Munich is the third largest city in Germany, situated on the river Isar, and a popular destination for both business and leisure travellers.
As well as being the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria, Munich is also the gateway to the Alps. Munich is home to major universities, outstanding museums and theaters, numerous architectural attractions, international sports events, exhibitions, conferences and not to forget the world famous Oktoberfest.
The city offers a vast amount of attractions for the whole family, such as castles, palaces, gardens, parks and churches. For car and motorbike enthusiast, an absolute must is the BMW Welt, not just your ordinary museum but an Aladdin’s cave with thrilling exhibitions about the past, present and future of the brand.
The choice is yours from straddling a powerful motorbike, marvel at technology-packed saloons, browse the ‘lifestyle’ shop or simply take the 80-minute guided tour.
Getting From Munich Airport
Munich Airport offers a traditional Bavarian brewery and beer garden as well as two free Recreation Areas located at Level 05 of Terminal 2 between the gates H32 and H33 and at Level 04 of Terminal 2 near Gate G16. There is also free internet access points and free WIFI (for the first 30 minutes).
The airport in Munich is 28.5 km northeast of the city and the journey takes around 45 minutes by car. You can catch the train which runs every 10 minutes or jump on the airport bus which runs every 20 minutes during the day.
By Bus
Another bus service (MVV line 635) links the airport to the Freising railway station, about 20 minutes away. This station gives access to regional trains with destinations such as Nuremberg, Regensburg and Prague.
By Train
Munich is Germany’s second busiest airport and, as a result, has many road and rail links. The Airport is connected to the city of Munich by S-Bahn lines S1 and S8. Journey time is 45 minutes to a city centre station, such as Marienplatz.
Airport Shuffle
The Airport Bus provides an alternative to the S-Bahn, stopping at Nordfriedhof U-Bahn station and Munich Central Station. There is also an Airport Bus which goes to Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof); this bus also stops at Nordfriedhof U-Bahn station.
Where to Stay
You can find a wide variety of accommodation from five-star luxury to funky budget hotels.
If you choose hotel located just outside the city, this will likely be cheaper and Munich’s excellent public transport system will get you to destination on time and relatively cheap. Like in every city, if you want to be in the heart, like The Altstadt, you’ll have to pay a premium for this privilege.
If you’re a bit of a party animal, a perfect location to touch base is either the Schwabing, Maxvorstadt or the Gärtnerplatzviertel-Glockenbachviertel area. Just a bit of advise, if you’re planning to visit the Oktoberfest, book well in advance as hotel prices do go sky high when the festival is on and you’ll find limited availability!
Just a short walk from Munich Station which offers a direct train service from the airport, the first class deluxe Maritim Hotel Munich is ideally located for both the city centre and business districts.
With panoramic roof top indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms the Maritim hotel and its welcoming staff offer guests a haven in which to relax and unwind.
Take advantage of the full hot and cold buffet breakfast, relax in the hotels own bier garden, dine in the bistro or end your night with a cocktail in the piano bar the newly restyled Maritim Hotel welcomes you to Munich.
The Laimer Hof is situated in the heart of the Nymphenburg district, just by the Nymphenburg Castle with its beautiful park, historic sites, the botanical garden and many museums. Ideally situated in the heart of Munich, the elegant Charles Hotel is part of the Rocco Forte Hotel chain. Suited for business and leisure travellers alike, expect nothing but five-star accommodation and amenities in this outstanding hotel.
For the ultimate luxury stay, the 5-star Mandarin Oriental Munich is recommended. It is located in one of the quieter parts of the city and is surrounded by one of the most beautiful landmarks in Munich. This hotel is perfectly situated within walking distance of the main attractions, including a great range of bars and restaurants.
Browse all hotels on Booking.com.
Attractions & Top Places to Visit
The majority of sights are located in the heart of the city in Munich’s Old Town and you can easily walk from one landmark to the other.
Start in the Marienplatz , where you can explore many old and wonderful buildings, churches and landmarks. Marienplatz houses the Mariensäule, the Marian Column topped with the golden statue of Virgin Mary, and it is also home to the Old and the New Town Hall of Munich.
The tower of the New Town Hall (Rathaus) houses the Glockenspiel, a beautiful carillon that is over 100 years old. Watch the 32 life-sized figures reenact historical Bavarian events. The architecture of the Rathaus is simply fascinating with gargoyles, statues and a dragon scaling the turrets. Insiders tip – climb to the top of the tower to get a stunning view of the city!
The Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady is probably the most famous landmark of Munich and the city’s largest church; it holds up to 20,000 people. Build in the 15th century, this Gothic style cathedral, were modeled on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. You can climb to the top and admire the city and Alps from a bird’s eye view. Munich’s largest park, The English Garden (Englischer Garten), is a stunning green oasis for you to explore.
The park, bigger than New York’s Central Park, is the perfect place to go for a jog, bicycle ride or simply chill out on the grass listening to one of the many street musicians. In the heart of the English Garden, you’ll find the Lake, where you can rent a paddle boat and afterwards relax with a nice cold drink in the Seehaus beer garden. The park is also host to a few more unusual attractions such as the Chinese Tower and a Japanese Teahouse and the Eisbach, an artificial stream popular for wild water surfing.
Explore the Olympiapark north of the city, build for the 1972 Olympic Games and now a complex holding concerts, festivals and off course sporting events. Book yourself on a 90 minutes guided tour and find out more about the Olympiastadion (former home to Bayern Munich FC) and the eye catching 291 meter high Olympiaturm, which has a brilliant observation platform and a “Rock Museum”.
Visit BMW Welt, located next to the Olympiapark, the ultimate car museum in the world! Explore all to do with cars, motorbikes and technology. On the Junior Campus, kids learn about mobility, become a car engineer and even get to design their own vehicle in workshops. In addition, there’s always some daredevil stunts involving cars or motorbikes going on around the museum.
Admire the masterpieces of Rubens, Rembrandt , Poussin, Botticelli and other great Dutch Masters in the Pinakothek. Open daily from 10AM until 6PM, it is one of the oldest galleries in the world and has a fantastic collection of Old Master paintings.
Food & Drink
Munich has developed quite a cosmopolitan gourmet scene in the last decade. The city, regarded as the best place to live in Germany, offers a wide range of European, Asian, African and South American restaurants. But, as you’re in Germany, you have to sample the local delicacy ofl Weisswurst (white sausage)!
Munich has plenty of beer garden restaurants where you can try traditional Bavarian food such as “Obatzda” cheese, grilled ribs, potato salad, Brez’n and other local specialties such as Pretzels.
Simply sit down at one of the tables with locals – it is a custom in Bavaria, whether in beer gardens or restaurants, to sit down with complete strangers and enjoy each other’s company – they might even end up sharing their food with you!
Festivals
Oktoberfest | September – October
If you fly to Munich in September or October, make sure you get a beer at the annual Oktoberfest. Simply sign along to “oom pah pah” music, dress up in lederhosen, “fraulein” oufits and dance on the tables! The festival is a great way to enjoy Munich’s cuisine and culture and Bavarian hospitality.
This huge beer festival is one of the most famous in Europe and the world, and it originated from the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Theresa from Saxony-Hildburghausen in 1810. So we have a lot to thank them for!
Beginning as a quite family affair with few carousels and a sumptuous feast, the beer stands steadily started appearing in 1896, and the festival now hosts six million people per year. Go for the beer, go for pig’s knuckles and bratwurst, and embrace the inevitable hangover.
During the rest of the year, go beer guzzling and pretzel snapping at the Hofbräuhaus, the world’s most celebrated beer hall. All food and drinks are served by waitresses in traditional costumes and the beers come in the typical halters (which can be pretty heavy).
Best Day Trips and Places to Visit Near Munich
Why not use Munich airport as your stepping stone to go skiing in the Alps?
When you’re on top of the Rathaus in the city centre, you can almost touch the Alps. There are several really good, less crowded resorts within an hour’s drive of the city, like Wallberg or Alpspitze, but the highest (2,100m) and most snow-sure mountain in Bavaria is Zugspitze, 90km from Munich.
In combination with Alpspitze, the home of the famed Kandahar Olympic downhill run, it boasts over 62km of pistes and some of the region’s best avalanche-safe backcountry.
To explore Bavaria, a great option is to take the regional trains which are low in price especially for small groups (up to five people travelling together). Explore train offers before travelling for the best deals. You can also find out more information on Bavaria Tourism to make the most of your trip.
Another must visit, although slightly harrowing place to visit is the Dachau Concentration Camp where you can learn more about the brutal history of Second World War.
If you enjoyed this city guide, you might like to view my tips for other popular German cities: