Known as the capital of Bavaria and located in southern Germany, Munich is a vibrant city full of incredible sites to see. Here are the must-see places and things to do when visiting the city.
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Marienplatz & Neues Rathaus
Start your visit to Munich with a visit to Marienplatz, a bustling square in the heart of the city. Here you will see the iconic Neues Rathaus, Munich’s town hall. Marvel at its ornate facade, and make sure to time your visit to see the Glockenspiel clock show. This large mechanical clock features 43 bells and 32 life-size characters enacting scenes from Munich’s history. The clock comes alive every day for 15 minutes at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., as well as 5 p.m. from March to October.
You can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the square from one of the cafes in the square. Or you can use it as a place to start your exploration of Munich. Nearby you will find Viktualienmarkt, a food market with over 100 stalls selling produce, bread, spices, fish, meat, gifts, and souvenirs. Want to try some famous Bavarian beer? Viktualienmarkt is the location of Munich’s most central beer garden serving beer from all six Munich breweries.
The square is also near all of the best shopping in Munich. Kaufingerstrasse is a car-free pedestrian area filled with department stores, fashion shops, perfumeries, and other specialty shops. It’s also a great place to eat, relax in a beer garden, and enjoy street performers.
Englischer Garten
Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Located less than a mile away from Marienplatz, it’s a great place to relax after exploring the square and shopping ’til you drop! Stop by the Viktualienmarkt food market on your way to purchase picnic items, then relax and enjoy your meal by the Eisbach River. As you eat, you can watch people surf on the Eisbachwelle artificial wave in the river. If you are an experienced surfer, you may want to try it yourself!
There’s plenty of things for the active traveler to do in the garden. You can sail on the Kleinhesselohoer See lake on a rented rowboat or pedal boat. If you like to bike or hike, you will love the park’s extensive trails through varied landscapes. Make sure to wander off the main paths to explore smaller trails and bridges scattered throughout the park.
Take some time to visit the Japanese Teahouse and Garden while in the park. A gift from Munich’s sister city of Sapporo in Japan, the teahouse and grounds are a tranquil area. Sometimes you can even participate in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies there.
If you are visiting the garden around sunset, climb up to the Monopteros Greek-style temple for stunning views of the park and the Munich skyline. Then end your evening at one (or all four) of the beer gardens located in the park. There’s Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) featuring a 82 foot pagoda and traditional oompah bands. For a more relaxing experience, try Seehaus located by the lake featuring views of the water. Off the beaten path are Hirschau and Aumeister.
Munich Residenz
If you love glitz and glamor, definitely make time to visit the Munich Residenz. This former royal palace of Bavarian monarchs features stunning architecture and design with glimpses of evolving trends throughout five centuries. You will see the intricately decorated royal apartments, the stunning Antiquarium hall, and lovely courtyards and gardens surrounding the palace.
The Residenz is the home of the royal treasury. Here you will see jewels, ceremonial swords, relics, and even the Bavarian royal crown. There’s also a museum on site where you can learn more about the Bavarian royal family. And hopefully there’s a concert happening in the Cuvilliés Theatre while you visit! This beautiful theatre features an ornate red and gold interior.
Hofbräuhaus München
If you are thirsty after all this touring, make sure to stop by Hofbräuhaus München, Munich’s most famous beer hall. Here you will enjoy traditional Bavarian food and traditional brews complete with live music and a lively atmosphere. This is THE place to get a pretzel and sausages. You definitely won’t leave hungry!
Nymphenburg Palace & Gardens
If you enjoyed your visit to Munich Residenz, make sure to make your way outside of city center to visit Nymphenburg Palace. This baroque palace is the former summer residence of the Bavarian dynasty and was the birthplace of King Ludwig II, Bavaria’s “Mad King” who built some of the most amazing castles in the world.
You will marvel at the opulent interior complete with gilded moldings, frescoes, and intricate stucco work as you tour the palace. Perhaps even better are the extensive gardens reminiscent of Versailles in France. There are landscaped lawns, fountains, canals, and flowerbeds. Don’t miss exploring the hidden garden pavilions as well. These include the Amalienburg hunting lodge, Pagodenburg with East Asian design, Magdalenenklaus hermitage, and Badenburg bathhouse palace featuring one of the first heated indoor pools in Europe.
While you are there, visit the former stables to see the Marstallmuseum. This museum features a collection of ceremonial carriages, sleighs, and harnesses used by the Bavarian royal family. There’s also a display of 18th to 20th century Nymphenburg porcelain inside the museum.
Deutsches Museum
If you love science and technology, the Deutsches Museum is a must-visit. It is one of the world’s largest and oldest museums of its type and features interactive exhibits on 50+ fields such as physics, chemistry, aviation, space, energy, telecommunications, mining, transportation, and more.
The aviation and aerospace sections of the museum are very impressive. You can see aircraft from different eras, real satellites, and rocket models. You can even experience what it feels to fly a plane on a flight simulator. There’s also an impressive marine navigation and ship building collection featuring historic ship models and full-size boats and submarines. Other popular exhibits include renewable energy and environmental science, medical advances and innovations, and communication technology. Throughout you can discover the role of Bavarians in scientific and technological advancements.
