20 best things to do in Munich, Germany

Exploring the lively city of Munich is one of the top highlights of a trip to Germany thanks to its beautiful town centre, Bavarian cuisine, iconic beer halls, proximity to castles and of course being the home of Oktoberfest. 

I’ve spent nearly two weeks in the incredibly beautiful southern state of Bavaria where Munich is, close to the border it shares with Austria, Czechia and Switzerland. This makes it a great base if you’re looking to pop over to Liechtenstein or Salzburg for another passport stamp.

With easy access to landmarks like Dachau and the Bavarian castles for those looking to day trip, the city itself also has much to offer—and is much greener than you might think! Along with its many historical buildings, Munich also has many parks including the spectacular English Garden.

Here are some of the best things to do in Munich, Germany.

Take a walking tour of Altstadt

One of the first things to do in Munich is to take a walking tour of Altstadt (Munich Old Town). This is a great way to get to know the city and become oriented with the different sites. 

You can join a guided tour or just spend a few hours wandering and exploring yourself. Don’t miss sites like Marienplatz (Munich’s Central Square), the new and old city halls, and endless cobblestone streets. This is the perfect place to get lost for a while!

Drink at the iconic Hofbräuhaus

Let’s talk about one of Munich’s main tourist attractions—its best known beer hall. The Hofbräuhaus has been around for more than four centuries, attracting beer guzzlers from around the globe. The expansive restaurant has a staggering 3,500 seats, meaning you won’t ever have much trouble getting in–unless of course you’re there during Oktoberfest.

READ MORE: 5 tips for surviving Oktoberfest

Large bosomed waitresses show off their talents while balancing up to a dozen Steins filled with the Hofbräuhaus’ famous brews, and you’re sure to see an Oompah band or a group of older gents wearing traditional Lederhosen.

The Hofbräuhaus opens every day at 11 a.m. and serves a wide selection of traditional German fare, including sausage platters and suckling pig. Order a Hofbräu Original, or if beer isn’t your thing but you want the experience get a Radler which tastes like sweet grapefruit juice as it’s made of half beer, half lemonade.

Cycle the city during a bike tour

Exploring Munich on a bike tour is a great way to get to know the city. You can cover much more ground than on foot and though you could rent a bike on your own, having a guide means you get to learn the history of the city and not worry about navigating the bike lane system on your own.

Expect to see some of the city’s top attractions during your Munich city bike tour including King’s Square, the English Garden, and the Eisbach Wave. 

Go on a war tour

One of the most important things to do in Munich is learn about the city’s dark history as the “Capital of the Nazi Movement” during World War II. Though it’s not a fun subject, it is interesting to learn the history and, more importantly, important to be aware. 

There are several options including:

• Learn about the Nazi movement and how it came about in the city during the 20th century during this walking tour focused on the Third Reich.
• If you want to get out of the city, there are a few worthy day trip options too. The first is a sombering visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Dachau became the model for all concentration camps, and on the visit to the memorial site you can walk through the reconstructed barracks and cells. There are also several memorials and an educational exhibit. 
• Another (longer) day trip option is to Hitler’s Eagle Nest (Kehlsteinhaus), with a stop at the town of Berchtesgaden. Note that at certain times of the year, Kehlsteinhaus is not accessible and the tour replaces it with a salt mine instead, so double-check before booking. 

Wander through the English Garden

Munich’s English Garden is even bigger than New York City’s Central Park, making it one of the largest urban parks in the entire world. 

The Englischer Garten stretches over 375 hectares along the bank of the Isar River. It’s home to many different festivals throughout the year as well as attractions including the Chinese Tower, Monopteros, and Japanese Teahouse. There’s even a little lake within the park popular with graceful swans, two beer gardens, surfing on the Eisbach, and even nude sunbathing.

You can visit the English Garden on your own or on this walking tour. 

Party at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is one of the world’s most famous festivals, and a must if you find yourself near Munich in the fall. Despite the name, most of Oktoberfest takes place in September, not October. The exact dates change yearly but it typically ends the first Sunday in October.

I attended a few years ago and shared all of my tips for making the most of Oktoberfest. You can combine Oktoberfest with a tour of Munich if you’re short on time, and I definitely recommend buying skip-the-line tickets and getting a table reservation in advance as many places start to fill up by mid-afternoon. 

Visit the Christmas Markets

One of the top things to do in Munich in December is to visit the Christmas markets, and there are more than 20 of them around the city. Even if you aren’t looking to buy gifts or souvenirs, it’s still a great opportunity to see the city lit up in festive cheer. Plus you absolutely must try Glühwein (mulled wine) and Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies), both of which are local favourites during the holiday season.

While you can definitely wander the markets alone, there are also Christmas market tours that share insight into the history of the markets. 

Taste local food favourites

One of the best things to do in Munich is indulge in all the traditional Bavarian cuisine – beer included, of course!

There are many great restaurants in the city so I find the best way to try a little bit of everything is to join a food tour. There are quite a few options including this Bavarian beer and food evening tour, a tour of the Munich Viktualienmarkt, and the Viktualienmarkt lunch tour. 

Learn at the Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum, AKA the German Museum, is one of the best places to visit in Munich (especially on a rainy day.) It’s a HUGE museum and actually the largest science and technology museum in the world. If you’re interested in anything science or tech related, this is the place to go. 

Exhibits cover everything from chemistry, physics, and astronomy to computers, transportation and food technology.

