Museums in Hesse
Frankfurt’s Museumsufer, Kassel – home of documenta – and many state and natural history museums shape the museum landscape of Hesse.
Hesse Museum Guide
Our guide lists 142 museums in Hesse across 66 towns and cities. You’ll find the widest choice in Frankfurt am Main (32), Kassel (14), and Darmstadt (9).
Broken down by focus, the largest shares go to Art & Design (23%), Science & Technology (19%), and City & Regional Museums (15%) – all 12 categories are represented.
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.
48 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 92 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 museums in Hesse
The best-known museums in Hesse
Städelsches KunstinstitutArt · Frankfurt am Main
Senckenberg-NaturmuseumNature · Frankfurt am Main
Gedenkstätte HadamarMemorial · Hadamar
Frankfurter Goethe-HausPeople · Frankfurt am Main
Hessisches Landesmuseum DarmstadtArt · Darmstadt
Museum für Moderne KunstArt · Frankfurt am Main
Museum WiesbadenArt · Wiesbaden
Schirn Kunsthalle FrankfurtArt · Frankfurt am Main
FridericianumArt · Kassel
Historisches Museum FrankfurtHistory · Frankfurt am Main
Museums in Hesse with free admission
- Gedenkstätte HadamarMemorial · Hadamar
1. Deutsches Polizeioldtimer-MuseumSpecial · Marburg
Geldmuseum der Deutschen BundesbankHistory · Frankfurt am Main
Marburger KunstvereinArt · Marburg
BüchnerhausPeople · Riedstadt- Central GarageTechnology · Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
Dorfmuseum ErzhausenRegional · Erzhausen
Fossilien- und Heimatmuseum MesselNature · Messel
GruberhofOpen-air · Groß-Umstadt
Heimatmuseum Homberg (Efze)Regional · Homberg (Efze)
Museums in Hesse with programs for families
- Städelsches KunstinstitutArt · Frankfurt am Main
- Senckenberg-NaturmuseumNature · Frankfurt am Main
- Frankfurter Goethe-HausPeople · Frankfurt am Main
- Hessisches Landesmuseum DarmstadtArt · Darmstadt
- Museum für Moderne KunstArt · Frankfurt am Main
- Museum WiesbadenArt · Wiesbaden
- Schirn Kunsthalle FrankfurtArt · Frankfurt am Main
- FridericianumArt · Kassel
- Historisches Museum FrankfurtHistory · Frankfurt am Main
Museum Angewandte KunstArt · Frankfurt am Main
Wheelchair-accessible museums in Hesse
- Museum WiesbadenArt · Wiesbaden
- Schirn Kunsthalle FrankfurtArt · Frankfurt am Main
- FridericianumArt · Kassel
- Historisches Museum FrankfurtHistory · Frankfurt am Main
Jüdisches Museum FrankfurtHistory · Frankfurt am Main
Museum für Kommunikation FrankfurtTechnology · Frankfurt am Main
Archäologisches Museum FrankfurtArchaeology · Frankfurt am Main
MathematikumTechnology · Gießen
Naturkundemuseum im OttoneumNature · Kassel
Gemäldegalerie Alte MeisterArt · Kassel
Museums in Hesse with the highest published visitor numbers
- Senckenberg-NaturmuseumNature · Frankfurt am Main
- Städelsches KunstinstitutArt · Frankfurt am Main
Freilichtmuseum HessenparkOpen-air · Neu-Anspach- Museum WiesbadenArt · Wiesbaden
EXPERIMINTA ScienceCenterTechnology · Frankfurt am Main- Gedenkstätte HadamarMemorial · Hadamar
Hessisches Braunkohle BergbaumuseumTechnology · Borken
Neue GalerieArt · Kassel
Hessisches LandesmuseumRegional · Kassel
Museum Schloss FechenbachArchaeology · Dieburg
Current special exhibitions at museums in Hesse
- Maria Magdalena: Sin. Pray. Love.Städelsches Kunstinstitut · Frankfurt am Main · until January 17, 2027
- Elmgreen & Dragset: Stillleben mit GemüseStädelsches Kunstinstitut · Frankfurt am Main · until January 17, 2027
- SurFace: Über HautStädelsches Kunstinstitut · Frankfurt am Main · until February 28, 2027
- Willkommen im ParadiesStädelsches Kunstinstitut · Frankfurt am Main · until June 27, 2027
- Sargassum – Fluch und SegenSenckenberg-Naturmuseum · Frankfurt am Main
- Secret Service: Frauen in der NaturforschungSenckenberg-Naturmuseum · Frankfurt am Main · until October 31, 2027
- Teure Freunde – Der Sammlerin Marianne Bachfeld zum DankFrankfurter Goethe-Haus · Frankfurt am Main · until October 20, 2026
- Unheimliches in Werken der Heidelberger Sammlung PrinzhornFrankfurter Goethe-Haus · Frankfurt am Main · until February 21, 2027
- 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 category
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many museums are there in Hesse?
Our directory currently lists 142 museums in Hesse across 66 towns and cities.
What are the best-known museums in Hesse?
Some of the best known are Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Senckenberg-Naturmuseum, Gedenkstätte Hadamar, Frankfurter Goethe-Haus, and Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt.
Which museums in Hesse offer free admission?
28 museums are free to visit – for example Gedenkstätte Hadamar, 1. Deutsches Polizeioldtimer-Museum, Geldmuseum der Deutschen Bundesbank, and Marburger Kunstverein.
Which museums in Hesse are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 15 are open, such as Senckenberg-Naturmuseum, Gedenkstätte Hadamar, and Frankfurter Goethe-Haus.
Which museums in Hesse are wheelchair accessible?
48 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Museum Wiesbaden, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, and Fridericianum. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit museums in Hesse?
A regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, with prices ranging from €1.50 to €35. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other states: Baden-Württemberg · Bavaria · Berlin · Brandenburg · Bremen · Hamburg · Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania · Lower Saxony · North Rhine-Westphalia · Rhineland-Palatinate · Saarland · Saxony · Saxony-Anhalt · Schleswig-Holstein · Thuringia