Marienplatz and New Town Hall

Marienplatz has been the heart of Munich since the city was founded, and it is where most first visits begin. The square takes its name from the Mariensäule, the column topped by a golden figure of the Virgin Mary that was raised in 1638 to mark the end of the Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War. Its north side is filled by the New Town Hall, the Neues Rathaus, a long Neo-Gothic building that still houses the mayor and city council. The Old Town Hall, a rebuilt Gothic council hall with its own tower, closes the square to the east.

The New Town Hall was designed by Georg von Hauberrisser and built in stages between 1867 and 1905. Its facade, about 98.5 metres long, is lined with figures of Bavarian rulers, and the tower is crowned by the Münchner Kindl, the small hooded figure that is the city's symbol. The main draw for most visitors is the Glockenspiel in the tower bay, with 43 bells and 32 figures that re-enact a knights' tournament from the 1568 wedding of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine and the coopers' dance, the Schäfflertanz. It plays daily at 11:00 and 12:00, and also at 17:00 from March to October.

Two lifts take visitors up the tower to a viewing platform at 85 metres, with a view straight down onto the square and across to the twin towers of the Frauenkirche. According to the city, the tower is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, and tickets are sold for 20-minute time slots, so it is worth booking ahead in busy periods. The inner courtyard, the Prunkhof, is free to walk into through the tower portal or from Weinstraße, and guided tours of the building's interior run from Friday to Sunday through the tourist information office on the square.

Marienplatz suits everyone and costs nothing to enjoy. For the Glockenspiel, arrive ten minutes early and stand towards the middle of the square for a clear line of sight; the crowd at 11:00 is large in summer. Allow 30 minutes for the show and the courtyard, and around an hour if you add the tower. Note that the historic Ratskeller restaurant in the basement is currently closed.

The square sits directly above Marienplatz station, served by S-Bahn lines and the U3 and U6. Viktualienmarkt, St. Peter's Church and the Frauenkirche are all within a few minutes' walk, which makes this the natural starting point for a walk through the Altstadt.