Explore the largest palace in Germany

The Palace of the Munich Residenz (The Residenz) is the largest palace in Germany and found right in Munich. 

Home to the Wittelsbach monarchs from 1508 to 1918, it has over 130 rooms, 10 courtyards, a theatre, Hofgarten (court garden) and chapel.fter being used as the house of Bavaria’s government for over 400 years, much of it was destroyed in WWII. Today, it’s a museum and one of Munich’s top attractions. 

Catch a classical music performance at The Residenz

The theatre is one part of the Residenz still in use and you can still catch classical music performances every Thursday and Saturday. 

While the program changes frequently, you can often catch live performances of the work of Mozart – in the same place where Mozart is said to have performed for the royalty of Bavaria. 

Shop and eat at Viktualienmarkt

If you’re missing out on the Christmas markets but still want to buy some souvenirs and enjoy some local food and beer, head to Viktualienmarkt. It’s the oldest farmers’ market in town, with over 140 stands selling both produce and souvenirs. 

Wander through, grab a few trinkets, and then enjoy a beer in the beer garden.

Visit the Neues Rathaus

The Neues Rathaus, also known as the Town Hall of Munich, is a stunning building with Gothic Revival architecture, located right on Marienplatz Square. While it does still operate as a town hall, the real attraction is the Glockenspiel, a wooden motorized installation.

Every day since 1908 it has danced and chimed three times per days a time, so if you’re in the area time your visit for 11am, 2pm, or 5pm to see the show.

Learn at the Bavarian National Museum

If you want to learn more about the Bavaria region, you must visit the Bavarian National Museum. The museum, first founded by King Maximilian II of Bavaria in 1855 to store his personal collection, is now divided into two sections – historical art and folklore.

The expansive museum covers three floors and holds over 40 exhibits, so it’s best to pick what you’re interested in and direct your focus there unless you want to spend all day at the museum.

Swim at Müllersches Volksbad

One of the best things to do in Munich in the summer is swim at the outdoor pools at the Müllersches Volksbad. This complex of indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas, and spas has been open since 1901, and were actually the first indoor pools to open in Munich.

The outdoor swimming pools are open during the summer only, while the indoor pools stay open year-round. 

Admire the art at Alte Pinakothek

Alte Pinakothek is one of the oldest art museums in the world and one of the top places to visit in Munich – especially if you’re interested in art.

Much of the work at the museum is from the Old Masters – famed artists from the medieval era to the 1800s – so you won’t find any modern art here. The oldest piece dates back to the 13th century and work has been collected from across Europe.

Best day trips from Munich, Germany

Salzburg

Did you know that you can reach Salzburg, Austria in just a few hours from Munich?

Whether you opt to drive or take the train, the journey from Munch to Salzburg is just an hour and a half. If you leave on one of the earlier trains, you’ll have an entire day to explore and take in the sights of Salzburg including Mozart’s former home and the many Sound of Music filming locations. 

Nuremberg

For a day trip filled with history (or Christmas markets if you’re visiting in December) head to Nuremberg. There are several different train options, the shortest taking just an hour and 15 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to explore. 

Some of my favourite things to do in Nuremberg include exploring the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg and visiting the Palace of Justice. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small German town that feels like something straight from a storybook, with centuries-old fortifications, a quaint town centre, and a real night watchman. 

It’s best to travel to Rothenburg from Munich by car, which takes about 2 and a half hours, though you can visit by train as well. It just takes a bit longer and you need to switch trains. That said, Rothenburg is well worth the journey.

Short on time and not wanting to drive? You can also take a private tour from Munich to Rothenburg, with all transportation needs covered. 

Castles of Bavaria

Even if you won’t be driving the Castle Road during your trip, a few days in Munich leaves plenty of time to visit a few iconic castles. In fact, day-tripping to the castles of Bavaria is one of the best things to do in Munich.

The most famous is Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired the castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. You can easily visit on this guided day trip or on your own. Just be aware that you should buy tickets in advance, as it’s one of the most popular attractions near Munich.

Other castles you can visit on Munich day trips include Hohenschwangau Castle, Nymphenburg Palace, Schleissheim Palace and Prunn Castle.

READ MORE: 13 magnificent Bavarian castles near Munich, Germany

The best time to visit Munich

Munich is a year-round destination and it doesn’t get as hot as many other European cities, so even the summer temperatures are moderate. That said, June-August does tend to be quite busy and some attractions will be absolutely packed.

If your goal is general sightseeing, consider visiting Munich in the spring months (April – early June) or in the fall. 

Oktoberfest typically happens mid-September until the first Sunday in October and the Christmas markets are in full swing most of December. If you plan on visiting for either of those popular Munich activities, be sure to book well in advance!

Places To Visit In Munich: FAQs

How many days are enough to visit Munich?

If you’re just looking to explore the city centre, you can see most of the top Munich attractions in two days. However, if you want to visit some of the castles near Munich or any neighbouring cities, 3-5 days is best. 

Is Munich a walkable city?

Yes, Munich is a very walkable city and you’ll be able to walk between most of the Munich attractions. They also have a great public transportation system, with a subway (U-Bahn), trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses. You can easily get a public transportation day pass too. 

Can you get around in Munich without speaking German?

Yes, but it’s always a good idea to learn basic German phrases and keep a translator app on hand. Most restaurants will have English menus and you’ll easily be able to find English-speaking tour guides but not all Germans speak English and it’s just polite to try to communicate at least the basics in German. 

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