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36 Hours in Munich

By A.J. Goldmann April 18, 2024

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By A.J. Goldmann Photographs by Laetitia Vancon

A.J. Goldmann has written about European arts and culture for nearly two decades. He currently divides his time between Munich and Berlin.

Munich is giving Berlin, its longtime cultural rival, a run for its money. Shedding its reputation as the conservative Bavarian capital, Munich is emerging as a younger, laid-back hub that’s balancing tradition and innovation in unusual ways. Look to the Schlachthofviertel, a rapidly evolving cultural district centered around an active slaughterhouse (yes, really) that’s sprung to life with nightclubs and bars (including one in a decommissioned ship) and a beautiful new home for the Volkstheater , one of the city’s main playhouses. Head to the Isarphilharmonie , an ultra-modern new concert hall, to hear some of Munich's top musical ensembles, including the splendid Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , which turns 75 this year. And if you’re visiting in the summer, don’t miss the Munich Opera Festival , which is nearing its 150th birthday.

Recommendations

• The Englischer Garten , or the English Garden, Munich’s sprawling and beloved central park, is popular with locals during the warmer months.
• The Lenbachhaus Museum has Germany’s most important collection of works by the artists of Der Blaue Reiter, the influential modern art association founded in 1911 in Munich.
• Bahnwärter Thiel , a hip cultural space in a formerly abandoned lot with graffitied freight containers and old subway cars, has a vibrant techno club at its center.
• The Viktualienmarkt , Munich’s central outdoor greengrocers market, is full of attractively displayed fresh produce and vendors selling street food.
• Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism , a sobering museum built on the former site of Nazi headquarters, traces the ideology and the crimes of the party that was founded in Munich in 1920.
• The grand Nationaltheater is home to the Bayerische Staatsoper , one of Germany’s best opera companies.
• The grassy banks of the Isar , the river that runs through Munich, form an urban oasis where locals (and their dogs) stroll, picnic and even go for a dip in the river.
• The Alte Pinakothek , in Munich’s museum quarter, houses a storied collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries in a stately building.
• The Nymphenburg Palace was the former summer residence of Bavaria’s ruling family. The palace’s sweeping and stately gardens rival those of Versailles.
• Alva-Morgaine is a delightfully overstuffed second-hand shop with an unpredictable and ever-changing assortment of elegant and eccentric vintage clothing.
• Der Dantler gives a modern and refined take on Alpine cuisine in an informal atmosphere.
• Drei Mühlen is a bustling neighborhood restaurant where you can find the best deal on weisswurstfrühstück, a traditional Bavarian breakfast of veal sausages and a pretzel.
• Café Zimt und Trallala is a bakery and cafe that makes exquisite breakfast pastries.
• Deutsche Eiche is a gay-friendly restaurant and hotel with a lovely rooftop terrace.
• Alte Utting , a decommissioned ship perched on a railway bridge, is one of the city’s most unusual and most atmospheric places to have a cocktail.
• GötterSpeise is an eye-poppingly colorful cocoa emporium with a creative and delicious assortment of hot chocolate.
• Caspar Plautz , on the Viktualienmarkt, serves baked potatoes with a variety of stuffings.
• Kaffeerösterei Viktualienmarkt , a cafe and roastery in the middle of the market, is your best bet for coffee.
• Lea Zapf , a cafe and patisserie on the Viktualienmarkt, makes decadent cakes and small pastries.
• Eataly , in a cavernous indoor market next to the Viktualienmarkt, is a mecca for gourmet Italian products.
• Café Frischhut makes local doughnuts called schmalznudels and other deep-fried delights.
• Conviva im Blauen Haus , a restaurant attached to the Münchner Kammerspiele, one of the city’s main playhouses, is the place to go for a quick and delicious pre-theater meal.
• The Königlicher Hirschgarten , one of the world’s largest and oldest beer gardens, is a perfect place to enjoy local delicacies and have a pint with thousands of your closest friends.
• Cortiina Hotel is sophisticated and centrally located, within spitting distance of the Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s legendary beer hall, and a few blocks from the opera house. Wooden floors and furniture and stone tiling in the bathroom contribute to the sense of luxurious minimalism. Rooms start at 289 euros, or $307.
• Living Hotel Prinzessin Elisabeth , a block from the Isar River, offers a variety of tastefully furnished rooms and suites. The rooms are spacious and all come equipped with a kitchenette and free drinks in the minibar. Rooms start at €120.
• Hotel Mariandl offers elegant, rather old-fashioned rooms (some with shared bathrooms) with Belle Époque charm. Set on a leafy boulevard close to the central train station, the hotel also has an atmospheric Viennese-style cafe and restaurant, Café am Beethovenplatz. Rooms start at €69.
• For short-term rentals , consider looking in Maxvorstadt and Schwabing, two residential neighborhoods north of the center with more vacation properties than the cramped old town.
• Munich’s public transportation system, MVG , which includes trains , buses and trams , is extensive, efficient and affordable. In central Munich, a single ride costs €3.90, a day pass costs €9.20, and a week pass costs €21.10. On weekends, the system runs all night long. The MVG also offers bike sharing , which can be booked with an app . Uber operates in Germany as a regulated taxi service nearly identical to the city’s other taxi companies. A good local ride-hailing option is IsarFunk . It’s more common (and easier) to order a ride in advance than to hail one on the street.

The Eisbach in the Englischer Garten

Start by getting to know Munich’s beloved central park. From Odeonsplatz, a 19th-century square, stroll to the Hofgarten , a manicured park surrounded with hedges and crowned by an elegant central gazebo. From there, cross into the rambling Englischer Garten , which is larger than New York’s Central Park. Wave to the bathers bobbing up and down in the Eisbach, the freezing man-made river that snakes through the park, and watch the daredevil surfers who ride its waves. You can also stop for an inaugural pint at the beer garden next to the Chinese Tower, a five-story wooden pagoda; take a boat out on the placid Kleinhesseloher See lake; or visit the hilltop Monopteros , a 19th-century replica of a Greek temple that was built for the Bavarian king Ludwig I.

Germany’s culture of commemoration, seen in its willingness to examine the crimes it committed during World War II, make the country unique. The Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism , which opened in 2015 at the site of a former Nazi headquarters, charts the history of Nazism in Munich, the birthplace of the movement. It traces the rise of the party and Adolf Hitler, including his failed but deadly coup, known as the Beer Hall Putsch , in 1923, while also describing the persecution of Munich’s Jewish population, which numbered roughly 12,000 before Hitler’s rise to power, and the city’s postwar reckoning with its Nazi past. The current temporary exhibition (through July 28) examines right-wing terrorism in post-war Germany to the present day, including the 1980 Oktoberfest bombing and the 2016 attack at a Munich shopping mall. (Entry, free.)

Get a taste of modern Bavaria at Der Dantler, one of a new crop of restaurants injecting Alpine cuisine with Asian accents. The restaurant, in the former working-class neighborhood of Giesing, has a casual, hole-in-the-wall vibe; friendly and attentive staff; and, in the evenings, a frequently changing five-course menu (105 euros per person) with ambitious preparations of regional produce. A recent dinner included roasted carrots coated with preserved lemon and a spicy macadamia crunch; and a tender saddle of veal in jus, served with schupfnudeln, or German gnocchi. Vegetarian and pescatarian options available. The wine pairing (currently 56 euros per person) is a great way to get to know the menu’s German and Austrian bottles, including some adventurous natural wines. Reservations required.

The Fischbrunnen (Fish Fountain) on Marienplatz, the central square in Munich’s old town, with the white Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) in the distance.

Drei Mühlen

Weisswurstfrühstück is a time-honored German tradition in the south: A pair of boiled veal sausages, eaten with sweet mustard and a chewy pretzel, washed down with beer. It’s the Bavarian breakfast of champions. Try it at Drei Mühlen , a restaurant that gets its sausages from the area’s best-known butcher, Magnus Bauch . Drei Mühlen recently raised its prices, but even so, its weisswurstfrühstück remains an unbeatable deal at €6.55 (which includes a half-liter of Augustiner lager beer). It’s a bustling locals’ hang, especially on weekends, so you might end up sitting at the cramped bar. Reservations recommended. For vegetarians, Café Zimt und Trallala , around the corner, bakes some of the best croissants in the city and not-to-be-missed franzbrötchen, a sticky, flaky, cinnamon-and butter-pastry (€2.80 each).

After you’ve polished off your beer, head to the Isar, the river that flows through Munich. Cross the Wittelsbacherbrücke, a bridge, and walk along the dirt paths on the river’s grassy bank. A bold, decade-long rewilding project , completed in 2011, widened the Isar here, purified its waters and added a series of gravel paths along its banks. Watch (and maybe even join) the courageous swimmers carried by the strong current around the Weideninsel, a small island that emerged during the rewilding. To keep exploring the banks of the Isar, walk south, past the lovingly maintained Rosengarten, whose flowers are just starting to bloom. You will soon reach the Flaucher, a series of pebbled beaches, connected by an elevated walkway, that are popular with both nudists and families who barbecue (they keep to their separate shores).

The years that Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock group Queen, lived in Munich (between 1979 and 1985) made him a local hero and one of the city’s gay icons. Visit some of his haunts around Gärtnerplatz, a circular plaza, like the nearby Deutsche Eiche , nowadays a hotel and restaurant with a stunning rooftop terrace. (He was also a habitué at Pimpernel and Ochsengarten , two still-operating gay bars and nightclubs on the neighboring Müllerstrasse.) Mercury bought an apartment with the Austrian actress Barbara Valentin on Hans-Sachs-Strasse, a quaint street lined with prewar buildings. There, find Alva-Morgaine , a delightful wunderkammer (or cabinet of curiosities) of one-of-a-kind fashion, like 1920s flapper dresses. Around the corner is GötterSpeise , a cocoa emporium with a creative assortment of hot chocolates (€4 to €6).

If the Englischer Garten are the lungs of Munich, then the Viktualienmarkt , one of Europe’s best outdoor food markets, is the city’s stomach. Try the heavenly pressed sandwiches at Luiginos Bio Feinkost , which include a pastrami-Cheddar melt or grilled eggplant, chevre and spinach (from €6.90); or head to Caspar Plautz , a potato merchant that serves stuffed baked spuds (from €7.50 a plate). If the weather is inclement, duck inside the temple-like Eataly directly next door for a slice of focaccia (from about €6). For dessert, try the freshly fried schmalznudels – Bavarian doughnuts — at Café Frischhut (from €3) — or the decadent cakes and pastries at Lea Zapf (from €4). The house-roasted coffee at the Kaffeerösterei Viktualienmarkt might be the best in town.

Der Blaue Reiter, or the Blue Rider , a group of Expressionist artists which coalesced in Munich in 1911, is arguably the city’s greatest contribution to 20th-century art. In boldly colorful works, the Blue Rider artists used modern painting as a conduit to the spiritual. The Lenbachhaus Museum , in the city’s central Kunstareal, or museum quarter, boasts the world’s largest collection of paintings by the group whose members included Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Paul Klee. The trove exists because of Gabriele Münter , a distinctive and prolific painter who was also Kandinsky’s lover (he eventually left her to move back to Russia). In 1957, when she turned 80, she donated more than 1,000 works by herself, Kandinsky, Marc, Klee and others to the museum. (Entry, €10.)

It’s easy to miss Conviva im Blauen Haus , an unassuming restaurant behind the Münchner Kammerspiele , one of the city’s three publicly funded theaters. The restaurant, with industrial lighting and long wooden tables, doubles as the theater’s canteen and employs people with mental and physical disabilities as cooks and servers. Prompt and attentive service ensures that everyone — actors and audience members alike — gets to the show on time. A recent evening menu featured osso buco on saffron risotto, Iberian pork loin with king oyster mushroom and potato strudel, and sea bream with artichokes and fennel puree, all in the €20 range.

Nationaltheater

Germany is home to more than 80 opera companies and the Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera), which traces its history back more than 350 years, might be the country’s finest. These days, it has a reputation for a varied operatic repertoire, often presented in avant-garde productions. Locals love to get gussied up for performances at the company’s grand main venue, the nearly 2,000-seat Nationaltheater . Germany’s lavish public subsidies mean that there are tickets for every budget, including over 300 standing room tickets for under €20. Upcoming highlights include Romeo Castellucci’s densely symbolic take on Wagner’s “ Tannhäuser ,” a new “ Tosca ,” directed by the Hungarian filmmaker Kornel Mundruczo and the summertime premiere of “ Le Grand Macabre ,” directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski, in honor of the Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti’s centennial.

Alte Utting

Munich still lags behind Berlin when it comes to clubbing, but its nightlife has become much more varied over the past decade. One of the most unusual club venues is Bahnwärter Thiel , a cultural space in the edgy Schlachhofviertel district, just south of the center of town. The large outdoor area contains abandoned subway cars and sea freight containers, one of which contains the Kulturhaus, a club that attracts some of Germany’s best techno D.J.s. (Most concert tickets, €10.) A few blocks away is the Alte Utting , a bar and event space in a decommissioned passenger steam ship perched high above street level on a disused railway bridge.

The statue of Bavaria, the female personification of the southern German state, looks over the expansive Theresienwiese, the site of the annual Oktoberfest beer festival.

Alte Pinakothek

On Sundays, Munich’s state-run museums charge €1 entry to their permanent exhibitions. If you need to choose just one, head to the Alte Pinakothek , one of the world’s finest collections of European paintings, which is housed under the soaring ceiling of an early-19th-century building. Highlights include a richly varied assortment of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, which looks more stunning than ever after recent improvements to the skylights. More than 200 paintings in the main upper galleries have changed places as part of a recent reorganization that eschews traditional ordering along geographical and chronological lines in favor of a more flexible presentation. If you have time to spare, cross the road to the Pinakothek der Moderne , home to 20th- and 21st-century art. Be warned, though: It will set you back another euro.

Königlicher Hirschgarten

Man does not live by art alone. After you’re done soaking in centuries’ worth of masterpieces, head over to the Königlicher Hirschgarten , one of the world’s largest beer gardens, founded in 1791. Find a spot in the main 7,000-seat area, which is self-service and has long, shared tables and Augustiner lager on tap. Sausages, potato salad and rotisserie chicken are king here, but the steckerlfisch, a whole grilled fish on a stick, is also a local delicacy. (Half-liter beer, €4.20; beer garden food, €3 to €20.) After lunch, stroll through the nearby Nymphenburg Palace , the former summer residence of Bavaria’s ruling family. Explore the 445-acre garden and marvel at the palace’s vast main building, whose 2,000-foot-long facade is larger than that of Versailles (gardens and parks entry, free; ceremonial rooms, €8).

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20 essential travel tips for every first-time Munich visitor

Everything first-timers need to know to get around Munich, from transport tips to top attractions to Bavarian etiquette

Sure, you might know about Munich’s great museums, foodie scene and the ridiculous amount of beer on offer. But did you know about having to carry cash? Or that shops are always closed one day of the week?

Did you know you can surf here on the side of the street? Or that you can get into a museum for a euro? Well, if any of this is news to you, it sounds like you need this list. Our local writer has compiled the 20 essential things you need to know before you visit Munich. This is your holy grail. Enjoy!

RECOMMENDED:  📍 The best  things to do in Munich 🍴 The best  restaurants in Munich 🍻 Best places  to drink beer in Munich 🏺 The best  museums in Munich 🏛️ The best  attractions in Munich

Naomi Kaye is a writer based in Munich. At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines . 

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Essential tips for every first-time Munich visitor

1.  prepare for the ‘millionendorf’ atmosphere.

Munich isn’t just any city. The word to describe the vibe here is gemutlich, which means cosy, and let us tell you, it lives up to the name. And that’s what’s behind the term Millionendorf - Munich is the kind of place where you say hello on the street, you know your local shopkeepers, and you always make space for bikes. It’s not a skyscraper city, more like a little village. Take it in. 

2.  Carry cash

While major supermarket chains and shopping outlets are likely to accept your credit card, most restaurants and stores in Munich will only accept cash or EC-cards (like debit cards). Make sure you have enough euros with you for everyday use. The COVID-19 pandemic has dented the German love of cash, but hard currency remains king in these parts.

3.  We’re pretty direct

Germans have a reputation for being very direct, and Bavarians are no exception. If you walk into the bike lane by accident or commit some other faux pas, chances are someone will let you know. This honesty also has some pay-offs, though – if you leave your wallet at a restaurant, someone may well run after you to return it, or if you lose a mitten on the sidewalk, you could find it hanging from a fence or tree near where you left it.

4.  The Bavarian dialect can be tough

Pleased you’ll have no issue with dialect because you’re fluent in German? We’ve got bad news. The Bavarian dialect can be tricky to understand even for native Germans. Need a couple starters? Pfiade (goodbye), Rozgloggn (a stuffy nose), Fraibialädschn (a person who’s a big taker but not a very generous giver). That should do you. 

5.  You can surf here sans ocean

At the Eisbach  on the Isar river, you’ll see people catching waves whatever the weather – there are other points where the river converges to create a surf wave, but the Eisbach is the most notable and attracts a lot of onlookers. Admittedly, people are more warmly dressed for surfing here than in Hawaii.

Check out more of the best things to do in Munich . 

6.  We’re bananas for Boazn

Want the ultimate local drinking experience? Hit up one of the city’s boazn , Munich’s equivalent of dive bars. They’re mostly quite cosy, with slot machines, neighbourhood drunks and effusive bartenders who can offer you not just a freshly tapped beer but also some life advice.

While you’re at it, check out our guide to the best bars in Munich .  

7.  Sometimes museum visits are just one euro

A museum tour is well worth your time in Munich, as the city is home to many world-class art galleries, science museums and even some obscure offerings including the Kartoffelmuseum (Potato Museum) and the Jagd- und Fischerei-Museum (the Hunting and Fishing Museum). On Sundays, a visit to many of the city’s finest costs only one euro.

Check out more of the best museums in Munich . 

8.  Peruse the outdoor markets

Munich’s famous year-round produce market, the Viktualienmarkt , is where to head for fresh food and brews in a gigantic beer garden. All around the city, other farmers’ markets draw the locals in – check neighbourhood listings to find out what’s closest to you. And in winter, don’t forget to explore the numerous Christkindlmarkts , Munich’s Christmas markets… perhaps a Glühwein (mulled wine) or a Lebkuchen (gingerbread) is in order.

9.  A car is unnecessary in Munich

Locals do love their BMWs and Mercedes, but you can totally get by without a car in Munich (and frankly, given the cost of petrol and prevalent rush-hour traffic, this is a good idea). Public transport is comprehensive and excellent, most of central Munich is walkable and bike lanes (and rentals) are everywhere and widely used.

10.  No Sunday shopping

Before you plan out your week (or weekend) in Munich, make sure you make note of the fact that most stores (supermarkets included) are closed on Sundays. Stock up on those groceries and plan your vintage shopping trip for another day, folks. Oh and don’t worry, there are emergency supermarkets and a bunch of pharmacies that stay open, so you won’t be stranded. 

11.  You might actually see trachten (traditional German garments)

Yes, Munich locals do really wear lederhosen and dirndls (as well as janker , and other classic Bavarian clothing) on special occasions like weddings or going to church. You’re welcome to sport your own tracht if you like – just be aware that a proper, well-made piece is costly. That said, a really good set of trachten  can last for generations.

12.  Take a hike

A huge perk of Munich life is the city’s quick and convenient access to the mountains. Hop on a train and you’ll be at a trailhead in less than an hour. Paths are well marked, and most of them feature Almhütte where you can enjoy a beer surrounded by the mountain air, adorable cows and breathtaking scenery.

13.  Keep an eye out for street art

Sometimes Munich comes off as a bit staid and conservative, but the city definitely has an edgy side – which often manifests itself through street art. Local graffiti artists’ work can be found primarily in bike and pedestrian tunnels that run throughout the city centre. You might have to search a little while, but the hunt pays off.

14.  All about that bread

This is not the city for a low carb diet; the bread in Munich is unbeatable. Salty pretzels, dark rye bread, yeast buns with raisins and sourdough are just some of the excellent baked goods you can get in this city. Bakeries abound – so you’ll never lack options. Better yet, find out how to eat like a local in Munich (pretzels included). 

15.  Try a group tour

Munich has a wide array of city tours you can take to help explore the city and understand its history and culture. Bike tours are particularly popular, as the city is so cycle-friendly, though also worthwhile are walking tours on topics as diverse as the local food scene, the Second World War and Bavaria’s former royalty. And if you’re that way inclined, why not try one of the brewery tours – or another around the BMW manufacturing plant?

16.  Check out a castle

Munich and its surroundings have several castles that are worth a visit if you want to see how former Bavarian royalty lived. Schloss Nymphenburg, in particular, makes for a decent day trip, as it also features beautiful gardens, a neighbouring science museum, a river brimming with hungry carp, and indoor botanical gardens.

17.  Don’t stop at Oktoberfest

Sure, the city is famous for Oktoberfest, but that’s hardly the only festival worth attending in Munich. The popular Tollwood festival occurs twice yearly (summer and winter) with international food, a circus and live music. Opera, music, theatre and comedy festivals are well attended and often sell out quickly. Just about every neighbourhood also has its own annual street festival, usually with hot food, live music and kids’ activities.

18.  Don’t overlook the airport

It’s true that most of the time when you arrive at your destination, you want to get ‘there’ as quickly as possible – which means getting out of the airport. But the Munich airport has quite a bit going on: it has its own brewery, and there’s a giant observation area where you can watch the planes take off, play mini-golf or check out an exhibit on air travel. It also has one of the only supermarkets open in Munich on a Sunday.

19.  Music is everywhere

Munich has something for every kind of music lover, from opera (your ticket even includes public transport there and back) and jazz – try catching a show in an unfinished underground station – to huge rock and pop arena gigs. Check out the university offerings as well; there are countless talented student-run orchestras, bands and choral groups.

20.  Treat yourself at an Apotheke

Whether you’ve come down with a cold in Munich or are just looking for some fancy French body lotion, the city’s many Apotheken  are here to help. Pharmacists are familiar with the most common ailments and can provide advice as to what sorts of over-the-counter medications might help. At many Apotheken , you can also stock up on all sorts of high-end European skincare products.

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Munich   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Michael Fellner | Getty Images

Best Times To Visit Munich

The best time to visit Munich is from March to May: the Christmas market crowds have long since departed, summer’s peak season hasn’t yet hit, spring blossoms bring color to the streets and temperatures are comfortable, averaging between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summertime, temperatures linger in the 70s – ideal beer garden weather – but consider bringing a light sweater for Munich's slightly cooler evenings. If you’re one of the millions who want to party at Oktoberfest during the fall, you’ll need to pack a jacket. Winter, except for the holiday months of December and the beginning of January, is mostly this city's low season. Temperatures drop, so opt for a warm coat and layers.

Weather in Munich

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

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Popular Times to Visit Munich

Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016.

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Munich Is More Than Beer and BMWs — Here's How to See a New Side of the City

With sleek new hotels, tech spaces, and high-concept museums, Munich has become the European Silicon Valley.

The low skyline of Munich is dominated by the 323-foot-high, copper-topped spires of the old Frauenkirche cathedral, which by tradition are meant to remain the tallest things in town. Looking up from the street, however, the things you first notice are construction cranes. They are everywhere. Munich is a medieval city; its official founding day is June 14, 1158. But Munich is refounding itself all over again, and fast. Even if you’ve been this way before (say, for a sudsy Oktoberfest), you’ll pass through quite a different place when you return. 

Few cities are as burdened by visual clichés as Munich. Once seen, the jovial chap in leather shorts with a silly feather in his silly hat is impossible to unsee. He’s still around, bless him, hoisting his silo-size beer stein. Munich holds tight to its Bavarian traditions. But today’s Münchner is just as likely to be a skinny young coder in a hoodie who has moved to this town to become a part of the frenetic start-up scene. 

Munich holds tight to its Bavarian traditions. But today’s Münchner is just as likely to be a skinny young coder in a hoodie who has moved to this town to become a part of the frenetic start-up scene. 

Twenty years ago, “laptops and lederhosen” was a vague political promise. Now it’s a brand. The annual Bits and Pretzels start-up conference began in 2013 with a breakfast for 80 people. In 2017, it had to cap attendance at 5,000. In 2019, President Obama showed up. Apple has made Munich its biggest European engineering hub. Last year, it pumped $1.2 billion into a new building on Karlstrasse. These are just two among many examples of how the future is taking root in Munich’s beer-soaked soil.

As a music lover in a land of them, my first look at Munich’s breakneck urban renewal had to be the new Gasteig auditorium and cultural complex, which had opened just a week before my visit last October. It was built as a temporary home for the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, whose old red-brick headquarters are to get their own top-to-bottom makeover.

Gasteig HP8, as the complex is known, has commandeered the transformer room of an old power station for its entrance hall and library. (Any passerby can grab a book or a music score off the shelves. “We just hope you bring it back,” said Kathrin Metzner, who works in marketing for the new Gasteig.) It’s on an outer ring road, making it a little tricky to get to, but then much of the new Munich is spreading outward. The designers left the old concrete floors and air ducts exposed. This kind of industrial look has become something of a design cliché, though it can be done well or badly. Here it is done very well.

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The blue-collar aesthetic goes hand in hand with the new Gasteig’s spirit, which treats high culture as an ordinary neighbor. It shares its premises with a Pilates studio, a Reifenhandel, which is German for a tire-changing garage, and several other commercial tenants. “They were all frightened we were going to throw them out, but we didn’t want to say, ‘Culture is coming, you have to leave,’” Metzner said. “We’re not some kind of UFO flying in.” When I walked through, the Reifenhandler was plying his trade, and I was told that he was even considering some kind of radials-and-Rachmaninoff package deal.

The glory of the Gasteig is the music hall itself, which was built from scratch in wood and sheathed in steel. Most of the development’s modest budget went into the hall’s sound, which was entrusted to the acoustical maestro Yasuhisa Toyota (he has nothing to do with cars), who also did the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. I wandered in during a dress rehearsal. The conductor and various musicians kept getting up to roam among the seats; they were giving the new hall a final test-drive before its first visitors arrived. I was lucky enough to get a last-minute ticket for that evening’s performance. The piece was the chest-thumping "A Hero’s Life" by Munich’s own Richard Strauss, and every note remained crystal-clear despite the thundering volume. 

The walk back to the center of town was long, but happily, much of the way lies along the banks of the Isar River, which starts high in the Alps and rushes down through the city. In 2000, Munich set about restoring the Isar: concrete was removed and riverbanks were leveled; gravel beaches appeared on islands beside bathing pools; water quality was improved. Fish and fowl long absent have returned to share the river with Munich’s summer skinny-dippers. The “Isar-Plan” took 11 years to complete, but it has left an idyllic woodland at the city’s core. My stroll from the Gasteig felt more like a hike in the country.

Christian Kain

The river also generates Munich’s most unlikely pastime: surfing. In the 1970s, the city fathers sank concrete blocks under a bridge over the Eisbach — a tributary of the Isar whose name means “ice brook” — to slow down the river’s fierce current. A powerful standing wave formed on the spot, and overnight, local surfers started showing up to frolic in the frigid waters. Eisbach surfing remained technically illegal until 2010, but when I walked past, spectators were lining the banks to watch some two dozen hardy surfers in wet suits ride the liquid roller coaster. It has become an unmissable Munich attraction.

If Munich’s pleasure-loving burgher were a hotel, he would be the grand old Bayerischer Hof, which holds down an entire side of the Promenadeplatz. It sprang from the mind of King Ludwig I, who mentioned one day in 1839 that he wouldn’t mind a first-class hotel in Munich, and so, of course, he got one. The Volkhardt family has owned and run it since 1897, with the fourth generation’s Innegrit Volkhardt now at the helm.

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The hotel has expanded over the years into a sprawling warren of 337 rooms, 74 suites, 40 function rooms, and five restaurants. The service is impeccable, as behooves an institution that has had to please both Sigmund Freud and Michael Jackson (across the street, the statue of Renaissance composer Orlando di Lasso has been repurposed as an ad hoc shrine to Jackson since his death). And it is very German. I had a mind to see the latest James Bond movie in the hotel’s plush theater, but they were only showing it as "Keine Zeit zu Sterben "; not enough English speakers in the hotel to show "No Time to Die ," I was told. 

