Things to Do in Munich: 22 Top Attractions & Tips

The Top Sights in Munich

In this article, we’ll walk you through 22 of the best things to do in Munich.

Short on time — maybe you’re passing through on a road trip through Germany or you just want to hit the absolute highlights? Here’s our top 7 list of must-see Munich attractions:

1. Marienplatz
2. Frauenkirche
3. Karlsplatz (Stachus)
4. Schloss Nymphenburg
5. Viktualienmarkt
6. Englischer Garten & Eisbachwelle
7. Olympiapark

Want the full picture and as much detail as possible on Munich’s best places to visit? Then keep reading.

Our Munich Attractions Map

To help you get your bearings, we’ve put together a map with all 22 top things to do in Munich. It shows you exactly where each attraction is located in the city.

Our Favorite Landmarks in Munich

Frauenkirche

Munich has quite a few castles, churches, and historic buildings. The most famous of them all — and the undisputed symbol of the city — is the Frauenkirche.

The church is already over 500 years old, and its full name is actually “Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau” (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), named after its patron saint, the Virgin Mary.

With its two onion-domed towers standing roughly 100 meters tall, it watches over the entire historic center. You can even climb the southern tower. From the top, you’ll have a fantastic panorama — especially since 2004, when a city ordinance prohibited any building in Munich from rising higher than the towers.

Our tip: You also get a wonderful view from the Alter Peter (our number 4). It’s popular too, but not quite as many tourists make their way there, so you won’t always have someone stepping into your shot.

Schloss Nymphenburg

Schloss Nymphenburg is a truly magnificent palace from the era of Bavarian monarchy. It was a gift from Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife to celebrate the birth of his heir to the throne in 1664. How romantic!

The vast palace gardens feature wide avenues, fountains, ornate bridges, and even a canal where you can glide along with a gondolier. The best view of the blooming grounds is from the grand staircase. Entry to the palace gardens is free.

Make sure to take a look inside the palace itself. The most sought-after sculptors, painters, and stucco artists of the time decorated the rooms with extraordinary artistry.

You can also visit several museums within the palace: a natural history museum, the Marstallmuseum with ornate sleighs and horse-drawn carriages, a porcelain museum, and the Erwin von Kreibig Museum featuring regional artworks.

Munich Residenz

The Residenz is another palace right in the heart of Munich’s city center — and in fact the largest urban palace in Germany. It grew into its splendor and size over 600 years.

On your tour you’ll encounter furnishings from a wide range of eras. Particularly magnificent halls and elaborately decorated rooms featuring intricate décor, paintings, and gold date from the Baroque and Rococo periods.

Also worth seeing are the treasury, the charming Rococo theater, and the Hofgarten. From the outside, the Residenz is admittedly rather understated by comparison.

Our tip: The numerous concerts, readings, festivals, and theater performances at the Residenztheater make for a truly special experience. Be sure to check the website before your visit.

St. Peter's Church

St. Peter’s Church sits right behind Marienplatz, and its tower — the Alter Peter — is one of the best vantage points in Munich. From up here you get a wonderful, relatively crowd-free view over the entire historic district.

First, though, you’ll need to climb roughly 300 steps. Not exactly easy, but the view is absolutely worth the effort.

St. Peter’s Church is one of the oldest parish churches in the city, with a history stretching back to the 12th century.

Inside, the magnificent high altar is a real standout. You can also see the gilded skeleton of Saint Munditia in a glass coffin — a little eerie, but completely normal by the standards of the time.

Bavarian State Opera

It all began in the 17th century with the first Italian operas performed in the Herkulessaal of the Residenz. After 350 years, today around 450 performances per season attract more than half a million visitors.

The current Nationaltheater on Max-Joseph-Platz is the stage for ballet, concerts by the State Orchestra, operas, and many other artistic highlights. You can find the program on the official website.

Alter Hof

Behind its charming historic and reconstructed facades, the old imperial residence now houses exquisite shops.

A fortified complex stood here as early as the 12th century, and between 1255 and the 15th century it served as the residence of the Wittelsbachs.

