Is Munich Worth Visiting in 2024? Things to Do & Itinerary
If you’re reading this article, I’m guessing you’re currently trying to decide where to go on your next holiday, and you’re frantically typing “is Munich worth visiting?” into Google. And the answer? Definitely! But I understand why you’d be unsure, I was thinking the exact same thing before I visited.
In fact, it was never somewhere that was particularly high on my travel list. I was actually planning on going back to Amsterdam to soak up all the Autumnal vibes. But when I started looking into it, the hotels were so expensive and I didn’t fancy taking out a small loan for a weekend break. So we had a look on Skyscanner at the cheapest place to fly to, and Munich came out on top.
We set off with little expectation and were pleasantly surprised by just how much we loved Munich. By the time you’ve finished this article, I’ll hopefully have convinced you to make it your next city break and show you exactly why it’s worth visiting Munich.
Is it worth visiting Munich? Quick Questions
Is Munich safe?
Munich’s a really safe city. In fact, last year it was voted the 8th safest city in the world by Numbeo’s Crime Index. It scored a safety index of 82.59, with the top-scoring city, Abu Dhabi, only 6 points ahead.
How many days in Munich do you need?
If you’re visiting Munich for the first time, I’d recommend staying for 3 days. This is enough time to see the main sights, and even squeeze in a day trip to Eibsee or Neuschwanstein Castle.
Is Munich tourist friendly?
Munich’s a really tourist-friendly city. There’s plenty of attractions, lots of brilliant bars, and really friendly people. The transport system is great, which is always useful when you’re unfamiliar with a city. Plus, the customer service in bars and restaurants was levels above what we’ve experienced in other European cities.
Is Munich a pretty city?
Munich’s a really pretty city full of varied architecture including Baroque, Roman and Gothic. There’s plenty of green space – the English Garden is one of the largest city parks in Europe. Plus, there’s over 25 very pretty churches in Munich.
Is Berlin or Munich better to visit?
I’d recommend Berlin if you want to party, and Munich if you want to see more of Germany’s historical attractions. Munich’s a better option if you want to explore Bavaria. Budget will play a part here too as Munich is slightly more expensive than Berlin.
Is it worth visiting Munich? Accommodation
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation in Munich. Here’s my top 3 that cover every budget:
£ – Schwan Locke
One of my all-time favourite hotel brands, Locke, has recently arrived in Munich and it’s my number one choice. They’re design-led apartments with hotel-like service – the perfect combination in my eyes as you get much more space than you would in a traditional hotel room. The rooms are fun but incredibly practical, and its just a 20-minute walk from the city centre. If you’re visiting during Oktoberfest, this hotel’s a great option, as it’s just round the corner from the festival. There’s a gym, co-working space and a bar, plus a stunning outdoor terrace.
It’s a rarity for affordable hotels to look this good, you can get a room here from £70 a night!
££ – Louis Hotel
Located at Viktualienmarkt in the heart of Munich, you don’t get much more central than the Louis Hotel. There’s 72 beautifully-designed bedrooms, completed with handcrafted furniture and a calming, neutral deisgn. Upstairs is a stunning rooftop overlooking the Old Town, the perfect spot for a drink.
£££ – BEYOND by Geisel
Overlooking the New Town Hall, the views from BEYOND by Geisel are some of the best in Munich. The finishing touches are everything here – there’s Aesop toiletries, free-standing tubs in some of the rooms, and a private chef who will prepare meals for you at any time of day. Children under the age of 13 aren’t allowed in this hotel, which for me, being childless, only adds to its appeal!
Is it worth visiting Munich – things to do in Munich
There’s endless amounts of things to do in Munich – there really is something for everyone.
Grab Currywurst from Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s main market, right in the centre of the city. It’s the perfect place to start your weekend – you can buy just about any type of food here, from fresh fruit and veg to the traditional German fast food- Currywurst. If you’ve not tried it before, it’s basically slices of fried sausage seasoned with a mix of spices. No trip to Munich would be complete without trying it.
The market’s open Monday-Saturday from 8am-8pm and there’s 140 stalls to explore. Right in the middle of the market you’ll find a huge beer garden, and it’s a great place to stop off for a Pilsner. Whilst Munich’s renowned for Oktoberfest – a festival that actually takes place in September, and consists of lots of partying and lots of beer, their 1-litre beers are popular here all year round. I could never manage a whole one but you’ve got to try it whilst you’re here – I just stole a few sips of Conor’s!
Admire the view from St.Peter’s Church
Distance from Viktualienmarkt: 1-minute walk
After filling yourself up on beer and Bratwurst, it’s just a short walk to St.Peter’s Church. It’s the city’s oldest catholic church, dating back to the 12th century, and whilst it is beautiful inside, the main attraction is the tower.
