Museum Fünf Kontinente

The Museum Fünf Kontinente, formerly known as the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde, was founded in 1862 as the first ethnological museum in Germany. The collection of artefacts of everyday life, ritual objects and works of art which are preserved and continually expanded here reflect humanity’s cultural diversity. They build bridges from the past to the present day and open doors to other ways of life and viewpoints. The Museum offers access to the cultural riches of the earth’s peoples in a way which is unique with Munich’s broad range of museums.

Based on our collections, we display the commonalities and differences of civilisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Oceania, the Orient and Europe. We invite children and adults to become acquainted with a variety of civilizations and the people who shaped them. We encourage visitors to consider what may seem to be "strange" modes of thought, to reflect on points of view and to take away inspirations and new ideas for their own lives.