20 fabulous things to do in Munich, Germany

Munich is a city that seems to effortlessly marry old town charm with cutting edge modern. Bavarian beer halls and dirndls sit side by side with the towering Olympic tower and sleek BMW Welt as symbols of the city.

The city is an ideal city break destination in Germany, offering a cosmopolitan food scene, world class culture and green spaces for cycling and walking. Read on for my recommendations for the best things to do in Munich based on several different visits.

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1. Marienplatz

Most people start their Munich sightseeing at Marienplatz, the large square that sits at the heart of the old town. The train from the airport runs directly to Marienplatz and I always enjoy that moment when you emerge from the underground into the heart of the city, with the ornate and imposing Rathaus rising in front of you.

If you are only visiting for a short time, I’d recommend booking accommodation like Louis Hotel where we stayed within a few blocks of Marienplatz, as it’s such a convenient and central location for sightseeing.

Marienplatz is the tourist hub of Munich, with pavement cafes for people watching, guided tours passing through, street musicians striking up a tune. A grain market and tournaments were held here in the Middle Ages and a Christmas Market has taken place here for centuries.

The square is named after the central Marien column, erected in the 17th century to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years War.

The Neues Rathaus

The decorative neo-gothic Neues Rathaus or New Town Hall was built as recently as 1874 to provide a larger space for civic events. Inside the inner courtyard is a biergarten, or visit the Ratkeller restaurant in the cellar and climb the 85 metre tower for views over the square.

If you see a crowd in the square staring upwards, they are probably waiting for the glockenspiel to chime at 11am, 12pm or 5pm. Painted figures emerge from the top of the clocktower and circle around while the bells play different tunes.

Photography tip: Because the Neues Rathaus is so tall, it’s quite difficult to get a good picture without a wide angle lens, so you may need to step back along the two streets facing it or climb St Peter’s tower for a better shot.

The Altes Rathaus

The white building that borders the eastern side of the square is the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). It was built in the 14th century and the tower with its spire originally formed one of the gates in the old city wall.

Look out for the Juliet statue, a bronze figure from the Romeo and Juliet tale that was donated by the city of Verona in 1974. Juliet’s right breast has been made shiny by the many people who touch it for good luck!

If it’s your first time in Munich we recommend booking this Hop on Hop off bus tour which will take you around all the sights and help you get your bearings. 

2. Views from St Peter’s church tower

A few steps from Marienplatz is the church of St Peter’s with its 300 ft bell tower, which is one of the oldest churches in the city. The church is attractive, but more notable than the interior, is the view from the observation platform at the top of the tower.

Climb up to enjoy panoramic views over Marienplatz, the gigantic twin towered Frauenkirche church and the red roofs of the old town.

The entrance to the tower is outside the church, with a small kiosk where you pay a couple of Euros to climb the stairs to the viewing platform, which is well worth the experience and the views.

Read more: Munich outdoors – where to go cycling, surfing and wild swimming

3. Viktualienmarkt food market

Just a short distance from Marienplatz is the Viktualienmarkt, which is another of my favourite things to see in Munich. The market is open daily except Sundays and holidays. You’ll find an incredible array of local produce and food products in the 140 stalls and shops that surround the market.

The quality is high, with every fruit and vegetable polished to perfection. Although it’s probably not the cheapest spot in Munich, it’s a great place to browse and buy a yummy picnic to eat later. Or stop for a bite to eat at one of the stalls and bars that serve food and drink.

This 2 hour food tour of the Viktualienmarkt is a good way to taste the best of the market with an expert guide – you can then ask your guide for recommendations as they will probably know the best restaurants in Munich too!

Browse fruit and veg stalls

Browsing the fruit and vegetable stalls will give also you a good idea of what’s in season that you may later see on restaurant menus. Look out for white asparagus in springtime, juicy berries in summer and wild mushrooms in the autumn.

To learn more about where and what you should eat, check out my article on the food in Munich where I recommend the restaurants and dishes we enjoyed.

In the small shops that surround the market you can find shops selling meat and sausages including the famous Bavarian white sausage. Wine and deli stalls are also good places to buy foodie souvenirs to take home or discover what’s best in the region.

The market was originally held in Marienplatz but was moved to this square in 1807 after outgrowing its previous location and there are a number of pretty water fountains and basins that supply the market from the brooks that previously ran across this location.

Read my article on tips for seeing the Oberammergau Passion Play 2022

Where to eat at Viktualienmarkt

In the centre of the market is a biergarten where you can sit under the shady chestnut trees and order the local beer and other drinks as well as traditional dishes. Like many biergarten in Germany, you are also allowed to eat food that you’ve bought at the surrounding stalls, so long as you order a beer from them.

