistory · Copenhagen
- Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
- Humboldt ForumWorld cultures · Berlin
- Haus der Kulturen der WeltWorld cultures · Berlin
- Ethnologisches Museum BerlinWorld cultures · Berlin
- Wereldmuseum LeidenWorld cultures · Leiden
- Joods MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
Sorbisches MuseumRegional · Bautzen- Alte Synagoge EssenWorld cultures · Essen
Wheelchair-accessible world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide
- Jüdisches Museum BerlinHistory · Berlin
- NationalmuseetHistory · Copenhagen
- Wereldmuseum AmsterdamWorld cultures · Amsterdam
- Humboldt ForumWorld cultures · Berlin
- Haus der Kulturen der WeltWorld cultures · Berlin
- Ethnologisches Museum BerlinWorld cultures · Berlin
- Wereldmuseum LeidenWorld cultures · Leiden
- Joods MuseumHistory · Amsterdam
- Sorbisches MuseumRegional · Bautzen
MoesgaardArchaeology · Højbjerg
World cultures and ethnology museums worldwide with the highest published visitor numbers
- Humboldt ForumWorld cultures · Berlin
- Jüdisches Museum BerlinHistory · Berlin
Klimahaus BremerhavenNature · Bremerhaven- MoesgaardArchaeology · Højbjerg
Reiss-Engelhorn-MuseenHistory · Mannheim
Wereldmuseum RotterdamWorld cultures · Rotterdam
Donauschwäbisches ZentralmuseumHistory · Ulm
Jüdisches Museum FrankenHistory · Fürth
Deutsches Märchen- und WesersagenmuseumSpecial · Bad Oeynhausen
Museum im SpitalHistory · Grünberg
Current special exhibitions at world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide
- Between the Lines. Daniel Libeskind und das Jüdische Museum BerlinJüdisches Museum Berlin · Berlin · until November 22, 2026
- Das Gegenteil von Jetzt. Künstlerische Wege in eine andere GegenwartJüdisches Museum Berlin · Berlin · until January 10, 2027
- SchlagerJüdisches Museum Berlin · Berlin · until April 23, 2028
- DiscoWereldmuseum Amsterdam · Amsterdam · until August 22, 2027
- Onvoltooid verleden: teruggeven, houden, of…?Wereldmuseum Amsterdam · Amsterdam · until January 3, 2027
- Ansichtssache(n). Ein AuftaktHumboldt Forum · Berlin · until June 7, 2027
- ManatungaHumboldt Forum · Berlin · until November 30, 2026
- Restaurierung im DialogHumboldt Forum · Berlin · until March 8, 2027
- On Water. WasserWissen in BerlinHumboldt Forum · Berlin · until September 27, 2027
- Dara Tûyê – Der MaulbeerbaumHumboldt Forum · Berlin · until August 30, 2027
By country
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many world cultures and ethnology museums are there worldwide?
Our directory currently lists 107 world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide across 79 towns and cities.
What are the best-known world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide?
Some of the best known are Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Nationalmuseet, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam, Humboldt Forum, and Sammlung Philippi.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide offer free admission?
14 museums are free to visit – for example Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Alte Synagoge Essen, Davids Samling, and Dokumentations- und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Sinti und Roma.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 20 are open, such as Nationalmuseet, Humboldt Forum, and Haus der Kulturen der Welt.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide are wheelchair accessible?
54 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Jüdisches Museum Berlin, Nationalmuseet, and Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit world cultures and ethnology museums worldwide?
A regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, with prices ranging from €2 to €25.50. 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 · City & Regional Museums · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums