25 usual and 25 unusual things to do in Munich!

Last updated on August 4th, 2026 at 02:41 am

Munich is a city that gives us a mix of historic charm, green spaces, and classic Bavarian culture. You have fun beer gardens and beautiful old streets, as well as riverside walks, palaces, and easy day trips into the Alps – making Munich a great destination for travelers looking for both city life and nature. Whether you’re visiting for the food, the history, or just to relax in one of Europe’s greenest cities, Munich has something for every kind of traveler.

Even me – the city avoider was taken in by the charm of Munich and stayed around (admittedly mid-winter so there were no real crowds). Anyway, its a good choice for a city visit and I hope you enjoy some of my more unusual things to do there as well as the firm favorites! Lets start with the usual things to do in Munich, and then check out some of the more unusual options to spice it up a little!

Contents (skip ahead if you like!)

Trip Planning Checklist

Lets start with the 25 usual “must dos” in Munich….

And now, 25 unusual things to do in Munich!

Where to stay in Munich

Frequently asked questions about Munich

Travel Tips for Munich

Related Posts

Trip Planning Checklist

These are the booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides – at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for the support! Cheers!

All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Accommodation – I use booking.com for hotels, Hostelworld for a hostel, and Vrbo for holiday houses.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. My top picks for Munich are:

• Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport – my absolute top pick!
• Tour the Law Library in the New Town Hall
• Third Reich Walking Tour in Munich
• Dachau 5-hour tour from Munich
• Premium Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Tour from Munich

Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars

Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Thanks so much if you used one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

The map shows where the must do’s (green) and the more unusual things to do (yellow) are located in the city. It will make it easier for your trip planning! It is very walkable and the public trransport is great – see the travel tips below for how to use it and how to get from the airport to town.

Lets start with the 25 usual “must dos” in Munich….

These 25 things to do in Munich are on most peoples list, but I’ve added extra information about things that are usually overlooked despite being so popular, so you won’t miss out on the extra details others might miss!

One way to get around most of these places is to use the Munich Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Bus – you can buy a 1-day or 2-day ticket! Note that a hop on hop off bus is also included in Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport

I have grouped these things by area to make it easier. Here we go…..

Around the Altstadt (Old Town) and its famous clock!

1. See the Glockenspiel show

When someone says Munich, the first thought to most peoples minds is either Oktoberfest or the Glockenspiel! This special clock is in the New Town Hall in Marienplatz – which is basically the hub of the city.

The “show” happens every day at 11am and again at 12 noon. It starts with 43 bells ringing. Then large figures come to life – musicians, barrel makers dancing, knights jousting, and a Bavarian knight in blue and white. It all takes about 10-15 minutes. From March to October there is another show at 5:00pm.

But on the more unusual side – most people don’t come back for this – every day there is a different show at 9pm! At nine, the night watchman blows his horn while the angel blesses the Münchner Kindl – the iconic symbol of Munich! Its worth seeing both.

You might think the glockenspiel is overrated. And in some ways yes. But the coolest thing about the Glockenspiel is that it is not automated. Real people are behind the scenes moving the pieces to make the display and music come out at the correct time and in the correct way! Its quite fascinating and you can read about it here!

2. Visit the Law Library and enjoy all the New Town Hall has to offer

The New Town Hall is not just the famous home to the Glockenspiel, but a lovely Neo-Gothic design in its own right. You can also catch a lift up to the tower for birds eye views of the city.

Inside though, there is a really gorgeous library to visit – the Law Library. I loved the circular staircases – and the books of course! You can take a short 30 minute tour of the library and learn more about it which was a perfect way to learn about, and enjoy, some of this beautiful building.

And my other favorite part is usually overlooked. Go through to the little square behind the New Town Hall and see the “wonky” part of the building there. I love the design that makes it look like its slanted. Have a coffee while you’re there!

3. Enjoy Marienplatz 

Surrounded by the Old Town Hall and New Town Hall, it is fun to just cruise in the Marienplatz itself. Check out a popular meeting spot – the fountain aka Fischbrunnen in front of the New Town Hall. And don’t forget to say hello to Mariensäule – the golden Virgin Mary. Do notice the four cupids surrounding her – one for each of Munich’s triumph over war, the plague, heresy and famine!

4. Visit the Toy Museum in the Old Town Hall

In the Old Town Hall is the Toy Museum with all kinds of toys from the 1800s onward. It is set over four floors with a narrow winding staircase – which just adds to it all. It’s almost like being in a blown up dolls house – note that this is not just for little kids, big kids will love it too!

And while you are there pop into the Festival Hall and check out the ceiling and the ten carved morisk dancers by Erasmus Grasser! A lot of people skip this – or just don’t know they’re there!

5. Climb the Frauenkirche Cathedral (Cathedral of our Lady)

You can see the onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche Cathedral from all over the city so its an iconic thing to see or do in Munich for that reason alone! A lot of the cathedral was destroyed in WWII, but it has been restored beautifully, and, even though its not the most elaborately decorated church in town, its worth seeing the Gothic nave and the stained glass windows (that survived the war) as well as the collection of 14-18th century artwork! The tomb of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV is also in the cathedral, and the “Devil’s Footprint” a big black mark that looks like a footprint and has plenty of legends about it.

Most people though come to climb the tower! There are about 90 steps and then a lift that takes you to the top where you get a great view of the city – even the alps on a good day apparently (which sadly I missed out on seeing)!

6. Another climb – in St Peter’s Church – Peterskirche or Alter Peter

The alternative climb for a view – St Peter’s church. This is also the oldest church in Munich and here you can climb about 300 narrow wooden steps for a less crowded view – no lifts though!

Even if you don’t climb the tower it is worth seeing the Baroque High Alter, the ceiling fresco (by Johann Baptist Zimmermann), and in one of the chapels, the golden skeleton of Saint Munditia covered in precious stones!!  

7. Fill up at the Viktualienmarkt

The Viktualienmarkt has over 140 stalls selling fruit and vegetables, flowers, cheese, meat, fish, spices etc etc etc. It also features a highly rated beer garden, and a very popular (probably the best in town) coffee stand – the Kaffeerösterei Viktualienmarkt.

A great thing to do is a foodie tour here. Try one of these tours (and you can even start with a coffee before your tour!)

Lunch Like a Local: Munich’s Original Viktualienmarkt Food Tour or

Viktualienmarkt tasting tour, or this Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour

8. Theatinekirche

It’s lovely from the outside, but when you go inside you cant help but love the white white interior – (late) baroque of course! It was built to be “the most beautiful and precious church” as a thank you for the birth of Max Emanuel, the long-awaited heir to the throne, in the mid 17th century, by his parents! Precious is definitely the feeling you get when you go inside!

City summary

A great way to learn about the city and see the sights is to take a city tour. Either start with the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport – my absolute top pick,
or
use the Munich Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Bus to get around, or take one of these tours:

Munich City Walking Tour, includes Third Reich & Viktualienmarkt

Old Town Highlights including Town Hall, Hofbräuhaus, Viktualienmarkt,

or take a tour customised to your interests – Munich Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

Visit the famous Castles and Palaces

9. Nymphenburg Palace

If you want to see gorgeous – then you have to see the main hall in all its Baroque glory. Its a stunner of a palace!! (Mind you I do love a bit of baroque extravagance.) This was once the main summer residence for the royals of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

One thing most people seem to miss is the Marstallmuseum (Carriage Museum) in the grounds of the Palace. Don’t miss it – the extravagance is crazy!!

Note: Do not buy a GetYourGuide ticket for the palace (its fine anywhere else) – there seems to be an issue and there was a notice saying they cannot recognise the tickets when I was there.
However, this Nymphenburg Palace & Carriage Museum Fast-Track Tour through Viator is really good and there were no problems at all!

Note: entry is included if you buy the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport

10. Schleissheim Palace

Another stunner! This is actually three individual palaces – the Old, Lustheim, and New – in a huge park in the village of Oberschleißheim just north of Munich. The mix of the three palaces and the gardens makes it absolutely worth the visit. The palace was also a summer residence of the Bavarian rulers of the House of Wittelsbach!