Also worth checking out is the food and restaurant emporium Eataly in the airy, glass Schranenhalle that was formerly a market hall. You’ll find it just off the Viktualienmarkt with lots of deli goods and Italian produce as well as a wine bar and fresh pasta and pizza restaurant. It’s all about Italian rather than German food, but a fun place to browse and eat nonetheless.

Stay at Louis Hotel in Munich

While we’re talking about the Viktualienmarkt I’ll just mention the luxurious Louis Hotel where we stayed on this last trip. I picked Louis Hotel as we had stayed in its sister Cortiina Hotel on a previous trip to Munich and loved it. The hotel is in a modern building that overlooks Viktualienmarkt with the reception is tucked away in a courtyard so that you have to hunt to find.

I loved the style of Louis Hotel which is very similar to Cortiina Hotel and draws on old-meets-new European elegance. Wooden parquet floors, faded kelim rugs and velvet furnishings give a muted antique feel.

The furniture and light fittings are all elegantly contemporary. It was no surprise to find that these two hotels and several restaurants are owned by an architect and designer duo who have their studio in the Cortiina Hotel building.

The bedroom at Louis Hotel

Our Courtyard Superior room was compact with a marble lined walk in shower, pull out wardrobe and a curious travelling case cupboard that opened to reveal the TV, mini bar and safe. Every time we walked out of the lift or the bedroom we were greeted by a waft of heavenly fragrance in the corridor.

Louis Hotel is my idea of a perfect citybreak hotel. The rooms are stylish and the location central but you’re not paying for unnecessary frills. There’s a cosy bar area just beside reception and a grill restaurant. Breakfast was delicious, a mixture of little buffet dishes all in individual dishes and some cooked breakfast options.

The rooftop terrace opens as a bar and restaurant in good weather but was closed when we were there since it was the start of autumn. As you’d expect from a hotel of this quality, all the staff at Louis Hotel were friendly, polished and professional. We really appreciated that the hotel has bikes that guests can borrow, which we did on two of our days there.

4. Hofbrauhaus

Just a short distance from Marienplatz is Munich’s most famous beer hall and brewery, the Hofbrauhaus which has become a local institution and tourist attraction in its own right. Despite being one of the first places that beer loving tourists head to, the Hofbrauhaus still manages to keep its convivial atmosphere and authentic charm.

Youll probably notice groups of lederhosen clad old boys mingling with the visitors. There’s generally a Bavarian oompah band playing and although

The Hofbrauhaus is huge, with numerous different rooms, the service is swift and efficient. When the weather’s warm there’s also a large courtyard biergarten which has a pleasant atmosphere under the chestnut trees as well as some rooms on the first floor which are quieter.

If you need some ideas for a 3 day itinerary, check out my article from a previous trip about how we spent 3 days in Munich. 

A party atmosphere

The Hofbrauhaus is known for its party atmosphere, where you can mingle and make friends at large tables and sing along to the traditional songs in the evening. Although it’s all about the beer, you can also order Bavarian dishes or just snack on one of the giant pretzels that are the traditional accompaniment to beer in Munich.

If you want to find the best beerhalls in Munich, try this evening of Bavarian beer and food culture to discover the best traditional dishes and beer.

For an alternative restaurant serving traditional Bavarian food that’s very close to the Hofbrauhaus, try the Haxnbauer restaurant. It’s known for its pork knuckle that you can see roasting in the window. You can read about our previous visit to Haxnbauer here, when we had a fun evening although it’s probably not the best place for non-meat eaters!

Try this 1 day itinerary: Start the day at Marienplatz and explore the Rathaus, then climb St Peter’s church tower for the views and photographs. Move on to the Viktualienmarkt to browse the delicious produce and treat yourself to a snack or drink from a few different stalls.

Explore more of the old town and cobbled streets then end your day with beer and traditional Bavarian dishes at Hofbrauhaus or Haxnbauer.

5. The Residenz

A visit to the Munich Residenz is one of the best places to visit in Munich for culture lovers and a good option if you get a day when the weather’s not so favourable. As the name suggests, this enormous palace was the residence and seat of government of the Wittelsbach dynasty who ruled Bavaria, first as Dukes and Electors and later as Kings of Germany.

Because the Residenz was extended and remodelled by successive rulers, the endless suites of room, each more opulent and gilded than the last, can be a little overwhelming. To be honest I found it a bit too much to take in, so you may want to let the general magnificence wash over you and hurry through at the end if you are getting decorative fatigue.

Antiquarium Hall

One of the highlights of the Residenz is the Antiquarium hall, which was created in the 16th century by Duke Albrecht V to house his collection of antique sculptures, which give the hall its name. The lofty hall, covered from floor to ceiling with frescoes, was also used as a state dining hall. It’s a popular place to have your wedding photos taken.

Read more about what we saw at the Residenz on a previous visit here.

I also enjoyed the Grotto courtyard with statues, shells and crystals creating an ornamental pavilion encrusted with decoration at one end of the courtyard.

The Treasury at The Residenz

Be sure to save time at the end of your tour to see another highlight in the Treasury which houses the crown jewels and precious religious jewels belonging to the rulers of Bavaria. The display of wealth and craftsmanship here is enormous. Each generation of rulers would commission expensive and beautiful objects made of precious metals and gemstones from the finest artists of their day.

There are fairytale crowns, coronets and state jewellery as well as objects of religious devotion and tableware designed to reflect the prestige of its owners. In December a charming Christmas Market is held in the main courtyard of the Residenz which I remember from a previous visit (listen to the sounds of the Christmas Market in my Munich podcast). The Residenz market felt more local and authentic than the larger more commercial one in Marienplatz.

More info: Residenz Munich website

6. The Hofgarten

We found the Hofgarten on a previous visit and loved the calm and tranquil atmosphere of this garden that’s just behind the Residenz, so we went back there this time. The Hofgarten was formerly the private court garden for the Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria, with gravel parterres, an ornamental pavilion at the centre and fountains at all four corners.

You can cycle around the edge of the Hofgarten and it also forms a traffic free shortcut to get to the Englischer Garten where you can also cycle freely. Planted with low evergreen hedges and floral borders it’s a restful place to wander. There are plenty of benches to sit and soak up the sun while you watch the world go by.

As you enter through the archway from Odeonsplatz you’ll see the broad terrace along one end of the Hofgarten. There’s a large biergarten and restaurant terrace of Tambosi shaded by trees, which serves Italian inspired food.

Nearby is a space for people playing boules on the gravel boulevard. We ate there on a previous visit when the weather was fine and it’s a fun place to watch a game in progress.

7. Visit a Biergarten in Munich

No visit to Munich in the warm months of spring, summer and early autumn, would be complete without visiting a biergarten or beer garden. As the capital of Bavaria, there’s a strong beer culture in Munich with numerous historic breweries. When the weather is fine, it’s a joy to sit outside under the shady trees and enjoy some of the delicious beer.

A biergarten is just the name for an outdoor space by the brewery or beerhall where beer is served. You can normally also order hearty Bavarian dishes, or just buy a large pretzel to soak up some of the alcohol.

Meeting friends at a biergarten is a quintessential Munich experience in summertime. Of course as the weather gets colder you can move inside to the beerhall, a large open room that’s the indoor equivalent of the biergarten.

Either way, you’ll sit at simple, bare tables. Waiters and waitresses, often in traditional dress of lederhosen or dirndl, will come to take your order and bring it to your table.

They normally have a leather cash wallet so that you can pay them directly and get the change straight away. Cards are also accepted if you are ordering a meal.

Biergarten in the Englischergarten

One of the most popular biergarten in Munich is at the Chinesischer Turm or Chinese Pagoda which is set within the Englischer Garten. There’s a huge amount of seating and a self service cafe. You can buy Bavarian dishes like sausage and sauerkraut, potato salad, grilled trout and of course lots and lots of beer.

At weekends you can drink to the sounds of the band playing in the pagoda. It’s easy to get there by bus or alternatively you can take a horse and carriage ride or cycle rickshaw to see more of the park.

Although this is the best known of the biergarten in the English Garden, there are several more including the one by the Kleinhesseloher lake. You may come across other smaller ones while cycling around the park.

Augustiner Keller Biergarten

On this visit we also stopped at the popular Augustiner Keller, which has a large and pleasant biergarten. It is conveniently close to the Hauptbahnhof or central station. As we were there in the evening and looking more for dinner than drinking, we sat in one of the smaller rooms of the Augustiner brewery.

The beer was excellent, with a golden fruity weissbier (white beer) for me and a full bodied pale Helles beer for Guy. Typical evening dishes to order with your beer include a slow cooked beef stew with dumplings which Guy ordered. I normally go for a river fish such as perch or trout served with vegetables.

Other biergarten in Munich

Other places that have pleasant biergarten in the central area of Munich are the Viktualienmarkt food market and the Park Cafe at the Alter Botanischer Garten. This is a good choice if you like the beer but want a more international style of food.

There are many many other biergarten in Munich, such as the Hirschgarten near Scloss Nymphenburg. Of course every local will have their favourite depending on where they like to meet their friends.

