The Best Things to Do in Munich

Munich stands as one of Europe’s most captivating cities, where centuries-old traditions meet modern innovation in perfect harmony. As you plan your 2026 adventure to Bavaria’s capital, you’ll discover a city that offers far more than its world-famous Oktoberfest. The year 2026 brings exciting new exhibitions, cultural milestones, and carefully preserved traditions that continue to enchant millions of visitors each year.

Whether you’re drawn to magnificent palaces that rival Versailles, world-class museums housing priceless art, sprawling green spaces perfect for summer relaxation, or traditional beer gardens where locals have gathered for generations, Munich delivers experiences that create lasting memories. The city’s efficient public transport system makes exploring effortless, while its welcoming atmosphere ensures every visitor feels at home in this Bavarian gem.

This comprehensive guide reveals the best things Munich has to offer in 2026, from iconic landmarks and hidden neighborhood treasures to seasonal highlights and day trips that showcase Bavaria’s stunning landscapes. We’ve curated insider tips that help you avoid crowds, discover authentic experiences, and make the most of your time in this extraordinary city.

Stretching from the city center to Munich’s northeastern limits, the English Garden encompasses more than nine hundred acres of rolling meadows, shaded groves, and winding waterways. This beloved green space surpasses even New York’s Central Park in size and offers Münchners and visitors alike an urban oasis where nature and recreation blend seamlessly with Bavarian tradition.

The park’s name reflects its informal English landscaping style, featuring natural-looking hills and open vistas rather than the geometric patterns of French gardens. Four traditional beer gardens scattered throughout provide refreshment spots where you can enjoy a cold beer beneath century-old chestnut trees. The Chinesischer Turm beer garden, surrounding a twenty-five-meter pagoda built in the eighteenth century, hosts traditional brass bands on summer weekends and transforms into one of Munich’s most atmospheric Christmas markets come December.

At the park’s southern entrance, the Eisbach wave attracts river surfers year-round who ride the standing wave created by the rushing current. This unique spectacle draws crowds to the bridges above, where you can watch experienced surfers perform tricks on the perpetual wave regardless of the season. The Monopteros, a neoclassical Greek temple perched atop a gentle hill, offers panoramic views across the park and toward Munich’s skyline, making it a favorite spot for sunset picnics.

The Munich Residence stands as Germany’s largest city palace, a sprawling complex that served as the seat of Bavarian rulers from fifteen hundred eight through nineteen eighteen. What began as a modest Gothic castle evolved over four centuries into a magnificent showcase of Renaissance, Baroque, rococo, and neoclassical architecture as successive generations of the Wittelsbach dynasty expanded and embellished their royal home.

Today visitors can explore more than one hundred fifty rooms filled with priceless treasures spanning European art history. The treasury alone justifies the admission price, displaying ten halls of crowns, jeweled swords, intricate goblets, and ceremonial regalia that demonstrate the wealth and power of Bavaria’s former rulers. King Ludwig I’s neoclassical apartments showcase a more restrained elegance, while the rococo rooms burst with gold leaf, elaborate stucco work, and ceiling frescoes that seem to dissolve solid walls into heavenly visions.

The adjacent Cuvilliés Theatre represents rococo design at its most exuberant. This intimate opera house, named for its architect François de Cuvilliés, dazzles with carved wooden boxes painted in red and gold, creating an enchanting space that still hosts performances today. The Court Garden provides a peaceful retreat after exploring the palace’s opulent interiors, with its Renaissance-style arcades, fountains, and carefully manicured flower beds offering a glimpse of how royalty once relaxed.

Located in Munich’s northwest, Nymphenburg Palace began as a gift from Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy in sixteen sixty-four, celebrating the birth of their long-awaited heir. Italian architect Agostino Barelli designed the original summer villa in Baroque style, though subsequent generations transformed it into the massive complex visitors explore today, complete with extended wings, elaborate pavilions, and expansive gardens that rival the finest European palace grounds.