Entrance is €5 and you can buy tickets at the door. A word of warning though – there’s 14 floors and the stairway is very narrow, so if you’re unsteady on your feet, I’d advise against it. But the scenery from the top is well worth the climb, there’s 360° views over Munich, including the famous Marienplatz (the central square). It’s a great place to get some pictures – although I absolutely hate heights so I had my camera in one hand whilst I gripped the railings with the other!
Marienplatz
Distance from St.Peter’s Church: 1-minute walk
Once you’re back down from St.Peter’s Church, head round the corner to Marienplatz. It’s Munich’s main square and it’s always a hub of activity, so I’d recommend visiting early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Marienplatz is the largest square in Munich, full of beautiful gothic architecture, shops, and restaurants. It’s a great place to grab a drink and people watch, although expect to pay a premium. I’d set aside an hour to wander around the square and discover the side streets surrounding it.
& visit the New Town Hall
Distance from Marienplatz: 0-minute walk
The New Town Hall is undoubtedly one of Munich’s most beautiful buildings, taking centre stage in the Marienplatz. It was built by the Neo-Gothic architect Georg von Hauberrisser and the facade is stunning – covered in ornate figures, flowers, and the famous Glockenspiel. Every day at 11am and 12pm, (plus 5pm during the summer months), the Glockenspiel chimes and tells two stories from 16th century Munich.
As well as admiring the New Town Hall from Marienplatz, you can also enter the state courtyard and head up to the viewing gallery in the Town Hall tower. Entrance to the courtyard is free but you’ll need to buy a ticket for the tower. It’s open daily from 10am-8pm and tickets cost €6 for a 15-minute time slot. Unlike the tower in St.Peter’s church, there’s no stairs here – elevators take you right up to the top.
The Frauenkirche
Distance from the New Town Hall: 4-minute walk
The Frauenkirche, meaning “Cathedral of our Dear Lady” is a grand church in the heart of the city. It was first built in the 11th century but after being destroyed in a fire, it was rebuilt between 1994 and 2005. Nowadays, it’s an open church, meaning you’re able to visit and take a look around, as well as attend worship if you like. It’s a really beautiful building and well worth a visit whilst you’re in Munich.
Visit a beer hall
Distance from the Frauenkirche: 7-minute walk
I think it’d be pretty impossible to visit Munich and not end up in a beer hall. Hofbräuhaus dates back to 1589 and is probably Munich’s most famous one. Rumour has it that William V, the Duke of Bavaria found the beer in Munich so bad that he ordered his royal court to make their own, which lead to the opening of the local brewery. It’s open 365 days a year from 11am-midnight and there’s often live music in true Bavarian style. I personally wouldn’t recommend eating there as it’s really expensive, but it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours soaking up the atmosphere.
Max-Joseph-Platz
Distance from Hofbräuhaus: 6-minute walk
Another one of Munich’s squares, Max-Joseph-Platz is named after King Maximilian Joseph, the first King of Bavaria. It’s only small but it’s home to one of the city’s most impressive buildings – the Munich Residence.
It was the residence of Bavarian dukes between 1508-1918 and is the largest city palace in all of Germany. Nowadays it’s open to the public and operates as a museum showcasing art from the Renaissance, through to Baroque and Neoclassicism. Tickets must be brought on the door and there’s several types to choose from:
- Entrance to the Residence Museum – €9
- Entrance to the Treasury – €9
- Residence Museum & Treasury – €14
- Entrance to Cuvilliés Theatre – €5
- Residence Museum + Treasury + Cuvilliés Theatre – €17
Children under 18 can enter free of charge.
Bavarian State Opera House
After visiting the Munich Residence, head across the square to the Bavarian State Opera House. With over 2,000 seats, it’s the largest opera house in Germany. It puts on over 30 operas and 20 ballets each season and it’s well worth attending a show if you have time!
Odeonsplatz
Distance from the Opera House: 5-minute walk
Another one of Munich’s squares (there’s 11 in total), Odeonsplatz, was my favourite by far. The architecture is stunning and I preferred it to Marienplatz as it was a lot less crowded. It’s named after the Odeon, a former concert hall that’s now home to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior. There’s a few buildings worth seeing whilst you’re here:
- Feldherrnhalle: the large monument with the 3 pillars and lions either side. It was built in the early 1840s in honour of the Bavarian Army.
- Theatinerkirche: the large yellow church in the centre of the square. It was built in the 17th century to celebrate the birth of Prince Max Emanuel, the heir to the Bavarian crown.
- Hofgarten: the “court garden” you enter through the archways from Odeonsplatz. It’s located in between the Munich Residence and the English Garden.