The locals often dress up in their lederhosen and dirndl, traditional Bavarian clothes to go to the biergarten. It’s a good place to check out the latest styles.

8. Munich Stadtmuseum

Close to Marienplatz you’ll find the Munich Stadtmuseum in a quiet plaza. Also here is the strikingly modern Ohel Jakob synagogue and Jewish Museum of Munich.

The Stadtmuseum houses a diverse collection that showcases the history and culture of Munich, especially the “Typically Munich” exhibits over several floors.

We enjoyed learning about Munich’s history and culture, from the Medieval statues and armour on the ground floor, to the beer culture and life of the working men and women, to the 1972 Olympic Games and posters from the era of National Socialism.

There’s a broad range of historical objects but I liked the way that they’ve tried to mix in some street-art and references to contemporary culture, including the immigrant communities of Munich.

Puppets and shoes

On the upper floor there’s a colourful collection of puppets. Being a lover of fashion, we also dipped into the special exhibition all about shoes. I always find it fascinating to see how tiny the shoes are from even a hundred years ago. We’d probably appear like giants to people of the past!

We used the audioguide which told us the stories of some of the major exhibits. I thought it was a shame that the information around the galleries was only in German. Other than the audioguide there was no information in English or other languages.

There is a separate gallery about National Socialism in Munich. The party was founded in Munich and the city was the headquarters and heartland of Hitler’s regime. This permanent exhibition was closed at the time of our visit.

It’s important to understand the rise of this movement and how Hitler found so much support here. To learn more about the rise of Hitler in Munich, take this Third Reich and WWII Walking tour and discover a darker side of Munich’s history.

More info: Munich Stadtmuseum website

9. Asamkirche

After visiting the Munich stadtmuseum we cycled the short distance to Sedlingerstrasse to take a look at the Asamkirche. Although there are many lovely churches, the Asamkirche is one of the places to see in Munich that’s well worth a look. This jewel box of a church packs a rich excess of rococco decoration into a relatively small space.

The church of St Johann Nepomuk is better known as the Asam church after the brothers who built it as their private chapel between 1733 and 1746, with sculptor Egid Quirin Asam and painter Cosmas Damien Asam.

Having purchased a row of four houses, they made the middle two into the chapel. Egid Quirin Asam lived in the one next door and had a window from which he could look down on the altar.

The late baroque church is decorated in ornate Rococco style with gilding, frescoes and painted marble columns. It has a beautiful facade, in between the houses which are painted with traditional Bavarian motifs. 

When we visited, the grille at the entrance to the church was closed. We could admire the church interior from behind the grille and there are also some gilded figures inside the entrance. Look up to your right to see the quirky golden image of death who is cutting the thread of life being spun by the angel.

Stay in a boutique Cortiina Hotel in Munich

I’ve already mentioned Louis Hotel where we stayed on this trip. Another boutique hotel in Munich we can also recommend, is its sister Cortiina Hotel where we stayed on a previous trip.

Hotel Cortiina is very similar in style but a little lower priced than Louis Hotel, although accommodation in Munich is generally not cheap!

Cortiina Hotel is located very centrally just 5 minutes walk from Marienplatz. It sits on a quiet street on the old town that’s also near the Hofbrauhaus.

An ideal citybreak hotel, in a modern building, they’ve managed to inject plenty of style into the interiors through the use of rich patterns and textures.

Our bedroom was furnished with a kelim rug, elegant contemporary furniture and a strokeable velvet sofa and bedcover. The bathroom was wall to ceiling marble, with a powerful walk in shower. The waxed paper door screen echoed a Japanese style.

Breakfast at Hotel Cortiina

Breakfast at Hotel Cortiina was taken in the Grapes Weinbar next to reception. Threre’s a small internal courtyard to sit on sunny days, leading to a well equipped gym.

Once breakfast is over, the Grapes Weinbar becomes an all day cafe and evening wine bar, serving light dishes, wine and other drinks.

We loved the impeccable sense of style and professional, friendly service at Hotel Cortiina. It is part of a same group as Louis Hotel, the Italian Bar Centrale across the road and Restaurant Buffet Kass Bar nearby.

10. English Garden

One of the best things to do in Munich is to rent or borrow bikes from your hotel. Cycle around the Englischer Garten or English Garden. It’s a great activity at any time of year as long as it’s not raining.

The park is huge and was laid out on the orders of elector Carl Theodor in 1789 in the style of an English Country Park. There are large areas of grass, lakes and pavilions.

