Munich Germany Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, See & Where to Stay

If you’re looking for a Munich Germany travel guide based on real experiences, this one comes from several trips to the city while we lived in Germany. Munich is one of those cities we kept finding our way back to, and every visit showed us another side of the city.

Our first visit was one of our earliest adventures after moving there, when everything still felt new and we were just beginning to realize how many incredible places were suddenly within reach. We later returned for a bigger extended family trip, and also experienced Munich a completely different way during Oktoberfest on adults-only trips.

After visiting several times, Munich became much more than a place we checked off a list. We learned our way around the Old Town, discovered favorite places to eat and drink, explored with the boys, rode the sightseeing bus and scooters through the city, visited palaces and museums and experienced some incredibly important history.

Munich manages to feel both grand and approachable. You can spend the morning surrounded by centuries-old architecture, have lunch overlooking the Glockenspiel, wander through a quiet garden in the afternoon and finish the day with a beer and pretzel in a traditional Bavarian beer garden.

If you’re planning your own trip, these are the places and experiences I would put at the top of your Munich itinerary.

Start in Marienplatz

If you’re visiting Munich for the first time, Marienplatz is where I would begin.

This historic square sits in the heart of Munich’s Old Town and is surrounded by restaurants, shops, churches and some of the city’s most recognizable architecture. The impressive Neues Rathaus, or New Town Hall, dominates the square with its elaborate Gothic Revival façade and soaring tower.

We spent a lot of time in this area during our visits to Munich. It’s the kind of place you naturally end up walking through again and again because so many other sights are nearby. On one visit, we sat outside at a restaurant right in front of the New Town Hall and Glockenspiel, ordered drinks and something to eat and simply watched the activity in the square, and the bells ring on the Glockenspiel.

Watch the Famous Glockenspiel

One of the most famous things to see in Marienplatz is the Glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall.

It’s definitely one of the more touristy things to do in Munich, but it’s also one of those experiences you should see at least once. Its a Munich tradition that becomes even more meaningful once you know the story behind it. The upper figures recreate the 1568 wedding celebration of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine, complete with a jousting tournament in Marienplatz. Below, the Schäfflertanz, or Cooper’s Dance, tells a different story—one of hope and resilience after the plague. According to tradition, Munich’s barrel makers were among the first to return to the streets, dancing to lift people’s spirits and encourage the city to come back to life. Knowing that history made it feel like more than just something beautiful to watch. It felt like another layer of Munich’s story unfolding right in front of us.

The 43 bells ring and life-size figures begin moving everyday at 11:00, 12:00, and 17:00 (or 5pm). If you can find a table nearby, sit down, order something to drink and enjoy the view for a while like we did. Those are often my favorite travel memories—the moments when you’re not rushing to another attraction and can just sit in the middle of a beautiful city and take it all in.

Walk Through the New Town Hall Courtyard

Don’t just admire the Neues Rathaus from Marienplatz. Walk through the archways and into the courtyard of the New Town Hall or the Prunkhof. There you will get a completely differnet viewof the incredible Neo-Gothic architecture. One of my favorite things about exploring European cities is discovering what is hidden behind the buildings you see from the street.

It’s a quick detour but worth doing while you’re already in Marienplatz. You can also tour the inside of the Neues Rathaus. Official guided tours take visitors through parts of the historic building and can include impressive rooms such as the beautiful Law Library as well as the Town Hall balcony overlooking the Marienplatz. If you love architecture and history, this would be a great addition to your Munich itinerary.

Visit St. Peter’s Church

Just a short walk from Marienplatz is St. Peter’s Church, or Peterskirche, Munich’s oldest parish church. A church has stood on this small hill since shortly after Munich was founded in 1158, and rebuilt and reshaped many times over the centuries.

From the outside, its easy to admire the tower and keep walking, but I would definitely take time to step inside. The interior is beautiful, with soaring ceilings, paintings, statues and ornate Baroque details.

On one visit inside the church, I was lucky enough to hear the choir practicing and their voices filling the church made the experience even more memorable. Also, if you’re up for the climb there are 306 steps up to the viewing platform of the Alter Peter or Old Peter Tower. From the top you can look directly over the Marienplatz and rooftops of the Old Town.

After living in Europe and walking through countless churches, I somehow never grew tired of them. Each one tells a little piece of the history of the city around it.

Explore Odeonsplatz

Another beautiful area to walk through is Odeonsplatz. It feels completely different from Marienplatz—more open and grand, with impressive architecture in every direction.

The bright yellow Theatine Church immediately catches your eye, and the square is also near the Feldherrnhalle, Munich Residenz and Hofgarten.

We spent time simply wandering through this area rather than rushing from one attraction to another. That’s one of the best ways to experience Munich. So many of the interesting places are close enough together that walking from one often leads you right into another.

Walk Through the Hofgarten

From Odeonsplatz, walk into the Hofgarten, or Court Garden, beside the Munich Residenz.