11. The Residenz

The Residenz is in central Munich and is another royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and has some incredible rooms (see the feature picture above).

See the feature picture above of the Antiquarium – an incredibly opulent Renaissance hall. It was built for Duke Albrecht V’s sculpture collection, but was also used for banquets and other events. There are plenty of displays at the Residenz but just to walk in that one room made it worthwhile for me!

I can recommend this tour – Residenz Palace and Hofgarten Skip-the-Line Tour – for great info and no queues – plus it includes a tour an explanation of the Hofgarten (see no. 21 below)

Note: entry is included if you buy the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport

12. Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace

This may be out of town but it is a good day trip from Munich and one of those “must sees” in this part of the country! Unless you have a car and are driving south after visiting Munich, the day trip is the way to go.

Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century castle built by Ludwig II to be a private refuge in the rugged hill foothills of the Alps. The design was based on Medieval knights’ castles and his love for the operas of Wagner. Unfortunately he never got to live there, as he died before it was completed. But he can rest in peace (maybe) knowing that his real-life fairytale castle was the inspiration for the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland and the Walt Disney Pictures logo after Walt Disney visited it and fell in love (one assumes) with its gorgeous Romanesque design and turrets!!

I highly recommend this tour:

Premium Neuschwanstein Castle & Linderhof Tour from Munich – skip the line castle tickets included, plus snacks, fruit, beer, coffee etc. You will learn a lot and can enjoy the long day out with the extra comforts. It meant there was no hassle in buying the skip the line tickets on the day, and I did not need to buy lunch as there was a range of snacks!

But other options that have great reviews are:

Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip – similar to the one I recommend but without the extra comforts in the bus.

Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Trip from Munich

Private Day Trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle – a private car and no bus involved!

If you are a Chinese speaker then this tour to Neuschwanstein Castle is with a Chinese speaking tour guide.

Learn more about the world’s most famous horror story

13. Dachau Concentration Camp

Visiting the first concentration camp the Nazis opened in 1933 is definitely something you shouldn’t miss. Sobering, horrifying, and plain frightening, but to honour and remember the victims and to help ensure “Never Again” becomes a world reality, visiting Dachau is something we should all do.

I highly recommend a guided tour with a local who has in depth knowledge and has heard the stories from survivors over the years.

An earlier start 5 hour tour from Munich at 8.30am

A 6-hour tour from Munich at 9.45am

A private 5-6 hour tour from Munich for you or your group

14. Learn about the Nazi Era based right here in Munich

Munich is the birthplace of Nazism, the rise of Hitler, and the infamous Third Reich. It’s an important part of world history right here in Munich, and you can see and feel the places that Hitler and his cronies spent a lot of time in – from the first mass meeting at the Hofbräuhaus to rallies at Königsplatz.

Rather than just visiting these ‘must see’ places, I am including a 2.5-hour walking tour of Munich learning about the Nazi era in the city (including the resistance) in the usual things to do list. I did wonder if they should be one of the “unusual things to do in Munich,” but they are quite popular so here they are:

Third Reich Walking Tour Munich

Munich: Third Reich & WWII Walking Tour

Enjoy the works of famous artists at the…

Note: entry for 15, 16, and 18 is included if you buy the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport. And all these art galleries are very close to each other!

15. Alte Pinakothek (Old Picture Gallery)

This is actually one of the best art collections in Europe – with lots of masterpieces from the14th to 18th century – think Raphael, Rubens, Durer, and Rembrandt. Take a tour to skip the queue and to get the inside info – Alte Pinakothek Skip-the-Line & Guided Walking Tour

16. Pinakothek der Moderne

Near the Alte Pinalothel, this modern art museum has another amazing collection from the 1900s – with art works from modern artists like Warhol, Hockney, and Rauchenburg.

17. Neue Pinakothek

Another part of the Pinakothek trio – this one focuses on 19th-century art with German Romantics like Caspar Friedrich, French Impressionists like Manet and Cézanne, and Post-Impressionists like Van Gogh and Klimt. (My personal favorite but that’s because I like the impressionists.)