If you don’t want to cycle you can of course just stroll around, but you probably wouldn’t be able to see as much. An alternative is to take one of the cycle rickshaws or horse and carriage ride around the park from the Chinesischer Turm. You may also get a bit of commentary about the things you pass.

This 3 hour guided cycling tour is a great way to see the English Garden and many of the other top sites in Munich. 

On this visit, we stopped at the picturesque Monopteros temple that was commissioned by King Ludwig I in the 1830s. The temple is set up on a mound to make a pretty picture surrounded by trees.

We climbed up the path to the temple and took in the view from the top over the park. The green and red painted dome is done in the Greek style.

Eat at the Chinese Pagoda biergarten

Next we cycled to the Chinesischer Turm or Chinese Pagoda which has a popular biergarten where we had lunch. We ordered a stein of the local Munich beer, with the sounds of the band playing from the pagoda.

The food here is typical Bavarian pub food. It’s fine if you don’t expect gourmet fare, but it’s probably more of a place to come for the atmosphere, setting and beer than the food.

The English Garden is so large that I think most people probably don’t get much further than this southern section. But with our bikes we could easily explore the northern part of the park.

We continued past the lake and under the main road that bisects the English Garden. Cycling along the path that runs beside the Isar river. we reached the Isarwehr.

This barrage crosses the river, and we walked across to get views of the shallow gravel banks where people were relaxing in the sunshine.

If you enjoy being outdoors in natural surroundings, the English Garden is a place you could easily spend a day exploring. Bring a picnic or stop for a beer and a bite to eat at one of the many biergarten or cafes in the park.

11. Surfers on the Eisenach

At the edge of the English Garden is a spot beside Haus der Kunst. Here the surfers catch a single wave on the Eisbach river as it flows under the bridge to later join the River Isar.

You can follow the crowds who gather on the bridge or on the bank to watch this free spectacle. This is one of the unique things to see in Munich.

We stood for 20 minutes to watch the experienced surfers line up on both sides of the river. When it’s their turn they jump on the board to twist and turn.

The trick is to stay on the boards as long as they can before they either fall off or dive off into the river to let the next surfer have a go. I think you’d have to be a very confident surfer to try it here unless you don’t mind making a fool of yourself in full public view!

12. Villa Stuck

If you are close to the English Garden it’s worth making a detour as we did to the other side of the River Isar to see Villa Stuck. This gorgeous villa that was built and decorated by the artist Franz von Stuck in 1898. It is one of the less known Munich tourist attractions.

The villa is in two connecting parts and was constructed in classical style to create a home for Stuck and his family. There’s also an artist’s studio and gallery space.

The house is now open as a museum where you can see the original interiors and artwork. Upstairs are exhibitions of contemporary art, with a small garden behind the villa.

We most enjoyed wandering through the historical rooms of the villa which are decorated in rich colours. The dark ceilings and woodwork represent the Jugendstil style. This is the German version of Art Nouveau that was popular in Europe at the turn of the century.

Stuck was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman themes. Classical statues are mixed in with rich patterns, bronze fittings and mosaic tiled floors. His paintings and sculptures are on display throughout the downstairs rooms.

The original rooms of the house on the ground floor are in contrast to the art exhibitions upstairs. These tend to focus on more conceptual, contemporary art and while interesting, we didn’t enjoy these quite as much.

The garden is also charming, with an outside sitting area and pergola with antique busts and reliefs on the walls. For art lovers Villa Stuck is well worth making a trip to visit. It could be combined with a visit to the English Garden or a cycle ride along the River Isar.

More info: Villa Stuck website

13. Deutches Museum

Also close to the river Isar but just south of the Old Town neighbourhood is the Deutches Museum. We visited here on a previous trip to Munich and enjoyed very much.

This is a fun museum for families and covers all things related to science, technology and transport in a most engaging way.

We especially enjoyed the halls devoted to transport and aviation. Balloons and biplanes on display, as well as the colourful exhibitions that explain how the cells in our body work.

There’s a clock tower that doubles as a weather station. A large courtyard also has some of the larger exhibits as well as benches to relax.

The museum is set on Museuminsel, a small island in the river which is connected by foot bridges. It makes a pleasant setting surrounded by water and trees.

More info: Deutches Museum website

14. Swim and cycle by the River Isar

The River Isar runs from the English Garden to the south of Munich. It forms a green corridor with walking and cycle paths, islands in the river and plenty of green spaces along its route.

We cycled the section from Deutches Museum to the Englischer Garten and you could continue in either direction. This seems to be a popular thing to do in Munich for locals and families at the weekend.

We spotted a number of pebble beaches by the river. They are very popular in summer for swimming and sunbathing as the river here is so shallow.