Even this stolid bastion of Munich high society is feeling the winds of change. For the past six years, the Belgian design guru Axel Vervoordt has been making his way through the hallways, breathing fresh air into a wing of rooms here, a restaurant there, and, most recently, an entire annex of conference rooms. Vervoordt’s instinctive minimalism and taste for rustic wood and rudimentary shapes has cut away much of the hotel’s baroque bloat and given it a modern feel. Some of the staff members have taken to calling it the Flemischer Hof, a nod to Vervoordt’s Flemish roots. They mean that in a good way.

It’s a short walk from Hotel Bayerischer Hof down to an island in the Isar where the Deutsches Museum rides at anchor like a mothballed dreadnought — which in a sense is what it is, or was. Since it opened in 1925, it has grown to become the world’s largest science and technology museum, with 270,000 square feet of biplanes and submarines, telescopes and microchips (it was the first museum to get a quantum processor in 2019, courtesy of Google’s Munich operation) and hundreds of wonderful, insanely detailed dioramas (the museum employs 100 people just to make them). 

At Munich Motorworld, across town, a cluster of private dealers sell some of the world’s fastest, most coveted, and most fanciful automobiles. The floor is surrounded by 112 glass boxes with a sexy car in each one. 

The Wright Brothers plane hanging from the ceiling is the one they left behind in 1909, after failing to sell their designs in Germany. The World War I U-boat is the only one left: the rest of Germany’s fleet was destroyed under the Treaty of Versailles, but Oskar von Miller, the museum’s beloved founder, petitioned the Allies to let him keep one as an exhibit. 

For all that, the museum building had slid into musty decrepitude, a vast holding pen for easily distracted children on school outings. This would not do. In 2015, the museum shut down half of its exhibits (not that you’d notice) to undertake a thoroughgoing refurbishment. I arrived after the renovated half reopened and just before the other half closed down until 2025. Everything sparkles, down to the tiny sheaves of wheat under the miniature millstone in a diorama of ancient agriculture. The museum gets 1.5 million visitors a year, but I was told only a tiny fraction of them come from overseas. What a shame.

A few steps east of the museum lies the Haidhausen neighborhood, which spent almost a thousand years in Munich’s shadow before being folded into the city proper in the mid 1800s. The people who lived there dug loam from the banks of the Isar to make the bricks for the Frauenkirche. 

Poor devils. For centuries, Haidhausen was Munich’s skid row — the German word is glasserbenviertel, a neighborhood of broken glass. Houses were cramped and insalubrious, and many residents lived hard, short lives. There’s no broken glass around today. The city started rebuilding Haidhausen in the 1980s, and it has since become one of Munich’s most stylish neighborhoods. A small house, if you can find one, might sell for millions and look like a country cottage with flowers on the windowsills.

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The local restaurant scene is lively, too. I stopped into a place called Spezlwirtschaft Haidhausen, on Pariser Strasse (it means Paris Street, and it’s one of a number of French street names in Haidhausen’s so-called French Quarter). Spezlwirtschaft serves what has come to be called “nouveau Bavarian cuisine,” but don’t be misled. This is not Munich’s equivalent of France’s nouvelle cuisine, with its lighter ingredients, smaller portions, and overall spirit of deprivation. New Bavarian cuisine favors fresh local produce — and is usually served in rooms with funky décor — but retains the no-holds-barred pleasure principle Munich lives by. 

Exhibit A is the potato soup, normally a harmless Bavarian staple, which Spezlwirtschaft loads with truffles and who knows what else to become a lethal flavor cannon. It’s on the menu as a starter but it should have been a finisher. There was no need to keep on eating after that.

The real power of the potato in Munich can be felt in an industrial zone across the railroad tracks from Haidhausen. It’s where the Eckart family built their fortune after World War II by turning kilotons of potatoes into Pfanni-brand mashed-potato flakes. 

The Eckarts don’t make Pfanni flakes there anymore, but they still own all the land, which they’re transforming into Munich’s newest frontier. Werksviertel-Mitte is the name of the Eckarts’ enlightened urban experiment. It’s a delightful amalgam of start-up incubators, global food stalls, affordable apartments (sorely needed in Munich), performance spaces, artist’s studios, boutique hotels, and a kitchen sink of anything else needed in the groovy urban utopia of tomorrow. A plan was also recently approved to build a new auditorium complex. It will one day be the home of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. 

The walk back to the center of town was long, but happily, much of the way lies along the banks of the Isar River, which starts high in the Alps and rushes down through the city. In 2000, Munich set about restoring the Isar. The “Isar-Plan” took 11 years to complete, but it has left an idyllic woodland at the city’s core. My stroll from the Gasteig felt more like a hike in the country.

I checked in to Werksviertel’s new Adina hotel, which occupies 16 floors of a 24-story tower over what had been a huge silo for potato flour (yes, it breaks the Frauenkirchen height rule, but it’s far away, and besides, it offers some of the best views in Munich).

The Adina is an apartment hotel, meant for both shorter and longer stays (all those migrant techies need someplace to sleep). My studio looked directly onto the roof of Werk3, the quarter’s flagship. There, just beyond my window, a flock of fluffy sheep was grazing contentedly outside a wood Tyrolean cabin. That’s Werksviertel for you. “In ten years, this will be the benchmark for how you want to live,” Daniel Wiechmann told me. Wiechmann works for the Eckart Foundation, so he would say that, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong, either.

Bavarian Motor Works, also known as BMW, calls Munich home, and it wants to make sure everybody knows it. The BMW logo on the roof is 130 feet in diameter and plainly visible in satellite images on Google Earth. Many well-known brands like to celebrate themselves in steel and concrete, but the futuristic BMW campus just beside Munich’s Olympic Park is hard to beat for shameless self-glorification. It’s also a blast, even if, like me, you were never really bitten by the car bug.

The bowl-shaped BMW Museum, completely renovated in 2008, is a kind of automotive Guggenheim, with ramps spiraling down through the model years. Across the street, BMW Welt, or BMW World, is where you ogle current models and either buy one or just drool quietly. It’s basically a big car dealership, but it’s the dealership for Mount Olympus (ask yourself how many others have a restaurant with two Michelin stars).

At Munich Motorworld, across town, a cluster of private dealers sell some of the world’s fastest, most coveted, and most fanciful automobiles. The floor is surrounded by 112 glass boxes with a sexy car in each one. At an Ameron hotel that is literally attached to Motorworld, three of the hotel’s studios allow guests to park their cars right next to their rooms and keep them in view through a pane of glass. I was content to leave my little Mazda (which I happen to like a lot!) in the garage. Instead, I gazed longingly onto a bright red Mustang and the cobalt-blue Nissan that starred in the Fast and Furious movies. 

When you hit the button for your floor in the hotel elevator, you hear the vroom-vroom of a car engine revving. Whether you find that dumb or kinda cool depends on how you look at it. Me, I went with kinda cool. 

Where to Stay

Adina Apartment Hotel Munich : Housed in a 24-story skyscraper in the Werksviertel-Mitte development, this property has apartment-style studios ideal for longer stays.

Ameron München Motorworld : Don’t want to be separated from your car? In addition to traditional rooms, this hotel has three studios fitted with glass booths that shelter guest vehicles.

Hotel Bayerischer Hof : This grande dame in the city center opened in 1841, but its modern-day improvements include designs by Axel Vervoordt and a movie theater.

Where to Eat

Spezlwirtschaft Haidhausen : Nouveau Bavarian dining in Munich’s French Quarter, with dishes like crispy roast pork and potato dumplings served with a dark-beer sauce.

BMW Welt : This futuristic automobile showroom encompasses the BMW Museum and a Michelin two-starred restaurant, EssZimmer.

Deutsches Museum : The world’s largest technology museum spans all manner of sciences, from atomic physics to aeronautics, with plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids.

Gasteig HP8 : With its exemplary acoustics, this performing-arts auditorium and cultural center is the place to go for chamber music and the philharmonic.

Munich Motorworld : Top specimens of the world’s most coveted car brands, from million-dollar Singer Porches to the latest Maseratis, inside a massive steel hall.

Werksviertel-Mitte : Once an industrial neighborhood filled with neglected discos and arcades, this development has hip apartments, shops, and food stalls.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2022 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "Future Perfect ."

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The Best Things to Do in Munich, From River Surfing to Fine Art Museums

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Munich, the German city with a population of 1.4 million, is not Berlin ; nor does it want to be. The Bavarian capital is one that often feels more like a charming cluster of cobblestoned towns—in fact, its cozy sprawl has earned it the nickname “Millionendorf”, or, “The Village of a Million People.” Oktoberfest, the beer festival that runs from late September to early October and which draws masses of (largely lederhosen-clad, American, and college-aged) tourists—but locals too—is perhaps Munich's most (in)famous offering. As a boy Einstein himself, who grew up down the road, helped his father wire the first electricity to an Oktoberfest tent in the massive field it occurs—take this as your first indication that there's also innovation bubbling in the city year-round. In fact, it's well worth a visit they when drinking for sport is just one of many pastimes; a plethora of art galleries, fine dining, museums, bike routes, and verdant gardens await.

Munich has the best Bavarian cuisine just about anywhere (come in the spring for the seasonal white asparagus), a vast and verdant English Garden (it's larger than Central Park, and positively pastoral despite its urban setting) and a nightlife scene distinct from its northern neighbor. There's the aforementioned tech and industry bringing an artful edge to the city's outskirts in contract to the classical center. The many museums are unmatched—with one such entry, the Lenbachhaus, houses Maria Franck-Marc's aptly titled Tanzende Schafe , or Dancing Sheep . One of my favorites, done in gouache, chalk, watercolor, and pencil; sheep dance against a gray-green industrial background—mostly in pairs, balancing upright on each other's shoulders, their front legs crossing like matchsticks. It's this easy contentment and simple serenity, that I felt in Munich; dancing like those sheep from one beautiful sight to the next.

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The Eisbach wave is a manmade entry point to the park’s Eisbach River where surfers shred year-round.

The best things to do in Munich: museums, history, and gardens

The aforementioned Kunstareal museum district is a great place to start. The northwest neighborhood houses eight major museums (and plenty of galleries), all of them excellent and easy to choose between if you have limited time and decided interests. The Big Three Pinakothek (meaning “picture gallery,” from the Latin “pinacotheca”) flank two blocks of Theresienstraße like great houses: Alte Pinakothek is the joint of this L-shape—Alte means “old,” and the applications are twofold; this is one of the oldest galleries in Germany, having opened in 1836 and housing art from the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries, and its walls largely showcase the works of the Old Masters. (One could kill hours staring into the depths of each Peter Paul Rubens hanging in the dedicated Rubens Hall.) Go straight to the Pinakothek der Moderne , and take in four mediums under one roof: art, graphics, architecture, and design (Die Neue Sammlung, or the Design Museum, is particularly excellent). There's also the Neue–which, unfortunately, is closed to the public through 2029 due to renovations. 

Once you’ve had your fill, stroll on over to the Lenbachhaus to see the dancing sheep: Franck-Marc’s work hangs alongside those of her husband, the prolific Franz Marc (his  Blue Horse I is a strong second, in terms of animal portrayals within these walls). The Marcs’ compatriots—Kandinsky, Münter, Kawlensky, and more—can also be found here. Lastly, check out Museum Brandhorst —eye-catching for its stunning ceramic facade, and just as much so for its massive collection of Cy Twombly canvases. 

The inner courtyard of the temple-style sculpture museum Glyptothek holds the most worthwhile of the museum cafés—ivy covers the walls of the structure, and visitors can relax beneath umbrella-clad tables on what feels like sacred ground. In the summer, theatre troupes put up productions in the tranquil space. 

To acknowledge the area's important history, the Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism offers a thorough (and free) journey through Munich’s history as a major hub of Nazi Germany, with each floor taking on a different decade and detailing Munich's citizens various roles in what was once a fascist stronghold. In the center of town, admire the beauty of the Ohel Jakob synagogue before visiting the adjacent Jewish Museum Munich to learn about the city's Jewish community up to present day.

Outdoor escapes and cultural spots

Munich has plenty of outdoor activities in store. Find your way onto a bicycle–any hotel worth its salt here will have some to loan out—and head to the water. It's safer along the Isar River (Munich is known for its cycling collisions), where you can fly with great abandon from the technology museum sector—a small island where the highlight is the Deutsches Museum —to the art nouveau public swimming pool and spa Müller’sches Volksbad , and from there up north and back into the city to reach the mouth of the English Garden. There surges the Eisbach wave, a manmade entry point for the park’s Eisbach River where you’ll find surfers shredding year-round. If you can bear to rip your eyes from their feats after however long, wander deeper into the park and find Munich’s second largest biergarten Chinesicher Turm (so-called for its odd, towering Chinese pagoda), as well as the hilltop temple Monopteros, the loveliest spot in town on a sunny day. 

The coolest place to hang out in Munich is Schlachthofviertel , the meatpacking district. This is an active slaughter zone—expect a slight smell—that has as of late gained a reputation as being the coolest place to dine in the city. Before you eat, take in a show at the newly headquarters of the Münchner Volkstheater (the artistic director of which is famous for his work on the Oberammergau Passion Play at the turn of the past two decades) or wander around the Bahnwärter Thie l, a cultural center with great shopping and artisan studios and a vast indoor-outdoor nightclub open in the summer months with a vast amount of seating available throughout.  Graffiti is legal here, and you can kill an hour or two just watching the artists at work—over piles of empty spray-paint cans, gathered in towering mesh enclosures, they are sculptures in and of themselves.

Outdoors at Alte Utting, a ferry that's been transplanted to a disused railway bridge and transformed into one of the city's best bars.

In addition to full bar service, Alte Utting has several food stands offering pizza and more.

