In a nutshell
- Ferris wheel ride: a classic Munich activity that isn’t just for Oktoberfest. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the Alps from 80 meters up!
- Street art bike tour: the perfect way to experience Munich’s more laid-back side. Your guide reveals the best urban art the city has to offer.
- Bavarian tavern evening: sample your way through pork knuckle, roast pork, and Munich’s finest beers. An absolute must on any city trip to Munich.
City Tour with Allianz Arena Tour
Some love them, others hate them: FC Bayern! But no matter which side you’re on, the soccer club is simply iconic in Munich. And FC Bayern’s stadium, the Allianz Arena, is the most modern in all of Europe.
On this combo tour, you’ll start with a short city tour of Munich’s most beautiful highlights. After that, you’ll get a guided tour of the Allianz Arena, where you can check out the training grounds and the FC Bayern Museum, among other things.
Honestly, this is a soccer tour that works even for people who aren’t die-hard soccer romantics.
Book the city tour with FC Bayern Arena visit
Night Watchman Tour for Kids
City tours are often boring and exhausting for kids. Not this one, though. The Night Watchman tour is especially well-suited for children between six and twelve years old — and for younger children, the tour is even free.
Your guide is dressed up as a night watchman, complete with lantern, horn, and halberd. Starting from Marienplatz, he leads you along the old city walls and shares stories from the Middle Ages.
At the end, the kids even get to close the city gates themselves to protect Munich from nighttime intruders. Seriously fun.
Also check out our guide to city tours in Munich
Ride the Umadum Ferris Wheel
A brand-new attraction has recently opened at Ostbahnhof: the Umadum! Not Bavarian? It roughly means “going in circles” — which makes perfect sense, because it’s a ferris wheel.
The gondolas take you up to 80 meters (260 feet) in the air, where you get a sweeping panoramic view over all of Munich. On clear days, you can even see all the way to the Alps!
The surrounding Ostkreuz neighborhood also has plenty of street food spots, cocktail bars, and cool street art. It’s worth checking the website before you go — rides are only available in good weather. Regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
Our tip: The München City Pass includes the Umadum.
Get tickets for the Umadum ferris wheel
Enjoy Bavarian Beer and Food Culture
A visit to a brewery tavern is an absolute must on a city trip to Munich! You’ll find taverns pretty much all over the city — the most famous ones are around Marienplatz (like the Hofbräuhaus) and at Münchner Freiheit.
The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. Beer flows freely, and the food is hearty — think roast pork or pork knuckle.
On GetYourGuide, you can book a guided evening that includes a beer tasting and a platter of Bavarian treats, plus a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum. One important note: this is not a pub crawl — it’s genuinely about Bavarian food culture. There’s a real difference.
Book the tavern tour with Bavarian specialties
We’ve also written a detailed article about brewery taverns in Munich:
Attend a Concert at the Residenz
The Residenz is one of the most impressive buildings in all of Munich. And get this — Mozart himself once performed concerts here.
The programs feature classical concerts, though there are sometimes also fun reinterpretations of film music and similar pieces. Even for those who aren’t big culture buffs — like us — the Residenz is a truly memorable experience, if only for the incredible acoustics.
The concert lasts about one hour. Totally worth it.
Get tickets for a Residenz concert
Discover Munich's Street Art
Munich has quite a few impressive art museums, but we’ve already covered those in our guide to the 22 most beautiful sights in Munich. Here, we want to introduce you to the alternative art scene — yep, that’s a real thing in Munich too.
You’ll find great street art around the decommissioned train car Bahnwärter Thiel in the Schlachthofviertel, in the former Olympic Village, and between Silberhornstraße and Candidplatz. Even the legendary street artist Banksy has left his mark here.
On GetYourGuide, you can book a street art tour by bike — and we think that’s a really smart way to do it. Your guide knows the best works in the city and can fill you in on the full history of graffiti, going all the way back to the wild early 1980s.
Book the street art bike tour through Munich
Pedal Boating in the English Garden
The English Garden is Munich’s green lung — and it’s even larger than Central Park in New York! You can take a lovely stroll, watch the surfers on the Eisbach wave, or grab a seat at a beer garden.
One of our favorite things to do in Munich is a pedal boat ride on Kleinhesseloher Lake in the English Garden. Especially if you’re on a vacation with kids, this is a real highlight.
The Seehaus boat rental is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM during the summer months. A 30-minute ride costs about 10 euros. The Seehaus restaurant is a decent spot for a meal, though it’s on the pricier side — so bringing your own snacks isn’t a bad idea!
Flying Fox over the Olympic Park
The Flying Fox is expected to remain closed until 2027.
Anyone can visit the Olympic Park. But if you’re up for climbing 40 meters (130 feet) in the air, rappelling down, and then zipping 200 meters over the event grounds, the Flying Fox is for you. Just leave your fear of heights at home!
Your Flying Fox tour lasts about 20 minutes and costs around 47 euros. It kicks off with a thorough safety briefing. On a clear day, you can even see all the way to the Alps from the roof of the stadium!
The Olympic Park was built for the 1972 Olympic Games and has since become a go-to gathering spot for Munich locals on warm evenings. There’s also a really nice alpine hut with great beer. We share more details in our article on genuine insider tips for Munich.
Learn more about the Flying Fox at the Olympic Park
Visit a Night Flea Market
Given Munich’s reputation as a glitzy, upscale city, we wouldn’t have expected it — but there’s a seriously good selection of flea markets here. Especially popular are the flea market in the Olympic Park parking lot and the annual giant flea market on the Theresienwiese.
For something a bit out of the ordinary, we really recommend the Midnightbazar. You can shop well into the night, enjoy live music, and browse stalls serving delicious street food.
The Midnightbazar takes place regularly, usually starting at 5 PM. The venue varies — it’s typically held in event halls like Backstage or Zenith. Admission is 4 euros.
Check dates for the Midnightbazar night flea market
Visit the BMW World
Right in the middle of Munich, a massive building rises into the sky that looks like a four-cylinder engine. This super cool structure is the BMW headquarters, and right next to it you’ll find BMW Plant 1, BMW World, and the BMW Museum.
You can explore the full story of BMW’s company history through various exhibitions — from classic vintage models to the brand’s latest sports cars. It’s genuinely impressive even if you’re not a car person.
BMW World also makes for a great outing on a Munich vacation with kids. In the attached JuniorCampus and the RE:BMW Circular Lab, children learn about the circular economy through hands-on activities.
Book a guided tour at BMW World
River Rafting on the Isar
Sounds like an adventure — and it absolutely is. This day trip starts at the Marienbrücke in Wolfratshausen. The rafts set off around 9 AM and dock again in Munich-Thalkirchen in the afternoon around 4 PM.
You won’t be bored for a second: expect the longest raft slide in Europe, live music from Bavarian bands, a traditional snack with freshly tapped beer, and stunning scenery throughout. Along the way, you’ll stop at a traditional Bavarian tavern, and there’s grilling on board too.
With prices starting at 199 euros, this isn’t the cheapest thing to do in Munich — but you genuinely get a lot for your money. Sturdy footwear and waterproof clothing are a must. Trips run only between late April and early September.
Munich itself is well worth the trip, but so is the surrounding area. Our article on day trips from Munich is sure to have something for you. And when it comes to where to stay, check out our Munich hotel tips or our roundup of boutique hotels in Munich.