18. Museum Brandhorst

This art museum is worth visiting just to look at the building alone. It has a very cool multi-colored “coating” of 36,000 ceramic rods in 23 colors that change with the light. Inside you will see work from recent and contemporary artists like Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Robert Gober, Alex Katz and Cy Twombly.

Relax in the huge public gardens

19. English Garden

The English Garden is on the edge of the Old Town and its huge. There are around 80km (50miles) of walking paths, more than 100 bridges and its a great place to walk, cycle, run, and even cross-country ski in the winter. (It is bigger than Central Park in NYC!)

If its summer, the English Garden is a great place to go for a beer in a lovely beer garden – The Chinese Tower Biergarten to be exact. This biergarten has a towering Pagoda which plays traditional music over the seating and the range of kiosks to buy your beer from – all with the lovely background of the English Garden.

20. Schlossparkl Nymphenburg and Botanical Garden

If you are going to the Nymphenburg Palace (you should), then don’t skip the gardens as well. They are huge and fabulous. The Badenburg See is lovely to walk around as are the trees to walk through.

Part way down the formal garden along the canal is a path through to the Munich Botanic Gardens. This has 52 acres of themed gardens, ponds with turtles, greenhouses and lovely paths throughout. Its worth spending some time in.

21. The Hofgarten

For a change from the big open gardens, just behind the Residenz and close to the English Garden, is the Renaissance style Hofgarten. Its relatively small and formal and was once the court gardens of the royal residence in the 17th century. Its a good place to sit a while on a bench and enjoy the fountains and flowers!

And of course – drink in some of the famous Beer Halls

You cant go to Munich and not visit at leat one of these famous beer halls!! Munich’s “Big 6” are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräukeller, Paulaner, and Spaten-Franziskaner – but these are the ones I recommend!

22. Big 6 selection – try the Hofbräuhaus or Augustiner-Keller

The Hofbräuhaus is close to the Old Town so you will likely pass by making it easy to visit. Its famous and a little touristy and not necessarily for everyone in the summertime with the crowds. But at least walk through – you will see live traditional music, traditionally dressed ladies selling oversized pretzels, merrymakers , and of course plenty of casks and plenty of beer!

At the Augustiner-Keller check out the barrel-vault ceiling and wagon-wheel lights inside, but go through to the lovely big beer garden in summer. There is such a mix of people having fun. Hopefully you will get to see / hear a traditional oompah band while you are sipping on your beer!
PS you can bring your own food / picnic like the locals!

23. Non-Big 6 – try the Schneider-Weisse Brauhaus

Go for the Weissbier – or translated literally “white beer.” Its a wheat beer with fruity or spicy flavors. But also, here at the Schneider-Weisse Brauhaus you will get some of the better food you will find in a beer hall – try the pork knuckle – Schweinshaxe!
In a nod to my homeland – try the “Tap X” Nelson Sauvin, made with hops from New Zealand! 🙂

And for a lot of fun while learning about the history of beer and its place in the local culture, try one of these tours:

Beer and Beyond Tour

Munich’s Beer Halls and Breweries – a private group tour

Beer and Food Tour with Dinner & Oktoberfest Museum

Munich Beer and Bavarian Bites Small-Group Tour – food and drinks included

Join in on one of the famous festivals or markets

24. Oktoberfest

Of course Munich is probably most famous for this one – the Oktoberfest! Absolutely – go and have a good time. Oktoberfest runs from the third Saturday of September to the first Sunday of October in Theresienwiese in Munich. Yes, its all about eating, drinking and merry making – after all it first began in 1810 as a part of the celebration of the Bavarian crown princes’ wedding!

But (going straight into the unusual things to do in Munich) there is also an alternative to Oktoberfest. If you want to see it but don’t want to be inundated with drunken revelry, the Oide Wiesn is a great option for you. This is right by the Oktoberfest ‘grounds’ but is a more traditional festival with a way calmer atmosphere than the actual Oktoberfest!