You can learn more about the imperial history of the old castle in the free multimedia exhibition in the vaulted cellar.

Allianz Arena

On match days for FC Bayern Munich, the Allianz Arena glows vivid red from afar. On special occasions, the nearly 3,000 air cushions light up in a whole range of colors.

If you want to catch an FC Bayern game at their home stadium, act fast — tickets are often sold out months in advance.

On non-match days, you can take arena tours for a behind-the-scenes look and dive into the club’s history at the FC Bayern World of Experience spread across 3,000 square meters. One of the coolest activities in Munich!

To the soccer tour with Allianz Arena and city tour

Neighborhoods and Squares in Munich

Marienplatz and City Center

Marienplatz is the heart of the city. There’s always a lot going on here year-round — locals meet up to shop in the surrounding streets and celebrate their soccer team’s championship wins.

A popular tourist spectacle is the Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall, which chimes daily. At 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM — and in summer also at 5:00 PM — 16 figures reenact the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V to Renate of Lorraine in 1568.

Our tip: Since the square is always packed with people, you can get a better overview from above. An elevator takes you up to the town hall tower. If you want a view looking back at the town hall, you’ll find a cozy spot right across the way at Café Glockenspiel.

Karlsplatz

Karlsplatz, also known as Stachus, has even made it into a Bavarian expression. “Da geht’s ja zu wie am Stachus” — roughly meaning “it’s absolutely heaving in here” — is a favorite phrase when somewhere is extremely busy.

And that’s exactly what Karlsplatz is like at any time of day or year. The square is a central hub, both for public transportation and for a stroll through Munich.

Right behind the Karlstor begins the Munich shopping zone, and the Stachus Passagen are located right on the square. In summer, a huge fountain in the middle provides a cool respite; in winter, an ice skating rink is set up here.

Odeonsplatz

La dolce vita — nowhere in Munich can you experience it better than at Odeonsplatz. The perfect backdrop is formed by the Theatinerkirche in Italian late Baroque style, the Feldherrnhalle in Florentine classicism, the Residenz, and the Hofgartentor.

The square got its name from the Odeon, once the city’s famous concert hall that stood here. Apart from the facade, it was destroyed in the war.

Alongside Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz is an important venue for events in Munich.

In early July you can enjoy popular open-air classical concerts held here. In June, the square transforms into a craftsmen’s market for the city’s founding festival. And twice a year, the Streetlife Festival spreads all the way into the pedestrian zones, bringing live concerts, art, and entertainment.

Gärtnerplatz and Glockenbachviertel

Gärtnerplatz is a popular starting point for a night out. A beer on the square kicks off the weekend, and from there you head through the many cafés, restaurants, bars, and clubs of the Glockenbachviertel.

But it’s also a great neighborhood for shopping and strolling. Around Gärtnerplatz you’ll find plenty of cool stores in well-kept old residential buildings — unique décor and handmade products, secondhand fashion, local designers, and vintage labels instead of big chains.

Our tip: A special highlight in summer is the open-air cinema at the Viehhof. It’s technically just outside the Glockenbachviertel — it belongs to the Isarvorstadt — but it’s not far. The outdoor cinema is loved for its relaxed atmosphere among brick facades, food trucks, and lounge chairs.

Westend

Munich is known for its glitz and glamour. If you’re after something more low-key and alternative, the Westend is your answer.

Officially called Schwanthalerhöhe, this neighborhood is — by Munich standards — surprisingly relaxed and not overrun with tourists. Somehow it doesn’t feel very Munich at all, which is exactly its charm.

As gentrification increasingly pushes the alternative and LGBTQ+ scene out of the Glockenbachviertel, artists, young labels, and designers are setting up shop more and more in the Westend.

Small design boutiques line mainly Liegsalzstraße and Schwanthalerstraße. You’ll also find international restaurants, cozy bars, cool cafés, and quirky little theaters — plus the magnificent St. Paul’s Church, one of the largest in Munich.

