Museums and exhibitions in Kassel
The museum landscape in Kassel is diverse and has something to offer for all age groups. Among the most popular museums and exhibitions in Kassel include the interactive Grimm World and the art collections in Wilhelmshöhe Palace. Another highlight for art lovers is the world art exhibition documenta, which takes place every 5 years. But you can also discover real art and cultural treasures in small museums and exhibitions in Kassel, often run by volunteers.
The most important facts in brief
- Museums for families: Natural History Museum, Planetarium, HÖR.SPIEL Museum
- Art museums: Wilhelmshöhe Palace with works by the Old Masters, New Gallery of Modern Art
- Museums for local culture and history: Grimmwelt, Stadtmuseum Kassel, Hessisches Landesmuseum
1. city museum Kassel (culture/history)
The city museum invites Kassel residents and tourists alike to discover and learn. In the permanent exhibition and changing special exhibitions, young and old alike can immerse themselves in the history of Kassel, which stretches back over 1,100 years. Around 700 exhibits tell the story of Kassel up to the present day. Interactive stations encourage visitors to try things out.
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- For adults & children from primary school age
- Time: 1-2 hours.
- Address: Ständeplatz 16, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: digital offer, city tours
- Free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 18
Further information: https://www.kassel.de/einrichtungen/stadtmuseum/index.php
2. new gallery (art)
Since 1976, visitors to the Neue Galerie have been able to marvel at modern paintings, sculptures and other works of art on 3500 m² of exhibition space. From 19th century landscape painting and representatives of classical modernism such as Max Ernst to pop art and works by Andy Warhol, the Neue Galerie has plenty to offer art lovers. Since 2019, the permanent exhibition and changing special exhibitions have been complemented by a particularly worthwhile exhibition on documenta, »about: documenta«. This tells the story of the world art exhibition from its beginnings to the present day using a number of original works and photos.
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- For adults & young people interested in art
- Time: 2-3 hours.
- Address: Schöne Aussicht 1, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Free of charge for children and young people under 18
Further information: https://www.heritage-kassel.de/standorte/neue-galerie
3. Grimmwelt Kassel (culture/literature/language)
Situated on a vineyard and surrounded by greenery, the Grimmwelt invites you into the world of fairy tales with its multimedia and interactive exhibition. In the museum, you will not only catch a glimpse of the manuscript copies of the „Children's and Household Tales“, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The linguistic work of the Brothers Grimm and aspects of cultural studies are also given space in the modular exhibition areas. A mix of film, sound and artistic installations ensures a varied experience.
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- For adults (especially those interested in art and languages) & older children
- Time: 2-3 hours.
- Address: Weinbergstraße 21, 34117 Kassel (located in a garden monument zone, arrival by public transportation is recommended)
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: Accessible roof terrace (free of charge), café and restaurants, in summer GRIMMS Garten (beer garden) opens in the vineyard park behind the museum
Further information: https://www.grimmwelt.de/de/
4. natural history museum (natural history)
The natural history museum in the Ottoneum offers families with children of all ages a fascinating journey through 300 million years of evolutionary history in the Kassel region - from deserts and seabeds to ice ages, dinosaurs and mammoths. Numerous fossils, reconstructions, hands-on stations and special exhibitions make the museum a real experience. Given the 785,000 items in the collection and the long tradition of research, this is hardly surprising.
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- For families
- Time: 1-3 hours.
- Address: Steinweg 2, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: Family tours, lectures on nature conservation and biodiversity
Further information: https://www.kassel.de/naturkundemuseum
5. museum for sepulchral culture (culture)
The Museum of Sepulchral Culture, which is just a stone's throw away from the Grimmwelt, focuses on the themes of death and funerary culture. Around 25,000 exhibits are used to explain and illustrate the development of funerary culture from the Middle Ages to the present day, as well as the customs of burial, mourning and memorial culture. The museum's collections mainly originate from Christian Western culture.
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- For adults and teenagers (older children depending on sensitivity)
- Time: 2-3 hours.