Also – many miss this, but it is part of the event, so put it on your list. The Schichtl is the old-fashioned vaudeville theatre. You can see the parade outside, and if you pay to go in, you will see the execution of a visitor by a guillotine!

And one more, I’m putting in the more Unusual things to do in Munich – climb the Bavaria Statue! Its a 60 foot personification of the Bavaria homeland. Inside, you can climb up a spiral staircase into the head of the statue to get a great view of the whole Oktoberfest. (Its a bit like walking up into the head of that more famous statue in NYC!)

Finally another unusual option is to climb the 97m (318 ft) tower in St. Paul’s church or “Paulskirche” for the view over Oktoberfest. Join the masses and leave your name and message on the walls as you climb.

Just remember to book your accommodation well ahead whichever way you go!

25. Munich Christmas Markets

And of course Munich is a very popular place for the Christmas Markets!

In the Marienplatz in the middle of the city is the traditional Christkindlmarkt. Its the largest and most famous of the markets and of course you can watch the Glockenspiel while you are there. But there are other markets worth going to too. The Weihnachtsdorf in the courtyard of the Residenz is very pretty, and the Haidhausen Market is often called the most beautiful of them all.

Then there is the Viktualienmarkt Christmas Market – which is a favourite with plenty of Christmas foods, and of course glühwein and sausages. And finally, there is the Märchenbazar (Fairy Tale Market) which has a fairytale magical vibe.

If you want to get a the traditions and history of the local Christmas, the best gluhwein and foods, and tour a few of the Christmas markets with a local, then try this Christmas Market Tour with Festive Wine and Food

And now, 25 unusual things to do in Munich!

Now lets move onto some of the often looked over or more unusual things to do in Munich. I hope you can add some of these to your trip to make it a bit of a mix of must do’s and unusual fun!

Start with these

Now for some alternative things to do…..

1. Join the Nightwatchman tour to learn about the medieval side of the city – or even try testing out the ghostly side!

You will have read (in no 1 of the usual things to do in Munich above) about the 9pm glockenspiel show when the night watchman blows his horn while the angel blesses the Münchner Kindl – so now is your chance to go learn about medieval life in Munich with a nightwatchman!!

I loved this Munich: Night Watchman Tour – following the night watchman and his lantern through the little alleyways of the city. It was funny as well as really informative and a great way to see the city in a different light.

But there are some other fun tour options too. I didn’t go on these but they are highly rated and I’m sure as good as the tour I did. My pick for my next trip is the Munich Ghosts and Spirits Evening Walking Tour.

2. Get your puppet fix at the Puppentheatermuseum and see a show

This is one of those wonderful little things you find across the globe – this entire place is all about the puppets and puppetry of the Alps and is inside the Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich City Museum). Unfortunately it is closed for major renovations for a few years so you cannot see the puppets right now. BUT…

You can go and see a puppet show at the Münchner Marionettentheater – a Puppet Theater that has been active in Munich since 1858! (Take a cushion as the seats are hard!) Book tickets at www.muema-theater.de

3. Pop into an Alternative Castle – Schloss Blutenburg

You will have seen the Nymphenburg, but for something a little different but also lovely, visit Schloss Blutenburg. This lovely little Gothic castle is known as the “book castle” and has a big children’s book library. The chapel is pretty too.
Note: After visiting the castle, you can go for a walk along the Wurm river.

If you like vehicles……

… then there are a couple of things you should do.

4. For the car-lovers see it all at BMW

… then BMW will show you it all – from from design to assembly. Book a tour direct with BMW ahead of time and just meet them at the time you booked for your two hour tour! You can email infowelt@bmw-welt.com to book the tour. Or you can book a Private Walking Tour including the BMW Museum and BMW Welt, or, another private tour just of the BMW Museum and BMW Welt.

Note: The building is worth seeing as well – it has a tower that looks like a four-cylinder engine.

5. See the Museum of Transportation – Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum

For vehicle lovers again! The Verkehrszentrum has exhibitions in three huge halls at the Theresienhöhe facility. You’ll see everything that has ever moved in the city – from trams to buses, cars, trains and caravans.