Where to eat in Munich

In Werksviertel-Mitte, dine on seafood at a sexy little red restaurant called  Atlantik Fisch —the compact brick building abuts the slaughterhouse and transforms into a minor disco at the weekend. It sounds a bit brutal, but this is where, it seems, everything cool is happening. Right across the street, Wirtshaus im Schlachthof is a classic Bavarian beer hall famous for its live music and comedy shows. A 10-minute stroll will lead you from these spots to Alte Utting . Once a ferry boat beloved for cruising a nearby Bavarian lake in the summertime, the MSS Utting was transplanted upon its retirement to a disused railway bridge by a pair of brothers and turned into one of Munich’s finest bars. Here, you’d do well to enjoy a Hugo in their wood-clad cabin to the tune of live music—there’s also a bevy of food stands serving up everything from pizza to Indian in the land-locked garden annex. 

Back in the center of the city, the best Bavarian fine dining in the Michelin Guide can be found at Pfistermühle —dine on salted cod and tenderest veal beneath the vaulted ceiling of this 16th-century mill, or sitting outside on the picturesque cobblestone street. Nearby,  Zum Dürnbräu is a more casual option for classic Bavarian dishes (the succulent duck is not to be missed). Other major mainstays for fine dining include Little London grill for your good German steaks and Brenner Grill , a vast open grill that feels ripped from the ‘90s (positive!) for its vast dining room and see-and-be-seen professional air. 

I’d be remiss not to mention the Viktualienmarkt , a bustling daily food market just off Marienplatz with stalls upon stalls of local produce and food made from that produce and biergartens in which you are encouraged to eat that food alongside a nice cold beer. The highlight stall here is Caspar Plautz , which has a sweet origin story. The market is zoned into little neighborhoods, and each neighborhood honors within its bounds a no-compete agreement—there will be no stand that sells the same produce. In Caspar Plautz’s case, the only ware not already on sale was the humble potato. Not to be discouraged, the enterprising duo who sought to open a market stand of their very own took the potato and ran with it—here, you can buy seasonal potato-of-the-week dishes (past examples include the Papa Pataca, featuring mashed topinambur topped with creme fraiche, roasted shiitake, and capers, and a baked potato stuffed with feta cream, cucumber, and cilantro) so long as you’re willing to brave an ever-growing line of fans.

The living room of the Mandarin Oriental, Munich's one-bedroom Panoramic Suite, located on the hotel's six floor.

Where to stay

Munich’s hotel scene is diverse and accommodating of a variety of price points. In the realm of the four-star, Platzl Hotel would be the traditional choice. Warm wood interiors extend from the lobby paneling to the rooms’ built-in closets—it’s sleek and home-y at the same time, very comfortable but in a dynamite location. Spread across the city are the Cocoon hotels— Hauptbahnhof , Stachus , and Sendlinger Tor , the latter being between central Marienplatz and Werksviertel-Mitte in the young, student-forward neighborhood of the same name. These are extraordinarily clean and stylish options for the budget traveler—you’ll find young couples, solo travelers, businessmen, even families enjoying the fabulous hotel breakfast.

Of the usual luxury suspects, there are many to choose from. The Mandarin Oriental, Munich has the sexiest cocktail bar in town in the form of Orly, bright airy rooms, and a roof garden for summertime mahjong. The 300-room Hotel Bayerischer Hof is a proper, old-school Grande Dame, and The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel is a beloved contemporary white sculptural outpost on the edge of the Botanical Garden. Also, keep an eye out for the Rosewood Munich opening in town in late 2023. 

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40+ Munich Travel Tips for First Timers & Must Knows Before You Go

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Famed for Oktoberfest, giant pretzels & fun leather pants, the beautiful city of Munich, Germany is a picturesque wonderland that is (in my very biased opinion) one of the best cities to visit in Europe.

But it’s not all beer-fuelled frolics and comically carby treats. Navigating Munich for first-timers isn’t the easiest task, especially if you want to do the city justice and explore more than just the biggest tourist sights.

So, allow me to share all my best Munich must knows with you as someone who lived there for over five years.

In this post, I’ll be sharing all my best Munich tips to make sure you fall head over heels for this former home city of mine. Get ready – it’s a long one!

Save this list of Munich Travel Tips for later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Steal my ready-made Munich itineraries

Before we dive into my detailed rabbit hole of Munich travel tips, I’d first like to scare you off with some prior fruits of my fangirly labour.

Over the years, I’ve entertained so many visitors and fielded so many Munich queries that I’ve already pre-assembled some itineraries for the city that I consider pretty perfect.

So, before you read on, save yourself some work and steal these itineraries for…

• Munich in one day
• Munich in two days
• Munich in three days

2. Understand Munich’s year-round offerings

Alright, now onto the real Munich tips!

First off, let’s tackle when to visit. While millions flock to Munich every year for Oktoberfest, there are really are solid reasons to visit year-round, like…

• November/December: Munich Christmas Markets
• February: Fasching
• March – April: Starkbierfest
• April – May: Frühlingsfest
• Summer: Beer garden season and small local folk festivals
• September – November: Oktoberfest , Fall Foliage, etc.

So, don’t limit yourself to just visiting for Oktoberfest – there are plenty of enticing incentives no matter the season.

NOTE: If I were to pick months to avoid though, they would probably be November and January, when the weather is iffy and there are fewer big events happenings.

2. Plan to spend more than just a day or two in Munich

In terms of how long to spend in Munich, I get wildly offended when people think you can complete the city in a day or two.

Sure, you can tackle most of the main sights in that time but I’d really advise four days minimum to properly cover the city and maybe do a day trip or two to some of the amazing spots nearby.

One of the best ways to enjoy Munich is relaxing in a beer hall/beer garden, gulping down a beer or five, and just generally soaking up the immaculate vibes of this liveable city.

So, don’t rush through Munich. Give yourself some extra time and I promise you’ll have a much better experience.

3. Learn the pros and cons of staying in different areas

Now, let’s chat about where to stay in Munich.

Generally, anything within the M-Zone (the white area in this map ) and near an U-Bahn station is convenient enough for most visitors. Munich is small and it doesn’t take too long to get anywhere.

If money is no object however, ideally you’ll want to stay within the Altstadt (Old Town), which puts you within walking distance of Munich’s major attractions. 

If you want to be a bit out of the tourist core, then some other potential neighbourhoods include…

• Lehel : Quiet and pretty, but pricey. This was my old neighbourhood and I loved being able to walk into town without dealing with the crowds of Altstadt.
• Glockenbachviertel: A very vibrant neighbourhood full of cool restaurants and bars, with easy transport links into the center of town.
• Haidhausen: Very pretty little neighbourhood with a village-like feel, and still well connected to the centre by public transport.

Lastly, there’s the area around Olympiapark which I love but honestly it’s not the closest to Munich’s main attractions so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for first time visitors.

NOTE: You’ll often find that hotels are cheaper near Munich’s main train stations, but just beware that these are generally less “pretty” areas of the city. If budget is a key priority though, they’re not bad, especially if you need to be in the area for catching a train or going to events like Oktoberfest for instance.

4. Don’t miss Munich Airport’s Brewery!

One of my favourite Munich fun facts is that it’s home to the world’s first airport brewery – Airbräu, located at Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport (AKA Munich International Airport).

Besides the novelty of it being an airport brewery , unlike most airport options, the food and drink here is both delicious and reasonably priced (a 1L Maß of beer for only €5.90!!!)

So, if you have a later flight, then it’s definitely worth getting to the airport early for some pre-flight indulgence, or to grab a leisurely bite after your flight before heading into the city.

5. Beware of “Munich West” Airport

Now, while Munich Airport is an excellent airport and the most likely point of entry for most international visitors, another “local” airport to beware of is the one known as Memmingen Airport or Allgäu Airport, sometimes billing itself as “Munich West” when servicing budget carriers like Ryanair , Wizz Air or easyJet.

While this name is becoming increasingly less common (likely due to complaints), it’s important to note that “west” in this instance really does mean west… as in, 1.5 hours west from Munich’s city centre.

So, just keep that in mind if you’re booking flights and you see it pop up as an option. While it can often have very affordable flights, the trade-off is you need to hop on a paid shuttle for 1.5 hours before arriving into town.

6. Public transport is the best way to get around

In terms of getting around Munich, public transport is a convenient and cost-effective option, so there’s no need to buy a pricey hop on/hop off bus tour or rent a car.

With a reliable and punctual network of buses and trams, in addition to the U-Bahn (the underground metro system) and the S-Bahn (the suburban train system), Munich’s public transport will get you pretty much anywhere you need to go.

I have a full guide to Munich’s public transport that explains everything fully, but here’s a quick overview:

• Transport on Munich’s local network all use the same tickets so you can mix and match different modes of transport as needed
• There are no fare gates. Instead you’re expected to buy and validate your own ticket, then show it if a ticket controller comes on board
• Tickets can be purchased in-person at machines (press the UK flag to activate the English menu) OR more conveniently, you can download the MVG app which allows you to search routes and buy the correct tickets really easily

7. Remember to validate your ticket correctly

If you plan to use public transport during your Munich trip, one of THE most important must-knows is that you need to validate your ticket properly to avoid getting fined. Just having a ticket isn’t enough.

You can validate your tickets though machines that look like this:

Alternatively, if you use the MVG app, you can just buy/validate tickets right on your phone, and you’re much less likely to mess up.

8. Look into special tickets to save money

Another important Munich must-know is this: very rarely will buying a single one-way ticket be the best option.

There are tons of different ticket types and discounts that are suitable for visitors, so if you’re looking to save money, here are some public transport tickets to consider:

CityTourCard: This is a made-for-tourists offer that bundles unlimited public transport for set days with travel to/from the airport along with some discounts for paid attractions. Only really worth it if you plan to visit a lot of the included attractions/want peace of mind.

Stripe Tickets: This is often the best value for visitors who are using public transport sparingly. With a stripe ticket, you buy 10 stripes that you redeem as you go. The # of stripes you must redeem depends on how far you’re going, but most journeys within one zone are worth 2 stripes. Overall, this works out to be cheaper than buying single tickets every time.

Day Tickets: This allows you unlimited travel for the day, and is usually worth it if you plan to do three or more trips on public transport that day. You can even get a group day ticket that covers journeys for multiple people.

Short Trip Tickets: There’s also the short ticket so if you’re only going 2 stops or less on the Ubahn or 4 stops or less on the bus/tram, you can buy a short ticket which is much cheaper.

IsarCards: These are weekly/monthly passes that give you unlimited travel during the period of validity and may be worth it if you’re in Munich for a longer time.

9. Buy a Bayern Ticket (AKA Bavaria Ticket) for day trips

Besides local transport offers, there’s another epic discount for state-wide train travel that I must alert you to: the amazing Bayern Ticket (AKA Bavaria Ticket).

This ticket gives you unlimited travel on regional trains and public transport within Bavaria for one whole day, making it perfect for day trips… especially if you’re travelling with others, because the per person cost is cheaper for every additional person you add.

Best of all, it works on local public transport too! The amount of money I’ve saved using this ticket over the years is truly mind-boggling, so I hope you get good use out of it too!

10. Do at least one day trip during your visit

On that note, Munich is an amazing base for various day trips, so if time permits, I’d highly recommend venturing out of the city to see some of the amazing spots nearby.

Here are some popular ones that I’ve written day trip guides for:

• Neuschwantein Castle
• Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest)

There are also many beautiful lakes close to Munich that I can recommend checking out:

• Starnberger See (Lake Starnberg)

11. Beware that there are several large train stations in Munich

When booking train travel, first-time visitors to Munich can often get confused by the different station names, SO beware that there are several large train stations in the city, and depending on where you’re staying, you may be closer to one over the other.

Here are the main stations to look out for:

• München Hauptbahnhof (HBF) – the Central Station 
• München Ostbahnhof – the East Station
• München Pasing

So, again, when booking tickets, be sure to identify which station is closest to your accommodation rather than going in/out of the main central station (Hauptbahnhof) every time.

12. You can bring your own food to beer gardens

If you’re looking for Munich money-saving tricks, here’s one for you.

Many first time visitors don’t know this, but when it comes to large self-service beer gardens (like the Chinese Tower for instance), you can actually bring and consume your own food, a right protected by law in the  Bayerische Biergartenverordnung (Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance).

Under this ordinance, when you’re in a Bavarian Biergarten, so long as you buy a drink, you’re welcome to hang out and enjoy whatever snacks you smuggle in… within reason, meaning you’re not meant to bust out a BBQ and grill up a full hog roast, but bringing little nibbles like salads, dips, salads, sandwiches, etc. is all fair game.

Of course, this general rule only applies to self-service areas of large beer gardens, and not individual restaurants that may have patio space. When in doubt, look for places that are labelled “Biergarten” rather than “Wirtsgarten”.

If you see servers, table service, or table cloths, these are generally red flags that you’re not allowed to bring and consume your own food.

13. Most beer gardens are self-service

On the topic of beer gardens, you should know that beer gardens are mostly self service, so in most cases you’d walk in, grab your own beer, grab your own food, and then pay at the Kasse (or cashiers).

When in doubt, just observe what others seem to be doing.

14. Beware that you must often pay a deposit for glassware

When visiting beer gardens or Christmas markets, first-time visitors are often surprised that their total bill is more than they anticipated.

This is more often than not due to the Pfand (or deposit) that they charge on glasses, which is an additional charge that you get back when you return them.

PS: If you are given a special coin or token when buying your refreshments, be sure to hang onto them because they must be returned with your glassware to get your deposit back.

15. Familiarize yourself with Bavarian must-eats

Now let’s move onto one of my favourite topics… food !

Sadly, if I were to talk about all the best foods to try in Munich, this post would take you a decade to read, so for the sake of your attention span, I’ll be highlighting just my top choices below.

Schweinebraten or Schweinshaxe (Roast pork): Schweinshaxe is the more famous giant pork knuckle, but I personally prefer the Schweinebraten which is tender pork shoulder that usually comes with less skin. Whichever you choose, it has to be wolfed down with a potato dumpling (Knödel) and beer gravy.

Obatzda: A delicious Bavarian dip that’s available at most beer gardens and beer halls. Made up of soft cheese, butter and various seasonings, this creamy orangey mound of heaven is best enjoyed with a giant doughy pretzel.

Hendl (Roast chicken): A rather self-explanatory specialty, but an important one consisting of perfectly roasted chicken. This is the best meal after you’ve had a few beers.

Käsespätzle : Bouncy little noodles served with melted cheese and crispy onion. SO good, and one of the best vegetarian-friendly Bavarian foods to try in Munich.

Kaiserschmarrn: A torn pancake dessert topped with sugar and served with jam or apple sauce.

Dampfnudel: A steamed dumpling served in a pool of vanilla sauce.

Bavarian breakfast: Involves Weißwurst (white sausage) with sweet mustard, a pretzel and wheat beer. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it !

16. Don’t forget to peel your Weißwurst

On that note, one of my most important Munich tips is to peel your Weißwurst and eat it properly. I shudder to think of all the poor souls who have fallen victim to this confusing trap over the years.

When it comes to Weißwurst, do not… I repeat DO NOT eat the skin.

Make an incision down the middle, peel it off, then dip the questionable-looking (but tasty) contents into a pool of sweet mustard. It’s honestly amazing, so long as you eat it properly.

17. Do NOT eat the gingerbread hearts

Speaking of silly Munich food mistakes to avoid: do not under any circumstance eat the adorable gingerbread heart cookies you see on display all over the city.

They are not meant to be eaten and are more decorative souvenirs than anything else. Bite into one and you may well break a tooth (or at least suffer with a mouthful of crumbly sadness). You’ve been warned.

18. Try beer from each of Munich’s ‘big six’ breweries

Now, let’s move onto my second favourite topic: beer!

Unsurprisingly, the beer in Munich is fantastic and you won’t regret trying it. Brewed according to a 500 year old purity law that dictates beer may only be made of water, hops, barley and yeast, the beer here is consistently and dangerously drinkable.

There are 6 main breweries in Munich that brew beer within city limits. These are the only ones allowed to be served at Oktoberfest, and are generally speaking the main ones served at restaurants and beer halls across the city.

Unlike bars or restaurants in North America, most places here only serve beer from one brewery, which makes choosing easy. You say if you want a Helles (a light beer), a Dunkel (a dark beer) or a Weißbier (wheat beer) and they’ll bring you what they have.

It is rare that you’ll be able to pick from multiple breweries when you order, unless you’re going for wheat beer or something different, so take note of which brewery that restaurant or beer hall serves when you walk in by looking for signs like these hanging from the outside:

Trying a beer from each of the Big Six is a fun goal to have in Munich, but my personal favourite (and kind of the locals’ go-to) is Augustiner. It’s rarely exported so be sure to try it while you can!

19. Try some classic Munich soft drinks too

If you’re not into beer, then don’t worry, wine and soft drinks are also common.

The go-to soft drink in Munich is either an Apfelschorle which is half apple juice half sparkling water or a Spezi which is half cola and half orange soda. Both are delicious.

Besides Apfelschorle (which is made with apple juice), there’s a whole wide world of Schorle options, which pair sparkling water with different juices to make a spritzer. If you’re looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage to enjoy while exploring Munich, make sure to test a few Schorle – they’re the best!

20. Steal my Munich restaurant recommendations for tourists

Now I know many of you will be wanting specific food recommendations and restaurants for Munich, and I do have a full list of the best Munich restaurants for tourists here , but here are some quick recommendations broken down by cuisine:

• Bavarian: Augustiner Klosterwirt – a great Bavarian beer hall type place with speedy service and delicious food
• Italian: L’Osteria – giant pizzas for an affordable price, with many locations around the city
• Ice Cream: Der Verrückte Eismacher – a legendary ice cream spot with very unique flavours including Augustiner beer and a rotation of strange ones like Döner Kebab or Sauerkraut. Definitely worth a sample (don’t worry – their main flavours are good too!)

21. Take advantage of 1 euro museums on Sundays

One of my best money-saving tips for Munich is hands down the amazing fact that many of the city’s top museums offer 1 euro entry on Sundays.

So, if you time your visit for a Sunday, definitely take advantage of this. It’s such a cheap way to get some culture in, plus many of the museums are located close together so you can easily visit multiple in day. 

If you’re looking for museums to visit, Maxvorstadt is THE neighbourhood to run to, with several amazing museums to choose from.

Of course, go to the ones that align with your interests but my personal favourite art museum is the Pinakothek Moderne (which focuses on modern art) and if you are interested in history, you’ll also find the NS Documentation Center in this area, which details the rise and fall of the Nazi Party which of course saw its start right here in Munich.

22. Consider a pass from the Bavarian Palaces Administration

Now if you’re really into castles and palaces, it may be worth buying a pass from the Bavarian Palaces Administration.

This one pass includes admission to over 30 palaces and castles across Bavaria, including big names like Neuschwanstein Castle , the Munich Residenz, and Herrenchiemsee.

Their annual pass is only €50 which is honestly a bargain if you visit multiple palaces. For most visitors however, the 14 day pass (€35) might make more sense.

They also have a €31 pass that covers Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. 

23. (Maybe) Consider a Munich Card or Munich City Pass

In terms of other sightseeing cards, the two main ones within Munich are the Munich Card and the Munich City Pass.

Despite their confusing name similarity, the cards are actually quite different.

In summary, the Munich Card is a cheaper card you buy that gets you discounts on attractions, whereas the Munich City Pass is a pricier card that includes entry to a bunch of attractions for one set price.

Are these cards worth it? I personally don’t think so unless you are planning to visit many museums and attractions at full price. Given that so many of the included attractions are only 1 euro on Sundays, there are definitely more cost-effective ways to see them.

But hey, if your trip doesn’t coincide with a Sunday and you plan to do a lot of the paid attractions included, then it can save you some money. Just make sure you do the math first to ensure you actually save!

24. Don’t miss Munich’s best hidden gems

Beyond Munich’s big paid attractions, there are a number of cool ‘hidden gems’ that many first-time visitors miss. Some are of course more well known than others these days, but here are a few to have on your radar just in case.

Neues Rathaus: This is the most photographed building in Munich, but few people realize they actually do public tours which include a visit the AMAZING Law Library, which is hands down one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

Justizpalast: Near Stachus, AKA Karlsplatz, there’s the Justizpalast which in my opinion is one of the prettiest interiors in Munich. It’s free to visit, you just need to pass an airport style security check and before long, you’re inside drooling over the magical interiors which look like this:

Asamkirche: This stunning little church near Sendlinger Tor is hardly a secret these days, but many visitors still pass by without taking a look inside, which is a huge shame because it looks like this:

St Michael’s Church: This beauty is often overlooked because it’s surrounded by so many shops like Sportchek or TK Maxx, but the inside is well worth a visit, especially if you’re morbidly curious and want to see the crypt inside which houses some of the most famous names in Bavarian royal history like King Ludwig II, the guy responsible for Bavaria’s most famous fairytale castles.

Olympiadorf: One of the most unique student accommodations in the world, featuring bungalows repurposed from Olympic athlete lodgings from the 1972 Olympics. The houses have since been re-painted by the students living there, making each individual place different. Biased side note: this was my first home in Munich and you can head to Bungalow L4 to admire my handiwork. Spoiler – it’s Lion King themed.

25. Explore Munich’s alternative side

I know that Munich and ‘alternative’ aren’t words that tend to go together, but there is a cool alternative side to Munich that most visitors miss.

So, if you want to discover some of it, here are some places to put on your radar:

• Werksviertel-Mitte: A cool area behind Ostbahnhof train station with lots of cool murals and unique small businesses housed in shipping containers.
• Bahnwärter Thiel: A hip hang out spot that hosts various parties and events, with different bars scattered across a large venue decorated with repurposed shipping containers and structures.
• MS Utting: Literally an old boat perched on a bridge that is now a hangout spot where you can get food and drink, plus they host fun events like a Christmas market every year.

Lastly, if you’re into street art, there are also big murals to admire all around the city, including around Hauptbahnhof, Giesing, Westend and in some tunnels along the Isar. Here’s a list of places to go street art hunting in Munich.

So, yeah… take that Berlin. We’ve got cool stuff too.

26. Enjoy Munich’s many amazing green spaces

One of the best things about Munich is its abundance of lush green space, so make sure you take advantage of it while you’re in town.

The English Garden is already well known as one of the top must-dos in the city, but there are many others scattered around the city with far fewer crowds and just as much beauty, like…

• Olympiapark: Not a hidden gem by any means, but a really cool park to visit with lots of modern structures and attractions
• Westpark: A pretty park on the west side of the city that’s home to a beautiful Japanese and Chinese Garden
• Nymphenburg Palace Park : A sprawling royal estate filled with unique attractions including a palace and botanical garden

27. Seek out alternative viewpoints

One of the most popular things to do in Munich is climbing up St Peter’s for a view over Marienplatz, but there are plenty of other nice views that don’t get nearly as much love.

Here are some I’d recommend:

• Neues Rathaus: A nice view over Marienplatz that has an ELEVATOR which means you don’t need to climb. My favourite lazy view in town!
• Frauenkirche: This view has only recently re-opened after 10 years of restorations. It’s an incredible panoramic view over the city that combines some steps with an elevator. Great if you want to see what it’s like inside one of the city’s most iconic structures!
• Olympiatower: Amazing views over the Olympic Park, accessible by elevator.
• Olympiaberg: A free alternative to the Olympiatower, with amazing views that’s especially nice at sunset.

28. Explore more beer halls than just Hofbräuhaus

And speaking of breaking away from the usual must-dos, another key Munich tip is that Hofbräuhaus isn’t the only fun beer hall in town.

In fact, every big brewery in Munich has their own beer hall (if not multiple) so don’t limit yourself to just visiting this one!

I’m a big fan of the Augustiner Stammhaus:

29. Don’t get your hopes up for the Glockenspiel

And to cap off my attraction-related Munich tips, I’m going to indulge in a bit of Glockenspiel slander.

Despite being advertised as one of the top things to do in Munich, the Glockenspiel performance in Marienplatz is honestly not that exciting so don’t get your hopes up too much.

NOTE: If you definitely want to see this performance but can’t be bothered to wait among the tourist mobs, one of the best places to watch it is from Café Glockenspiel if you can manage to get a table by the window.

30. Remember: Munich is in Bavaria

Alright, now onto some culture and etiquette tips for Munich.

The first is to remember that Munich is the capital of Bavaria, and locals (known as Bavarians) are very proud of this fact.

Given that Bavaria was its own kingdom up until 1871 when it joined the German Empire, the culture here is considered by many to be distinct from the rest of the country, so when asking questions or speaking about local customs, be sure to specify ‘Bavarian’ rather than German, as some locals can be picky about this fact!

31. Bavarians have their own language but you won’t encounter it much in Munich

Alongside its unique cultural customs, Bavarians do also have their own unique language: Bavarian (or Bayrisch).

But before you panic about learning it for your trip, do know that you won’t find many people speaking Bayrisch in Munich.

As a tourist, you may encounter it on a few signs and menus here and there (Minga for instance is ‘Munich’ in Bayrisch), but generally speaking you’ll get by fine with basic German and of course English.

Now, venture out into the countryside and that may be a different story…

32. Learn some language basics before your visit

Of course, when you come to Munich, a bit of effort should be made to learn some basics in terms of the local language.

While you’ll get by fine with English in most touristy establishments, being able to say hello or thank you is a must, so commit the following phrases to memory:

• Hello (for any time of day): Servus or Grüß gott
• Thank you: Danke or Danke schön

33. Don’t make fun of Lederhosen and Dirndls

Now, another important Munich etiquette tip is to not make fun of Lederhosen and Dirndls, otherwise known as Trachten (traditional clothing).

While the idea of leather pants may seem funny to you, these garments are actually Bavarian traditional dress, often worn for special occasions like weddings, church, and special festivals (as you may have seen at Oktoberfest).

So, remember: making fun of or wearing cheap versions of Trachten can be seen as rude or offensive to locals (though you’ll find the spectrum of caring is vast and varied).

34. Don’t take staring personally

Another important Munich tip: don’t be freaked out if people seem to be staring at you.

Culturally, Bavarians do not find it rude to stare at strangers. This is why they often won’t even look away when you stare right back at them.

This was a cultural quirk that I never adjusted to even after five years in the city, so let me warn you now: you will probably get stared at a lot in Munich.

Don’t let it ruin your trip though! Because they consider it no different than taking a glance to observe you, they do it to everyone, even each other.

35. Do not jaywalk in Munich

Another cultural must-know to be mindful of in Munich is that Bavarians do not jaywalk for the most part, especially around children.

Unlike other parts of the world where jaywalking generally goes unpunished, it actually is policed here, both by actual police (who will happily issue you a fine if they catch you) and also by locals who love to point out any wrongdoing.

So, remember, avoid jaywalking unless you enjoy getting scolded by Bavarian Omas.

36. Beware of bike lanes in Munich

Munich is one of the safest cities I’ve ever been to, but a key danger that many first time visitors forget about is cyclists aaand bike lanes.

There are bike lanes all over the city that are side by side with pedestrian lanes, making it all too easy to walk into one by accident.

So, be careful, take note of any cycle symbols on the sidewalk and make sure you don’t get mowed down by a bike.

37. Make sure to bring cash and coins wherever you go

As I mention in my Germany travel tips article, while many places do accept card payments these days, cash is still king in many instances, so having small bills and coins on you is a must, especially because you need to…

38. Prepare to pay for bathrooms everywhere

Sadly, you do need to pay for public bathrooms in Munich, even in ordinarily free places like train stations or McDonalds, so having coins for this purpose is handy. 

While some of the newer machines will take card, some of the older ones won’t, so having an emergency cash stash is a must.

NOTE: Besides paid toilets that have physical barriers, it’s also considered a norm to tip at many beer gardens and large beer halls, where there are bathroom attendants who keep the area clean. In these cases, it’s generally expected that you leave 50 cents or a euro as tip. 

39. Beware that most shops are closed on Sundays

Sundays are a special day in Munich where museums are 1 euro and all shops are….. closed !

Yup – Sundays are generally a day of rest in Germany, so if you need to go shopping or get groceries, do so on any day but Sunday. While restaurants and cafes will still be open, most shops and supermarkets won’t be.

In a pinch though, shops at train stations, gas stations and the airport will still be open.

40. Dress for the season, not the weather

Now in terms of what to pack for Munich, here’s a random tip for you: Bavarians tend to dress for the season, rather than the weather. So, even on a hot balmy day in October, locals will be wrapped up in jackets, so if you want to blend in, keep that difference in mind!