- Address: Weinbergstraße 25-27, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: Public guided tour (every Wednesday), seminars and training courses, digitized special exhibitions
Further information: https://www.sepulkralmuseum.de/
6th Hessian State Museum (history/culture)
The Hessian State Museum presents 300,000 years of (northern) Hessian regional and cultural history on three levels - from the Stone Age to the present day. The focal points include archaeological finds, artisan collections of the Hessian landgraves and insights into folk culture since around 1800. The historic building from 1913 with Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance elements and the tower is also a highlight.
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- For adults and children
- Time: 3-4 hours.
- Address: Brüder-Grimm-Platz 5, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: The tower can be climbed for a beautiful view
- Free of charge for children and young people under 18
Further information: https://www.heritage-kassel.de/standorte/hessisches-landesmuseum
7. Wilhelmshöhe Palace (art/history)
Wilhelmshöhe Palace in the Bergpark of the same name is home to several museums and collections. Here you will find a painting gallery of the „Old Masters” - with works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Dürer and Titian. World-famous paintings such as „The Blessing of Jacob“ and the Portrait of Saskia can be admired here. The palace also houses a collection of antiquities with 800 objects (including from Greek, Egyptian and Roman times), a collection of prints and drawings and a library. The castle rooms in the Weißenstein wing (castle museum) can only be visited as part of a guided tour (currently closed due to renovation work, as of Dec. 2025).
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- For adults & young people interested in art
- Time: 2-3 hours.
- Address: In Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe (the castle is only within walking distance)
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Free of charge for children and young people under 18
Further information: https://www.heritage-kassel.de/standorte/hessisches-landesmuseum
8th Fridericianum (Art)
The Museum Fridericianum, founded in 1779 as one of the first public museums in the world, today presents a diverse program of contemporary art on over 2,000 square meters. In addition to changing special exhibitions, it is a central venue for the documenta. Educational offers and a varied program of events make the Fridericianum a lively place of exchange.
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- For adults
- Time: 1-3 hours.
- Address: Friedrichsplatz 18, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: Certified organic café, sun terrace, free events for children
- Free admission on Wednesdays
- Free of charge for children and young people under 18
Further information: https://fridericianum.org/
9. documenta (art)
The documenta in Kassel is considered one of the world's most important exhibitions of contemporary art and has been held every five years since 1955 - each time for 100 days at numerous locations in the city. Many of the works on display remain permanently in Kassel's public space and continue to shape the cityscape to this day. The first edition took place in the then ruins of the Fridericianum, where Arnold Bode and Werner Haftmann presented art after the Second World War that was not allowed to be shown during the Nazi era. The next edition will take place from June 12 to September 19, 2027.
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10. technology museum (technology)
The Kassel Museum of Technology is located in the historic Henschel Plant II in Rothenditmold. The museum showcases products, technologies and innovations from Kassel and northern Hesse - from astronomy and vehicle transmissions to refrigerators and precision instruments. Visitors can discover locomotives, vintage cars, a maglev train (Transrapid 05) and interesting devices that bring the diverse technical history of the region to life.
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- For families
- Time: 2-3 hours.
- Address: Wolfhager Stra. 109, 34127 Kassel
- Opening hours: Wed-Fri, Sat-Sun
- Special features: Exhibit of the month, BEBRA model railroad layout, 1:1 wooden model of the „Dragon“ locomotive“
- Free for children up to 14 years
Further information: https://www.tmkkassel.de/
11th Planetarium in the Orangery (Astronomy)
The Kassel Planetarium is the largest in the state of Hesse and offers a variety of shows for young and old. Thanks to state-of-the-art projection technology, visitors can travel to distant galaxies and space stations. An entertaining visit to a show can be combined with long walks in the Karlsaue State Park. Please note that children under the age of 3 are not permitted in the auditorium.
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- For families (children from approx. 6 years)
- Time: 1-1.5 hours depending on the demonstration.
- Address: An der Karlsaue 20d, 34121 Kassel
- Opening hours: Sat-Sun
- Special features: Children's programs, family programs and music programs, restaurant
Further information: https://www.heritage-kassel.de/standorte/planetarium
12th/13th Spohr Museum & HÖR.SPIEL Museum (music/media)
The Spohr Museum in Kassel, in the Palais Bellevue, is dedicated to the city's musical history and the life of the violinist and composer Louis Spohr. On two floors, visitors can discover the musical diversity of Kassel. At interactive hands-on stations, children and adults have the opportunity to feel the difference between violin strings made of different materials or to conduct a virtual orchestra.
