Best Things to Do in Munich

By Vicky · Published Jun. 10th, 2024

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Discover the Best Things to Do in Munich with a map, photos, and tour suggestions to maximise your stay in the capital of Bavaria.

Best Things to Do in Munich Map

Best Things to Do in Munich List

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1. Discover Munich’s Old Town

A walk around Munich’s Old Town is one of the best things to do and the perfect introduction to the city. Make sure to watch the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz (every day at 11am and noon, plus 5pm in summer), the central square in Munich with a grand town hall. Also don’t miss Munich’s Residenz Schloss, a huge old palace where you can discover how royalty used to live.

Best Tours: Go on either a Self-Guided Walking Tour or a Guided Walking Tour* of Munich.

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2. Visit a Biergarten or Brauerei

Biergartens and Brauereis (Breweries) are a fundamental part of Munich life. In a city famous for beer, a visit to one of these places is almost essential. The Hofbräuhaus is one of the most famous and owned by the Bavarian State. Augustiner Stammhaus is another famous and historic brewery. Don’t be deceived by the front of the building – there’s a Biergarten behind in a lovely old courtyard.

Best Tour: Check out this Beer and Food Tour with a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum*.

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3. Stroll through the English Garden

The English Garden is one of the largest city parks in the world, and you can walk for miles. Don’t miss the Eisbach Surfing Wave on the edge of the park closest to the centre. At any time of year, you can watch surfers here in the wetsuits trying to stand up on the wave and inevitably falling over. Other sites not to miss are the Monopteros (Greek Pavillion) and the Chinese Tower & Biergarten, slightly further into the park.

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4. Visit a Museum

There are many world-class museums in Munich. Many of these are concentrated in the Musem Quarter where you’ll find renowned art museums:

• Alte Pinakothek – Old European paintings
• Neue Pinakothek – Paintings from the 18th century onwards
• Pinakothek der Moderne – Contemporary and modern art
• Museum of Egyptian Art – Egyptian artefacts
• Königsplatz – Several museums of Greek and Roman antiquities

Elsewhere, the Deutsches Museum is one of the world’s largest science museums. You could spend almost an entire day here if you want to see everything.

Tip: Many museums in Munich are only €1 on Sundays!

How to get there: The Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus* stops in the Museum Quarter and is an easy way to get around the city. Alternatively, the tram and U-Bahn also have a stop nearby.

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5. Grab a bite to eat at Viktualienmarkt

The Viktualienmarkt, near Marienplatz, is the best market in Munich. It’s quite fancy, so prices are relatively high, but the food and drinks are of great quality. You can buy fresh produce, from meat to vegetables and flowers, while several stands serve ready-to-eat dishes.

Best Tour: On the Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour* you’ll discover the best stalls and eat the tastiest food!

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6. Learn about Munich’s Dark Past

Munich played a central role in the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, when Jewish people suffered terribly. A Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, on the outskirts of the city, serves as a sober reminder of this dark park. To discover more about this time, visit the NS-Dokumentationszentrum to learn about Munich in the World Wars, explore the Jewish Museum, or take a trip to Dachau.

Best Tours: On the Munich in the Third Reich & WWII Walking Tour* you’ll delve into the city’s important and often dark history. A half-day guided tour to Dachau Concentration Camp* is another worthwhile yet sombre visit.

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7. Detour to Schloss Nymphenburg

Schloss Nymphenburg is a grand palace with lovely gardens in the suburbs of Munich. It’s worth spending at least half a day here to tour the Schloss and stroll around the park.

Find out more about Schloss Nymphenburg

How to get there: The Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus* stops here, or you can take a U-Bahn and tram from the centre.

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8. Climb a Tower for the Views

A visit to the viewpoint from the top of St Peter’s Church, next to Marienplatz, is one of the best and most popular things to do in Munich. You can also go up the tower in the nearby City Hall or Frauenkirche for similar views. Olympic Tower in Olympic Park to the northwest is the tallest tower in town, but it’s further from the centre so you can’t see the historic buildings close-up.

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9. Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest, Germany’s most famous beer festival, takes place in Munich every year. Despite the name, it’s often in late September. The city fills up with locals and tourists who all flock to Theresienwiese, the location of the festival. It’s packed with people, huge beer tents, rides, food stands and much more. Make sure to book hotels well in advance.

Best Experience: If you’re not here at the right time of year, you can still sample Oktoberfest on a Beer and Food Tour with a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum*.

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10. Visit BMW Welt & Olympic Park

BMW Welt (World) is one of the most visited places in Munich. Part of the complex is free to visit, and you can see many cars, motorbikes, and learn about some future innovations of BMW. The other half is a paid museum, where you can learn more about the history of the company, and see more cars. Next door is Olympic Park, the location of the 1972 Summer Olympics. It’s a nice place to walk around, and you’ll find some nice viewpoints.

How to get there: The Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus* stops here, or you can take the U-Bahn direct from Marienplatz in the centre.

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If you enjoyed the Best Things to do in Munich, check out the Best Day Trips from Munich, our Guide to the Romantic Road, or our Germany Hiking Page for more great travel and hiking ideas.