Note: entry is included if you buy the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport

And for the art lovers

There are plenty of options, including street art alongside the famous art spots.

6. Try some different art

Kunst Labor is an interesting art gallery in that it is in a building that was due to be demolished. But the Kunst Labor ‘people’ took it over and turned a whole lot of floors and offices into works of art! Even the entrance is cool. It is immersive, contemporary and quite fantastic – definitely worth a visit. Book your entry tickets here.

Haus der Kunst is a better known art gallery, but I like the fact that this was one of the first architectural showcase projects of the Nazi regime that is now a modern day art gallery. It is quite the brutalist Nazi architecture which I like to see, and inside there are rotating exhibits.
Note: It is free to enter on the on the last Friday of every month from 4:00 – 10:00 pm and at this time you will see performances, DJ sets, artist talks and short tours!

Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA) is a small and interesting space – fascinating if you are into street art or very contemporary art. It has exhibits from highly rated artists like Damien Hurst and Banksy as well as some thought provoking pieces! Note that some people may find this expensive at €15 ~so only go if you are truly interested!)

For the foodies – eat a little differently

A few foods and drinks to try out away from the standard – even if you are not a foodie!

7. Taste the Schmalznudel at Munichs oldest bakery!

Head to Schmalznudel – Cafe Frischhut, Munich’s oldest bakery to try the local delicious Schmalznudel. This is a Bavarian style donut and its rather yummy! Its been part of the culture for years and years so I figure it would be rude not to try one! Its also easy to do as its very close to the Viktualienmarkt.

8. Eat schnitzel

….real wiener schnitzel that is! Its a thinly sliced and breaded veal that is then fried. This is the national dish for Austria but its extremely popular here too. Try Steinheil 16 for a lunchtime schnitzel (of any meat variety). You’ll get a very decent portion served with a pile of fries and a wedge of lemon. Beer on tap too of course. Perfect!!

9. Drink a beer in the Gasthof Hinterbrühl beer garden

This is a 180-year-old chalet sitting in the woods on the edge of the city. The beer garden looks over a lake but the other attraction (apart from being in the forest) is the canal flowing right past the inn. You can see ‘flösse’ (log rafts) float by, not necessarily with the traditional lumberjacks and raftsmen, but the party people partaking in beer and song!

Take a walk outside of the city center and see some of Munich’s Street Art while you are at it!

There are plenty of places to walk in Munich and there is also a lot of fun street art worth seeing while you are there. So these next options combine the two!

10. – Isar trail from Friedensengel to the Wittelsbacherbrücke

Walk along the river from Friedensengel (beautiful to see in its own right) to the Wittelsbacherbrücke – a nice walk in itself. But you’ll also see heaps of great street art on the way – under bridges, in tunnels, and on local buildings and stairways. Definitely check the tunnel under the Friedensenge and the stairs up to the monument. 

11. Olympiadorf Village Walk

Olympiadorf is the village near Olympiapark that was built for athletes competing at the games. Now it is student housing. The seriously cool thing is that the students that live here are allowed to paint and design their homes. Go for a walk through the little village to see lots of colorful artwork and get the bibe of the local students!  

12. Von-der-Tann Straße and Ludwigstraße intersection

Okay not really a walk, although it is close to both the English Garden and the Hofgarten so you can make a walk of it! Anyway, under the intersection there are lots of Bavarian-themed murals.

13. Support young entrepreneurs at the Werksviertel Mitte while checking out the art

I wasn’t sure whether to put this under street art or not, because even though it is covered in street art, it is a funky quirky hidden gem in its own right!

The Werksviertel-Mitte is a very hip container park filled with reused shipping containers painted with street art. Small businesses can lease a low-cost container for three months, to see if their business idea is a goer or not before signing a long term lease. You will find all sorts inside the containers from crafts, to local spirits and food, bars, art, and more!

A great way to see some of this street art is on this Street Art Bike Tour!

Or some other exercise!

Winter or summer – there are plenty of ways to experience the city!

14. Watch the city surfers

Right on the edge of the English Garden, near the Haus de Kunst (House of Art) and close to the Hofgarten, you can watch local surfers ride a man-made wave called the Eisbachwelle on the river flowing through the park! Even in the middle of winter the diehards will be there (as in the pic below) – its great to watch!

