Munich

Munich Travel Guide

The city of Oktoberfest and BMW — Bavarian royal heritage paired with Germany's premier beer culture. The Glockenspiel of Marienplatz, surfers in the English Garden, and the university quarter of Schwabing showcase a blend of tradition and modernity. A gateway for Alpine day trips, Munich lets you experience the Bavarian lifestyle in beer gardens.

Essential Munich Travel Info

Must-Visit Places in Munich

★ 4.6

Marienplatz

Munich's central square since 1158, Marienplatz is fronted by the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall, whose Glockenspiel performs daily at 11:00 and 12:00 - 32 figurines reenacting 16th-century events. Below the square is Munich's largest shopping mall, and the Christmas season brings one of Germany's most famous Christmas markets here. It's the essential starting point for any Munich visit. Square free to visit. Tower admission about EUR 6. Directly connected to U-Bahn/S-Bahn Marienplatz station.

HoursSquare open 24 hours; viewing tower 10:00-19:00.

LocationAltstadt, Munich

TipsThe Glockenspiel plays daily at 11:00 and 12:00 (and 17:00 from March to October). Climb the New Town Hall tower for views over Munich and toward the Alps.

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★ 4.9

Neuschwanstein Castle

Begun in 1869 by Bavaria's 'Fairy-Tale King' Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein is a Romantic-style castle and the real-world inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Set on a clifftop against the Alps, it looks like a scene from a storybook, and its interiors burst with decor inspired by Wagner's operas. Around 1.5 million people visit each year, making it Germany's top tourist site - the view from Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) is the most stunning. Admission about EUR 15 (online booking essential). About 2 hours by train from Munich to Füssen, then 10 minutes by bus.

Hours09:00-18:00 (10:00-16:00 October-March; closed January 1, December 24-25, and December 31).

LocationSchwangau, Bavaria

TipsAbout 2 hours from Munich by train and bus. The view from Marienbrücke is the best, and online reservations are essential in summer.

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★ 4.6

English Garden (Englischer Garten)

One of the world's largest urban parks, laid out in 1789 and covering 375 hectares — bigger than New York's Central Park. The sight of surfers riding the Eisbach river wave even in winter has become an icon of Munich, and the 7,000-seat beer garden by the Chinese Tower (Chinesischer Turm) is Munich's most famous. Mingle with locals jogging, cycling, and sunbathing for a taste of the Bavarian lifestyle. Free entry. 5-minute walk from U-Bahn Universität or Giselastraße (Lines 3/6).

HoursOpen 24 hours (beer garden typically 10:00-23:00).

LocationSchwabing, Munich

TipsThe best spot to watch Eisbach surfing is at the Prinzregentenstraße entrance. The Chinese Tower beer garden lets you bring your own food.

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★ 4.4

Hofbräuhaus

Founded in 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria as a royal brewery, Hofbräuhaus is the world's most famous beer hall. The main hall seats 1,300 and hosts live Bavarian brass bands every night — drink a 1-liter Maß of Helles lager alongside Schweinshaxe and Weisswurst for the full experience. Mozart, Lenin, and even US President Kennedy have visited this historic spot, and during Oktoberfest (September-October) tables are nearly impossible to grab. Free entry (food and drink extra). 5-minute walk from Marienplatz S-Bahn/U-Bahn.

Hours11:00-24:00 (open daily)

LocationAltstadt, Munich

TipsReserve a table in advance during Oktoberfest. Beer comes by the liter (Maß) by default — and don't forget to greet your server with 'Prost!'

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★ 4.6

Nymphenburg Palace

Completed in 1675, Nymphenburg was the Bavarian royals' summer palace, featuring lavish Baroque and Rococo interiors. The 200-hectare grounds are crisscrossed by canals and dotted with four small garden pavilions — Amalienburg, Badenburg, Pagodenburg, and Magdalenenklause — making it perfect for long strolls. Inside, King Ludwig I's 'Gallery of Beauties' displays 38 portraits of women he commissioned, and the room where 'Fairy-Tale King' Ludwig II was born has been preserved. The adjacent Marstallmuseum showcases Ludwig II's opulent carriages and sleighs. Combined ticket about EUR 17. 5-minute walk from Tram 17 Schloss Nymphenburg stop.