It’s a peaceful break from the busy streets around the historic center. We walked through the garden, surrounded by manicured lawns, flowers, trees and the beautiful pavilion at its center. I loved how quickly Munich could change from a lively city square to a quiet garden. It’s another reason I recommend leaving time in your itinerary to simply wander rather than scheduling every minute of the day.

Visit Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens

One of my favorite places in Munich is Nymphenburg Palace.

The sprawling Baroque palace was once a summer residence for Bavaria’s ruling family and is surrounded by beautiful grounds. The palace itself is impressive, but the gardens were my favorite part.

We walked along the water, through the lawns and gardens and past fountains, flowers and long tree-lined paths. The grounds are enormous, so this is one place where I wouldn’t rush.

If you love historic homes, gardens and architecture, Nymphenburg is absolutely worth adding to your Munich itinerary. It also has an interesting connection to Munich’s Olympic history—the grounds were used for equestrian events during the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Explore Olympic Park

The park was created for the 1972 Summer Olympics, and its sweeping stadium roofs give this part of Munich a very distinctive look. The Olympic Tower rises above the area and can be seen from all around the park.

What’s great about the park is that its right across the bridge from the BMW Factory and Museum. So we walked across the bridges and explored the area around BMW.

Visit the BMW Museum and BMW Welt

The BMW Museum was one of the boys’ favorite stops in Munich. We saw classic cars, motorcycles, race cars and exhibits showing the history and evolution of BMW. The Formula 1 race car was a definite favorite hanging on the wall.

Right next door is BMW Welt, which has a much more modern, futuristic feel.

Even if you’re not a huge car person, the architecture and overall experience are worth seeing. And if you’re traveling with kids or teenagers who love cars, I would definitely put BMW on your list.

Visit the Hofbräuhaus

You really can’t talk about Munich without talking about beer halls. We visited the famous Hofbräuhaus, and it became one of our favorite Munich experiences.

We sat outside in the Biergarten, had beer and pretzels, listened to a German band and enjoyed the atmosphere. We also ended up sharing our table with a fun German couple. Communal tables are something I came to love while living in Germany. You sit down next to people you’ve never met, start talking and suddenly you’ve spent part of the afternoon or evening together and you’ve become friends.

The beer, music, pretzels and energy made this one of those classic Bavarian experiences we had pictured before moving to Germany.

Take a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

On one of our visits, we rode a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus around Munich. I actually really like doing these when we’re visiting a city for the first time. It gives you a quick overview of the city, helps you understand where everything is located and lets you decide which areas you want to come back and explore more closely. It’s also a great way to give your feet a break. We walked a lot in Munich, so being able to sit for a while and still see the city was very welcome. If Munich is new to you, I would consider taking the bus early in your trip and then spending the rest of your visit exploring the places that interested you most.

Visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

One of the most important experiences we had while visiting Munich was our trip to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, located outside the city. Dachau was the first permanent concentration camp established by the Nazi regime, opening in 1933. More than 200,000 prisoners passed through Dachau and its subcamps during its years of operation, and tens of thousands died.

Walking through the gate, seeing the barracks, exhibits and memorials and standing in the places where so much suffering occurred was incredibly sobering. Dachau was liberated by American troops in April 1945. It was not an easy experience, particularly with our children, but I believe it was an important one.

One of the things living in Germany gave our family was the opportunity to experience history in places where it actually happened. There is something very different about reading history in a textbook and then standing in the place where those events occurred. Dachau is a place to approach with respect, time and a willingness to understand what happened there.

Experience Oktoberfest in Munich

The very first Oktoberfest wasn’t actually created as a beer festival. It began with a royal wedding. Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who later became King Ludwig I, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The people of Munich were invited to join the celebration, which ended several days later with a large horse race held in a meadow outside the city gates. The celebration was so popular that it returned the following year and eventually grew into the Oktoberfest we know today.

Munich has a completely different personality during Oktoberfest. The city fills with people wearing traditional Bavarian clothing, beer tents are packed, music seems to be everywhere and the entire experience feels like one enormous celebration.

Oktoberfest is obviously famous for the beer, but there is so much more happening—the traditional clothing, food, music, carnival rides, enormous decorated tents and groups of people who return year after year.

If Oktoberfest is on your bucket list, I would absolutely do it. Just know that Munich becomes incredibly busy during the festival, so this is one trip where I would plan accommodations well in advance.

Visiting Oktoberfest With Kids

Oktoberfest can absolutely be a family experience too. In fact, there is so much happening outside the beer tents that kids could easily spend an entire day here without ever stepping inside one.