At the end of the day though, I say just wear whatever’s comfortable… but be prepared for some additional stares coming your way. I’ve noticed they’re often especially shocked by the sight of bare legs outside of summer time.

41. Keep an eye out for fun, local events

Lastly, remember that there is tons to do in Munich outside of the typical touristy musts.

After all, the city is home to millions of locals, and there are often fun pop-ups and local events to take advantage of.

The Bored in Munich events calendar is a perfect resource for this. They also do weekly event roundups!

I hope this list of Munich travel tips was helpful!

If you’re here after all those Munich travel tips, congrats – I’m beyond proud of you! Hopefully by now, you’ll feel much more prepared for your big Munich trip, but if you have any more questions, let me know in the comments.

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

1 thought on “40+ Munich Travel Tips for First Timers & Must Knows Before You Go”

This is such a fun and interesting post. You have shared your experience and passion for Munich with your post. You have introduced me to some of the coolest things to do and see in Munich, such as admiring the Frauenkirche and joining the Oktoberfest. Your photos and videos are awesome, they show how much you enjoyed Munich.

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Munich travel blog — the fullest munich travel guide for first-timers.

Famous for its dreamy, quaint beauty and first-class civilization, Munich is considered as ‘Germany’s most livable city’. And the information, as well as the full and detailed guide to Munich below, will surely help you have a convenient journey to discover Munich. So, is Munich worth visiting, what to do in Munich and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Munich, Germany for the first-time? Let’s check out our Munich travel blog (Munich blog) with the fullest Munich travel guide (Munich tourist guide, Munich city guide, Munich guide, Munich visitor guide) from how to get to Munich, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit, what to eat and things to do in Munich to find out the answer!

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Munich – the capital of the regions of Bavaria, and the Germany’s third largest city, is located next to the gentle river Isar and the majestic Alps. That charming scenery combined with a long list of architectural works and historical treasures has turned Munich a great choice for those who love Germany in particular and Europe in general.

Munich travel blog: Overview of Munich

Munich or München is a city and also the capital of the state of Bavaria, Germany. Munich is the last major city in the southernmost part of Germany. Munich (Munich) is a city located in the south of Germany belongs to the Free State of Bavaria, about 600km from Berlin. Munich has a history of more than 800 years, has been the capital of the state of Bavaria since 1806 – the richest state in Germany. With a population of more than 1.5 million, Munich is the third largest and most prosperous city in the German Confederation after Berlin and Hamburg.

Set foot in this beautiful city, visitors will have the opportunity to explore many famous tourist attractions such as: Parks with rich ecosystems, museums where ancient collections are well preserved, magnificent, splendid palaces, ancient architectural works,… all bring the best experiences for tourists. In particular, the city of Munich is also home to the most famous Oktoberfest beer festival in Germany, and around the world.

Coming to Munich, you will visit the old town with spectacular churches, quaint streets, as beautiful as any other European city. Munich also has the charming Schloss Nymphenburg palace. The English Garden is also a masterpiece of a place to hang out, especially in summer and autumn. When visiting the BMW factory and its museum, remember to stop by the beautiful Olympic Village and climb up the TV tower to enjoy the panoramic view of the city from above. Those who love football also can go to the famous Arena Allianz football field.

Not only a popular tourist destination, Munich is also an important transit point for you to travel from Germany to Austria (Salzburg) or to Switzerland (Zurich). Munich Station and Munich Bus Station are always bustling with trains and buses to surrounding cities. In the South German region, if you have a few days, you can visit cities around Munich that are very beautiful and attractive such as Fussen, Nürnberg (Nuremberg)…

Munich blog: When is the best time to visit Munich?

Munich has bold climate characteristics typical of Germany and is divided into 4 distinctive seasons of the year: Spring (March to May) – Summer (June to August) – Autumn (September to November) – Winter (From December to February next year). In particular, the winter temperatures are quite low, can drop to – 6 to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this time there are less tourists, so if you want to save money, this is the good time to come Munich for a budget trip. In addition, if you travel to Munich in the winter, you also have the opportunity to participate in many great events and festivals here such as: Christmas, New Year, … also very interesting.

Summer is the most beautiful time to travel and at the same time this is also the peak tourist season in Munich. Because at this time, the weather is warm and airy, the – 27 degrees Celsius, very suitable for sightseeing, take part in outdoor activities as well as enjoy the spring scenery.

However, autumn in Munich is especially beautiful, poetic with the Isar river dyed with yellow leaves on its both banks, and the English Garden is like wearing a new yellow coat of mother nature. Usually, the period from October 20 to November 5 is the most beautiful time for yellow leaves. However, it depends on weather which may vary from year to year. Autumn is also the time for the world’s most famous Oktoberfest beer festival. So if you can, go to Munich in the fall is also a ideal time.

Munich travel guide: How to get to Munich?

Franz Josef Strauss (Munich International Airport) is the largest airport in the city of Munich. Every day, this airport receives more than 3,000 domestic flights and nearly 8,000 international flights. And from Vietnam, if you want to catch a flight Munich, you can choose to depart from Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) or Tan Son Nhat International Airport (HCMC). Some airlines tourists can consider such as: Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, China Southern Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad Airways, Aeroflot Russian, Air China, Turkish Airlines, Air Berlin… The price ranges from 370 – 800 USD/way.

To choose a best route and cheap airfare based on your departure point you can access Google Flights , Skyscanner or Kayak to find.

To getting to Munich from other European cities by bus or train you can go to Omio to find the operators as well as suitable schedules.

Munich guide: How to getting around Munich?

Unlike many other German cities, Munich only serving tourists by bus services in many streets and bicycle rentals. Therefore, carefully review the place you need to go to, refer to the map to estimate the distance and choose the right vehicle. While buses are suitable for long trips and major routes, bicycles are often used to travel short distances, go for a walk or wander around alleys. The cost of both types of vehicles is quite cheap, but with bicycle rental, you need to ask the price in advance, the calculation method to estimate.

The public transport system in Munich is quite developed. When coming here, visitors can choose a bus for about 8-9 Euros/trip. Or rent a bicycle for 15 Euro/day to explore the city on your own.

• Munich Grand Circle Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour

Bavaria Tickets

You should buy a regional day ticket for Bavaria. This is the most cost-effective way to getting around in Bavaria and the German city of Munich. Major cities such as Munich (München), Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Augsburg and Regensburg are all allowed to use this ticket for public transport such as trains, buses, trams…

With this ticket, you can also use it when traveling to (from) Munich Airport (MUC) and by train to (from) Memmingen / Munich THERWest Airport (FMM).

• Please note, this ticket cannot be applied for the Allgäu Express Bus.
• Bayern tickets are valid from 9am to 3am the next day.
• Another note is that you can only use this ticket when you traveling within the state of Bavaria. Local trains (Nahverkehr) that you see abbreviated symbols such as: IRE – RE – RB – S – UEC – D – TGV are free to travel.
• The Bavaria tickets, although issued by the largest national railway company of Germany (Deutsche Bahn), can also be used on most non-Deutsche Bahn trains operating in Bavaria.
• Alternatively, you can use your Bayern ticket on cross-border trains to Salzburg and Reute in Austria, but not on local buses or trains inside cities in Austria.
• In addition, if you want to traveling between cities, it only costs you about 22-24 EUR for a bus. Or 100 – 140 EUR if taking the train.
• Bicycle rental costs about 15 EUR per day.
• The cost for traveling from Berlin to Munich is around 24-34 EUR for a bus or 100-140 EUR for a train.
• From Munich to Cologne costs 30-50 EUR for a bus or 95-140 EUR for a train.

Munich travel blog: Where to go and what to do in Munich?

Marienplatz and neues rathaus (new town hall).

You shouldn’t miss Marienplatz before catching the last flight home. This is the most famous square in the city dating back to the 12th century, it was once the site of medieval markets, celebrations and tournaments. The first impression when coming here is to admire the Neues Rathaus town hall that stands out located in the middle of the square, with a facade of 300 feet long, ornate with hundreds of statues, turrets and glass arches surrounding the square. In addition, you also have the opportunity to enjoy Munich cuisine at many high-class restaurants here, visit a few luxurious cafes and see the city from above. If you step inside, you will feel the European breath clearly from the layout to the color scheme.

Located in the center of this historic Marienplatz square is the new City Hall – the most outstanding and monumental structure in the city, ordered to be built by King Ludwig I in 1867 and completed in 1909 in the Neo-Gothic style. Visit the town hall at 11 a.m. (November to February) and at 12 p.m. or 5 p.m. (May-October) to see the exquisite clock Glockenspiel and the show of the dolls on the balcony of the building.

Rathaus-Glockenspiel clock tower

The Rathaus-Glockenspiel tower was built in the early 20th century. The clock tower features 43 bells and 32 large statues, depicting the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V. The clock tower carries a historical period, once a culture of mighty Germany, this is a very popular tourist spot in Munich.

Do not hesitate to step inside because you will feel the European breath very clearly, from the layout to the color scheme. You should come here during the day to enjoy the bustling atmosphere as well as admire its magnificence.

Besides, you can also pay around 7 Euros to go to the top of the 85 meter high tower of the New Town Hall and enjoy the panoramic view of this beautiful city. For visitors, they will definitely spend time the most at Marienplatz. Because only a short distance from the new town hall is its “predecessor”, a somewhat smaller building but containing in it countless profound historical stories. Other sights in this old square are the Mariensäule (Mary’s Pillar) erected in 1638 and the Fischbrunnen fountain with its bronze decorations taken from the ruins of the old fountain from the 19th century.

Especially during the Christmas season, Marienplatz is the host of one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany, on the occasion of Fasching, the square will also be packed with people watching dance performances Narren-Lindwurm.

One of the tourist destinations that you should not miss when coming to Munich is Regensburg. This is a place of majestic and poetic beauty with a quiet Danube river on one side and ancient castles on the other. Coming here, visitors will have the opportunity to see a lot of ancient, palatial and magnificent architectural works with hundreds of years old age.

The place attracts a large number of tourists every year because it has two contrasting faces, one side is thousands of constructions and ancient buildings, and the other side is a vast and gentle river of the Danube bends around. The landscape here is likened to “the green silk scarf on the graceful shoulders of a European maiden”.

Victuals Market

Address: Viktualienmarkt 3, 80331 München, Germany

Vicuals is one of the largest open-air markets in Munich. The stalls here offer not only sell fresh vegetables and delicious fruit from the outskirts of the city, but also traditional Bavarian Schweinsax’n and Speck. A number of other goods and products are also on sale such as fresh seafood, nutritious cheeses from all over Europe and pure canned honey. However, Vicuals market is not only a farmers market, it also hosts a number of traditional and folklore events.

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady of Munich)

Address: Frauenplatz 12, 80331 München, Germany

The Church of Our Lady of Munich is a place that has many impressions with religious tourists. However, you can come here to enjoy the great architectural masterpieces, see the intricate motifs on the domes and listen to the ringing bells. Frauenkirche is the main and most important church in the city, built in the 19th century in Gothic style. From a distance, this work can be recognized by two 100-meter-high towers with domes commonly found in Renaissance churches. On the steps at the entrance of the Frauenkirche was a very strange unidentified footprint. This is a prominent and most interesting highlight of the exterior of this church.

Deutsches Museum

Address: Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München, Germany Hours: 9AM–5PM/Friday: 12–8PM/Saturday: 10AM–8PM/Sunday: 10AM–5PM

If you have a passion for science, issues related to construction, engineering,… then the Deutsches museum is a great stop. It is known that this is the largest engineering museum in the world, here visitors will admire the collection, equipment, machinery,… extremely unique and impressive. Admission to the Deutsches museum is about 4 Euros/student and 11 Euros for adults. This popular tourist attraction in Munich will not disappoint you.

English Garden (Englischer Garten)

Englisher Garten is the largest botanical park in the city of Munich. The English garden owns a rich ecosystem, walking around the beautiful lakes, visitors will feel extremely relaxed and full of energy. The garden is a great place for picnics for those who love nature and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

It also offers a wide range of recreational activities. You can come here to taste savory dishes at luxurious restaurants, visit a beer garden, sip a cup of Japanese tea or go for a bike ride. Because the air here is quite fresh, many tourists choose open lawns for camping, if you go with a group of friends, your family can also fully equip with convenient picnic equipment to have great experiences.

Nymphenburg Palace

Address: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, 80638 München, Germany

Nymphenburg Palace in Baroque, Baroque architecture, French Baroque architectural style is the summer residence of the German royal family. This place is known as the most beautiful palace in the world with its unique architecture and beautiful combination with the magnificent Baroque park. Explore the palace of more than 200 hectares, walk around you will admire the century-old sculptures or elaborately manicured trees. The interior is also extremely gorgeous, the large banquet hall is the highlight that looks extremely spectacular. In the peak season, the entrance fee is around 11.50 EUR, in the low season (from October to March), it only takes you 8.50 EUR to immerse yourself in the fresh air, enjoy fragrant flowers and take pretty pictures.

In addition, some visitors also spend many hours enjoying the fragrance at the flower garden on the premises, taking beautiful pictures and listening to the Kutang birds singing in the sky.

Eagle’s Nest

Address: Kehlsteinhaus, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

A very attractive place to visit in Munich that you should visit is the Eagle’s Nest. This was actually a place of withdrawal of Hitler’s army set up by Martin Bormann. During the war, thanks to this retreat location, Hitler escaped many times from allied bombing. Today, it has become a popular sightseeing spot in Munich, attracting a large number of visitors every day.

Herrenchiemsee Palace and Park

Address: 83209 Herrenchiemsee, Germany Hours: 9AM–6PM

One of the most famous places in Munich is the Herrenchiemsee New Palace and Park. In the past, King Ludwig II used this palace as a residence for himself and the royal family. Coming here, visitors will be able to see firsthand a beautiful architectural work. The palace was built around the 14th century and for many years has always been in the top tourist attractions in Munich.

St. Peter’s Church

Address: Rindermarkt 1, 80331 München, Germany Hours: 7:30AM–7PM

It is one of the city’s largest churches and also a famous tourist attraction in Munich. Coming here, visitors can not only discover the unique architectural design of the church, but also learn about the interesting religious culture here. In particular, when visiting St. Peter’s Church, do not forget to climb to the top of the church with 306 stairs, to see the whole city of Munich from above.

