North Rhine-Westphalia

Museums and galleries in North Rhine-Westphalia

Cologne's Museums & Galleries

Cologne’s cultural landscape spans two millennia, from the Roman foundations of the Romano-Germanic Museum to the avant-garde collections at Museum Ludwig, which houses one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe. Explore the origins of Eau de Cologne at the Farina Fragrance Museum or view medieval masterpieces at the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. This collection also highlights regional heritage, including specialized industrial railway museums and the open-air displays of Westphalian craftsmanship in Hagen.

Cologne's Museums & Galleries — Map

Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Museum Ludwig

Museum Ludwig, located in Cologne, Germany, houses a collection of modern art.

Johann Maria Farina / Public domain

B

Fragrance Museum

The Farina Fragrance Museum is situated across from Cologne City Hall, and near the famous Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in the Obenmarspforten…

Kleon3 / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Treasure Chamber of Cologne Cathedral

Discover the underground treasury of the Cologne Cathedral and marvel at the many precious ecclesiastical items displayed here.

Triggerhappy / CC BY-SA 2.5

D

Romano-Germanic Museum

The permanent exhibition of the Romano-Germanic Museum is currently closed due renovations.

Lichtwerbefabrik / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Museum of Applied Art

The Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln is a decorative arts museum in Cologne.

Laurens Lamberty / Wallraf-Richartz-Muse… / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Wallraf-Richartz Museum

First opened in 1861, this museum is home to a unique collection of fine art - ranging from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Busbahnhof / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Rheinisches Industriebahnmuseum Köln

Established in 1987, this museum preserves historical industrial locomotives and wagons, focusing on the railway heritage of the Rhineland region.

H

Bergische Museumsbahnen

The Bergische Museumsbahn is a heritage tram museum situated in the German city of Wuppertal.

I

Eisenbahnmuseum Metelen Land

Located at a former railway station on the Münster–Enschede line, this museum has showcased historical railway equipment and local transport history since 1986.

J

Haus Dahl

A historic branch of the Museum des Oberbergischen Kreises, this former farmhouse displays rural life and traditional building techniques dating back to the late 16th century.

K

Schwarzpulvermuseum Villa Ohl

Housed in a 19th-century industrialist's villa, this museum documents the history and technology of black powder production in the Wipperfürth region.

Frank Vincentz / CC-BY-SA-3.0

L

Deutsches Röntgen Museum

Located near the birthplace of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, this museum explores the discovery of X-rays and their evolving application in medicine, science, and technology.

Okoenigs / Public domain

M

Haus der Geschichten

A century-old house in Marienheide serving as a local history museum that preserves everyday stories and artifacts from the Oberbergischer Kreis.

Optimist4343 / CC BY-SA 3.0

N

Heimatmuseum Haus Dassel

A manor-like historic residence in Warstein-Allagen that displays local history, industrial development, and regional natural science exhibits.

Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Heimatmuseum Helfs Hof

A historic farm estate in Sevinghausen that showcases agricultural history, traditional crafts, and regional artifacts from the Wattenscheid area.

Bubo / CC BY-SA 3.0

P

Stadtmuseum Werdohl

Local history museum documenting the industrial development, social history, and cultural heritage of the town of Werdohl.

Günter Seggebäing / CC BY-SA 3.0

Q

Bischofsmühle

A historic water mill in Coesfeld featuring a functional overshot water wheel and exhibits on traditional milling techniques.

Axel Hindemith / CC BY-SA 4.0

R

Deutsches Museum Bonn

The Deutsches Museum Bonn is a museum with exhibits and experiments of famous scientists, engineers and inventors.

MJJR / CC BY 3.0

S

Hagen Westphalian Open-Air Museum

The Hagen Westphalian Open-Air Museum is a museum at Hagen in the southeastern Ruhr area, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Other Lists

Nordrhein-Westfalen's Essential Landmarks Cologne's Hidden Gems Cologne Heritage Sites Churches and Religious Sites Castles and Manor Houses Parks and Nature Reserves Architectural Highlights of Cologne Regional German Flavors