The palace interior showcases the evolution of European decorative arts across three centuries. The centerpiece Steinerner Saal (Stone Hall) rises two stories high with elaborate frescoes celebrating the Wittelsbach dynasty, while King Ludwig I’s Gallery of Beauties displays thirty-six portraits of the most beautiful women of his era, regardless of social class. The Marstallmuseum housed in the southern wing exhibits an extraordinary collection of ornate royal carriages and sleighs that transported Bavarian rulers in style.

Just steps from Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt has served as Munich’s premier food market since eighteen hundred seven when it moved from the increasingly crowded Marienplatz. Today this six-acre site hosts more than one hundred permanent stands offering everything from Alpine cheeses and artisan breads to exotic spices and fresh flowers. The market represents the beating heart of Munich’s culinary scene, where locals shop daily for ingredients and visitors sample Bavaria’s gastronomic traditions.

The market layout encourages meandering discovery rather than efficient shopping. You’ll find specialized vendors who’ve perfected single products over generations – one stall dedicated entirely to mushrooms, another to honey from different Alpine regions, a third to over fifty varieties of olives and pickled vegetables. Butchers display traditional Bavarian wursts alongside premium cuts, while fishmongers offer both Mediterranean seafood and fresh catches from Bavaria’s lakes and rivers. During asparagus season in spring, white asparagus dominates numerous stands, celebrated with an almost religious fervor.

At the market’s center, a traditional beer garden shaded by mature chestnut trees provides the perfect spot to enjoy purchases alongside a locally brewed beer. The surrounding fountains feature statues honoring famous Munich comedians, actors, and folk singers, while the towering maypole painted with scenes depicting Bavarian life serves as a favorite meeting point. Small food stands selling ready-to-eat items offer quick lunches – try the fish sandwiches, fresh pretzels with obatzda cheese spread, or seasonal specialties like strawberries with fresh cream.

Munich’s Altstadt radiates outward from Marienplatz in a network of pedestrianized streets that reward aimless wandering. The medieval street plan survived centuries of development, creating a compact historic center where you can easily explore on foot. Buildings display centuries of architectural evolution, from Gothic churches to Renaissance townhouses to art nouveau facades, each telling stories of Munich’s transformation from medieval market town to modern metropolis.

Kaufingerstrasse and Neuhauser Strasse form the main east-west shopping corridor, lined with international retailers occupying historic buildings. Side streets reveal more interesting discoveries – Sendlinger Strasse leads to the Asam Church, while narrow Hotterstrasse showcases traditional Bavarian painted facades. The Gärtnerplatzviertel neighborhood south of the center has evolved into Munich’s most eclectic area, where vintage shops, independent boutiques, and multicultural restaurants attract a younger creative crowd.

The Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady) dominates the skyline with twin brick towers topped by distinctive copper onion domes. Municipal law prohibits constructing buildings taller than the cathedral’s ninety-nine-meter towers, preserving Munich’s historic profile. Inside, surprisingly plain white walls create a stark contrast to ornate Bavarian churches, the result of both Protestant Reformation influence and twentieth-century bombing damage. Legend claims the devil left his footprint near the entrance after the architect tricked him during construction.

Tucked inconspicuously on Sendlinger Strasse between modern shops, the Asam Church (officially St. Johann Nepomuk) represents Late Baroque design at its most extravagant. Brothers Egid Quirin Asam and Cosmas Damian Asam built this church in the seventeen thirties as their private chapel, investing their considerable artistic talents and personal fortunes to create a space that pushes rococo decoration to nearly overwhelming heights.

The narrow exterior gives no hint of the explosion of gilt, frescoes, and sculptural drama inside. Every surface receives elaborate treatment – walls disappear behind marble columns and gilded stucco, the ceiling dissolves into heavenly visions, and theatrical lighting from hidden windows creates mystical effects. The altar composition stages the life of Saint John Nepomuk with such three-dimensional detail that the boundary between sculpture and architecture vanishes. Despite measuring barely ten meters wide, clever design tricks create an illusion of greater space and height.

Munich’s Kunstareal (Art Quarter) concentrates an extraordinary density of museums and galleries within walking distance. The three Pinakothek museums form the centerpiece of this cultural district, collectively housing one of the world’s most comprehensive art collections spanning seven centuries of European masterpieces. Art enthusiasts could spend days here without exhausting the treasures on display.