There’s a huge bar of pebbles in the river near Mariannenbrucke, where we could see loads of people sunbathing. As we continued into the English Garden, there were more gravel beaches in the river near the Isarwehr.

Swim with the locals

It seems amazing to those of us who are used to walking by the Thames in London to think that a river running through such a large city would be clean enough to swim in safely. But if the locals are doing it, why not join them!

If you enjoy wild swimming, be sure to pack your swimsuit when you visit Munich in summer. Take a bike ride along the river to discover your own favourite swimming spot.

We borrowed our bike from lovely Louis Hotel which is free for guests. Or, it’s easy to hire bikes from one of the many public bike schemes in Munich that charge you through a mobile app.

Check out Call a Bike and there are probably more. If you want to be sure of a good quality bike then you can rent from an established bike rental shop like Mikes Bike Tours. Or check out bike tours of Munich.

Try this 1 day itinerary: Cycle to the Deutches Museum in the morning and spend an hour or two there. Continue your cycle ride along the River Isar and stop for a picnic and swim on one of the gravel beaches by the river.

Continue cycling by the river to Villa Stuck for the Arts and Crafts interiors. In the afternoon head to the Englischer Garten, stopping to see the surfers on the Eisenach. Then cycle around the park with a refreshment stop at one of the many biergarten.

15. Alte Pinakothek

For art lovers, there’s a whole cluster of world class art museums in Munich housed in the Kunstareal or Museum Quarter which is located to the north of the Old Town. It’s easy to reach on foot, by bike or by taking the metro to Konigsplatz.

For a classic art gallery with all the old masters, visit the Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek) which is housed in a 19th century building. Its austere brick staircase seems at odd with the rich colours and gilded frames of the artwork on display.

You can see everything from Medieval German, Dutch and Flemish masters, to 16th and 17th century French and Spanish paintings. If you think of any of the great best known old masters like Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo you’ll probably find them here.

To be honest I enjoy the 20th century artists such as Klimt and Van Gogh more than the Old Masters. I did enjoy seeing the pretty Mme de Pompadour by Boucher relaxing with a book and surrounded by roses.

You can save a bit of money if you buy a combined day ticket for €12 which covers the 5 museums of the Kunstareal. However, I probably wouldn’t attempt more than two of the art museums in one day.

16. Pinakothek der Moderne

As part of the same museum campus, visit the Pinakothek der Moderne. It covers contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, such as Picasso, Kandinsky, Delauney and Dali.

The building opened in 2002, designed by German architect Stephan Braunfels. It’s very sculptural with an open atrium and central glazed dome.

It actually combines four different museum areas within one building, covering architecture, design, prints and drawings as well as the modern art collection.

If I only had time to see one of the museums on the Kunstareal, it would probably be the Pinakothek der Moderne or the Neues Pinakothek. There’s a nice cafe there too, with seating in a large glass atrium or outside. You can access the cafe even if you have not bought a ticket.

If you plan to visit other art museums on the Kunstareal campus, it may be more economical to buy the day pass covering all 5 museums for €12.

More info: Pinakothek der Moderne website.

More Kunstreal museums

For art lovers who want to see more, the other museums on the Kunstreal campus that can be visited in a combined ticket are;

Neue Pinakothek – Closed for renovation when we visited (re-opening planned for 2029) but is devoted to 19th century art. The modern building opened in 1981 following the destruction of the original location in WW2.

You’ll find work of the Romantic, Impressionist and Art Nouveau genres, with the masterpieces of Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne. While it’s closed you can see some of the artwork in the galleries of Alte Pinakothek.

Museum Brandhorst – This striking and colourful building covered with 36,000 ceramic rods is an artwork in itself. The museum concentrates on contemporary artists with the largest collection of Andy Warhol in Europe.

Sammlung Schack – This art museum is in a different location to the others, near the English Garden. It houses the collection of Count Adolf Friederich von Schack with 180 paintings by 19th century German artists.

17. Königsplatz

Just a short distance from the Pinakothek museums is Königsplatz. It is worth a look even if you don’t visit any of the museums in the square.

The square was laid out in the late 19th century in neoclassical style. It was commissioned by Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, later King Ludwig I who had a passion for classical antiqity.

This enormous open plaza is enclosed by the Museum of Antiquities, which was modelled on the Acropolis. It faces the Glypthothek which also reflects the Greek revival style of columns and porticoes.

These buildings house the collection of Ludwig I. He spent enormous amounts of money building up a collection of sculptures and other Greek and Roman antiquities.

On the third side of the square is the Propylaea. This classical gateway was constructed as a memorial for the accession to the throne of Otto of Greece, the son of King Ludwig I.

