Munich is the capital of the state of Bavaria and one of the top destinations in Germany. The city offers many interesting attractions and excellent possibilities for day trips.
Top Reasons to Visit Munich
1. Marienplatz
Photo Credit: Sergey Mind
Marienplatz is the main square and the heart of Munich, the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus in German) is the most impressive building located in this beautiful square. Fischbrunnen and Mariensäule are also important monuments.
Located in the square you will find the famous German restaurant, Ratskeller München, where you must be sure to taste the German sausages and beers. For beautiful views of the square, don’t miss Café Glockenspiel and try the delicious Apfelstrudel.
For shopping, visit the Ludwig Beck and Galeria Kaufhof München Marienplatz department stores that surround the square.
2. Biergarten
Reasons to Visit Munich – Photo Credit: Sven Mieke
Germany is famous for its beers, and going to an authentic Beer Garden (Biergarten) is one of the top things to do in Munich.
The Augustinerkeller, the Hofbräuhaus Biergarten, the Königlicher Hirschgarten Restaurant & Biergarten, and the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm are some of the best beer gardens in Munich.
The Augustinerkeller is one of the oldest beer gardens in the city, with 5,000 seats. The Hofbräuhaus, surrounded by historic walls, has a capacity for almost 400 people. The Königlicher Hirschgarten Restaurant & Biergarten with its 8,000 seats, is not only the largest in Munich but also the largest beer garden in Bavaria. And the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm, located in the Englischer Garten, is the second-largest beer garden in Munich, with 7,000 seats.
3. Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is the largest beer festival in the world and takes place every year at Theresienwiese in Munich.
Visiting the Oktoberfest is one of the top things to do in Munich, and the festival always starts in September and ends in October. As it is the busiest month, be sure to book your hotel in advance.
Admission to Oktoberfest is free, you only have to pay for what you consume or if you want to book a table at the tent in advance.
In addition to the brewery tents (14 tents in total), there is also Biergartens, amusement park, and kiosks that sell food, drinks, and various souvenirs throughout the event.
4. Surrounding Areas
Photo Credit: Luis Fernando Felipe Alves
Attractions and destinations around Munich include fairytale castles, palaces, beautiful lakes, mountains, and landscapes.
Füssen and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the highest peak Zugspitze, Innsbruck, and Salzburg in Austria, the Schloss Linderhof and the Königssee are just a few travel destinations and attractions that you can combine with a trip to Munich.
5. Frauenkirche
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar
Photo Credit: Jan Antonin Kolar
Photo Credit: Dimitry Anikin
The Frauenkirche is a landmark of Munich and is located right in the historic center, close to Marienplatz.
The cathedral with its towers was bombed during the Second World War and an extensive renovation from 1989 to 1994 led to the reconstruction of the interior decoration.
For an incredible view of the cathedral, do not miss the Blue Spa terrace lounge at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the roof terrace at the Hotel Deutsche Eiche, and the Café Vorhoelzer on the roof of the Technical University.
6. Parks
Photo Credit: Ignacio Brosa
Munich is home to beautiful parks to relax and enjoy.
The Englischer Garten is Germany’s largest urban park and a must-see attraction in the city of Munich. Other parks in the city include the Hofgarten, Olympiark, Luitpoldpark, Schlosspark Nymphenburg, and green areas along the Isar River.
7. Nymphenburg Palace
Reasons to Visit Munich – Photo Credit: Luis Fernando Felipe Alves
Schloss Nymphenburg is a Baroque palace and a must-see attraction in Munich, located 6 km (3.73 miles) from the historic city center.
The palace has a beautiful interior and gardens. It is possible to take a virtual tour of the palace rooms.
Other attractions at Schlosspark Nymphenburg include the Marstallmuseum, the Museum of Man and Nature and a café, Schlosscafé im Palmenhaus.
The Botanical Garden borders the north side of the palace park, and it is possible to enter the Botanical Garden from the park.
8. Museums
Photo Credit: Dimitry Anikin
Munich offers excellent options for museums.
The Deutsches Museum along the Isar River is the most popular, it is a technology museum where you can experience the world of science and technology from its origins to the present day. And the BMW Museum is also popular.
On the Königsplatz square and in the surroundings you will find other important museums, including the Glyptothek, the Alte Pinakothek art museum, the Pinakothek der Moderne museum, the Brandhorst Museum, and others.
9. Food
Reasons to Visit Munich – Photo Credit: Daniel Schludi
In addition to beer, the Bavarian region is also known for its white sausages, mustard, and pretzel. Salad with sausage (Wurstsalat), meatloaf (Leberkäse) and potato cake (Kartoffelklösse) are also popular.
The Bratwurstherzl, the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, the Haxnbauer are some of the many German restaurants you should visit.
10. History and Culture
Reasons to Visit Munich – Photo Credit: Daniel Seßler
Munich is a city full of history and culture. And one of the best ways to explore and learn about history is to participate in one of the tours around the city.
The Munich Third Reich Tour is the top tour for those who want to discover about this dark period.
And to discover more about the culture it is very worthwhile to take part in the free tour of Munich and also the beer tour.
Where to Stay in Munich
For sightseeing, the best place to stay in Munich is around the Marienplatz, in the Altstadt region, the heart of the city.
Luxury Hotels: Munich has numerous options for luxury hotels. The Charles Hotel, the Rocco Forte Hotel is located next to the Alter Botanischer Garten, a 15-minute walk from Marienplatz. Rooms have a flat-screen TV, seating area, and minibar.
The Cortiina Hotel is a hotel in the historic center of Munich. The rooms have designer furniture and are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a minibar.
The Mandarin Oriental, Munich, the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, and the Hotel Bayerischer Hof are other incredible luxury hotels to stay in the city center.
Mid-Range Hotels: For those looking for comfort and options in the city center, the Hotel Europa, the Eurostars Grand Central Hotel, the Hotel Aloft Munich, and the Leonardo Hotel München Zentrum are great options.
Budget Hotels: For very economical options and not so far from the center it is worth staying at a&o München Hauptbahnhof or Hotel Stachus.
Featured Photo Credit: Matthias Schröder
Book Your Trip
Book Your Accommodation
Book your hotel with Booking.com as they consistently provide the cheapest and lowest rates.
Book Your Flight
Find cheap flights to Germany by using Momondo. Momondo is a flight search engine that searches a lot of different airlines, including many budget carriers.
Book a Train Ticket
Check the train routes and schedules with Omio. Omio is an authorized Deutsche Bahn ticket seller, which compares and combines transport options for complete flexibility.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, and cancellations. It’s a protection in case anything goes wrong. You can book your travel insurance with Travelexinsurance.com.
See also
10 Best Luxury Hotels in Munich
11 Top Free Things to do in Munich
15 Best Hotels in Munich City Center and Surroundings
Shopping in Munich: Gift Ideas, Malls, Department Stores and Boutiques
Train from Munich to Nuremberg: Travel Tips & Guide
Train from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle
