Munich, Germany is home to the famous Oktoberfest, museums, and centuries-old buildings that will make you want to explore for hours on end. I know I ended up with plenty of walking miles the few days I was in Munich.
Sights to see in Munich
Glockenspiel: Be sure to head to the heart of Munich to watch the glockenspiel at 11am and 12pm. Between March and October they add in another time so you can marvel at the clock’s show at 5pm. It is a 15-20 minute show where the clock does reenactments of a royal wedding, a jousting tournament, and a ritualistic dance. The clock also plays music using its 43 bells!
Frauenkirche: This is cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and the symbol of the Bavarian Capital City. Unfortunately when I went, the church was under construction…so that is the best picture I could get. Great scaffolding though…
Marienplatz Square: This is the main and most popular square in Munich. You can find the Neues Rathaus (town hall) and glockenspiel here. Enjoy walking around the cobblestone streets being surrounded by amazing architecture, restaurants, and shops.
Surfing: This has to be one of the coolest things we saw while in Munich. At a spot called Eisbachwelle you can find all the action. Munich has a small river called Eisbach that runs through its largest park, Englischer Garten, and people found a way to SURF in the middle of the city on this river. I almost felt like I was at the beach!
English Garden (Englischer Garten): This garden is huge, in fact, it is one of the largest urban parks in the world! And when you walk through the garden you forget that you are even in the city. There is greenery everywhere, people having picnics, riding bikes, and spending time together outside.
Karlstor: This famed wall was once used as a defensive fortification and checkpoint. Seeing this wall and walking through its gate makes you feel like you are stepping back in to the medieval times.
Siegestor: This is a beautiful three-arched “victory gate” in Munich.
Asam Church: Religious or not, this church is one you must go in. You don’t even feel like you are in a church, but more like a theater. The detail is incredible.
Where to eat and drink in Munich
Hofbräuhaus: When you think of Munich, you think of the original Hofbräuhaus! If you are in Munich you must go grab a drink. The atmosphere is amazing as there is music playing and large tables that you share with other people. It really brings people together! Plus the beer tastes great and you have to get a liter of it! Then time yourself to see how fast you can drink a liter of beer, haha just kidding. It really is a traditional German experience.
Augustiner-Keller: This is a restaurant and beer garden and is a must. You order traditional German dishes that are delicious! They also have plenty of beer and fun music. This is a great place to go when it is nice outside as most of the seating is outside.
Augustiner Bierhalle: This is near the main square in Munich. It is a great place to pop in for a drink or meal after a long day exploring Munich. I got the radler (beer + lemonade) and it was the perfect summer drink on a hot day!
Chinese Tower (Chinesischer Turm): Within the English Garden is the Chinese Tower beer garden. The beer garden has a variety of drinks and food items to choose from. It is like a glorified cafeteria as you grab a tray and choose which food/drink items you want. Then you go pay at a cashier and go find a table outside to east and drink at. Great atmosphere and it is a great place relax as you are surrounded by gorgeous greenery.
Schneider Bräuhaus: This was our favorite place food wise in Munich. The food was amazing and they had tons of options to choose from! They even had vegetarian options for those who don’t eat meat.
Viktualienmarkt: This is a food market near the Marienplatz Square that has a variety of different stands offering a plethora of different foods. We wanted a light lunch and found some yummy quiche to eat.
Other Recommendations
Neuschwanstein Castle Tour
This is a must do tour when staying in Munich! You get to experience the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle! We took the tour through Sandemans New Munich and this was a great company to go through! The whole day is stress free as they plan and time out everything for you. You meet at the main train station and get on a coach bus which takes you on about a 1 hour and 45min ride to the castle. This is one of the only tours that started doing just a coach bus as most tours have you take a train and then a bus to get there. Once at the castle grounds your tour guide gets your tickets for you and there is no waiting in line! You then begin the tour:
Stop 1: Hohenschwangau Castle – you do not go inside this castle, but you get to walk around it and the castle has a great view of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
Stop 2: Alpsee Lake– this lake is all shades of blue at the base of the Bavarian Alps. There are swans swimming in the lake which is ironic as you learn that King Ludwig (the one who built the castle) was known as the Swan King.
Stop 3: Neuschwanstein Castle- Be sure to bring you walking shoes! The castle requires a long walk up hill to get to the castle. The tour guide does a great job captivating you in to the story of King Ludwig. Instead of just spitting out facts, the guide created a whole story that kept you wanting to hear and learn more. Once you get up to the castle you are able to go inside the castle for a 30-minute tour for an extra price. It is definitely worth going inside! The inside is gorgeous and very detailed. It is mind blowing that places like this exist in the world. Unfortunately you are unable to take pictures while inside.
Stop 4: After the castle tour, you get free time to do what you wish. I recommend walking an extra 10-15 minutes to a bridge that overlooks the castle. The view is breathtaking! The bridge does get crowded so if you don’t like heights or crowds this may not be the place to go for you. There are also restaurants and shops to explore during your free time.
Cost: 40 Euro per person + 13 Euro to go inside the castle (optional).
Oktoberfest
If you are in Munich between September 22- October 7th and you like beer, music, and fun… then Oktoberfest is a must! Click here, for all the info about one of the world’s largest festivals!
Museums
Munich is known for its museums! Whether you are in to art, nature, or history, there is is a museum for everyone! Click here of a full list of Munich’s museums and info regarding each one!
Accommodation in Munich
Wombats Hostel: I highly recommend this hostel if you are traveling on a budget. The hostel is in a great location as it is a quick walk from the main train station and you can easily walk to the main attractions in Munich. The hostel has a breakfast buffet that is decently priced and all you can eat. At night there’s also a bar with good drinks and a great atmosphere. It’s a great place to meet people! The hostel is also very clean and safe which are two of my priorities when booking accommodation! An added plus is that the staff was very friendly and helpful.
Airbnb: Another option is to stay in an airbnb. I love Airbnb as I can find places to fit my travel needs! Plus it typically cheaper than a hotel especially when traveling with multiple people. If you are new to Airbnb, click here and get $40 of travel credit!
Munich’s people, culture, architecture, and love for beer have made this city one of my favorites and one I would go back to in a second.
If you are traveling around Germany, check out my blog about Berlin!
Cheers!