Of course if you are a surfer you could join them!

15. Cycle the city

Theres nothing like hiring a bike and getting to know a city by pedal. Munich is very bike friendly and so a great place for this – especially with the huge garden areas. You can rent a bike from traditional shops like Baja Bikes for longer periods (hours, days) with fixed rates (e.g., around €20-€30 for 4-24 hours), or use one of the bike-share apps like MVG-Rad and Call a Bike.

Even better – take a tour with one of these great options:

Classic Munich Bike Tour with Beer Garden stop!

Best of Munich Electric Bike Tour

Note – there is also a bike tour included in the Munich: City Pass 45+ Top Attractions and Public Transport

16. Float Down the Isar on a log raft!

Float down Munich’s Isar river from Wolfratshausen to Munich on a traditional log raft – but with modern extras like maybe some music and a keg or two and 60 firends!

The rafts are built new every day from about 18 huge tree trunks. You go through locks and past all sorts of scenery. You can even swim by the raft on a good day!  

This page lists all the companies offering good times on the river. Check out Flossfun, but I’m sure they are all good!

17. In winter go ice skating and learn to dance on ice for free!

The Nymphenburg Palace Canal (in the pic below) is clearly a popular spot for winter ice skating. Unfortunately there are no rental facilities, but if you are visiting in winter and have skates – then bring them – its such a gorgeous setting! Even without skates its fun to walk on the ice on the canal!

In the city center, with skate hire available, you can skate on a temporary rink at Karlsplatz (locals call it Stachus) from Nov to Jan.

But another super fun option is ice dancing at the Prinzregentenstadion open air ice rink. Every Sunday at 9:30am there are free lessons where you can learn the steps for the round dance and the famous Munich dipferl! That’s got to be really authentic travel! Check the website as you can also just skate here at certain times!

See some unusual Churches

Munich is full of stunning churches, chapels and cathedrals and of course there are the well-known ones like Frauenkirche but there are some other stunners of the beaten path too. Add these three to your Munich Bucket List for some variety – especially if you love architecture!

18. The Herz-Jesu-Kirche 

For a change, go and look at this modern church – its quite the piece of architecture. The church is a huge glass cube and has the largest church gates in the world! The doors open during special events, but you can get in at other times through smaller ‘ normal’ size doors! 

19. Ohel Jakob Synagogue

This synagogue has a rough stone bottom with a glass tower on top. Its a really cool piece of architecture worth seeing from the outside. If you want to go inside be prepared for security checks as Jewish synagogues are highly protected in Germany.

20. The Asam Church

This place is nuts – overly decorated baroque nuts – you’ve gotta love it!

It’s a tall skinny building in the middle of the tourist zone on Senglingerstraße, but most people don’t visit as its not one of the ‘famous’ churches. It was built as a private church by the Asam brothers who must have been very artistic. Every inch of it is decorated and there is even another golden skeleton. Honestly – you have to go and see for yourself!  

And a few odd bars and party spots!

For a change from the famous beer halls, try one of these off-the-beaten-path drinking spots in Munich:

21. The Jaded Monkey

A cocktail bar – just for a change! Expensive but worth it – the great mixologists make some very complex cocktail affairs!

22. Bar Gabányi

Gabányi is in the basement of a heritage houseand also has cocktails with great mixologists. Inside is a piano and some fun artwork – definitely a creative vibe!

23. Bahnwärter Thiel

This is a party place – starting with a DJ spot in an old U-Bahn carriage!! There’s a dance floor, hangout areas, lots of recycled stuff, and you can even lie in a hammock and let everyone else party for you!

24. Alte Utting

An old unused boat sitting on an old unused train track – obvious really!!! Alte Utting has a bar, plenty of restaurants – from pizza to West African food and has an overall good vibe. It is a bar, nightclub and music venue but also has workshops and other events during the day – as well as food etc.

And finally – a frighteningly good festival!

For a much more unusual and less touristy festival you can’t beat the Krampus Run!