Hours09:00-18:00 (10:00-16:00 October-March)

LocationNeuhausen-Nymphenburg, Munich

TipsThe combined ticket covering the palace, Marstallmuseum, and four pavilions offers the best value. The gardens alone are free to wander.

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★ 4.6

Viktualienmarkt

Opened in 1807, Munich's central open-air food market spreads about 110 stalls across 22,000㎡. Vendors offer fresh produce, Bavarian cheeses, artisan sausages, spices, honey, and flowers. At its center, an 800-seat beer garden rotates weekly between six breweries — Augustiner, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten, and Hacker-Pschorr — making it the most authentic Biergarten within walking distance of Marienplatz. A morning beer with Weisswurst and pretzels is the quintessentially Munich way to start the day. Free to enter. 3-minute walk from Marienplatz.

HoursMon-Sat 08:00-20:00 (closed Sundays)

LocationAltstadt, Munich

TipsMonday mornings are liveliest with the most tastings. You can bring your own food to the beer garden — try market cheese and bread with your beer.

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★ 4.6

BMW Museum & BMW Welt

Opened in 1973 next to BMW headquarters, the museum displays about 125 vehicles — cars, motorcycles, and aircraft engines — tracing the company from its 1916 founding to the present. Together with the 'Four-Cylinder' headquarters tower, it's a Munich modern-architecture icon. Across the road, BMW Welt is the brand's car delivery center and showroom, where you can see the latest BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models for free and even request a test drive. Museum admission about EUR 12. 3-minute walk from U-Bahn Olympiazentrum (Line 3).

HoursMuseum 10:00-18:00 (closed Mondays); BMW Welt 07:30-24:00

LocationMilbertshofen, Munich

TipsBMW Welt is free to enter, so it's an easy add-on. Combine your visit with the adjacent Olympic Park.

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★ 4.7

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

Established in 1933 as the Nazis' first concentration camp, Dachau imprisoned about 200,000 political prisoners, Jews, Slavs, and minorities until the US Army liberated it in 1945; more than 40,000 perished here. Opened as a memorial in 1965, it has become central to European Holocaust education, with reconstructed barracks, watchtowers, gas chamber, and crematorium. The main museum displays survivor testimonies, photographs, and personal items that confront visitors with the full weight of the tragedy. Free entry (audio guide about EUR 4.50). From Munich, about 25 minutes on S2 S-Bahn plus 10 minutes on bus 726.

Hours09:00-17:00 (open daily; closed Dec 24)

LocationDachau, Bavaria

TipsApproach with respect — this is a memorial site. An audio guide deepens the historical context, and a visit takes 3-4 hours.

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★ 4.6

Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral)

Completed in 1494, Munich Cathedral is a red-brick Late Gothic church whose two 99-meter towers, each topped with a distinctive onion dome, define the city skyline. The domes were meant to be pointed spires but were capped this way in 1525 due to budget constraints — and five centuries later, they've become inseparable from Munich's identity. Inside, legend tells of a black footprint known as the 'Devil's Footstep,' and the tomb of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV lies within. Climb the south tower's viewing platform for views over Marienplatz and toward the Alps. Heavily damaged in WWII bombing, the cathedral was restored after the war.

HoursChurch Mon-Sat 08:00-20:00, Sun/holidays 09:30-20:00; South tower Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun/holidays 11:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30)

LocationAltstadt, Munich

TipsHunting for the 'Devil's Footstep' inside is a fun mini-quest. The south tower has stairs only, so wear comfortable shoes.

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★ 4.6

Munich Residenz

Home to the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled Bavaria from the 14th century into the 20th, the Residenz was expanded over centuries into one of Europe's largest city palaces, with roughly 130 rooms. Highlights include the fresco- and gilt-covered Ancestral Gallery and the Antiquarium hall of ancient sculpture, while the Treasury (Schatzkammer) displays royal crowns and jewels. The palace's Cuvilliés Theatre is considered a masterpiece of Rococo theater architecture. Though heavily damaged in WWII bombing, it was meticulously restored and now offers the deepest look into Munich's royal history.

HoursMar 28-Oct 19: 09:00-18:00 (last entry 17:00); Oct 20-Mar 27: 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00); closed Jan 1, Shrove Tuesday, Dec 24/25/31

LocationAltstadt-Lehel, Munich

TipsThe combined ticket covering the museum, Treasury, and Cuvilliés Theatre is the best value. Free audio guides explain the history room by room.

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★ 4.7

Deutsches Museum

Founded in 1903, the Deutsches Museum is one of the world's largest science and technology museums, occupying its own small island (Museumsinsel) on the Isar River. Around 50 exhibition halls house some 28,000 objects spanning aviation, space travel, mining, computing, musical instruments, and chemistry, with many hands-on interactive displays that make it a family favorite. Highlights include Germany's first submarine U1, early Benz automobiles, and Wright-brothers-era aircraft. Sister sites — the Verkehrszentrum (transport museum) and Flugwerft Schleißheim (aviation museum) — round out the collection.

HoursDaily 09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Jan 1, Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, May 1, All Saints' Day, Dec 24/25/31

LocationIsarvorstadt (Museumsinsel), Munich

TipsThe collection is huge, so plan a route around your interests beforehand. The aviation hall and the simulated mine tour are especially popular.

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★ 4.5

Olympiapark München

Built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, Olympiapark spans 85 hectares and is instantly recognizable for the sweeping tent-shaped acrylic-glass roof designed by architect Frei Otto, which still shelters the Olympic Stadium, hall, and swimming pool today. Beyond the sports venues, the park's man-made hill — built from WWII rubble — offers panoramic views, and the artificial lake makes for a scenic picnic and paddleboat spot. The 291-meter Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) has long been a Munich landmark, though it has been closed for renovation since June 2024 and is expected to reopen in 2027.

HoursPark open 24 hours, free; Olympiaturm observation deck temporarily closed for renovation (reopening expected 2027)

LocationAm Olympiapark, Munich

TipsThe Olympiaturm observation deck is closed until 2027 — check before you plan around it. Climb the artificial hill for views over BMW Welt and toward the Alps.

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★ 4.5

Allianz Arena

Opened in 2005, this 75,000-seat football-only stadium is the home ground of FC Bayern Munich, Germany's most decorated club. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, its diamond-patterned facade of 2,760 inflatable panels changes color — red, blue, white — depending on the match or event, making it an unmistakable landmark on Munich's northern skyline. On non-match days, the FC Bayern Museum and Arena Tour let visitors walk through the locker rooms, pitch, and trophy hall. It also hosted the opening match of the 2006 World Cup.

HoursNon-match days 09:00-18:00; tours/museum 10:00-18:00 (no tours on match days)

LocationFröttmaning, Munich

TipsThe combi ticket covering the museum and tour offers the best value. Tours don't run on match days, so check the schedule ahead.

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★ 4.5

Odeonsplatz

Commissioned by King Ludwig I in the early 19th century and designed by architect Leo von Klenze, Odeonsplatz reflects his vision of remaking Munich into an Italian-style city of art. On the square's south side, the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals' Hall), modeled on Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi and completed in 1844, also carries a darker history — it's where Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall Putsch was crushed. To the west, the Theatinerkirche, built from 1663 in Late Baroque style, holds a royal crypt with the remains of 49 members of the Wittelsbach dynasty. The mustard-yellow facades give the square an Italian piazza feel, earning it the nickname 'a piece of Italy in Munich.'