Viktualienmarkt

Locals affectionately call it their “living room”: the Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s largest market, held on the square of the same name for over 200 years.

With specialty food stores, fishmongers, butchers, organic products, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stands, snack stalls, wine bars, and cafés spread across 22,000 square meters, the Viktualienmarkt is the culinary heart of the city. There’s even a beer garden complete with a maypole.

Our tip: Just around the corner you’ll find Eataly München, a market hall packed with Italian specialties and plenty of stands serving pizza, pasta, and more. It tastes just like Italy! There are also regular tastings, workshops, and special events to join in on.

The Most Beautiful Parks and Gardens in Munich

Englischer Garten

Whenever the weather allows, half of Munich heads to the Englischer Garten. People come here to picnic, enjoy an after-work beer, paddle on the lake, jog, play, or simply wander through the grounds.

It can get crowded on summer weekends, but otherwise the crowds quickly spread out — because the Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world.

The Eisbach winds its way right through the park. Even though swimming is officially prohibited, many visitors on hot days simply can’t resist and let the current carry them through the stream.

Our tip: On the highest hill in the park stands a small circular temple, the Monopteros. The vista from here is especially worth it in the evening at sunset, when the city skyline is bathed in a warm glow.

Olympiapark

The Olympic Tower and Olympic Stadium are expected to remain closed until 2027.

Where the 1972 Olympic Games were held, you’ll now find one of the city’s most popular parks and recreational areas. Between the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall, and Olympic Tower, many Munich residents pursue their leisure activities today.

Jogging through the green grounds, rowing on the Olympiasee, swimming at the Olympiabad, or playing soccer at the SoccaFive Arena — every sports fan will find something here.

The Olympiapark also hosts numerous events, concerts, and cultural performances. Under the world-famous tent roof of the Olympic Stadium, international superstars take the stage.

Hellabrunn Zoo

Hellabrunn Zoo is the world’s first geo-zoo: the animals are organized by continent. In total, over 750 species inhabit the nature reserve along the Isar.

On a walk through the zoo, you’ll travel from the wildlife of the polar regions all the way to the savanna animals of Africa and the kangaroos of Australia.

Museums in Munich You Have to See

Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum in Munich is the largest science and technology museum in the world. With 50 subject areas ranging from astronomy to timekeeping, there is so much to see that one day really isn’t enough.

Your best bet is to focus on your favorite topics and really dig in — because here, learning by doing is genuinely lived out. That also makes it a fantastic pick for your trip to Munich with kids!

You can explore a coal mine tunnel, peer into a submarine or out into space, and hear high-voltage electricity crackle. The exhibits are genuinely fascinating — no wonder around 1.5 million visitors flock here every year.

You can find even more cool museums in Munich here:

The Pinakotheken

The Neue Pinakothek, featuring 19th-century art, is expected to remain closed until 2030.

The Pinakotheken are three wonderful art museums in Munich’s Maxvorstadt neighborhood. Together with the Museum Brandhorst and the Sammlung Schack, they make up Munich’s Kunstareal — and all the museums are just a few steps from one another.

Particularly worth seeing are the Alte Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne, which rank among the most renowned art collections in the world.

You’re surely familiar with Dürer, da Vinci, and Rembrandt — you’ll find their works in the Alte Pinakothek. The museum displays Bavarian state paintings from the Middle Ages through the mid-18th century, with a highlight being a painting over six meters tall.

The Pinakothek der Moderne is dedicated to classical modernism and contemporary art through the 20th century. Virtually all the well-known names of that era are represented here.

Our tip: On Sundays, admission to the Pinakotheken is just 1 euro each. It does get very crowded, especially in the afternoon — if you want to enjoy the art in peace, a weekday visit is a much better call.

BMW Welt

What the Autostadt is to Wolfsburg, BMW Welt is to Bavaria — the brand’s experience and delivery center.

Motorcycles, Minis, roadsters, and Rolls-Royces — BMW Welt displays every vehicle from the BMW Group. On a guided tour, you can also get a behind-the-scenes look and even gain insight into the car production process.

