These are my 10 personal favorites that every visitor to Munich should have on their bucket list. More detailed recommendations coming soon. Enjoy exploring!
Here’s the list in GoogleMaps.
Beer culture
1 – Visit a beer hall and drink a (non-)alcoholic Maß
2 – Visit Mother Bavaria at the Oktoberfest site
Food
3 – Eat a Weißwurstfrühstück
4 – Eat a Leberkässemmel
History
5 – Visit a Nazi commemoration site
6 – Visit a site of Royal Bavaria
City life
7 – Watch the Eisbach surfers
8 – Take a break at Monopteros
9 – Watch the Glockenspiel
10 – Enjoy the view from Olympiaberg
Number one in the list is of course beer. Visit one of the many beer halls and enjoy something to eat and a Maß (a 1 liter mug) of beer.
Which beer hall, though?
Actually, all of the big beer halls in Munich offer a nice atmosphere and good food. The classical ones to check out are Hofbräuhaus, Augustinerkeller and Löwenbräukeller. All of these also have a beautiful outside area for the summer.
Honorable mention
You can also get your beer for a little cheaper (still with a very atmosphere) by going to one of the Bräustuben, for example the one of Augustiner. These are restaurants located directly on-site at one of the breweries.
That’s too much alcohol!
Luckily, there are three equally good alternatives: A Maß of non-alcoholic beer, a Maß of Radler (a mix of lemonade and beer), or a Maß of Spezi (a mix of cola and orange soda, brought to perfection by Paulaner).
While the Münchner Kindl (the “Munich child”) watches over Munich from the top of the New City Hall, keeping things safe in the Old Town of Munich, Mother Bavaria does her part by guarding Theresienwiese, the Oktoberfest site. Even outside of Oktoberfest season the location is worth a visit to experience the vastness of the area, which is only filled once a year by Oktoberfest.
Where to find it?
The Bavaria statue is located directly at Theresienwiese.
Anything else?
You can enter the statue for a (limited, but cute) view.
- entrance: 3.50€
- open days: every day
- website: muenchen.de
The Bavarian soul can only be at peace if it enjoys a white sausage breakfast every once in a while. For having one, it takes five ingredients: white sausages, sweet mustard, a pretzel, wheat beer, and the correct time – a proper Weißwurstfrühstück is held before noon!
Where to get it?
Every good Bavarian restaurant offers a white sausage breakfast. If you are tired of the big beer halls you could check out Augustiner Bräustube, offering a nice atmosphere and a little cheaper prices due to its location directly at the Augustiner brewery. Herrschaftszeiten also offers a fully plant-based white sausage breakfast.
What about the animals?
Big sorry for disturbing, but I have to note that we are making calves and pigs suffer when choosing the meat-based version. You don’t miss out on a lot if you eat the plant-based version. Cows and pigs in Germany don’t live a happy life, and – even if they would – they usually get killed after only 1.5 years (cows) and 6 months (pigs) of their natural life span of 15 to 20 years.
Everyone knows about schnitzels and pork knuckles. One often overlooked dish, which is an integral part of Bavarian identity, is the Leberkässemmel – our most traditional street food. A thick slice of Leberkäse, topped with sweet mustard and served in a bread roll. Simple, but delicious.
Where to get it?
Every butcher shop and some bakeries sell it. There’s also a fully plant-based version which tastes 95% identical to the original and which I get regularly, sold at Die Vegane Fleischerei.
What about the animals?
Sorry for disturbing, but I have to again note that we are making pigs and cows suffer when choosing the meat-based version. Regarding this bread roll, you don’t miss out on anything if you eat the plant-based version. Pigs and cows in Germany don’t live a happy life, and – even if they would – they usually get killed after only 6 months (pigs) and 1.5 years (cows) of their natural life span of 15 to 20 years.
Munich – the “Capital of the Movement” – was not only the founding place of the Nazi party, but it played a central role in the Third Reich until the very end of the Nazi regime. Munich nowadays hosts multiple well-curated museums to openly face its darkest time in history.
Full day option: Dachau concentration camp
- entrance: free of charge
- open days: every day
- website: kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de
Half day option: NS Documentation Center
- entrance: free of charge
- open days: temporarily closed! Reopens the 8th of May
- website: nsdoku.de
One hour option: White Rose memorial exhibition
- entrance: free of charge
- open days: Monday to Saturday
- website: weisse-rose-stiftung.de
Until Germany became one nation in 1871, Bavaria was an independent state and developed a rich history and identity. The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled Bavaria since 1180 and built some impressive castles that can be visited today.
Full day option: Neuschwanstein Castle
- entrance: 23.50€
- open days: every day
- website: neuschwanstein.de
Half day option: Nymphenburg Palace
- entrance: 20€
- open days: every day
- website: schloss-nymphenburg.de
2–3 hours option: Munich Residence
- entrance: 10€
- open days: every day
- website: residenz-muenchen.de
Believe it or not, Munich is a world-renowned surfing city. Since the 1970s people surf on the rapid stream Eisbach in Englischer Garten. Nowadays the Eisbach wave is an integral part of the local sports culture.
Where to find it?
The main Eisbach wave is located at the southernmost tip of Englischer Garten. If you want to see even more, there’s a second wave a little downstream (close to Monopteros, see point 8).
When to go there?
Apart from maybe 3am in the night you can always find surfers at the wave. No matter the day, the weather or the season.
Need some relaxation after a busy day in the city? Take a break at the Monopteros temple in Englischer Garten. It’s located in the most beautiful part of the park and offers some nice views to calm your soul.
Up for a picnic?
Buy some snacks at the supermarket, a pizza in the university quarter, or simply grab some drinks from Milchhäusl. If you can stand the cold, having a picnic also works in winter. :)
I want more!
Another beautiful place to enjoy a piece of nature in the city is the Isar river. Grab some snacks, a bottle of wine and check out the area around Reichenbachbrücke.
The Glockenspiel in the tower of the New City Hall is one of the most visited attractions in Munich. It’s a cute little musical play lasting for around ten minutes, enacting two scenes from Medieval Munich.
What do I need to know?
- entrance: free of charge. Just watch from the main square.
- at what times does it play?
Daily at 11:00 and 12:00, plus – from March to October – 17:00.
- website: muenchen.de
Anything to do while I wait for it to start?
You could explore the rich fassade of the New City Hall. Most prominently, there’s a dragon clinging to the Wurmeck corner (that dragon has a historic backstory). There’s also a beautiful inner yard – the Prunkhof – worth giving a peak.
Built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, Olympiapark became a central hub for relaxation and many sports, music and cultural events. It combines a modern, lightweight style of architecture with a vast park area. The peak of Olympiaberg – its most prominent hill – offers a wonderful view over the park and the city.
Can I buy food and drinks in the park?
Close to Olympiaberg you can find Olympiaalm, a cute little beer garden, offering everything you need.
Anything else of interest in this area?
If you are into (modern or historic) cars, check out the BMW Museum, located right next to Olympiapark.
- entrance: 14€. Entrance to the BMW Welt area is free.
- open days: Tuesday to Sunday
- website: bmw-welt.com