The Alte Pinakothek focuses on European painting from the fourteenth through eighteenth centuries, with particular strength in German, Dutch, and Flemish masters. Dürer’s self-portrait, Rubens’ enormous canvases, and Rembrandt’s intimate portraits represent just a fraction of the eight hundred paintings on display. The collection originated with the Wittelsbach rulers’ royal collection, giving it exceptional depth in certain areas. Natural lighting floods the galleries through skylights, the same illumination system admired when the museum opened in eighteen thirty-six.

Occupying an entire island in the Isar River, the Deutsches Museum ranks as one of the world’s largest science and technology museums, with exhibits spanning everything from ancient mining techniques to space exploration. Founded in nineteen hundred three, the museum underwent extensive renovations and reopened in twenty twenty-two with completely redesigned exhibitions that make complex scientific concepts accessible through interactive displays and hands-on demonstrations.

The collection encompasses two hundred thousand square feet of exhibition space organized into nineteen themed sections. Aviation enthusiasts can examine historic aircraft suspended from the ceiling, while maritime history comes alive with a full-size fishing boat and submarine periscule you can actually use. The musical instrument section demonstrates acoustic principles through playable exhibits, and the mining section recreates underground tunnels complete with authentic equipment. Kids particularly love the Kinderreich, a dedicated area where three-to-eight-year-olds can explore science through age-appropriate interactive installations.

Daily demonstrations bring exhibits to life – watch high-voltage electricity arc between Tesla coils, see glassblowing techniques, or learn about chemical reactions in the chemistry theater. The planetarium presents shows about astronomy and space exploration throughout the day. Even visitors with limited interest in technology find something captivating, whether examining Leonardo da Vinci’s engineering drawings or watching model trains navigate intricate landscapes. The rooftop restaurant offers panoramic views across Munich between exhibitions.

Built for the nineteen seventy-two Summer Olympics, Olympiapark transformed a former World War Two rubble dump into one of Munich’s most beloved recreation spaces. The revolutionary tent-like acrylic roof structure designed by architect Frei Otto still impresses with its sweeping curves and transparent panels that seem to float above the Olympic Stadium. More than fifty years later, the park serves both as sports facility and public green space where Münchners jog, picnic, and attend concerts at the stadium that once hosted Olympic ceremonies.

The Olympic Tower provides the best views across Munich and the Alps on clear days. At nearly three hundred meters tall, this telecommunications tower includes an observation platform and revolving restaurant where you can dine while completing a full rotation every fifty-three minutes. The Olympia-Schwimmhalle swimming complex offers lap pools and diving facilities open to the public, while the extensive park grounds feature tennis courts, mini golf, and in winter, sledding hills that attract families when snow blankets the slopes.

Adventure seekers can book roof climbing tours that take you across the stadium’s tent roof structure with safety harness and guides, offering unique perspectives and adrenaline rushes. The Olympic Hill (Olympiaberg), built from war rubble and landscaped with walking paths, provides panoramic views without tower admission fees. Throughout summer, the park hosts major concerts and festivals, transforming the grounds into Munich’s largest outdoor entertainment venue. The area also houses Sea Life München aquarium and the BMW Museum for non-sports diversions.

Beer gardens represent Munich’s most authentic social institution, where social class dissolves at communal tables beneath spreading chestnut trees and locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy cold beer and Bavarian specialties. These outdoor spaces follow traditions dating back centuries, when breweries needed shaded areas to keep their beer cool before refrigeration. Today’s beer gardens maintain strict rules – service only from traditional one-liter steins, food brought from home permitted in designated areas, and opening hours determined by weather rather than arbitrary schedules.

Augustiner-Keller near the main train station claims status as Munich’s oldest beer garden, with five thousand seats beneath century-old trees and traditional wooden barrels serving the city’s most beloved brewery. The beer here comes from wooden kegs rather than metal, a rarity that connoisseurs claim produces superior taste. You can sample classic Bavarian dishes like roast pork, käsespätzle, and obatzda cheese spread, or follow local tradition and bring your own food while purchasing drinks from the garden.

