We often receive questions about group visits to the museum. Below we have collected some tips for your successful museum visit as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
Booking an educational programme
Which educational programme is right for my group?
Information on our educational programmes, such as guided tours, workshops and microscopy courses, is available on our website. There you will find the topics and prices of the respective programmes as well as information on age recommendations and class levels. The most popular and most booked programmes are currently the guided tours "highlights of the exhibition" and "dinosaurs and fossils".
How do I book an educational programme?
You can book an educational programme via a contact form or by e-mail. Due to the high demand, there are currently delays in processing e-mails.
The acceptance of bookings for group offers ends on the first day of the previous month. Bookings must therefore be made at least four weeks in advance.
For enquiries by mail please use the contact form. Your query should include the following:
- programme
- date and time (+ at least two other possible dates)
- name and address of your institution
- telephone number, e-mail address
- number of participants and accompanying persons
- class level, if applicable
- if applicable, request for thematic focus within the framework of the respective educational programme
Please also note that the price for the booked educational programme does not usually include the entrance fee. Children of pre-school age and two accompanying persons per class are admitted free of charge. Information about the admission price is available here.
The Museum für Naturkunde is closed on Monday, which is why no educational programmes can take place on this day.
How do I cancel a booked date?
We currently don’t charge you if you have to cancel. However, please inform us in time by e-mail or phone, at least two days before the booked date. This will prevent one of our guides from coming to the museum for nothing and incurring additional costs for the museum. In addition, the appointment can be reassigned.
Preparing your visit
Which day is best for a visit?
Numerous kindergarten groups and school classes visit the museum every day. Weekday mornings in particular are in demand and many educational programmes are booked up well in advance. If it is possible for you, visit the museum with your kindergarten group or school class around noon or in the afternoon. Friday mornings are usually not the busiest days either.
Does the museum provide educational materials?
On our website you will find educational materials to download free of charge. In addition, you can purchase discovery sheets for independent exploration of the museum for pupils from grade 3 or grade 5 in the museum shop. These cost €1.00 per sheet. You can also use our digital educational offers to prepare and follow up your visit.
Do I have to book a visit with my kindergarten group or school class?
If you would like to visit the museum independently with a kindergarten group or school class, you do not currently need to register. However, we do appreciate prior registration in order to be prepared for larger groups. You can inform us of your visit by e-mail or telephone. Please note the current regulations on registration and the protection and hygiene regulations.
Do we need a school confirmation?
For larger groups and groups recognisable as school classes, a school confirmation is currently not necessary. A school confirmation is necessary for groups of less than 10 people, as otherwise the ticket office staff cannot distinguish them from leisure groups and families. We generally recommend a confirmation for kindergarten and pre-school classes, as they receive free admission.
How to get there?
Although parking at the Museum is limited, public transport connections are very good – via the Underground station Naturkundemuseum. More detailed information on how to get to the Museum can be found here.
Can I prepare the pupils for the visit?
You can get the pupils in the right mood for the visit by informing them about the programme of the museum visit (e.g. guided tour followed by an independent tour of the exhibition), asking them about their interests and preparing questions together with them. It is also helpful to inform the children and young people about the contents of the museum in advance. On our website you will find information about the museum's research topics, the exhibitions and the educational offers as well as press releases about current research projects and events.
Please note that you are responsible for the children and young people. Please advise the pupils to behave appropriately in the museum. This includes paying attention to the noise level and not eating in the exhibition rooms.
Getting there
How do I pay and where is the meeting point?
You can pay at the Museum’s box office – either by cash or debit card. We do not accept payment in advance and do not send invoices. Unfortunately, only payment in cash is possible after the ticket office closes.
Meeting point is the information counter in the museum. After the museum closing time at 6.00 p.m., admission is via the right side entrance of the museum. Here, a staff member – your guide for the day – will welcome you. Please arrive in good time, allowing an extra 10–15 min for buying tickets, cloakroom and toilet.
Can we stay in the museum after the tour?
If you have enough time, we recommend that you also give the children and young people the opportunity to visit the museum before or after the educational programme. Pupils often express this wish when visiting museums. For independent exploration of the museum, worksheets are available for free download on our website. Unfortunately, audio guides can only be issued to groups if they are available and if they have booked in advance. However, if the children and young people have a smartphone, they can use our digital guide. An orientation map of the exhibition rooms is available free of charge at the information counter in the museum.
Is there a café or rooms for breaks in the museum?
Breaks are important. If you have booked several guided tours or workshops, please make sure to allow enough time for breaks so that the children and young people as well as guides can continue to enjoy the events. Small snacks such as sandwiches, quiches and soups can be purchased in the museum café. Children and young people can eat the food and drinks they have brought with them in the adjacent picnic area. If the weather is nice, you can also take a break outside in front of the museum and then visit the museum again. Your jackets, bags and rucksacks can be stored in the cloakroom in the basement of the building or the lockers in the café during your visit.