Wander around the English Garden
Distance from Odeonsplatz: 10-minute walk
If you walk through Hofgarten, you’ll find yourself at the bottom of the “Englischer Garten” (English Garden), one of the biggest city parks in the world. It’s even bigger than Central Park in New York! It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and there’s a few must-dos whilst you’re there:
- See the surfers on the Eisbach river
- Grab a beer at the Chinese Tower
- Take a pedal boat out on the Kleinhesseloher lake
- Admire the view from the Monopteros
Olympic Village
Originally built in 1972 when Munich hosted the Summer Olympics, the Olympiapark is now a residential area and a bustling hub of activity. It spans 99 acres and provides a brilliant vantage point over Munich.
If you’re into cars, it’s also home to the BMW Museum showcasing over 100-years of the brands history. It’s open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am-6pm and entry is €10 for adults and €7 for anyone under 18.
I’d probably recommend visiting the Olympic Village on a separate day to everything else as it’s further out of the city – it’d take you nearly an hour to walk here from the English Garden.
Wander around Glockenbachviertel
About a 20-minute stroll from Marienplatz, Glockenbachviertel is Munich’s gay district and is full of independent shops, cafes, great bars and restaurants. I’d definitely set some time aside to wander around this neighbourhood with no real agenda except to explore. It was one of my favourite places in the city.
Take a day trip to Eibsee
Probably the most stunning lake in all of Bavaria, Eibsee’s about an hour and a half drive from Munich and is the perfect day trip if you want a break from the city. The lake sits at the base of Zugspitze – Germany’s tallest mountain, and the drive there is just as amazing as the destination. You can also get the cable car up to Zugspitze – it holds the world record for the longest freespan in a cable car at 3,213 metres.
I honestly don’t think I’ve visited a place as beautiful as this, I was constantly saying “oh my god, look at that”. It takes about 2 hours to walk around the lake, although it took us a lot longer because I wanted to stop and look at everything. At the end, there’s a fabulous restaurant serving up hearty food – just what you need after a big walk. Usually, in places like this where there’s only one restaurant choice, I find the food to be quite unreliable, but it was genuinely delicious. Don’t worry about making a reservation, just turn up when you’ve finished the walk.
I’d recommend hiring a car if you’re going to Eibsee, as it’s a lot quicker to get there than taking the train. We hired ours through Discover Cars and the whole process was really straightforward.
Drive on the autobahn
If you decide to drive to Eibsee from Munich you’ll get to drive on the autobahn, and it’s a real bucket-list activity you have to try whilst you’re in Germany. If you’ve not heard of the autobahn, it’s essentially parts of the motorway in Germany with no real speed limit. There’s still an advisory speed limit in place, usually around 80mph, but it’s not a legal requirement, and it’s definitely not abided by! I was really apprehensive before we went on the autobahn that it was going to be full of dangerous drivers and it was going to feel unsafe, but I didn’t feel like that at all. It’s really easy to stay in the slow lane if you don’t want to go fast, but it’s a very efficient way of travelling if you do!
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle
This fairytale castle is rumoured to be the inspiration for the castle in Cinderella, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. It’s about 2 hours away from Munich and really easy to visit in a day. You can drive or take public transport, but it’s much easier to book a tour.
You’ll be driven from Munich to the castle, given a guided tour, and then brought back to the city. There’s also an option to add on a guided tour of Linderhof Palace.
Is it worth visiting Munich? The food
I’m going to be really honest with you here, I wouldn’t recommend visiting Munich just for its food scene. There were a few gems, but there are lots of European cities I’d place above Munich for restaurants. Don’t let that put you off though, there’s so much to do here beyond eating. Plus, there’s still a few places you can grab a great meal:
- Gloria
- Bindaas
- Blitz
- Rosi
- Beluga chocolate
- Wagners Juicery
- Lea Zapf
- Bambule (Locke hotel)
- Mural Farmhouse
- Dr.Drooly
Is it worth visiting Munich? Bars and nightlife
Whilst Munich might not have the same notoriety as Berlin when it comes to nights out, it’s still full of brilliant bars. Here’s a few I’d recommend:
- Brezenreiter
- Favourit Bar
- Zephyr Bar
- The High
- Bar Garçon
- Zum Wolf
Is Munich expensive?
This question is obviously very relative to where you currently live. I lived in London for 4 years so nothing tends to shock me. But, on the whole, I didn’t find Munich expensive. It’s one of the more expensive cities in Germany, but much cheaper than other European destinations like Paris and Amsterdam.
So, is it worth visiting Munich?
Definitely! As I said at the start of this article, I was hesitant about visiting Munich before we visited, but now it’s firmly on the list of my favourite European cities. It’s easily walkable, the public transport is brilliant, and there’s so much to do. Plus, it’s in the heart of Bavaria which is full of stunning lakes, mountains and villages. Hopefully I’ve convinced you to book a city break in Munich – I promise you won’t get bored.