The Chinese Tower beer garden in the English Garden seats seven thousand under chestnut trees surrounding the park’s iconic pagoda. Brass bands perform traditional music on weekend afternoons from the tower’s upper levels, creating festive atmosphere where spontaneous dancing occasionally breaks out. Hirschgarten claims the title of world’s largest beer garden with eight thousand seats, plus a deer enclosure where visitors feed the resident animals. Each beer garden develops its own character – some attract families, others business crowds, and a few become neighborhood meeting spots where regulars occupy the same tables year after year.

St. Peter’s Church holds distinction as Munich’s oldest parish church, with origins stretching back to before the city’s founding. The current structure dates primarily to the seventeenth century, though the tower – affectionately known as Alter Peter (Old Peter) by locals – underwent multiple reconstructions after fires and war damage. Today visitors flock here not primarily for the ornate baroque interior, beautiful though it is, but for the panoramic views from the tower’s observation platform.

The climb demands effort – two hundred ninety-four narrow steps wind upward with no elevator option and several tight spiral sections that require patience when descending traffic meets ascending visitors. Your reward for this cardiovascular workout materializes at the top, where three hundred sixty-degree views encompass the entire city center. On clear days, the Bavarian Alps form a stunning backdrop beyond Munich’s rooftops, while below you can identify the Frauenkirche towers, the New Town Hall glockenspiel, and the expansive English Garden stretching northward.

The Hofbräuhaus München occupies a unique position in beer culture – simultaneously a major tourist attraction and a genuine Bavarian institution where locals maintain their reserved seats in certain sections. Founded in fifteen eighty-nine as the royal court brewery, this massive beer hall has survived centuries of history, from hosting Mozart’s concerts to serving as a beer hall where Hitler delivered early speeches. Today it operates as one of Munich’s most visited sites, serving thousands of visitors daily in spaces that preserve traditional atmosphere while accommodating mass tourism.

The main hall seats over one thousand people at long communal tables where oompah bands perform traditional music on an elevated stage. Servers in traditional dirndls navigate the crowds carrying impossible numbers of heavy beer steins, while the din of conversation in dozens of languages creates overwhelming sensory atmosphere. The beer flows from massive copper tanks visible behind glass, and the menu offers all the Bavarian classics – schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), hendl (roast chicken), obatzda cheese spread, and of course plenty of sausages and sauerkraut.

Odeonsplatz exemplifies Munich’s reputation as Germany’s most southern city, where Mediterranean architectural influence mingles with Bavarian tradition. This grand square resulted from nineteenth-century urban planning by King Ludwig I, who dreamed of transforming Munich into a cultural capital rivaling Italian cities. The square’s name comes from the former Odeon concert hall, though today the space is defined by two commanding structures that bracket its open plaza.

The Theatine Church (Theatinerkirche) dominates the square with its bright yellow facade and distinctive twin towers topped with copper domes. This baroque church, built in the mid-seventeenth century to celebrate the birth of a Bavarian heir, contains an ornate interior where white stucco and gold decoration create luminous atmosphere. The church serves as the final resting place for several Wittelsbach rulers, and its prominent position makes it one of Munich’s most recognizable landmarks.

At the square’s southern end, the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals’ Hall) creates deliberate reference to Florence’s Loggia dei Lanzi with its three open arches and prominent position. Built in the eighteen forties, this monument honors Bavarian military leaders with bronze statues positioned beneath the vaulted ceiling. The structure gained darker historical significance as the site of the nineteen twenty-three Beer Hall Putsch, where Nazi Party members clashed with police in a failed coup attempt. Today the steps provide popular seating where locals and tourists alike rest while admiring the square’s proportions.

Adjacent to Olympiapark, the BMW complex showcases one of Germany’s most iconic brands through two complementary facilities. BMW Welt (BMW World) opened in two thousand seven as a futuristic exhibition and delivery center where new owners collect their vehicles in theatrical ceremony. The striking building itself, with its twisted double-cone roof and massive glass facades, represents architectural boldness matching the innovative vehicles displayed inside. Admission costs nothing, making it one of Munich’s best free attractions.

