Things to do in Munich: the must-sees and our tips

In short: Munich is best explored on foot in its old town. Start at Marienplatz and the New Town Hall glockenspiel, see the Frauenkirche, wander the Viktualienmarkt, visit the Residenz, unwind in the English Garden, and keep a day for Neuschwanstein Castle.

Marienplatz and the old town

Munich’s heart, Marienplatz is dominated by the neo-Gothic New Town Hall and its animated glockenspiel. Nearby, the Frauenkirche and its two onion-domed towers are the city’s emblem; St Peter’s Church offers views over the rooftops.

The Viktualienmarkt

Munich’s big open-air market gathers stalls of fruit, cheese and Bavarian specialities, plus a beer garden, at the foot of the old town.

The Residenz and the museums

The Residenz, former palace of Bavaria’s rulers, lines up state rooms and treasures. For art, the Pinakotheken quarter spans old masters to modern art; the curious will head to the Deutsches Museum, one of the world’s great science and technology museums.

The English Garden and Nymphenburg

The English Garden is one of Europe’s largest urban parks: meadows, streams, beer gardens and the Eisbach surfers. To the west, Nymphenburg Palace and its park show another side of royal Bavaria.

Beer halls

You can’t leave Munich without a stop in a traditional beer hall or a beer garden, with pretzels and Bavarian specialities.

Day trips from Munich

• Neuschwanstein Castle, as a day trip: visits use time slots, book ahead.
• Salzburg, in Austria, Mozart’s city, reachable by train.
• The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, a place of remembrance on the city’s edge.
• The Bavarian lakes, such as Lake Starnberg or the Chiemsee.

Getting around

• The S-Bahn, U-Bahn and trams serve the whole city.
• From the airport, S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run to the centre.
• By bike, the city is flat and well equipped.

All our tips for the country: Travel in Germany.

Where to stay in Munich?

The areas and our booking tips are covered in our guide Where to stay in Munich.