Top things to do in Munich
1. Altstadt
Altstadt is the medieval core of Munich, and the source describes it as a museum piece in itself. The old and new town halls are top sights, and Frauenkirche with its twin towers defines the skyline — no structure may be built taller. Marienplatz sits at its centre, and the square is also the focus of the big Christopher Street Day parade in June.
Combine Altstadt with the royal avenues, which start on its northern fringe. Many sites close on Monday, so plan around that.
2. Frauenkirche
Frauenkirche is Munich's largest Gothic church, now a cathedral, and it defines the Munich skyline with its twin "salt and pepper shaker" towers. It is one of the top examples of church architecture in Altstadt.
It sits near Marienplatz, so pair it with the old and new town halls and the rest of the Altstadt core in a single walk.
3. Residenz
The Residenz in Altstadt is one of the "bling palaces" built for luxury and show rather than defence, and it is among those you can tour. The Antiquarium was built in 1568 to house the Wittelsbach collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.
It is on the north fringe of Altstadt at Odeonsplatz, alongside Feldherrnhalle and Theatinerkirche, so it fits naturally into a walk along Briennerstraße or Ludwigstraße.
4. English Garden
English Garden in the north city is charming. Its southern portion, easily reached from Lehel or the University districts, is ornamented with the Chinese Tower and beer gardens, while its northern "Hirschau" portion is woodland and grazing.
The Eisbach, on the garden's southern boundary along Prinzregentenstraße, is one of the world's most unlikely surfing spots. In July, the Kocherlball is held by the Chinese Tower from 06:00 to 10:00, with many dancing in old costume.
5. Kunstareal
Kunstareal in Maxvorstadt is the result of Bavarian kings' project to transform Munich into Germany's art capital in the 19th century. This art quarter hosts some 16 museums, including the three Pinakotheken, along with 40 galleries and 7 art schools.
Neue Pinakothek is closed until 2025, so check before you go. Museums operated by the State of Bavaria, including the Pinakotheken and Sammlung Brandhorst, charge only €1 on Sundays for permanent exhibitions, normally 10:00–17:00.
6. Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum of Science and Technology occupies an entire river island in Isarvorstadt. It has branches for transport near Bavariapark and for aviation in Oberschleißheim north of the city.
Reach it by tram 17. If you keep your ticket after visiting a City-owned museum such as Münchner Stadtmuseum, Villa Stuck, Jüdisches Museum, Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum or the NS-Dokumentationszentrum, you get free entry into another of these on the following two calendar days.
7. Schloss Nymphenburg
Schloss Nymphenburg is one of the "bling palaces" you can tour, and the source calls it the standout among them. The royal chapel within the palace is among the notable religious sites in the inner city districts.
Reach it by tram 17. Combine it with Herz Jesu in Nymphenburg if you are already in the district.
8. Olympia Park
Olympia Park in the northwest was created for the 1972 Olympic Games. The Olympiastadion is one of the buildings from the 1960s and 1970s that catch the eye.
The park hosts Tollwood in June–July, Theatron Pfingstfestival in June with the stage on a platform on the lake, Musiksommer in August, Münchner Sommernachtstraum with fireworks in July, and Impark in August.
9. Briennerstraße
Briennerstraße is one of the four royal avenues laid out in the 19th century with imposing architecture. It starts at Odeonsplatz, where you find Feldherrnhalle, Theatinerkirche and the Residenz, and runs east to west past Wittelsbacherplatz with Alfons-Palais and the statue of Maximilian I, and Karolinenplatz with the black obelisk honouring the Bavarian Army, to Königsplatz.
Königsplatz is Athens-on-the-Isar, with the Doric Propylaea, the Ionic Glyptothek and the Corinthian State Museum of Classical Art. The east end of the street is lined with upscale shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants.
10. Ludwigstraße
Ludwigstraße runs north from Odeonsplatz through Maxvorstadt into Schwabing, lined by Italian Renaissance and Neo-Romanesque buildings such as St Ludwig's Church and the main campus of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. It ends at Siegestor, a triumphal arch crowned with a statue of Bavaria with a quadriga of lions.