St. Peter’s Church is also the oldest parish church in Munich. Built in Gothic style, the church located on the Petersberg hill and famous for its 91-meter-high bell tower, allowing you to see the Alps perfectly. In addition, the church of St. Peter is also home to one of the world’s most interesting artifacts: the corpse of the Jeweled Skeleton of Saint Munditia.

Alte Pinakothek Museum

Address: Barer Str. 27, 80333 München, Germany Hours: 10AM–6PM/Tuesday, Wednesday: 10AM–8:30PM/Monday: Closed

Art museum that stores more than 9,000 artworks, paintings from the Middle Ages, from famous artists and painters such as Titian, Frans Hals, Altdorfer and Albrecht Dürer… with admission of 4 EUR from Monday to Saturday, 1 EUR on Sunday.

Among the more than 100 museums and galleries that Munich tourists can choose to visit, the Alte Pinakothek Museum of Antique Painting is considered one of the most visited art archives. Housing in a building built in the Venetian Renaissance style with a collection of more than 9,000 paintings dating from the 14th to 18th centuries, painted by many of the world’s top artists such as Van Gogh, da Vinci or Rembrandt…

Address: Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 München, Germany Hours: 10AM–6PM/Monday: Closed

If you are a fan of BMW’s cars, the BMW museum should be at the top of your list of sights when traveling to Munich. Here, visitors can admire artifacts and stories about the development of cars and many other vehicles.

Bavarian National Museum

Address: Prinzregentenstraße 3, 80538 München, Germany Hours: 10AM–5PM/Monday: Closed

The museum is display a wide range of ancient relics and artifacts, the entrance fee is only 1 EUR. Here you will understand more about the history of the city of Munich through each period, through the antique collections displayed in the museum.

Stroll around Schwabing

Located in the northeast of Munich, Schwabing is a neighborhood filled with trendy, unique boutiques, shops, countless cafés and restaurants, attracting not only tourists looking for bustling, but also lots of people. Many Munich residents come here to soak up the vibrant nightlife, as the neighborhood entertains visitors with its plethora of trendy bars and nightclubs.

Once a gathering place for artists, musicians and art addicts of the city of Munich, Schwabing today still keep a lot of vibrant and artistic atmosphere. If Marienplatz is considered the heart of history in Munich, then Schwabing deserves to be considered the center of everyday life in this city.

Cuvillies Theater

Address: Residenzstraße 1, 80333 München, Germany

The Cuvillies Theater is a famous tourist attraction in Munich. This is one of the largest quaint theaters of the city, with luxurious beauty, ancient glass, eye-catching colors, really impress any visitor.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Address: Alpseestraße 30, 87645 Schwangau, Germany Hours: 9AM–4PM

Located in the village of Hohenschwangau near the town of Fussen, a 2-hour drive from Munich, Hohenschwangau Castle will make you overwhelmed by its ancient and fanciful beauty like in fairy tales. Maximillian II discovered Hohenschwangau Castle and from a ruin restored it and used it as a hunting ground and summer rest.

Prater Island and Museum Island

Prater Island is floated on the Isar River and offers tourists a completely different atmosphere from most other landmarks in the city: peace and quiet. On this island, in addition to the beauty of nature, you can also see many beautiful bridges or structures, blending with green trees and the calm Isar river. If you travel to Munich and Prater Island during the Christmas season, a Christmas market will also be set up on this island.

Another nearby island is Museum Island. Unlike Museum Island in Berlin, visitors to Museum Island in Munich will experience a highly interactive and experimental space, and the museums on the island encourage visitors to come and perform these experiments (by pressing the trigger at each display point).

Spend a relaxing afternoon at English Park and Olympic Park

English Park is considered the largest city park in the world as mentioned above, with not only well-maintained green spaces, but also a Japanese-style teahouse, lots of pavilions to sit and relax in, a garden beer and even a man-made waterfall. This is a sight that you definitely need to see with your own eyes during your trip to Munich. Bring some homemade food, drinks, and a favorite book and immerse yourself in nature at this giant park.

Another option for those who love green spaces in Munich is the Olympic park (Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 München, Germany). This 2.7-million-square-foot venue hosts many of the city’s exciting musical events, including the twice-yearly Tollwood festival in summer and winter.

You should visit the Olympic tower in the evening to admire its shimmering beauty. Many tourists coming here have kept beautiful photos as an appreciation for the scenery here. If you have more time, stop by a few cafes nearby to enjoy the view and taste of the old Munich tradition.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Address: Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany Hours: 9AM–6PM

Besides the palaces and castles located in the city like Nymphenburg, Schleissheim or Alter Hof… spend at least half a day to visit Neuschwanstein castle. It will take you about 2 hours to reach this landmark from the city center of Munich, but believe me, every second and every minute you spend on the trip will be well worth it.

The beauty of Neuschwanstein Castle is no less than castles out of fairy tales on television, with white walls, towering spiers and a prime position on a cliff in the Alps amid immense green forests.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

A romantic stop for visitors to Munich is the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This town is famous for its year-round Christmas shops and has an outstanding Christmas market every December.

Enjoy Bavarian beer

This is probably the most obvious suggestion that we can send to those who are intending to travel to Munich. The city is considered one of the beer connoisseurs’ havens, culminating in the Oktoberfest. Even so, even if you don’t visit Munich in the fall for this festival, all the beer gardens and restaurants here are ready to serve you a cool traditional Bavarian beer, served with German-style foods.

If you come to Munich in the fall, you should remember to attend the Oktoberfest festival held annually in late September and early October. Thanks to the famous Oktoberfest held every year here, the city of Munich has become one of Germany’s top beer cities. During this 16-18 day festival, visitors from all over the world are served over 7 million liters of locally brewed beer. But the appeal of the beer city of Munich lingers even after the festival is over. The city has many gardens and brasseries, including the famous Hofbräuhaus am Platzl and the Chinesische Turm in the Englischer Garten.

Munich blog: What to eat?

No matter which country you set foot in, you can’t miss the culinary discovery experience and Munich is no exception. Here, the dishes are mainly with typical German flavors, below we recommend signature dishes in Munich you should try such as:

Schweinshaxe (German Pork Knuckle) with pickled cabbage

A traditional dish in Germany in general and Munich in particular with the ingredient of cabbage, after finely chopped, soaked in brine, incubated for 1 week until it turns yellow, slightly sour and soft. Germans often eat this dish with sausages, bacon, fried meat and especially deep-fried pork knuckles. The blend of flavors leaves diners with an unforgettable impression.

German Beer

Going to Germany without enjoying the taste of German beer is considered an incomplete trip. German beer has long been a drink that attracts many tourists. Complying with strict standards and sophisticated processing, the quality of beer is excellent. Coming to Munich, please enjoy the following famous beer brands: Zwickelbier, Bitburger, Beck’s, Paulaner…

Frikadelle (German meatballs)

Continuing another delicious dish in Munich is Frikadelle meatballs. This dish is made from beef or pork, washed and pureed with onions, spices, … Then soaked in a layer of flour and deep fried in oil to create a crispy taste for a more attractive Frikadelle dish. You not to forget to eat with sauce, potato and vegetable salad with mustard.

Traditional Currywurst Sausage and Curry Ketchup

With countless delectable dishes, but visitors always put this curry sausage in their eating notebook. This dish uses German sausages that are chopped and cooked with curry sauce. When enjoying, often served with potatoes and beer to enhance the flavor.

The combination of German sausage and the main spice is curry. Grilled sausage placed with french fries on a plate, under a delicious sauce on top. So you’ve had a good meal, sipping a little more beer is a good suggestion.

Weisswurst White Sausage

Also one of the most famous and delicious German sausages. To make this dish is quite sophisticated, people use young veal or pork marinated in spices, pureed and made into sausages. When used, the sausage will be heated with white wine or water until the sausage is cooked and golden, then peel off the outer shell. This dish is dipped with a special sauce in Munich to create an irresistible delicious taste.

Potato dishes

Munich potatoes are quality, big, are an indispensable daily food of the people of Munich. There are many attractive dishes from them such as: Potato salad, potato soup, sautéed potatoes,… Each dish has its own flavor, you must try these dishes!

Maultaschen pastry

Maultaschen is a delicious, famous dish in Munich. The pastry is processed quite sophisticatedly, the crust is made from flour, the filling is a mixture of minced meat, raw vegetables, and many typical spices. After that, the cake will be cooked and served with its broth.

In addition, Munich cuisine still has many other attractive dishes such as: Schweinebraten (German Roast Pork Shoulder), Semmelknödel (German Bread Dumplings)…

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl

Address: Platzl 9, 80331 München, Germany Hours: 11AM–12AM

Don’t end your journey without setting foot in the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, a brasserie known for its distinctive concoctions. Drinks here are created by the people who have served for the royal family and provide more than 1000 seats for diners to enjoy. If you are a lover of novelty and want to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, this is the most suitable spot.

Munich travel blog: What to buy?

Buying gifts after returning is always a concern of tourists after a trip. In Munich you can easily buy cosmetics and perfumes. Munich Airport is a good shopping place, the price is not high and you do not need to bargain. If you buy outside, please note the opening hours of stores: Supermarkets, large stores are open from 9 am to 8 pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday only open from 9 am to 6 pm. For small shops, they only open from 9am to 6.30pm and on Saturdays close at 12pm.

Munich blog: Where to stay?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Platzl Hotel ( Agoda , Booking )
• 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian ( Agoda , Booking )
• Hotel Muenchen Palacen ( Agoda , Booking )
• Hilton Munich Airport ( Agoda , Booking )
• Sofitel Munich Bayerpost ( Agoda , Booking )
• Hotel Torbraeu ( Agoda , Booking )
• Marc Munich ( Agoda , Booking )
• Hotel Laimer Hof ( Agoda , Booking )

Check out more top and best hotels in Munich on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Munich you can refer to

• Munich Travel Card
• Munich City Pass
• City Tour Card Munich
• SEA LIFE Munich Admission Ticket
• Munich Classical Concert Ticket at Old Court Chapel with Optional Bavarian Dinner
• Neuschwanstein Castle Entry Ticket in Schwangau
• Bavarian Beer Experience in Munich
• Discover Munich Walking Tour
• From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip
• Munich Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: 1-Day or 2-Day Ticket
• Munich: Third Reich & WWII Tour Walking Tour
• From Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle Full-Day Trip
• Munich: Old Town & Viktualienmarkt City Walk in German
• Munich 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour
• From Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Premium Tour
• From Munich: Rothenburg and Nördlinger Ries Day Trip by Bus
• From Munich: Salzburg, St. Wolfgang, and the Salzkammergut

Munich is a very unique city where you can see the past and the future side by side on the same street. This city is also a place where man-made architecture and nature harmonize in an extremely sustainable way. Not only that, but Munich is also a vibrant city with countless cultural events taking place all year round, attracting countless visitors. With all these great things, what’s the reason you haven’t planned your trip to Munich yet? Read more Germany guide here .

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Munich Guides: one day in Munich or longer

Itinerary suggestions.

There is always something to discover in Munich, regardless of whether you’re staying for 4 or 24 hours, for a long weekend or even an entire week. Some suggestions.

Stopover: 4 hours

For visitors who only have a couple of hours, a guided tour through Munich's old town provides a glimpse into the city’s essence. The tour lasts around 90 minutes. With your official tour guide of the city of Munich you will visit the following sights, among other interesting places:

- Marienplatz (square) - Frauenkirche (church) - Hofbräuhaus - Viktualienmarkt (food market) - Residenz (palace)

Alternatively, you could visit a beer garden or café at Viktualienmarkt or in Hofgarten park. Afterwards, discover Munich's noble Maximilianstraße with its international luxury labels.

Short trip: 1 day

In the morning, take a guided tour through Munich's old town (90 minutes), covering various attractions including Marienplatz (square), Frauenkirche (church), Hofbräuhaus , Viktualienmarkt (market) and Residenz (palace). Afterwards, discover Munich's noble Maximilianstraße with its international luxury labels.

After that, you could visit Schloss Nymphenburg . The palace complex with its magnificent park ranks among the largest Baroque palaces in Germany. Several other sights can be visited around the main palace :

- park palaces Amalienburg, Pagodenburg and Badenburg - Marstallmuseum - Nmphenburg Porcelain Manufactory - Botanical Gardens

Tip: When the weather is fine, a gondola ride down the Nymphenburg canal in an original Venetian gondola is an unforgettable experience.

Weekend: 2 days

Take a guided tour through Munich's old town (90 minutes). After that, take a peek behind the scenes of the Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera) during a Backstagetour (75 min.). If the weather is fine we recommend to go for a walk in the Englischer Garten (English Garden), where you can watch the Eisbach surfers .

In the afternoon, you could visit Schloss Nymphenburg , the former summer residence of the Wittelsbacher family (duration including travel: around 3 hours). Alternatively, the Kunstareal with its world-renowned museums can be visited. Later on, attending a performance at the Bayerische Staatsoper (3 hours) would be a nice ending.

On the second day, pay a visit to the Allianz Arena (approx. 75 minutes). Follow this with a visit to BMW Welt (BMW World) or take a beer-themed tour , including a trip to a brewery (90 minutes).

Experience Munich: 4 days    

Day 1: Take a bus tour to Munich’s highlights . Follow this up with a trip to the Olympic Park and take a breath-taking climbing tour over the canopy roof on the Olympic Stadium (120 min.). In case of bad weather, you could visit the BMW Welt and/or the BMW Museum . In the evening, enjoy Broadway feeling when attending a musical at the Deutsches Theater .

Day 2: Visit Schloss Nymphenburg with its famous Schönenheitengalerie (Gallery of Beauties) and porcelain manufactory. In the afternoon, take a tour of Allianz Arena , Munich’s football temple (approx. 75 minutes). Afterwards, join a beer-themed tour and follow it up with a beer tasting.

Day 3: Take a tour of the old town including a visit to Munich’s most important churches and the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz (square). For lunch, the Viktualienmarkt with its beer garden is an ideal place to enjoy a traditional Bavarian Brotzeit. In the afternoon, you could visit Munich’s Residenz palace or you book a backstage tour at the Bayerische Staatsoper . And if you have acquired a taste for it, why not attend a performance at the Bayerische Staatsoper in the evening.