The grounds at Theresienwiese feel almost like an enormous Bavarian fair, with everything from the giant Ferris wheel and traditional swings to roller coasters, carnival rides and games to tons of food. Oktoberfest’s official family information specifically highlights the rides and family-friendly attractions, and Tuesdays are designated Family Days. Children are allowed inside the beer tents during the day, although there are age restrictions later in the evening. Kids under six must leave the tents by 8 p.m., and after 8 p.m. anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Personally, if we were bringing younger kids, I would go during the day, enjoy the rides, games, food and festive atmosphere and leave before Oktoberfest shifts into more of an adult evening celebration.

Getting Around Munich

One of Munich’s biggest advantages is how easy it is to explore without a car. We walked everywhere during our visits, especially in the historic center. Walking is one of the best ways to see Munich because so many attractions are relatively close together. It also gives you the chance to discover things you weren’t necessarily looking for—small streets, churches, courtyards, cafés and beautiful buildings.

Take Public Transportation

Munich also has excellent public transportation, which makes it easy to reach places outside the immediate Old Town. We never felt like we needed a car while we were exploring the city.

Ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

For first-time visitors, the sightseeing bus is an easy way to understand the layout of Munich and see several areas without walking the entire route.

Rent an Electric Scooter

And if you’re comfortable riding them, scooters can be a really fun way to cover shorter distances around the city.

They certainly became one of our family’s favorite ways to get around.

Where to Stay in Munich

If it’s your first visit, I recommend staying somewhere central. Being able to walk to restaurants, shops, transportation and many of Munich’s main attractions makes a huge difference. We’ve experienced very different types of stays in Munich, and each worked well for what we needed at the time.

On some of our visits, we stayed at a Leonardo Hotel. A traditional hotel worked perfectly for that trip because we were out sightseeing all day and mainly needed somewhere comfortable and convenient to come back to at night. Leonardo has several locations around Munich, so I would look for one that puts you close to the city center or easy public transportation. For a shorter sightseeing trip, this type of setup worked really well for us.

If you’re a larger family and need more space, I recommend the KOOS Hotel & Apartments – City Aparthotel on Sonnenstraße. This is a larger space with more of an apartment setup. We had a kitchenette and laundry available, which made such a difference when traveling as a larger extended family. KOOS was also in a great location near Karlsplatz and within easy walking distance of Munich’s Old Town and Marienplatz. For families, longer stays or anyone who likes having more space than a traditional hotel room, I would definitely consider an apartment-style property.

Is Munich Good for Families?

I think Munich is a wonderful city to visit with kids. There is enough history and architecture to keep the adults interested while still having plenty for children and teenagers. Our boys loved BMW, the Hofbräuhaus of course, and zipping around the city on scooters. Munich also gave us the opportunity to introduce our children to important parts of European and World War II history in a very real way. There are also so many churches and cathedrals to see like the 15th century Frauenkirche, one of the cities best known landamrks, or the most beautiful Asamkirche. It’s a city where you can easily mix education with experiences that are simply fun like the Deutsches Museum, one of the worlds largest science and technology museums. This is especially useful on rainy days or when everyone needs a break from churches and historic buildings. Or catch a wave on the Eisbach river near the Englischer Garten, or just watch all those that do. River surfing has become such a part of Munich’s culture.

How Many Days Do You Need in Munich?

For a first visit, I would plan on at least three days in Munich. That gives you enough time to explore Marienplatz and the Old Town, visit Nymphenburg Palace and spend time around BMW and Olympic Park without feeling like you are racing from place to place. If you want to visit Dachau, enjoy more of the museums, spend time in the beer gardens or take a slower approach, I would add another day or two. And if you’re visiting during Oktoberfest, that’s almost a completely separate Munich experience.

It doesn’t feel like a city you only need to visit once.

Our first trip was about discovering Germany. Our family trips were about sharing the city with our extended families visiting us. Our Oktoberfest trips were about enjoying Bavarian traditions in a completely different way. Each visit added another layer to our memories of living in Germany. And if you’re planning your first trip to Munich, don’t worry about seeing absolutely everything. Start in Marienplatz, wander a little, sit down for a beer or coffee, explore a few of the places that interest you most and leave yourself enough time to enjoy the city rather than simply checking it off a list.

Chances are, you may find yourself wanting to come back too.

Planning More Travel?

If you’re planning more travel throughout Europe, you can find more of our favorite destinations, personal recommendations and travel tips for:

• Ultimate Netherlands Travel Guide: Canals, Food, Museums, & Hidden Gems
• A Weekend in Lucerne, Switzerland
• A Guide to France’s Alsace Wine Route: The Best Road Trip Through Fairytale Villages, Wineries & Scenic Stops

Whether you’re planning a weekend away or a longer European adventure, I hope these guides help you find a few places that make your trip feel a little more special. Some of our favorite memories came from the places we planned to see, but jus tas many came from the things we discovered along the way. That’s one of the things I love most about travel- every destination adds another layer to the story.

Have you been to Munich? I’d love to know your favorite place, restaurant, or experience in the city. Leave a comment below – there’s always something to to add to the list for our next visit!!