The silver, bowl-shaped BMW Museum (bmw-welt.com; adult/child €19/9) comprises seven themed "houses" that examine the development of BMW's product line and include sections on motorcycles and motor racing. Even if you can't tell a head gasket from a crankshaft, the interior design – with its curvy retro feel, futuristic bridges, squares and huge backlit wall screens – is reason enough to visit.
More thought-provoking parts deal openly with BMW's use of slave labor during the Nazi period and the company's commitment to sustainable motoring – the section on hydrogen-powered vehicles will certainly grow in future years – watch this space. All in all, it's a fascinating journey, even for those who can't tell a telescopic fork from their axle load distribution. Allow at least two hours to see everything.
The museum is linked to two more architecturally stunning buildings: the BMW headquarters (closed to the public) and the BMW Welt showroom.