Königsplatz also played its part in the history of the Third Reich and Hitler held mass rallies there. These days it’s often used for festivals. While we were there, the square was being used for a funfair, as part of the Summer in the city programme for Munich.

If you’d like to visit the museums, they are:

Glyptothek – Commissioned by King Ludwig I to house his collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.

Antiken Sammlungen – The State Museum of Antiquities on Konigsplatz. Built by King Ludwig I to house his collection of antiquities from the Greeks, Romans and Etruscans.

Egyptian Museum – Close to Königsplatz, the Agypticher Kunst is devoted to Egyptian artwork and artefacts arranged in a series of halls arranged by themes of Egyptian art and culture.

18. Alte Botanischer Garten and Park Cafe

A short walk down the road from Königsplatz brings you to the Alte Botanischer Garten or Old Botanical Garden. It’s is a pleasant place to relax if you’ve had enough of the museums or need some refreshment.

The park contains many exotic trees, but after a New Botanical Garden was laid out at Schloss Nymphenburg, the Old Botanical Garden was turned into a park in the 1930s.

In the centre of the park is a statue of Neptune with fountains, surrounded by flower beds and colourful plantings. The main benefit of the park is that there’s a very pleasant restaurant at Park Cafe. It has a biergarten in the park that makes a nice place to relax when the weather is fine.

Lunch at the brewery

We had lunch inside the cafe, which is part of the Hofbrau brewery. It also offers a varied and international menu. This makes a nice change if you’ve had enough of the hearty Bavarian dishes (although you can order these too). The Park Cafe often hosts jazz and live music in the evenings and has a very popular Sunday Brunch.

Try this 1 day itinerary: Start the day with a visit to one or two of the museums on the Kunstreal Museum Quarter, depending on what period of art suits your taste. The Pinakothek der Moderne has a nice coffee shop when you’re ready for a break.

Then wander down to Königsplatz to see if there are any events or festivals taking place. Visit either of the museums of antiquities if you wish. If the weather’s fine continue down the road to the Alte Botanischer Garten and relax in their pleasant biergarten surrounded by flowers. Or, have a bite to eat inside the cafe restaurant.

19. BMW welt and museum

We’d visited most of the best known sights of Munich in the central area. So, we decided to use one of our days to venture a little further afield to the north of the city.

We started at BMW Welt, which translates as BMW World. It’s easy enough to reach by train, getting off at Olympiazentrum station and then walking a short distance down the road. BMW Welt is part car show room, part exhibition space, part audio visual experience.

It’s all designed to draw you into the world of BMW and the glamour and power of their cars and motorbikes. If you are in the market for a new BMW, Mini or Rolls Royce, this is the place to ponder your choice or even pick up the car once you’ve ordered.

Stunning architecture

Even if you are not really into cars, you’ll be wowed by the stunning building of glass and steel that we entered along a sinuous footbridge. The double helix is designed to encapsulate the woosh and speed of a car on the curving road.

BMW Welt is one of the top free things to do in Munich. Once inside you can sit on the motorbikes, see the old style minis, wander around the different stands of cars. Have a bite to eat in the ground floor cafe or even a Michelin star meal at their first floor Eisszimmer restaurant.

On the other side of the road is the BMW Museum which we didn’t have time to visit. It covers the evolution of BMW engines, cars and motorbikes over 100 years.

Photography tip: If you want to get some nice photos, visit BMW Welt at dusk. The building lights up and glows with colour like a jewel and the interiors are also bathed in coloured lights.

20. Olympiapark

BMW Welt is right next door to Olympiapark, so once you’ve had a look around you can walk straight into the park. It is dominated by the striking landmark of the observation tower.

The Olympiapark was constructed for the 1972 Munich Olympic games. It’s now a public park with Olympic Stadium used for sports and cultural events, Olympic Hall and Aquatic centre with a public swimming pool.

When we were there, a funfair as part of the Summer in the City even was in full swing. We walked around the lake and up the small manmade hill on the other side. It gives one of the best views over the lake and the stadiums as well as the Olympic tower.

The 1972 Munich Olympics were also tragically marked by the kidnapping of Israeli athletes staying in the Olympic village by Palestinian terrorists. A failed rescue attempt resulted in the murder of 11 of the Israeli athletes and coaches as well as a German policeman. There is a memorial in the Olympiapark with photos, videos and information about the event.

To the top for the view

I decided that I had to go up the 190m high Olympic Tower, for an even better view over the park, and was able to pay at the ticket booth with no need to prebook online. A lift took me straight up to the lower observation deck.

