Munich
Visited in April 2011
At a glance
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- Upper Bavaria
- Population
- 1.5 million
- Best time to go
- May to September
- Main airport
- Munich (MUC)
- Coordinates
- 48.16°N, 11.57°E
Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Munich is Bavaria's handsome, prosperous capital, with the Alps on the horizon on a clear day. Its old centre is full of baroque churches and royal palaces, and its museums hold some of the best art collections in Europe.
But Munich is also about simple pleasures: a beer under the chestnut trees, white sausages for breakfast, a lazy afternoon on the meadows of the English Garden. Come in autumn for Oktoberfest, or any time for good food, beer and a relaxed pace.
Things to see
-
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 Marienplatz
The central square, overlooked by the neo-Gothic New Town Hall and its mechanical Glockenspiel.
-
Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5 Frauenkirche
The brick cathedral's twin towers, topped with green onion domes, are the symbol of the city.
-
Photo: Bayreuth2009, CC BY 3.0 Munich Residenz
The vast palace of the Bavarian kings, with lavish rooms and a treasury of crowns and jewels.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Original: Richard Bartz , Munich aka Makro Freak Derivative , CC BY-SA 2.5 Nymphenburg Palace
A baroque summer palace of the Bavarian royals, with formal gardens, canals and hunting pavilions.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 Alte Pinakothek
One of the world's great collections of old master paintings, from Dürer to Rubens.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0 English Garden
A huge city park with meadows, streams and a beer garden around the wooden Chinese Tower.
Things to do
-
Photo: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de Beer gardens
Find a seat under the trees with a litre of beer and a pretzel; bring your own picnic at many.
-
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0 Viktualienmarkt
The open-air food market near Marienplatz, for cheese, sausages and a beer.
-
Photo: Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Ger, CC BY-SA 2.0 Oktoberfest
The world's biggest beer festival fills the Theresienwiese with tents, rides and brass bands from late September.
-
Photo: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de Day trip to Neuschwanstein
Ludwig II's fairytale castle in the Alpine foothills, about two hours away.
Find tours
Where to stay
Altstadt
Central and walkable to the main sights, shops and beer halls.
Hotels in AltstadtMaxvorstadt
Museum and university district with cafés and good value hotels.
Hotels in MaxvorstadtSchwabing
Leafy and stylish, near the English Garden.
Hotels in SchwabingGlockenbachviertel
Trendy, with bars, restaurants and a lively evening scene.
Hotels in Glockenbachviertel
Getting around
The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses are efficient. The centre is compact enough to walk, and cycling is popular.
S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run from the airport to the city centre in around 40 minutes.
When to go
May to September is warm and beer-garden weather. Oktoberfest makes late September very busy, so book early, and December has Christmas markets.
Plan your trip to Munich
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.