A BMW logo and chrome grille on a dark car hood with blurred lights in the background.

Behind the Scenes with BMW in Munich

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Behind the Scenes with BMW in Munich

Three buildings, over 125 cars across the museum's floors, and concept models that were never built. Give it a whole day.

Three buildings, over 125 cars across the museum's floors, and concept models that were never built. Give it a whole day.

Three buildings, over 125 cars across the museum's floors, and concept models that were never built. Give it a whole day.

With impressive architecture and 3 grand buildings, the BMW complex in Munich is quite the attraction and of course a must see for any car aficionado. Consisting of the BMW Welt, the BMW Museum and a BMW Plant, visiting this complex is a great way to spend a day. Although you can opt to visit 1 building or all 3, we recommend planning an entire day to visit each part of the BMW complex. Officially there is only 1 museum, however each building felt like a completely different exhibition and were all different from another.   

Being previous BMW owners, we were pretty excited to see where our car came from and to actually see how a these cars are produced. 

A yellow vintage Volkswagen Type 2 bus with an open side door sits on a white platform under many hanging yellow bulbs.
A white 1950s convertible with a green interior sits on a dark floor next to a sign and a blue car in the background.
A woman in a black top and jeans stands in a modern, brightly lit underground tunnel with blue and white lighting.
A close-up view of two vintage black cars parked side by side with prominent chrome grilles and round headlights.

Located just across the street form the Welt, the BMW Museum is an extraordinary place to discover BMW. It's a place where you can learn the inspiration behind various models, see how they are designed and be taken through the history of BMW through their cars, from classic to conceptual. Built on multi levels, the BMW Museum has over 125 of their most valuable and attractive cars on display.  

“The BMW Museum showcase floor had some of their most iconic cars on display.

A silver vintage Porsche 356 is displayed in a modern museum gallery with a large wall map and "1948" printed above it.

The BMW Museum Architecture

The architecture of the museum was just as stunning as the cars and we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the building. As you can tell, a lot of thought was put into making a visit here, a complete experience, both visually and educational. They even had a really cool library where you learn about the history of BMW.

High-angle view of a red car and a blue motorcycle parked on a circular white platform under a large "NO LIMIT" sign.
A wide shot from an escalator looking down into a modern train station concourse with white text overlaid on the frame.
A person in dark clothing sits on a white bench in a minimalist, all-white interior with vertical slats and linear lights.
A long, modern hallway with blue lighting and glass walls features a person walking toward a brightly lit doorway.

Vintage BMW

The collection of vintage BMWs on display was truly impressive. All of the models were in pristine condition, an you could see everything from the first motorcycles ever produced to classic cars, engines, and even airplane propellers!

“These were my absolute favorite cars in the museum! I can just imagine driving either one through rolling hills or along the beach ;)

A customized cafe racer motorcycle with a black frame and tan seat sits in front of a large black-and-white mural.
A woman in black sits on a circular platform next to a vintage yellow and white Volkswagen Type 2 van in a modern gallery.
A woman sits in the driver's seat of a blue vintage car with its hood and door open inside a bright showroom.
A woman in a black jacket and jeans stands next to a vintage green and tan convertible car in a modern showroom.

BMW Concept Cars

One of our favorite parts of the tour was being able to see how BMW actually goes about designing and experimenting with new cars. The even had some "concept" cars on display, though sadly these will never be built.

A white and blue BMW i8 hybrid sports car displayed on a raised platform in a dark showroom with spotlights.

BMW Welt

Built to feel like a floating cloud, the BMW Welt is a dramatic building where BMW can communicate with their customers and friends. Part showcase, part circus (we saw a motorcycle driver revving his engine and riding up stairs through the building) and part information center, the BMW Welt is a fun place to get to know BMW. If you're so inclined you can also go ahead and shop for your next BMW here, as they have one of the most impressive car showrooms we've ever seen!

A wide interior view of a modern airport terminal with curved white counters, large windows, and travelers walking below.

BMW Plant 

This is the building where all the magic happens. Here is where many of the BMWs you see driving around, are actually manufactured. Everything from stamping out the metal, to assembling the frame, to painting and quality assurance, is done inside this plant in Munich. If you choose to come in and take a tour, you get to see much of this done in person!

“Throughout the afternoon we were taken through every part of the production process with expert explanations of every step.

A wide interior view of a large aircraft hangar with rows of planes parked on both sides under high ceilings and lights.

We we're lucky enough to be shown around the plant by our guide, Peter, who was incredibly knowledgeable about the whole manufacturing processing and made the entire tour all the more interesting with his wonderful personality. Throughout the afternoon we were taken through every part of the production process with expert explanations of every step.

It was fascinating to see the robots at work, with sparks flying all around. We were shown where the parts are made, where the cars are painted and stored and every step and detail in between. 

There are several different types of tours and exhibitions available. If you're like me and ask a ton of questions make sure to take the private tour.

An industrial factory interior with heavy machinery, metal beams, and overhead conveyor systems under bright lights.

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About No Destinations

No Destinations is the travel blog of Chris & Danika Garlotta. In 2014, we quit our jobs, sold everything, rented out our house in San Francisco, and boarded a one-way flight to Europe. That decision turned into four years traveling the world full-time, visiting over 250 destinations and sharing our favorites hotels, restaurants, cruises, and experiences along the way.

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© 2014–2026

No Destinations. All rights reserved. All photos and written content are the property of No Destinations and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without explicit written permission.

About No Destinations

No Destinations is the travel blog of Chris & Danika Garlotta. In 2014, we quit our jobs, sold everything, rented out our house in San Francisco, and boarded a one-way flight to Europe. That decision turned into four years traveling the world full-time, visiting over 250 destinations and sharing our favorites hotels, restaurants, cruises, and experiences along the way.

Search…

© 2014–2026

No Destinations. All rights reserved. All photos and written content are the property of No Destinations and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without explicit written permission.

About No Destinations

No Destinations is the travel blog of Chris & Danika Garlotta. In 2014, we quit our jobs, sold everything, rented out our house in San Francisco, and boarded a one-way flight to Europe. That decision turned into four years traveling the world full-time, visiting over 250 destinations and sharing our favorites hotels, restaurants, cruises, and experiences along the way.

Search…

© 2014–2026

No Destinations. All rights reserved. All photos and written content are the property of No Destinations and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without explicit written permission.