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.
There are plenty of things to do in Munich, the Bavarian capital, and most of the main sights sit within walking distance of each other in the compact Altstadt. Marienplatz, with the New Town Hall and its Glockenspiel, is the natural starting point, and the Frauenkirche, St. Peter's Church, Viktualienmarkt and the Residenz palace are all a few minutes away. Beyond the old town lie the museum quarter in Maxvorstadt with the Alte Pinakothek, the vast Englischer Garten with its beer gardens and river surfers, Nymphenburg Palace in the west and the Olympiapark and BMW Museum in the north.
Food in Munich ranges from Weisswurst breakfasts, roast pork and dumplings in traditional taverns to Michelin-starred tasting menus at Tantris and JAN, with historic cafés and a growing specialty coffee scene in between. Beer is part of daily life, from the Hofbräuhaus to shaded beer gardens in summer. Three days is enough to see the city itself; add a day or two for trips to Neuschwanstein, Salzburg or the Bavarian lakes.
Attraction
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.
Attraction
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.
Attraction
The former city palace of the Wittelsbach rulers, with around 130 rooms, the Renaissance Antiquarium, a treasury of crown jewels and the Rococo Cuvilliés Theatre.
Attraction
The Wittelsbachs' Baroque summer palace in western Munich, with the Gallery of Beauties, a royal carriage museum and a 200-hectare park dotted with garden pavilions.
Attraction
One of the world's largest science and technology museums, on an island in the Isar, founded in 1903 and in the middle of a long modernisation.
Attraction
Munich's great Old Masters gallery, opened in 1836, with works by Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Leonardo, Raphael and Botticelli from the Wittelsbach collections.
Café
A grand café on Brienner Straße founded in 1888, with a palm garden, in-house cakes and chocolates, breakfast until mid-afternoon and a small history museum.
Café
The Marienplatz café of Rischart, a Munich family bakery founded in 1883, serving breakfast, cakes and Bavarian dishes right on the city's main square.
Café
A small, traditional café by Viktualienmarkt known for one thing: Schmalznudeln, the hot fried dough pastries also called Auszogne, eaten in or taken away.
Café
An independent Munich specialty coffee roaster founded in 2014, whose Glockenbach café on Müllerstraße serves its own roasts alongside beans and brewing kit.
Café
A Munich ice cream maker founded in 2006, whose original shop on the corner of Theresienstraße and Türkenstraße is a short walk from the Pinakotheken.
Café
A traditional Konditorei founded in Dresden in 1825 that moved to Munich after the war, known for its Baumkuchen and Christstollen.
Hotel
A five-star grand hotel on Promenadeplatz in the old town, founded in 1841, with more than 400 rooms and suites, the Blue Spa, a cinema and…
Hotel
A five-star hotel on Maximilianstraße that opened in 1858, now run by Kempinski, with around 300 rooms and suites, a spa with indoor pool and the…
Hotel
A five-star Rocco Forte hotel beside the Old Botanical Garden near Königsplatz, with a spa and pool, the Italian restaurant Florio and the Circle Bar.
Hotel
A family-run four-star superior hotel in the old town near the Hofbräuhaus, home to the vaulted Pfistermühle restaurant and the Ayinger am Platzl tavern.
Hotel
A four-star hotel on Tal in the old town that describes itself as the oldest hotel in the heart of Munich, with a tradition going back…
Hotel
A 72-room design hotel overlooking Viktualienmarkt, with walnut and oak furniture, a grill restaurant and a rooftop terrace facing the Frauenkirche.
Bar
Munich's most famous beer hall, on the Platzl in the old town, serving Hofbräu beer and Bavarian food to live brass music every day from 11:00…
Bar
One of Munich's classic beer gardens, near the main station, with thousands of seats under chestnut trees and Augustiner Edelstoff from the wooden barrel.
Bar
The beer garden around the wooden Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten, with about 7,000 seats, Hofbräu beer and a brass band playing from the pagoda.
Bar
Charles Schumann's celebrated American bar, founded in 1982 and on Odeonsplatz by the Hofgarten since 2003, known for classic cocktails and its long bar.
Bar
A cocktail bar inside the Haus der Kunst, with restored gold-leaf wall paintings from the 1930s and classic drinks given a modern twist.
Bar
Munich's best-known jazz club, presenting live jazz since 1978 in Haidhausen, with international and local acts, a nightly programme and Sunday jam sessions.
Restaurant
Munich's most famous fine-dining address since 1971, now home to the gourmet Restaurant Tantris, the French-focused Tantris DNA and a cocktail bar in Schwabing.
Restaurant
Chef Jan Hartwig's own fine-dining restaurant near Königsplatz, holding three Michelin stars and serving a seasonal tasting menu rooted in German cooking.
Restaurant
A large, lively grill restaurant, pasta kitchen and bar in the listed colonnade hall of the Marstall beside the opera on Maximilianstraße.
Restaurant
A classic Munich restaurant facing the opera house, serving Bavarian and Austrian dishes on two floors, with Spaten beer and a more refined menu upstairs.
Restaurant
The original home of Schneider Weisse wheat beer in the old town, serving Weisswurst breakfasts, Bavarian classics and meat from its own butchery.
Restaurant
A large Bavarian restaurant on Viktualienmarkt, named after brewer Joseph Pschorr, known for Hacker-Pschorr beer from wooden barrels and named regional meat suppliers.
Thing to do
Munich's year-round open-air food market beside Marienplatz, on its site since 1807, with more than 100 traders, a maypole and a beer garden.
Thing to do
A standing wave on the Eisbach at the edge of the Englischer Garten, where experienced surfers ride the current in the middle of the city all…
Thing to do
Guided tours of Bayern Munich's 75,000-seat stadium, combined with the club's museum of trophies, shirts and memorabilia on level 3 of the arena.
Thing to do
Opera and ballet at the Nationaltheater on Max-Joseph-Platz, home of the Bavarian State Opera, with around 2,100 seats and one of the largest stages in the…
Thing to do
Munich's zoo on the banks of the Isar, opened in 1911 and organised by continent since 1928, with around 500 species across 40 hectares.
Tour operator
A long-established Munich tour company near the main station, running city walks, Third Reich and Dachau memorial tours, and day trips across Bavaria.
Tour operator
Guided bicycle tours of Munich since 1995, starting near the Hofbräuhaus and taking in the old town and the Englischer Garten with a beer garden stop.
Tour operator
A Munich guiding company offering shared English tours and private tours in German, English and Spanish, from city walks to food, beer and street art.
Tour operator
A Munich guiding association running city walks since 1989, with public tours and private group walks across 13 themes, from first-timer tours to food.
Tour operator
Hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses departing from Munich's main station, with three combinable routes, audio commentary in eight languages and 24 or 48-hour tickets.
Three days covers the old town, the Residenz, a museum or two, Nymphenburg Palace and an afternoon in a beer garden. Add a day or two for trips to Neuschwanstein, Salzburg or the Bavarian lakes.
The Altstadt (old town) puts you within walking distance of most sights. Maxvorstadt suits museum lovers, Lehel is quieter and close to the Englischer Garten, and the streets around the main station have the most budget options.
The S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines run from Munich Airport to the main station and Marienplatz in roughly 40 to 45 minutes. Taxis are available but cost considerably more.
Munich is one of Germany's more expensive cities, particularly for hotels during trade fairs and the Oktoberfest. Free parks, free church entry, reduced Sunday museum prices and beer gardens where you can bring your own food help keep costs down.
Munich is generally regarded as a safe city. Take the usual care with bags and phones in crowds, around the main station at night and during the Oktoberfest.