Attraction
Marienplatz and New Town Hall
Munich's central square, overlooked by the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall with its Glockenspiel, an 85-metre tower reached by lift and a courtyard open to all.
Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral)
Munich's late Gothic brick cathedral, whose twin onion-domed towers define the skyline, with the Devil's Footstep at the entrance and a south tower open to visitors.
At a glance
- Type
- Gothic cathedral
- Area
- Altstadt, Munich, Germany
- Opening
- Open daily · 08:00–20:00
- Official site
- muenchner-dom.de
Good to know
- Free entry
- South tower viewing room
- Guided tours
- Domshop
Why we recommend it
The Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, known to everyone as the Frauenkirche, is the most recognisable building in Munich. Its two towers, each just under 99 metres high and topped with green copper domes, appear on countless postcards, and a local rule still keeps new buildings in the centre lower than them. The church is the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and the seat of its archbishop.
Construction began in 1468 under the master builder Jörg von Halsbach and took about 20 years. Brick was used because there was no stone quarry nearby, and the result is one of the largest hall churches anywhere: the nave is around 109 metres long and 37 metres high. The towers were finished in 1488, the church was consecrated in 1494, and the distinctive domes were added in the 1520s. The building was badly damaged in the Second World War and restoration was completed in 1994, so the interior is brighter and plainer than its Gothic exterior suggests.
Look down as you enter: a dark mark shaped like a footprint in the floor tiles is the Teufelstritt, or Devil's Footstep. Legend says the devil stamped here in fury after being tricked into thinking the church had no windows, since from that spot the columns hide them from view. Inside, the organs were built by Georg Jann in 1993 and 1994, and the towers hold ten bells, the heaviest of which, the Susanna, was cast in 1490.
The south tower reopened to visitors after its renovation was completed in 2022. The climb involves 86 steps on a narrow spiral staircase followed by a lift to a tower room at about 80 metres, with views over the old town and, on clear days, to the Alps. The cathedral advises people with claustrophobia to skip it. Tower tickets are sold at the Domshop inside the church or online through Munich's tourism office. Guided tours led by cathedral staff run Monday to Saturday at 11:30, except on public holidays.
Entry to the church is free, and it is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00, although sightseeing is not possible during services. Allow 30 minutes for the interior and another 45 if you climb the tower. The cathedral is a short walk from Marienplatz along Kaufingerstraße, and the Michaelskirche and the pedestrian shopping streets are close by.
Frauenkirche (Munich Cathedral) FAQs
Is it free to enter the Frauenkirche?
Yes, entry to the cathedral is free. Only the south tower has an admission charge.
What are the Frauenkirche's opening hours?
The cathedral is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00, but sightseeing is not possible during services.
Can you climb the Frauenkirche tower?
Yes. The south tower is open with 86 steps on a narrow spiral stair and then a lift to a viewing room at about 80 metres.
When is the tower open?
The cathedral lists Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sundays and holidays from 11:30 to 17:00, with the last ascent at 16:30.
What is the Devil's Footstep?
A dark footprint-shaped mark in the floor near the entrance, linked to a legend about the devil being tricked by the church's hidden windows.
Are there guided tours?
Yes. Tours run Monday to Saturday at 11:30 (not on public holidays). Register at the Domshop.
How tall are the towers?
Both are just under 99 metres; the north tower is about 12 centimetres taller than the south tower.
How do I get to the Frauenkirche?
Walk a few minutes west from Marienplatz station, served by the S-Bahn and U3 and U6.