Why go to Munich
Munich is the Germany people picture, then find to be more relaxed than expected. The litre mugs and leather trousers exist, but the everyday city is something else. Office workers drink a Helles on the Isar bank at six, the museum quarter is world class, and the trams actually turn up. On a clear day the Alps sit on the horizon.
It is prosperous, clean and a little smug about it, which is part of the charm. Come for the beer gardens and the food, stay for the art, and use it as a base for the mountains.
What to see in Munich
- Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus. The Glockenspiel chimes at 11:00 and 12:00 (and 17:00 in summer). Watch it once, then climb the tower of Alter Peter, around 300 steps, for the best view over the red roofs.
- Viktualienmarkt. A daily food market (closed Sundays) a few minutes from Marienplatz. Go mid-morning for cheese, sausages and fruit, and drink a beer under the maypole.
- The Residenz. The old city palace of the Bavarian rulers is a maze of rooms and courtyards. Give it two hours and skip the rest of the day's plans if you love interiors.
- Englischer Garten. It is bigger than Central Park, with meadows, streams and nudists in summer. At the Eisbach, near Prinzregentenstraße, surfers ride a standing river wave all year. Watch from the bridge and don't try it.
- The museum quarter in Maxvorstadt. The Alte Pinakothek has the old masters, the Pinakothek der Moderne the modern work. Most Bavarian state museums charge only a symbolic euro on Sundays.
- Nymphenburg Palace. A baroque summer residence west of the centre, with a huge park. Tram 17 takes you almost to the gate.
- Asamkirche. A tiny, over-the-top baroque church on Sendlinger Straße. It takes ten minutes and is free, but you will remember it.
- Olympiapark. The 1972 Games site, with its tent-like roof and the Olympiaturm. It is best at sunset, when the city turns gold.
- Dachau Memorial Site. A sober half-day trip to the former concentration camp. Take the S2 to Dachau, then bus 726. Entry is free.
Things to do in Munich
Spend at least one long evening in a beer garden. In the traditional ones, such as the Augustiner-Keller or the huge Hirschgarten, you can bring your own picnic as long as you buy the drinks. Look for the self-service area without tablecloths.
Walk or cycle along the Isar, especially the stretch near the Flaucher, where locals sunbathe on the gravel. The Deutsches Museum, on an island in the river, is enormous and good for a rainy morning, as is the BMW Museum if you like cars. Day trips are easy: Neuschwanstein castle (train to Füssen, then bus, about two hours each way), Salzburg in under two hours by train, or Garmisch for the Zugspitze.
How many days and a suggested route
Three days is the sweet spot. Two works if you skip the day trip.
- Day 1, the old town. Marienplatz, Alter Peter, Viktualienmarkt for lunch, the Asamkirche, then the Residenz and dinner in a traditional Wirtshaus.
- Day 2, art and park. A museum in the morning, the Englischer Garten and the Eisbach in the afternoon, and a beer at the Chinese Tower.
- Day 3, out of the centre. Nymphenburg and the Hirschgarten, or Dachau, or a long day to Neuschwanstein. Finish at the Olympiapark if you have energy.
When to go
May to September is the easy answer. Days are long, highs sit around 20 to 25°C, and beer gardens are at their best. July and August can be hot, with the occasional thunderstorm. Late September into early October brings Oktoberfest, which runs for about two weeks at the Theresienwiese. It is fun if you book well ahead and a headache if you don't, because hotel prices jump sharply.
December has the Christmas markets, with the main one on Marienplatz. It is cold, often around 0°C, and sometimes snowy, but the city looks great. January and February are quiet, grey and cheaper. Watch for the Föhn, a warm Alpine wind that gives clear views and, locals swear, headaches.
Where to stay in Munich
- Altstadt. Walkable and expensive. Good for a first short visit if the budget allows.
- Glockenbachviertel and Isarvorstadt. Cafés, bars and a relaxed, LGBTQ+ friendly feel. A good all-round pick for mid-range travellers.
- Haidhausen. Residential, pretty and quieter, with good restaurants around Wiener Platz and fast connections from Ostbahnhof.
- Maxvorstadt and Schwabing. Close to the museums and the park, with a student feel.
- Around the Hauptbahnhof. The cheapest hotels and hostels, and handy for trains. The streets are a bit rough after dark, but it is fine for a short stay.
Hostel beds start around €30 to 50, decent mid-range hotels usually run €120 to 200 a night, and prices rise sharply for Oktoberfest and big trade fairs.
What to eat and where
Start with Weißwurst, the white veal sausage, traditionally eaten before noon with sweet mustard and a pretzel. The Weisses Bräuhaus near Marienplatz does it properly. For lunch, look for Schweinsbraten (roast pork with crackling) with a Knödel (dumpling), or Käsespätzle, the Bavarian answer to mac and cheese. Obatzda, a spiced cheese spread, is the classic beer-garden snack, and a Leberkäse roll from a butcher is the cheap, filling option.
For dessert, try the Schmalznudel, a fried dough pastry, at Café Frischhut near Viktualienmarkt. To drink, order a Helles (pale lager) or a Weissbier, and ask for a Radler if you want something lighter. The Augustiner Bräustuben, near the Hackerbrücke, is a favourite with locals. The Hofbräuhaus is touristy but fun once, preferably in the morning when it is quiet.
One practical point: shops close on Sundays, so buy supplies on Saturday.
Getting from the airport and getting around
Munich Airport (MUC) is about 40 minutes from the centre by S-Bahn. The S1 goes to the Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz, and the S8 passes through Marienplatz to Ostbahnhof. A single ticket costs roughly €13 to 15. A Lufthansa Express bus also runs to the main station.
A warning for low-cost flyers: some budget airlines use Memmingen airport, which is marketed as "Munich West" but is about 110 km away. The bus takes over an hour and costs extra, so factor that in before booking a cheap fare.
In the city, the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses all work on the same ticket system. The centre is compact, so you will walk a lot. A day ticket for the inner zone costs about €9 and pays for itself after three rides. Validate paper strip tickets before boarding, because inspectors do check.
Rough daily budget
On a tight budget, expect about €70 to 90 a day with a hostel, bakery breakfasts and a sausage or two. Mid-range travellers should plan on €130 to 180 with a hotel, restaurant meals and a museum. If you want comfort without counting, from €250 upwards is realistic. A litre of beer in a beer garden costs about €10, and more at Oktoberfest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Munich worth visiting outside Oktoberfest?
Yes. Most of the year the city is calmer and cheaper, and the beer gardens, museums and Alps day trips are all available.
Is three days enough?
It is enough for the main sights plus one day trip. Add a fourth day if you want Salzburg or the mountains at a slower pace.
Is Munich expensive?
It is among the pricier German cities, mainly for accommodation. Food and transport are reasonable, especially if you eat at markets and beer gardens.
Can I visit Neuschwanstein from Munich in a day?
Yes, by train to Füssen and a short bus, but it makes a long day. Book castle tickets in advance in high season.
Do I need German?
Not really. English is widely spoken in the centre and in tourist places, but a "Grüß Gott" or "Danke" always goes down well.
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons · Guide updated 21 Oct 2026