HoursSquare open 24 hours; Theatinerkirche interior hours vary, check locally

LocationAltstadt-Lehel, Munich

TipsDon't miss the contrast between the Theatinerkirche's white facade and sky-blue dome. Easy to combine with a walk to the Residenz and Hofgarten.

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★ 4.6

Asamkirche

Officially the Church of St. Johann Nepomuk, Asamkirche was built between 1733 and 1746 by brothers Cosmas Damian Asam and Egid Quirin Asam — painter and sculptor respectively — as their own private chapel, funded from their own pockets. Squeezed onto a narrow lot on Sendlinger Straße, the facade is tight, but the interior is a masterpiece of Late Baroque and Rococo design, covered floor to ceiling in frescoes and gilded carvings. The space is symbolically divided into three levels — earth, emperor, and heaven — with window placements designed for dramatic shafts of natural light. It remains an active church today.

HoursDaily 09:00-18:00 (viewing restricted during mass; Friday afternoon hours may differ)

LocationAltstadt-Lehel, Munich

TipsThe entrance is easy to miss — walk slowly along Sendlinger Straße to spot it. Viewing is restricted during mass, so check the schedule.

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★ 4.5

St. Peter's Church (Alter Peter)

Nicknamed 'Alter Peter' (Old Peter), this is Munich's oldest church, believed to date back to the 12th century — even before Munich existed as a city. The current Gothic-Baroque hybrid structure was rebuilt across the 14th and 18th centuries, and its interior houses the jewel-adorned remains of Saint Mundita. The 92-meter tower has no elevator — visitors must climb 306 narrow wooden steps — but the summit rewards with arguably Munich's best view, overlooking Marienplatz and the New Town Hall, with the Alps visible on clear days. Right next to Marienplatz, it pairs naturally with a Glockenspiel visit.

HoursChurch free to visit; tower summer (Apr-Oct) weekdays 09:00-19:30, weekends 10:00-19:30; winter weekdays 09:00-18:30, weekends 10:00-18:30 (last entry 30 min before closing)

LocationAltstadt-Lehel, Munich

TipsThere's no elevator, so only climb if you're up for it. Time your ascent with the Glockenspiel show to watch it from above.

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★ 4.2

Karlsplatz (Stachus)

Created in 1791 when Elector Karl Theodor ordered the old city walls torn down, this square officially bears his name, though Munich locals affectionately call it 'Stachus,' after a beloved innkeeper's nickname. The square's gateway, Karlstor, is one of three surviving medieval city gates, alongside Sendlinger Tor and Isartor. The underground passage completed in 1970 was, at the time, Europe's largest underground structure, and it still links the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and a large shopping mall below street level. A fountain runs in summer and an open-air ice rink opens in winter, giving the square a different character each season.

HoursOpen 24 hours

LocationAltstadt-Lehel, Munich

TipsThe underground Stachus Passage combines shopping and transit, making it a good rainy-day stop. The fountain area is a popular summer meeting spot.

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★ 4.4

Schleissheim Palace

Located in Oberschleißheim just north of Munich, this palace complex links three palaces — the Old Palace (early 1600s), the New Palace (completed 1701-1726), and Lustheim Palace (1684-1688) — through a sprawling Baroque garden. Modeled on Versailles, the New Palace represents the height of Bavarian Baroque architecture, with dazzling frescoes and a grand staircase hall. Lustheim Palace houses one of Europe's largest collections of Baroque paintings, and in summer, fountains along the grand canal in front of the palace erupt every 30 minutes in a spectacular display. With far fewer crowds than central Munich's palaces, it's a hidden gem for soaking in royal atmosphere at a relaxed pace.

HoursApr-Sep 09:00-18:00; Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00; closed Mondays (except select holidays); closed Jan 1, Shrove Tuesday, Dec 24/25/31

LocationOberschleißheim, near Munich

TipsSome ticket counters take cash only, so bring some along. Visit during summer fountain hours (10:00-16:00, on the hour) for the best spectacle.

