Three museums within walking distance: Alte Pinakothek (Old Masters), Neue Pinakothek (19th century, currently closed for renovation until c. 2029), and Pinakothek der Moderne (20th-21st century). The Alte Pinakothek alone ranks among Europe's greatest painting collections — Durer, Rubens, Rembrandt in staggering depth.
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Alte Pinakothek first: the Durer self-portraits, the Rubens room (the largest Rubens collection in the world), and the Dutch masters section. If you have energy, Pinakothek der Moderne for Beckmann, Klee, and Beuys. The Neue Pinakothek is closed for renovation (expected to reopen c. 2029); selected highlights are shown at the Alte Pinakothek and Schack Collection during closure.
Sunday for reduced admission (EUR 1 at Alte Pinakothek). Weekday morning for quietest galleries. Thursday evening at Pinakothek der Moderne (open until 8pm). The museums are adjacent — you can walk between them in five minutes.
Alte Pinakothek opened in 1836, built by Leo von Klenze for King Ludwig I's collection. The collection includes Albrecht Durer's Self-Portrait at 28, Peter Paul Rubens' The Fall of the Rebel Angels, and the most comprehensive survey of German Renaissance and Flemish Baroque painting anywhere. The Neue Pinakothek (built 1853, rebuilt 1981 after war damage) has been closed for major renovation since 2019, with reopening expected around 2029; selected works are displayed at the Alte Pinakothek and the Schack Collection during the closure. Pinakothek der Moderne (opened 2002) is one of Europe's largest museums for modern and contemporary art, design, and architecture. Allow a full day if you care about painting. This is one of the great museum quarters in Europe.