The architecture of BMW Welt alone is one of a kind. Like a giant cloud, the roof seems to float above the open structure.

Directly across the way you’ll find the BMW Tower, built to resemble four cylinders of a giant engine — and that’s also where you’ll find the fascinating BMW Museum.

Quintessentially Munich

Eisbachwelle

The Eisbachwelle in the Englischer Garten is something truly special. Surfing right in the middle of the city — how cool is that?

Year-round, surfers show off their skills on the standing wave. Under the eyes of numerous spectators, they throw themselves into the ice-cold waters — even in winter.

Note: The Eisbachwelle is only for experienced surfers. The concrete walls along the sides of the channel make the risk of injury quite significant.

Oktoberfest

The Wiesn — Munich’s Oktoberfest — is arguably the best-known reason to visit Munich, and for good reason: it’s the largest folk festival in the world.

During the two weeks from late September to early October, over 6 million visitors from all over the world flock to the Theresienwiese every year. The festival has been celebrated here since 1810.

All the details — from exact dates to ride hours, events and parades, directions, table reservations, and security measures — can be found on the official website.

Note: If you want to visit Munich during Oktoberfest, start looking for accommodation several months in advance.

More tips and info about Oktoberfest in Munich can be found here:

Hofbräuhaus

The Hofbräuhaus is the city’s traditional brewhouse. Beer has been brewed here since 1589. Regional, hearty cuisine, rustic décor, folk music and dancing, a beer garden, servers in traditional Bavarian dress — everything is quintessentially Bavarian.

That might sound like a classic tourist trap, but it’s really not — or at least not only. Of the up to 3,000 daily visitors, half are Munich locals. Around 120 regulars’ groups meet here on a regular basis.

The Hofbräuhaus is just a few steps from Marienplatz and is ideal for a break in the beer garden under shady chestnut trees during your sightseeing tour. You can make a reservation online on the website.

Since Bavaria and beer just kind of go hand in hand, you can even take a tour of Munich’s most famous brewhouses. So, which is your favorite beer?

To the guided tour through Munich’s brewhouses

More great brewhouses in Munich can be found here:

General Tips for a Trip to Munich

Finally, here are a few practical pointers to help you find your way around Munich as quickly as possible — and maybe save a few bucks along the way.

Want to prepare even better for your city trip? We’ve put together even more information in our travel tips article.

To the travel tips for Munich

If you’d also like to explore some cool spots off the tourist trail, check out our insider tips article.

To our insider tips for Munich

Still looking for the perfect place to stay? In our hotel tips we share our favorites.

To our Munich hotel tips

To the Munich boutique hotels

München Card and City Pass

Munich offers two tourist passes, and both give you discounts on sights as well as a public transportation ticket. In short, the City Pass is simply more comprehensive than the München Card.

You can buy both for one to five days, and you can also choose between single and group tickets. The München Card starts at €16.90, and the City Pass starts at €39.90.

To the München Card and City Pass

Getting Around Munich

Munich’s public transportation network isn’t exactly intuitive. The many different zones make the fare system pretty confusing. If in doubt, you’ll find an S+U Bahn map at every platform and online.

In most cases, though, you won’t be leaving Zone M. For longer trips we recommend a day pass for €10.10; for single journeys, a single ticket for €4.20.

Our tip: A group day pass is worth it for as few as two people.

City Tours in Munich

With a local guide by your side, you’ll discover so much more about Munich. If you’re interested in the various tours, check out our article on our 11 favorite tours in Munich. Otherwise, we can recommend these two right off the bat:

City tour of Munich’s highlights

Gourmet tour of the Viktualienmarkt

Prefer to explore Munich on your own with an audio guide? A flexible hop-on/hop-off bus tour might be just the thing — tickets are available for 24 or 48 hours.

To the hop-on/hop-off bus ticket

Day Trips from Munich

If you’ve already seen Munich’s classic highlights, there are some great day trip destinations in the surrounding area.

To our day trip ideas around Munich