Theresienwiese & Oktoberfest
If you are visiting Munich in October, it’s probably because you want to attend Oktoberfest. This two-week celebration features Bavarian beer, food, traditional costumes, and amusement rides. It’s free to attend, but you may want to make a reservation to secure a place to sit.
Even if you are visiting outside of Oktoberfest, a visit to fairgrounds is worthwhile. Known as Theresienwiese, the fairgrounds hosts other events like a spring festival, flea markets, winter holiday markets, and other events. Check out this site to find out what’s happening there during your visit.
No matter when you visit, you get an elevated view of all the action from the Bavaria statue in front of Ruhmeshalle Hall. During Oktoberfest, you can visit St. Paul’s Church for a view from the 318 foot tower viewing platform. While you are there, take a peek at the inside of the church. Here you will see an 18th century high alter, a golden figure of St. Peter, the relics of St. Munditia, and other treasures.
BMW Museum & BMW Welt
If you love cars, the BMW Museum & Welt experience are a must-do in Munich. Located next to the BMW headquarters, the museum traces the company’s 100+ year history from making aircraft engines to becoming a global automotive icon. You will view legendary classic and contemporary BMW vehicles such as the BMW 328 Roadster, BMW 507, BMW i8, and the R32 motorcycle. There are multimedia and interactive exhibits on a variety of topics including fuel efficiency, safety, design, and elective vehicle innovation.
Next door, BMW Welt showcases BMW’s latest vehicles and innovations. Enjoy numerous interactive exhibits featuring virtual reality, touchscreens, and interactive panels as you learn about BMW’s research into the future of transportation. If you happen to live in Europe and are in the market for a car, BMW offers an unparalleled vehicle delivery experience. Your new car is revealed on a special turntable, then you are provided a guided introduction to its features.
If you want to see how BMW vehicles are made, you can take a tour of the main plant in Munich. It’s a great way to get behind the scenes. And for the ultimate BMW experience, book a guided tour of the museum, Welt, factory, or all three!
Allianz Arena
Home of FC Bayern München, Allianz Arena is a must visit for European football (soccer) fans. Take a guided tour of the museum and arena to learn about the history of the football club and experience the arena like a player. You’ll see the locker room, press area, and other non-public areas. You are even able to enter the field as if you are on the team!
If you time your visit right, you can experience a FC Baynern game! The stadium also hosts plenty of other events as well. Check their calendar to see what’s happening during your trip.
Pinakothek Museums
If you are an art lover, definitely plan to spend some of your visit to Munich visiting the Pinakothek Museums. These museums include the Alte PInakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, Museum Brandhorst, and Sammlung Schack. The first four are located right by each other while the Sammlung Schack is about 1.5 miles away. Tickets are available for the individual museums, and there is also a ticket to visit all of them on the same day. Here’s what you can expect from each museum:
- Alte PInakothek – one of the world’s largest collections of 14th to 19th century European art including paintings by Rubens, van Dyck, and Rembrandt.
- Neue Pinakothek – first museum for contemporary art in Europe featuring works of artists like Manet, Van Gogh, and Goya (closed for renovation through 2029).
- Pinakothek der Moderne – features 200,000 paintings, sculpture, photographs, and media exhibits dating from the 1900 German avant-garde movement to today.
- Museum Brandhorst – established in 2009 as a central location for German contemporary art.
- Shammlung Schack – highlights paintings featuring landscapes, mythological and historical themes, and Italian culture popular during the 19-century German Romantic movement.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Visitors to Munich should visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site located just outside the city. I know this is the not the most fun activity on this list of things to do in Munich. But it’s incredibly important that we visit sites like this to understand one of the darkest times in human history in order to not repeat it.
Established in 1933, Dachau was first Nazi concentration camp in Germany. At first it held political prisoners, but it became a model for other concentration camps and a training ground for SS officers. Prisoners were tormented with standing cells, floggings, pole hangings, and requirements to stand at attention for long periods of time. No one knows exactly how many people died there, but there are 32,000 documented deaths and likely thousands more. The camp was liberated by the U.S. military in April 1945.
During your visit, you will tour the gas “showers,” crematorium, replica barracks, and yard. Throughout the camp are striking memorials erected from various religions. There are also exhibits telling the stories of prisoners who lived and died there and providing a historical context of the Holocaust.
English tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and an audio guide is available if you miss the tour. But definitely try to time your visit to go on a guided tour as I found the audio guide difficult to follow.
St. Peter’s Church
Your soul might need respite after a visit to Dachau. So we’ll end this list of things to do in Munich with St. Peter’s Church. Located in the heart of the city, St. Peter’s is Munich’s oldest church. Attend a service or concert or simply enter the church and look around – it’s free! But be prepared to pay a small admission fee to climb the bell tower for a panoramic view of the city and the Alps in the distance.
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