The avenue continues north as Leopoldstraße, where the Corso Leopold street fair takes over 2 km traditionally in June and September.
11. Maximilianstraße
Maximilianstraße starts at Max-Joseph-Platz by the Residenz and National Theatre and runs east across the river Isar to end at Maximilianeum, the Bavarian state parliament. It is framed by neo-Gothic buildings with a hint of English Perpendicular.
Its west end, together with Residenzstraße, has Munich's most upscale shopping and hotels.
12. Prinzregentenstraße
Prinzregentenstraße runs parallel 500 m north of Maximilianstraße from Prinz-Carl-Palais. Museums along it are Haus der Kunst, the Bavarian National Museum and Schackgalerie.
It forms the southern boundary of English Garden, where the Eisbach is one of the world's most unlikely surfing spots. The avenue crosses the Isar, circles the Friedensengel monument, and on the east bank passes Villa Stuck.
13. Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is south of the Town Hall in Altstadt. On May Day, a public holiday in Germany, it is the likeliest spot in the city to see maypoles, Lederhosn and Dirndln and oompah bands.
It sits within the Altstadt core, so combine it with Marienplatz and Frauenkirche on the same walk.
14. BMW Museum
The BMW Museum documents the history of the famous car manufacturer and is in the north of the city. BMW Welt, notable contemporary architecture from 2007, is also in the north.
Both are in the north of the city, so pair them if you are heading that way. Note that many sites close on Monday.
15. Ohel Jakob synagogue
Ohel Jakov synagogue is one of the top examples of religious sites in Altstadt. The Ohel-Jakob-Synagoge of 2006 is listed among Munich's notable contemporary architecture.
It is in Altstadt, so it fits into a walk through the historic core alongside Frauenkirche, Peterskirche, Asamkirche, Theatinerkirche and Michaelskirche.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Altstadt, walking the medieval core with the old and new town halls and Frauenkirche, whose twin towers define the skyline. Continue to Viktualienmarkt south of the Town Hall, then to the Residenz at Odeonsplatz, where you also find Feldherrnhalle and Theatinerkirche.
Afternoon: Follow Briennerstraße west from Odeonsplatz past Wittelsbacherplatz and Karolinenplatz to Königsplatz, with the Propylaea, the Glyptothek and the State Museum of Classical Art. Alternatively, take Ludwigstraße north from Odeonsplatz through Maxvorstadt to Siegestor, or spend the afternoon in Kunstareal, remembering that Neue Pinakothek is closed until 2025.
Evening: Head to English Garden, whose southern portion is easily reached from Lehel or the University districts, for the Chinese Tower and beer gardens. If you would rather stay in the centre, the west end of Maximilianstraße together with Residenzstraße has Munich's most upscale shopping and hotels.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit for Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest is held from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. It is known locally as Wies'n for being held at Theresienwiese, a huge meadow west of Altstadt in the district of Ludwigsvorstadt, where cavernous tents from breweries across Munich are erected and the other half of the field becomes an amusement park.
Are museums cheaper on certain days?
Museums operated by the State of Bavaria, including the large art galleries Pinakotheken, Sammlung Brandhorst, Nationalmuseum and the small ones around Josephsplatz, and Museum Fünf Kontinente, charge only €1 on Sundays for permanent exhibitions, normally 10:00–17:00. Many sites are closed Monday, so check individual places for exceptions.
Can I get free entry to more than one museum?
Yes. Keep your ticket after visiting one of the museums owned by the City — Münchner Stadtmuseum, Villa Stuck, Jüdisches Museum, Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum or the NS-Dokumentationszentrum — and get free entry into another one of these on the following two calendar days.
Where can I see music or a festival in summer?
Olympia Park hosts Tollwood in June–July, Theatron Pfingstfestival in June, Münchner Sommernachtstraum with fireworks in July, Musiksommer in August and Impark in August. Lange Nacht der Musik is an all-night event in May with 400 concerts and shuttle buses between venues, and Kocherlball is held by the Chinese Tower in English Garden in July from 06:00 to 10:00.
Use these places to sketch your own route through Munich, and check individual sites for opening days before you set out.