Munich

Main sights

• Marienplatz

  The main square. The Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall tower performs daily at 11am and noon, with an extra show at 5pm from March to October. The scenes show a 1568 ducal wedding with a joust, and the coopers' dance.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Marienplatz (opens in a new tab)
• Frauenkirche

  The cathedral, whose twin onion-domed towers define the skyline, a few minutes' walk from Marienplatz.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Frauenkirche (opens in a new tab)
• Residenz

  The vast former palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty, between Max-Joseph-Platz and Odeonsplatz. Its courtyards and façades form the eastern side of a walk through the northern old town; the interiors are ticketed.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Residenz (opens in a new tab)
• Feldherrnhalle

  An open loggia built from 1841 to 1844 on the model of Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi, at the south end of Odeonsplatz. The 1923 putsch ended here. Behind it, the Viscardigasse let people avoid the compulsory Nazi salute, and a gold stripe in the paving marks the alley today.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Feldherrnhalle (opens in a new tab)
• English Garden

  About 3.7 square kilometres of meadows, woods and beer gardens, with some 36 km of footpaths. Its best-known features are the 25-metre Chinese Tower, the Monopteros temple on its hill, and the Kleinhesseloher See.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for English Garden (opens in a new tab)
• Eisbach wave

  A standing wave at Prinzregentenstraße, on the southern edge of the English Garden. Surfing was halted after a fatal accident in 2025 and was reported back in May 2026 under stricter rules, but city information has been inconsistent. Watch from the bridge if surfers are there.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Eisbach wave (opens in a new tab)
• Viktualienmarkt

  A food market of about 140 stalls and shops, on this site since 1807, close to Marienplatz. It closes on Sundays and public holidays.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Viktualienmarkt (opens in a new tab)

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Altstadt

  The old town, traditionally divided into four quarters, and largely pedestrianised. Most walking tours keep within it.

• Lehel

  Munich's oldest suburb, between the old town, the Isar and the English Garden. A quieter route to the Eisbach and the river, with museums along Prinzregentenstraße.

• Maxvorstadt

  The museum district and university quarter north of the old town.

• Schwabing

  A former artists' quarter along the western side of the English Garden, an easy finish to a walk through the park.

• Glockenbachviertel

  A lively district of bars and cafés near the Isar, a short walk south of the old town.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. The old town

   From Karlsplatz through the pedestrian shopping streets to Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt. Most sights are within 15 minutes of Marienplatz.

2. Marienplatz to Odeonsplatz

   North past the Residenz to the Feldherrnhalle, the Viscardigasse and the Hofgarten. This short stretch holds much of the royal story and the main Third Reich sites in the old town.

3. The English Garden

   The southern part is about 2 km long and has the Eisbach, Monopteros and Chinese Tower. Further north, the Hirschau continues for about 3 km of woods and pasture. Enter from Lehel or the university district.

4. The Isar

   Parkland lines the river for about 5 km south from the Deutsches Museum area along the east bank, towards Flaucher and the zoo. Gravel banks fill up with locals in summer.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Flat and easy, with wide pedestrian zones.

• Bike lanes

  Munich has over 200 km of cycleways, often laid out on the pavement. Keep out of them.

• Sundays and holidays

  Viktualienmarkt is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Check before planning a food stop on those days.

• Glockenspiel crowds

  Marienplatz fills up before each show. It stays silent all day on Good Friday, and events in the square can change the schedule.

• Oktoberfest

  From late September, the city fills up and prices rise. Book accommodation early if your dates overlap.

• Choosing a walk

  Tip-based tours usually start at Marienplatz, last about two and a half hours and cover the main old town sights, for no fixed price. Pay for a guided walk if you want depth on the Third Reich or a trip to Dachau. Self-guided works well in the English Garden, where there is little to explain and plenty of room.

When to visit

• Spring and summer

  Beer-garden season and long evenings.

• Autumn

  Oktoberfest (late September to early October), then quieter, golden weeks.

• Winter

  Cold, with Christmas markets and snowy day trips to the Alps.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By air

  Munich airport is linked to the centre by S-Bahn in about 40 minutes.

• By rail

  München Hauptbahnhof receives trains from Berlin, Vienna, Zurich and beyond.

Local transport

• U-Bahn, S-Bahn and trams

  An efficient network covers the city.

• On foot

  The old town is compact; most sights are within 15 minutes of Marienplatz.