The glass enclosure was marked with the different landmarks in the view. At the top was a small cafe and an incongruous mini museum dedicated to Rock and Roll.

Walking up to the next outdoor platform, the force of the wind hit me. Up another level it was so strong that I could barely keep standing upright!

Still it was a fun experience to get those views looking down on the park, even if the photos were a bit blurry. I could scarcely hold my phone still to take photos in the wind!

21. Schloss Nymphenburg

Another of the places to visit near Munich that we really enjoyed was Schloss Nymphenburg. It was formerly the summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria and sits among extensive formal gardens and parkland.

The land for the palace was presented in 1662 by Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife Henrietta Adeleide of Savoy. It commemorated her giving birth ten years into their marriage to a long awaited son and heir. Basically that was the main job of royal women in those days!

Their original square pavilion was enlarged by successive rulers. Formal gardens, parterres and lakes were added in the French style during the 18th century.

For more things to do that you can easily reach from Munich, check out my article on the best day trips from Munich. 

We especially enjoyed the stunning entrance hall with its enormous chandeliers, gilding and romantic pastel rococco decoration. This is followed by a succession of beautiful and sumptuous rooms.

One of Schloss Nymphenburg’s talking points is the Gallery of Beauties, which contains 36 portraits commissioned by Ludwig I. They feature notable women associated with the court who were considered the beauties of the day.

It includes noblewomen, actresses and one of the best known portraits of the shoemaker’s daughter. The king certainly had an eye for the ladies and several of the portraits were of his mistresses. Perhaps this gallery was a way of giving a veneer of respectability for his passion for women.

Marstallmuseum

We also enjoyed a look around the Marstallmuseum, located in the former riding stables of the palace. It houses a collection of fairy tale coaches and sledges. Many are incredibly decorated with Rococo painting and gilding.

In the gardens there are four other pavilions. One, the Amalienburg, is open to the public and well worth a look, with its pretty hall of mirrors and rococo decoration.

You can also take a gondola ride in the central canal of the gardens when the weather is fine. The formal French style gardens behind the palace give way to woodland on either side.

We also enjoyed our lunch in the beautiful Palmhouse restaurant. It’s located in the pretty glasshouses of the palace which had a large outdoor restaurant terrace. The palace can be reached by taking the train to Laim station and then walking through the park.

More info: Nymphenberg Palace website

Try this 1 day itinerary: Take the train to Laim station and walk through the park to Schloss Nymphenburg. You’ll probably need at least half a day to see everything.

After visiting you might like to have lunch at the Palmhouse restaurant in the gardens. Then walk to the bus stop at the junction of Menzinger Strasse and Wintringching.

Take the No 180 bus (30 mins) to the BMW Welt. Look around BMW Welt and the museum if you have time, then spend the rest of the afternoon in Olympiapark.

Return at dusk to BMW Welt if you want some photos of it glowing with coloured lights. Then catch the train from Olympiazentrum station back to the centre of Munich.

Plan your trip to Munich

Hotels: We can highly recommend the luxurious Louis Hotel where we stayed that is well located by Viktualienmarkt. Or, check out its slightly more affordable sister boutique Cortiina Hotel which is also centrally located in the Old Town.

Just a warning that hotels in Munich tend to be more expensive than other cities in Germany. You should avoid any big festival dates such as Oktoberfest (unless attending them) when the prices are even higher.

Tourism information: Check out the Munich Tourism website for more information to help plan your visit to Munich. Visit the Germany Tourism website if you are planning to visit other parts of Germany.

Need a guidebook for Munich? I love the DK guides as they are so colourful and well illustrated. Check out the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Munich guide for short trips. he DK Eyewitness Munich and the Bavarian Alps is suitable for longer trips.

Read next

What and where to eat in Munich: all the delicious food in Munich

More articles about Munich

3 days in Munich – our Munich itinerary of things to see and do
15 of the best day trips from Munich by train

Getting from Munich airport to the city centre

There are a few options to get you from Munich Airport into the city centre and the one that seems most straightforward is the train. From the airport concourse you go straight down into the train station and take the S8 train.

There are stops at Marienplatz and other train stations in the centre of the city. An alternative is the S1 train which takes a different route and takes a little longer to Marienplatz.

You can buy your ticket from the ticket machine on the station platform with cash or card. The train goes every 20 minutes and the journey is around 40 mins. More info: Munich Airport Website

Another option is the Airport Bus which runs every 15 minutes and offers a non-stop service to the city centre. You can use the bus no matter what airline you fly with.

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Disclosure: I have visited Munich on a number of occasions. On some visits I have received complimentary hotel stays or help with restaurants and experiences from various sponsors*.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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