Inside BMW Welt, the latest BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models fill the vast exhibition space. Interactive displays explain engineering innovations, design philosophies, and sustainability initiatives. You can sit in concept cars, explore electric vehicle technology, and watch the customer delivery ceremony where new owners descend a spiral ramp in their fresh-from-factory vehicles. The building houses multiple restaurants, a BMW lifestyle boutique, and rotating special exhibitions that keep the experience fresh for return visitors.

Spring brings Munich to life as beer gardens reopen, parks burst with color, and outdoor cafe terraces fill with locals emerging from winter hibernation. The Viktualienmarkt celebrates spring with special asparagus festivals, while the Strong Beer Festival (Starkbierfest) continues Lenten traditions with potent seasonal brews served in monastery beer halls. May Day sees maypoles erected throughout the city, and the Auer Dult market transforms Mariahilfplatz into a treasure trove of antiques, crafts, and traditional goods.

Summer represents peak season when the city operates at full throttle. Beer gardens overflow nightly, the English Garden becomes the city’s living room with thousands sunbathing and picnicking, and the Isar River attracts swimmers and surfers. The Munich Opera Festival in late June and July draws international audiences for world-class performances. Tollwood Summer Festival transforms Olympic Park into a multicultural celebration with music, theater, and international cuisine. Open-air cinemas pop up throughout the city screening everything from classics to recent releases under the stars.

Autumn belongs to Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival attracting over six million visitors to the Theresienwiese grounds from mid-September through early October. Beyond the festival, autumn colors transform parks and the surrounding countryside into photographer’s paradise. The Auer Dult returns in October with its antiques and crafts market, and theaters begin their main seasons after summer break. Cooler temperatures make city walking tours pleasant while harvest menus feature seasonal specialties like duck, venison, and mushrooms.

Winter transforms Munich into a magical wonderland when Christmas markets illuminate the city from late November through December twenty-fourth. The Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz represents Munich’s largest and most traditional market, while smaller neighborhood markets offer more intimate atmospheres. Museums become prime destinations during short winter days, and when snow falls, sledding on Olympic Park slopes provides family entertainment. New Year’s Eve celebrations center around the city hall, and January sales attract bargain hunters to shopping districts.

Just ninety minutes by train, Mozart’s birthplace offers a complete change of scenery. The UNESCO-listed old town nestles beneath Hohensalzburg fortress, featuring baroque architecture, Sound of Music filming locations, and Austrian cafe culture. Getreidegasse shopping street, Mirabell Gardens, and the fortress tour fill a full day, or simply wander the charming streets soaking up the unique Salzburg atmosphere that blends mountain grandeur with urban elegance.

Located just outside Munich, the Dachau memorial site preserves the first Nazi concentration camp as an educational center teaching this dark chapter of history. The somber visit includes barracks reconstructions, memorial sculptures, extensive documentation, and the moving museum exhibition. Guided tours provide essential historical context making the experience more meaningful. This emotionally demanding but important visit typically requires three to four hours.

Germany’s famous Romantic Road begins just west of Munich, offering access to perfectly preserved medieval towns. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, ninety minutes north, appears frozen in the sixteenth century with intact town walls, cobblestone streets, and half-timbered houses. Augsburg, thirty minutes from Munich, combines Roman ruins with Renaissance architecture and claims status as Bavaria’s oldest city after Munich. Both make excellent day trip destinations showcasing the region beyond Munich’s urban environment.

The Bavarian Alps begin just south of Munich, offering spectacular mountain and lake scenery. Tegernsee lake, one hour away, combines pristine Alpine setting with upscale resort atmosphere. Chiemsee, Bavaria’s largest lake, features a magnificent palace on Herreninsel Island. Garmisch-Partenkirchen provides access to Germany’s highest peak, Zugspitze, where cable cars ascend to nearly three thousand meters. These natural destinations offer hiking, swimming, or simply scenic relaxation away from urban environments.