Day 4: Start the day with a tour of the Kunstareal and discover internationally known museums. Everyone who is interested in technology and science visits the  Deutsches Museum . After that, take a break at the Englischer Garten and enjoy beer gardens ( Chinesischer Turm or Seehaus ), the Eisbach wave , lakes and a well-tended lawn . Alternatively, enjoy a day trip to Munich's surrounding area and discover Neuschwanstein , Linderhof or Herrenchiemsee , the castles of the fairy-tale king Ludwig II .

Enjoy Munich: 1 week

Day 1: Go on a cycling tour of Munich’s highlights (2.5 hours). In the afternoon, you could visit the Pinakothek der Moderne (Pinakothek Museum of Modern Art) which houses four big museums under one roof (2 hours). In the evening, enjoy Broadway feeling when attending a musical at the Deutsches Theater .

Day 4: Enjoy a day trip to Munich's surrounding area and discover Neuschwanstein , Linderhof or Herrenchiemsee , the castles of the fairy-tale king Ludwig II .

Day 5: Spend the morning visiting Museum Brandhorst , an architectural masterpiece with a colourful façade made out of 36,000 ceramic rods. The collection focuses on classical modern art. Next up, visit the ancient sculptures in the nearby Staatliche Antikensammlung . Enjoy a snack at the café surrounded by Grecian-like ambience. In the afternoon, visit the Olympic Park and take a breath-taking climbing tour over the canopy roof at the Olympic Stadium (120 min.). In case of bad weather, you could visit the BMW Welt (BMW World) and/or the BMW Museum . Then attend an evening performance by the multi-award-winning Münchner Kammerspiele (theatre).

Day 6: Take a trip to Starnberger See (Lake Starnberg) with a boat tour to Buchheim Museum in Bernried, which boasts an impressive collection of German expressionist art.

Day 7: Spend the morning at the Alte Pinakothek museum, which is home to world-famous masterpieces by artists from Dürer to Rubens (duration: 2.5 hours). After that, take a break at the Englischer Garten and enjoy beer gardens (Chinesischer Turm or Seehaus), the Eisbach wave , lakes and a well-tended lawn . Everyone who is interested discovers the city park during a carriage ride .

Text: München Tourismus; Photo: Christian Kasper; Illustration: Julia Pfaller; Video: Redline Enterprises

Also interesting:.

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• A sneak preview of Munich's 2024/2025 gallery exhibitions Hungry for art
• A day at the Viktualienmarkt in Munich This market is a must-visit

Suggestions for your stay

There is always something new to discover in Munich, regardless of whether you’re staying for 4 or 24 hours, for a long weekend or even an entire week. Some suggestions.

Stopover, short trip, long weekend or a whole week: here are some ideas for your visit to Munich.

Munich Guides

Munich is one of the most popular destinations with children. These are our suggestions for families at any time of year and in any weather!

Discover Munich consciously and mindfully and make a contribution to a sustainable future.

Discover Munich consciously and mindfully and make a contribution to a sustainable future. Our suggestions for a sustainable visit to Munich.

Numerous parks, beautiful lakes in the surrounding area, many excursions into the countryside. Our tips for nature lovers.

Numerous parks, beautiful lakes in the surrounding area, many excursions into the countryside - here are some great activities for nature lovers.

Romantic Places in Munich

Discover the most romantic places in Munich and have a lovely time together. 

Love is no solo; love is a duet! We’ve put together 20 tips for partners and budding lovers. Discover the most romantic places in Munich and have a lovely time together.

Munich in the rain

Inclement weather lures visitors to museums and cafés. And it provides a nice opportunity to discover other thrilling places.

Inclement weather lures visitors to museums and cafés. And it provides a nice opportunity to discover other thrilling places. Some tips for rainy days in Munich.

Stopover, short trip, long weekend or a whole week: here are some ideas for those who love football.

In Munich on a Sunday? We show you why this is exactly the right time to visit the Bavarian capital.

Would you like to take your dog with you on your trip to Munich? The city is very dog-friendly with its extensive parks and many green spaces. All the important information and tips can be found here.

Stopover, short trip, long weekend or a whole week: here are some exclusive tips to enjoy Munich.

Stopover, short trip, long weekend or a whole week: here are some ideas for those who love sports.

Stopover, short trip, long weekend or a whole week: here are some ideas for those who love art.

The climate in Munich

We can tell you the best time to travel to Munich to help you plan your trip to the city.

Luggage Storage in Munich

Munich is a popular destination for travellers from all over the world. Here, you can store your suitcases and bags safely.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a favourite travel destination for guests from all over the world. Here, you can store your suitcases and bags safely.

Book a visit to the observation deck of Munich's Frauenkirche and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Munich Card & City Pass

Discover Munich in a relaxed and uncomplicated way: discounts for the diverse range of art, culture and leisure activities with our guest cards.

Free Public transport

Reduced or included!

Public transport is included

Many discounts with the Card, many things for free with the Pass.

Online or at the tourist information offices

Take the time to discover "the Wiesn" as it lives and breathes on a guided tour of the festival grounds.

Book a unique experience at the Wiesn time and enjoy the Oktoberfest 2024 in Munich in a relaxed way with our Wiesn package.

The official Oktoberfest beer mug with our new Oktoberfest motive is now available to order.

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting historical facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Hop on and be whisked away by one of the world's most beautiful stretches of street: the Romantic Road to Rothenburg and Harburg.

This Munich experience promises high culture for newcomers and enthusiasts: enjoy the popular Mozart concerts in the Residenz.

During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Immerse yourself in the world of the fairytale king!

Impressive architecture and unique ambience: discover the Law Library in the New Town Hall.

Enjoy this special tour and pedicap ride past all the famous sights of Munich's old town and into the Englischer Garten.

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

We look forward to seeing you again in Munich. Our tip: the exclusive travel package with Munich Card and Tower Ascent.

The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

The hop-on hop-off city bus tours of Gray Line will let you collect unforgettable impressions of Munich.

Buy now vouchers for your visit in Munich. The ideal gift! Guided tours, guest cards and more...

Did you know that Munich was a pioneer of the European graffiti scene? Discover different art up close in the city with our street art tour today!

Experience the city's diverse art & exciting graffiti on our street art tour!

Exclusive and safe: Discover the most beautiful sights and corners of Munich's city centre with your official personal guide.

The day trip takes you along the Alpine Road to Berchtesgaden area with its dreamlike scenery.

Visit the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

Visit the birthplace of composer extraordinaire Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, stroll through the Baroque old town and then relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

With a rental bike, you can experience Munich at your own personal pace. Discover hidden alleys and charming districts off the beaten track.

2 nights in your selected hotel and - thanks to the City Pass - free admission to 45 museums, sights and attractions: our travel package for explorers.

Munich's districts are diverse, contrasting and worth exploring. Immerse yourself!

• Book excursions
• Book the Munich-Card
• Book guided tours

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Munich: Over 100 flights cancelled as freezing rain closes runways

Poor weather has also led to delays and cancellations at Germany's Frankfurt Airport.

On Wednesday afternoon, 133 flights were cancelled at Munich Airport due to freezing rain.

Although takeoffs and landings resumed around 6pm on Wednesday, disruptions have continued into Thursday morning.

Cancellations this morning include Lufthansa flights between Munich and Basel and Genoa.

The German airport advises passengers to allow more time for arrival and departure and to check the status of their flights before leaving.

Due to current weather conditions, there are disruptions in air traffic. Please check your flight status or contact your airline for information about your flight. pic.twitter.com/lYKb0YGgvF — Munich Airport (@MUC_Airport) December 15, 2022

Flight disruptions and cancellations also plagued Frankfurt airport on Wednesday due to poor weather conditions.

• UK airports scrapping security rules on liquids and laptops thanks to new 3D scanners
• Flight delayed or cancelled due to UK air traffic control issue? Your compensation rights explained

Thursday has seen a handful of cancellations, including Lufthansa flights to Berlin, Dusseldorf Hamburg and Venice, and from Berlin, Brussels, Hamburg, Hanover, Muenster, Munich, Poznan, Salzburg, Venice, Vienna and Wroclaw.

Due to today’s weather conditions, flight disruptions and cancellations will occur at FRA. Please check the status of your flight before traveling to the airport and allow extra time for your journey. We also recommend that you check in as early as possible for your flight. pic.twitter.com/TFnu8LzLC8 — Frankfurt Airport (@Airport_FRA) December 14, 2022

Where else are flights being cancelled due to wintry weather?

The disruptions follow a week of chaos at airports across the UK after snow blanketed much of the country.

Runways at Manchester Airport were shut down on Saturday, followed by closures and flight cancellations at London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports on Sunday night and into Monday morning.

Disruption continued into Wednesday, with at least 75 cancelled flights to and from London ’s airports affecting more than 10,000 passengers, according to The Independent.

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8 of Europe’s best beer cities beyond Munich

From an iconic brewery in Dublin to a beer spa in Budapest, there’s plenty more for beer-lovers to discover in Europe beyond Munich’s Oktoberfest.

While Oktoberfest may be Munich’s biggest crowd-puller, it’s not the only European city suited to a beer-themed break. Whether it’s the Polish city with statues of beer-drinking gnomes or an up-and-coming craft-brewing hotspot in Sweden, we’ve got the lowdown on eight European cities that are perfect for a hop-scented break.

1. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is the home of Guinness, so it’s no surprise that the Guinness Storehouse is the city’s most popular landmark. Hands-on experiences provide the opportunity to improve your pint-pulling technique at the Guinness Academy, learn about aromas and flavour nuances during tasting masterclasses and the chance to snap a selfie that’s then imprinted onto a pint. Other beer-related hotspots worth a visit include Ireland’s oldest pub, The Brazen Head , which opened in 1198, and Rascals Brewing Company . Tour this pint-sized brewery for copious samples of its weird and wonderful tipples, such as the silky Cherry Cola Ale made with cherry, vanilla and a hint of spice.

2. Pilsen, Czech Republic

Pilsen is the birthplace of pilsner, a German-style beer created by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll in 1842. He brewed his first batch at Pilsner Urquell , the Czech Republic’s largest brewery. Tour highlights include a visit to the brewery’s historic cellars, which stretch for almost six miles. Other Pilsen hop-spots include the 15 th -century Brewery Museum , filled with ancient brewing tools, Gambrinus Brewery , brewers of one of the most popular beers in the country, and the Purkmistr Beer Spa for a chance to soak in a bath filled with beer.

3. Lille, France

For undeniable proof of Lille’s historic connections to brewing, head to its cathedral, which features a spectacular stained-glass window dedicated to Saint Arnold, the patron saint of hop-pickers. You’ll find countless microbreweries in Lille’s city centre, the majority of which are located in the old town. Head to Singe Savant Brewery, where you can join brewing masterclasses, or a larger brewery, such as Goudale , famous for its top-fermented beers (beers fermented faster at a higher temperature). Tours offered by L’Echapée-Bière specialise in beer-themed explorations of Lille and its history.

4. Wrocław, Poland

Located in the heart of a major hop-producing region, Wrocław takes its beer seriously, with records showing that the old town hall’s cellars were first used to store beer in the 1300s. Breweries worthy of being on your radar include Złoty Pies (meaning ‘Golden Dog’), where you’ll find a statue depicting a beer-drinking gnome outside. For some hoppy history, Browar Stu Mostów , founded in the 1500s, is known for its malty beers, while Piwnica Świdnicka dates back to the 1200s. Consider taking a tour of Prost (you’ll find yet another beer-drinking gnome near the entrance), one of the city’s first breweries, for a beer-tasting masterclass.

5. Brussels, Belgium

Belgium brews more than 700 types of beer, all of which you can learn about at the Beer   Museum of Schaerbeek , which focuses on the history of the craft. Top breweries include the Brussels   Beer   Project’s Port Sud taproom, home to the city’s largest beer garden with views overlooking the canal. For the wow factor, visit Delirium Café , which holds the Guinness World Record for the most beers served in one place — 2,004 — including several with ABVs of 40%. Brussels’ Grand-Place is a great place for a sundowner, and is also close to the famous Manneken Pis statue, which depicts a small boy answering the call of nature. On certain public holidays, the statue is hooked up to a keg, allowing passersby to quench their thirst with beer.

6. Budapest, Hungary

If simply sipping beer isn’t enough, consider Budapest — more specifically the Lukács Thermal Bath . Here, you can enjoy the popular beer spa, which involves sipping a stein while you soak in a barrel-like bath filled with thermal water, malt and hops. Alternatively, tour the city on its Beer Bus , where you can pull your own pint of Hungarian ale as you hop between breweries such as Élesztőház , which serves up some of Budapest’s top craft beers. For a swankier experience, head to the Continental Hotel   Budapest’s ARAZ Restaurant for a meal that’s paired with various beers to match each course.

7. Cologne, Germany

Cologne is the birthplace of Kölsch beer, a golden ale served in 0.2-litre glasses, invented in 1902 by the Sünner Kölsch brewery . Today, it’s served by most of the city’s breweries, including the Haus Töller , which was founded in the 1300s. To learn more about the city’s historic connections to brewing, visit the Brauwelt brewery , which has been producing beer using water from its own well since 1830. Need a room? Stay at the Hotel zur Malzmühle , where curved headboards are designed to resemble the beer barrels that have shaped the city’s identity.

8. Gothenburg, Sweden

Breweries have existed in Gothenburg since the city was founded in 1621 and its beers went on to develop a global fanbase by the 1700s, when they were among the items exported to the Far East by the Swedish East India Company. Today, Gothenburg’s brewery scene is thriving, with more than 40 craft breweries offering beer-tasting experiences and tours along with various restaurants and tap rooms, too. The best way to visit them is via the Hop-on Hop-off bus, which departs from Järntorget square every Saturday. The tour takes in several breweries, including Spike Brewery , known for its flavour-packed tipples such as the coconut and coffee-flavoured Doppler Effekt. Another reminder of Gothenburg’s slightly unusual approach to beer is Ivans Pilsnerbar , a bar specialising in pasta, pilsner and art.

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