25. Come and be terrified by Krampuslauf – the Krampus Run!

Krampuslauf, or the Krampus Run, happens every December in Munich (dates vary each year).

It’s a Bavarian tradition (along with nearby regions of Germany and Austria) and its basically a wild winter parade where people dress up as the horned, devil-like Krampus and run through streets to punish bad children and drive away evil spirits. Costumes and masks can be very frightening and very elaborately detailed!

I haven’t made it yet – but this is definitely on my bucket list!

Where to stay in Munich

I stayed at the Arthotel Munich with my family and that was great, and later at Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel, and , Euro Youth Hostel on my own which were both great as well. But I have selected all these options for their great reviews and to suit different budgets and styles:

Luxury – stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Munich or Rosewood Munich

High End – try the Koenigshof, or Rocco Forte The Charles Hotel, or Beyond by Geisel

Mid Range – stay at the Bavaria Boutique Hotel or Hotel & Gaststätte zum Erdinger Weißbräu, or the Cortina Hotel

Budget – try the Rioca Munich Posto 3, or HI Munich-Park, or Arthotel Munich, and for great private rooms in a hostel space – Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel, or Euro Youth Hostel

Backpackers – try the dorms at Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Werksviertel, or, Euro Youth Hostel. I did both at separate times and they were both really good!

Frequently asked questions about travel to Munich

Q: What is the best time to visit Munich?
A: The best time depends on what kind of trip you want. Spring (April–May and early June) is great for parks, fewer crowds, and mild weather. Summer (late June–August) is best for outdoor cafés, lakes, cycling, and beer gardens – but also more crowded. Autumn (September–October) is the busiest season because of Oktoberfest. And winter (November–December) is a little quieter and perfect for Christmas markets and snowy Alpine day trips. Avoid weekends if you can in summer!

Q: How many days do you need in Munich?
A: 2–3 days for the city highlights, 4–5 days if you include more museums and parks, and 1 week if you go on a couple of day trips.

Q: What are the must-sees and must-dos for first-timers to Munich?
A: Marienplatz, the Old Town, a beer garden or two (its part of the culture), the Viktualienmarkt, Nymphenburg Palace and other palaces, the English Garden, Dachau concentration camp, a Bavarian castle or alps day trip. The BMW museum is also very popular!

Q: What food should you try in Munich?
A: Youo should try some classic Bavarian foods – including apple strudel, weißwurst (white sausage), giant pretzels, schnitzel, and pork knuckle (schweinshaxe).

Q: What not to do in Munich as a tourist?
A: Stand on the wrong side of escalators! Walk in bike lanes. Not validate your train tickets.

Travel tips for Munich

• Be careful you know which airport you are booking to get to Munich. There are two that are called Munich. But the closest is the Munich International Airport (MUC) which is about 40 minutes from central Munich by S-Bahn train.
  Memmingen Airport (FMM) is often called Munich West Airport, but is about 115 km (71 miles) west of Munich. It is primarily used by budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air. You need to bus to this airport which takes about 1hour 20 minutes.
• The S-Bahn is the easiest way to get into Munich from the MUC airport at a reasonable cost – it is reliable, frequent and easy to use. Taxis are much more expensive.
• Munich is a very walkable city – especially in the center around the Old Town, Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt and the Isar River.
• Munich also has one of Europe’s easiest public transport systems. You can use the U-Bahn (subway), the S-Bahn (regional trains e.g. from the airport), city trams, and buses.
  You can buy digital tickets using the MVGO App, or, buy a ticket in a ticket machine at any U-Bahn station and major tram stops. You can also buy single or day tickets from machines inside the trams but they usually only accept coins!
• Most shops are closed on Sundays.
• Munich is one of the safest cities in Europe but watch out for scams – especially around the stations! Look out for fake ticket inspectors, people asking tourists for money around the stations, and taxi overcharging near tourist hotspots.
  Always validate transport tickets, use official taxis or rideshare apps, ignore strangers asking for money near stations, and keep bags zipped in crowded areas.
• Watch out for pickpockets at Oktoberfest!

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