North of the city center, Schwabing evolved as Munich’s artistic and intellectual neighborhood where painters, writers, and revolutionaries gathered in the early twentieth century. Though gentrified, the area maintains creative spirit through independent bookstores, art galleries, and cafes where locals debate philosophy over coffee. Leopoldstrasse forms the main artery, while side streets reveal beautiful art nouveau architecture. The university district adds student energy with affordable restaurants and evening bars.

East of the Isar River, Haidhausen preserves small-town character despite proximity to downtown. Narrow streets lined with colorful low-rise buildings create intimate urban spaces where neighborhood shops and family restaurants dominate over chains. Weißenburger Platz and Pariser Platz serve as focal points with fountains, cafes, and Saturday markets. The French Quarter (Franzosenviertel) features streets named after French cities, while Wiener Platz hosts one of Munich’s best farmers markets every day except Sunday.

Southwest of the center, Glockenbachviertel attracts young creative professionals and Munich’s LGBTQ+ community. Hans-Sachs-Strasse and Müllerstrasse host vintage boutiques, record stores, and eclectic restaurants serving everything from Vietnamese to vegan. The Isar riverbank offers green space for jogging and relaxing. Night brings vibrant bar scene with craft cocktails and DJ sets replacing the day’s coffee culture. This neighborhood shows Munich’s contemporary face beyond historic attractions.

Surrounding Nymphenburg Palace, this western neighborhood combines grand palace architecture with residential streets where locals live their daily lives. Rotkreuzplatz serves as the lively heart with farmer’s market, cafes, and excellent public transport connections. The massive Hirschgarten beer garden and park provide weekend recreation. Away from tourist crowds, you’ll find authentic restaurants serving regular customers rather than tour groups, plus the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory continuing centuries-old craftsmanship traditions.

Munich operates an integrated public transport network combining U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (commuter rail), trams, and buses under the MVV system. The network ranks among Europe’s best – clean, punctual, safe, and comprehensive. Single tickets cost around three euros within the central zone, while day passes offer unlimited travel making financial sense for tourists planning multiple trips. Purchase tickets from machines at stations or via the MVV app on smartphones. Validate tickets before boarding using the blue stamping machines.

Each season offers distinct advantages and challenges. Summer (June-August) brings best weather and longest days but also peak crowds and highest prices. Book accommodation months ahead for summer, especially during June Opera Festival. Shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) provide excellent weather, fewer crowds, and moderate prices. Oktoberfest in September requires very early booking but offers once-in-lifetime atmosphere. Winter appeals to Christmas market enthusiasts and bargain hunters, though many attractions reduce hours and some beer gardens close.

Germany uses euros, and while cards work most places, carry cash for small purchases, beer gardens, and markets. ATMs widely available but check your bank’s international fees. Tipping runs ten percent in restaurants, round up taxi fares, and leave small change for hotel housekeeping. Munich ranks as expensive by German standards – budget around one hundred fifty euros daily for mid-range travel including accommodation, meals, and attractions.

Munich’s culinary identity centers on hearty Bavarian specialties designed for cold alpine winters and physical labor. Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) arrives at the table crispy-skinned and tender inside, typically accompanied by potato dumplings and sauerkraut. Weißwurst, the traditional white breakfast sausage made from veal and pork, follows strict rules – never eaten after noon, always served with sweet mustard and fresh pretzels, and properly consumed by sucking the filling from its casing. Leberkäse, despite its name suggesting liver and cheese, contains neither, but this baked meat loaf remains a beloved snack served in semmel (bread rolls) at every butcher shop.

Beyond traditional taverns, Munich embraces international cuisine and contemporary cooking. The city hosts numerous Michelin-starred restaurants where creative chefs reimagine Bavarian ingredients through modern techniques. Asian restaurants cluster around the university district, while Turkish, Greek, and Italian communities maintain authentic eateries throughout residential neighborhoods. The vegetarian and vegan scenes grow annually, with dedicated restaurants proving that Munich can accommodate all dietary preferences despite its meat-heavy reputation.