The Palais Bellevue is also home to the HÖR.SPIEL Museum invites you to get active at four stations. There you can record your own radio play or set a silent movie to music.
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- For families
- Time: 1-3 hours.
- Address: Palais Bellevue, Schöne Aussicht 2, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun (HÖR.SPIEL Museum only on weekends)
- Free admission/donation
Further information: https://brueckner-kuehner.de/hoerspiel-museum/, https://www.spohr-museum.de/
14th Caricatura - Gallery for Comic Art (Art/Satire)
The Caricatura in Kassel is a museum for fans of comics, caricatures and satirical art. Several large exhibitions a year show cartoons, caricatures and comic paintings and make for entertaining visits that often provoke thought. The store is also worth a visit with its wide range of humorous books, cards and gymmicks.
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- For adults & teenagers
- Time: 1-2 hours.
- Address: KulturBahnhof, Rainer-Dierichs-Platz 1, 34117 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun
- Special features: (online) store with books, postcards and funny gymmicks
- Free for children up to 12 years
Further information: https://caricatura.de/
15. marble bathroom (art/architecture)
The marble bath in the Karlsaue was designed by the French sculptor Pierre Étienne Monnot between 1722 and 1728 on behalf of Landgrave Carl. It was never used as a bathing establishment, but for princely representation and festive occasions. Marble sculptures, reliefs and colorful wall coverings make the baths a masterpiece of Baroque interior design. It is considered one of the most important ensembles of Baroque interior design north of the Alps.
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- For adults and children
- Time: approx. 30 minutes
- Address: An der Karlsaue 20d, 34121 Kassel
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun (only from 1.04. - 31.10.)
- Free admission/donation
Further information: https://www.heritage-kassel.de/standorte/marmorbad
16th Henschel Museum (industrial history/technology)
The Henschel Museum in Kassel is dedicated to the more than 200-year history of the Henschel family of entrepreneurs, who played a key role in shaping the industrial and railroad history of the region. The collection focuses on locomotive models - from the „Dragon“ of 1848 to the Transrapid. The six generations of the family are presented on a tour and their significance for the development of the company and their influence on the society of the city of Kassel are explained.
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- For adults and older children
- Time: 1-2 hours.
- Address: Wolfhager Straße 109, 34127 Kassel
- Opening hours: every first Saturday and Sunday of the month
- Free admission and parking
Further information: https://www.henschel-museum.net/
Other museums and local history sites in Kassel and the surrounding area
In Kassel and northern Hesse, there are of course many more museums waiting to be discovered by you. For example, visit the Jungborn spa on the Fulda or the Energy Technology Museum in the south of the city. Another tip for nature lovers: In the Reinhardswald Nature Park there are many small (special) museums that bring the history and culture of the region to life. For example, visit the glass museum in Immenhausen or the pharmacy museum in Hofgeismar and combine an excursion into nature with new knowledge!
Frequently asked questions about museums in Kassel
For tourists, there are guest cards for North Hesse (including Kassel) and Kassel. These cards give you free or reduced admission to many attractions, including museums.
- MyCardPlusYou will receive this free of charge from your host if you stay in one of the participating accommodations.
- KasselCardThe card can be purchased at the tourist information office in the city center, for example. It is your ticket for the ÖNVP and grants you discounts on admission tickets at participating cultural institutions.
With the Kassel Museum Night museums, galleries and cultural venues in the city are transformed into experience spaces for one evening. On this day, visitors can view exhibitions and collections outside of regular opening hours. Live music, performances and readings round off the cultural offerings. You can visit all participating cultural venues with one ticket.
Further information: https://museumsnacht.kassel.de/index.php
There are several museums and collections in Kassel that are accessible free of charge or with free admission for certain visitor groups - especially for children and young people. The Mamorbad, for example, is free for all visitors. The Hessian State Museum is free for anyone under 18.
Some cultural institutions grant holders of the FamilyApp Kassel free admission, including some from the institution Hessel Kassel Heritage managed museums (as of Dec. 2025).
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E-Mail: info@wfg-kassel.de