Naturmuseum Ulm
Municipal natural history museum in central Ulm with fossils, minerals and animals of the region, interactive stations and family programs.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Naturmuseum Ulm, formerly known as the Naturkundliches Bildungszentrum (Natural History Education Center), is run by the city of Ulm and has a history of more than a century. Kasimir Mangold is regarded as the first curator of the former Ulm natural history cabinet. For the 100th anniversary, the commemorative volume "100 Jahre Naturgeschichte(n)" (100 Years of Natural History) was published, containing a detailed chronicle of the house.
Today the museum sits on Kornhausgasse in the middle of the city. Its collections comprise more than 140,000 objects from today's plant and animal world and from earth history; they serve as research records and as the basis for the exhibitions. Particularly notable items include a long-beaked echidna specimen, fossils from the former coral reef and the Miocene of the Ulm area, a Tertiary palm trunk, drawers of Apollo butterflies, and the red-banded Böttinger marble.
The permanent exhibition presents the region's natural diversity and Ulm's prehistory, with glowing minerals, ichthyosaurs from the Jurassic sea, straight-tusked elephants from Ulm, bears, beavers and giant insects. Interactive elements engage several senses; with guided tours, museum rallies and children's birthday parties, the house especially targets families and school classes.
Highlights
- Ichthyosaurs from the Jurassic sea
- Remains of Ulm straight-tusked elephants
- Glowing minerals and Böttinger marble
- Specimen of the rare long-beaked echidna
- Interactive stations and museum rally
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung zur Natur- und Erdgeschichte der Region – Minerals, ichthyosaurs from the Jurassic sea, remains of straight-tusked elephants, bears, beavers and giant insects, complemented by interactive stations.
- Operated by
- Stadt Ulm
- Director
- Cora Carmesin
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2.40 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.60Pensioners, people with disabilities and one companion, recipients of social assistance, city of Ulm employees, and holders of certain cards, including the Lobby-Card, Freiwilligen-Card, Familienpass and Familien-Freizeitpass |
| Children & teens | €1.50free up to age 6 · Children aged 7 and up, school pupils, students, volunteers and apprentices pay €1.50. |
| Seniors | €1.60Pensioners receive the reduced price. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €1.60People with disabilities and one companion pay the reduced price. |
| Students & apprentices | €1.50School pupils, students, volunteers and apprentices. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2 per personGroups of 10 or more: adults €2.00, children €1.00; out-of-town school classes €0.80 per person. |
| Families | €4.50Parents or grandparents (max. 2 adults) with up to 4 of their own children or grandchildren; children in the family rate up to and including age 17. |
| 1-hour tour (flat fee, from August 1, 2026) | €60plus admission |
| 1.5-hour tour (flat fee, from August 1, 2026) | €90plus admission |
| 2-hour tour (flat fee, from August 1, 2026) | €120plus admission |
| 1.5-hour children's birthday (flat fee, from August 1, 2026) | €100plus admission, including materials |
Free admission for, among others, children up to age 6, Ulm daycare centers and Ulm school classes in groups, up to two accompanying adults of school classes and kindergarten groups, members of the Förderkreis Naturmuseum Ulm (support association), the DMB and the ICOM, and holders of the Landesfamilienpass, Kinderbonuscard and Ulm-Card. Cash and EC card accepted.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is only partially accessible. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €4.50 · Parents or grandparents (max. 2 adults) with up to 4 of their own children or grandchildren; children in the family rate up to and including age 17. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children's birthday parties (1.5 hours with a tour of the permanent exhibition and a treasure hunt, Tuesday to Friday, on the themes "Ulmer Urzeit" (Ulm's Prehistory) or "Leben in Wasser und Wald" (Life in Water and Forest)), a museum rally with puzzle sheets, drawing animals, and research in the exhibition; interactive exhibit elements.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Rathaus
Stops Rathaus and Rosengasse.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No own parking; paid parking garages Kornhaus and Frauenstraße, plus paid parking bays on Kornhausplatz.
The museum is in Ulm's city center, Kornhausgasse 3.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Food may not be eaten in the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for all ages on museum highlights, Ulm's prehistory, life in water and forest, and evolution and phylogeny (for upper-level students also 1.5 hours). Book via vermittlung.namu@ulm.de or by phone during opening hours. |