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Things to Do in Munich

Tour

Neuschwanstein Day Tour

Guided bus day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, and Linderhof castles. About EUR 60-120

Price About EUR 60-120Duration 10-11 hours

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Culture

Oktoberfest (Sep-Oct)

The world's largest beer festival, running 16 days on the Theresienwiese. Free entry; one Maß of beer about EUR 14-15

Price Free entry (Maß of beer about EUR 14-15)Duration Evening (4+ hours)

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Tour

Salzburg Day Trip

Visit Mozart's hometown of Salzburg, about 2 hours by train from Munich. Train round trip about EUR 30-50

Price About EUR 30-50 (train round trip)Duration Full day

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Culture

Munich Beer Garden Tour

Tour Munich's classic beer gardens — Chinese Tower in the English Garden, Hofbräukeller, Augustiner Keller, and more. About EUR 50-70

Price About EUR 50-70Duration 3-4 hours

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Adventure

Eisbach Surfing Spot

Watch the famous river-wave surfers at the Eisbach by the English Garden entrance. Free

Price FreeDuration 30 min - 1 hour

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Adventure

Zugspitze Mountain Trip

Ascend Germany's highest peak (2,962m) via cable car and cog railway. About EUR 75 round trip

Price About EUR 75 (round trip)Duration Full day

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Must-Try Food in Munich

Schweinshaxe

🍱 Traditional

Roasted pork knuckle with crispy crackling skin — a Bavarian classic enjoyed with beer. About EUR 15-22. Augustiner Keller in the old town or Hofbräuhaus are popular spots.

Weisswurst

🍱 Traditional

White veal sausages eaten with sweet mustard and a pretzel — a traditional Bavarian breakfast. About EUR 8-12 for 2 with pretzel. Enjoy them with a beer at the Viktualienmarkt, as tradition dictates.

Obatzda

🍱 Traditional

A Bavarian cheese dip of Camembert blended with butter, onion, and paprika. About EUR 6-10. The authentic way is to enjoy it with pretzels and beer at a Biergarten.

Munich Helles Beer

🍵 Drink

Munich's golden, smooth lager — served by the liter (Maß). About EUR 8-12. Enjoy at Hofbräuhaus, Augustiner Keller, or Paulaner Biergarten.

Leberkäse

🍱 Traditional

Literally 'liver cheese,' but neither — a Bavarian meatloaf eaten in a roll as 'Leberkässemmel.' About EUR 3-5. Pick up a fresh, hot slice from a butcher or market stall.

Kaiserschmarrn

🍰 Dessert

Torn pieces of thick pancake dusted with powdered sugar and served with raisins, apple jam, or plum compote — a Bavarian-Austrian dessert. About EUR 10-14. Try it at an Alpine hut or Hofbräuhaus.

Käsespätzle

🍱 Traditional

Bavarian 'mac and cheese' — homemade egg noodles smothered in Emmental and topped with caramelized onions. About EUR 12-18. Authentic at Spatenhaus an der Oper or Alpine hut restaurants.

Munich Travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Munich?

May-October is ideal. Oktoberfest in September-October is the world's largest beer festival, and December Christmas markets are renowned.

How much does it cost to travel in Munich?

Daily budget around $85-155 (accommodation $50-100, meals $20-35, transport and entry $15-20).

How do I get around in Munich?

About 40 minutes by S-Bahn from Munich Airport to the city center. U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams make getting around easy. Prepaid SIMs are available at the airport (Aldi Talk, Lebara, etc., about EUR 10-15/week). Card payments are widely accepted, but some beer gardens are cash-only, so carry some cash. Tipping 5-10% at restaurants is standard.

Do I need a visa to visit Munich?

Korean passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days under the Schengen Agreement.

Is Munich safe for tourists?

Generally a safe city, but watch for pickpockets and intoxicated revelers during Oktoberfest.

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