2 Days in Munich: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

I spent two days in Munich as part of my larger trip to Bavaria, and I was honestly pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the city! I tend to lean toward smaller mountain towns and nature more, but I really enjoyed my time in Munich and would recommend spending a few days here to anyone passing through.

This itinerary is perfect if it’s your first time in Munich and hits all the iconic spots that the city is known for, including Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, the BMW Museum, and more!

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2 Days in Munich at a Glance

In my opinion, 2 days in Munich is the perfect amount of time to see the top spots and get a good feel for the city. This itinerary keeps you mostly in and around the city center, so you won’t have to spend a ton of time traveling between stops. If you want to squeeze in places like Neuschwanstein Castle, you’ll definitely want to add an extra day or two to your trip.

This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors. It includes some of Munich’s most popular sights, along with places we enjoyed during our time in the city. I tried to pack a lot into these two days, but you can always adjust the itinerary. Pick and choose based on what you’re most interested in.

Day 1: Munich’s Historic Center

Spend your first day on foot exploring Munich’s historic center. Most of the stops are within walking distance of each other, making it an easy way to see some of Munich’s most famous sights without having to worry about transportation. Start your morning exploring the historic churches and squares. Then make your way through Viktualienmarkt and ending the day at the Deutsches Museum.

Visit Frauenkirche

Start your morning at Frauenkirche, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Munich. We stopped in to see the church and take a look around before continuing on to the next stop. The church is free to visit but does accept donations.

I would check their website before you visit to make sure there aren’t any events that day that would prohibit you from visiting. When we went, they were hosting a concert at 11:00 a.m., so we made sure to visit in the morning.

Asamkirche

From Frauenkirche, make your way to the much smaller Asamkirche. It’s easy to miss from the outside, but stepping inside is a completely different experience because of how elaborate the interior is. This church is also free to visit and is known for its famous dark interior and extreme detail inside! It is a small church, so you don’t need a ton of time to visit, but I definitely think it’s worth adding to your itinerary.

Walk Through Viktualienmarkt

From here, make your way to Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s famous open-air market. This is a great place to wander around, grab something to eat or drink, and take a break from sightseeing. We visited around 10:30ish, which was the perfect time to visit. It wasn’t too crowded, and it was easy to find somewhere to sit and enjoy my bratwurst. That said, it can get very busy during lunch and dinner hours, and it can be hard to find a place to sit if you are grabbing lunch at the main beer garden.

Don’t let that deter you, though! It’s worth wandering around the shops and checking out all the different food and drink options.

Tip: Hold onto your water bottles or bring a reusable water bottle because they have quite a few water fill up stations throughout the market.

Explore Marienplatz

Just across the street from Viktualienmarkt, wander through Marienplatz, the heart of Munich’s historic center. This is one of those places you’ll probably pass through several times during your trip. It’s still worth taking some time to look around and admire the stunning architecture. The New Town Hall is absolutely beautiful, so take some time to walk around the plaza and take it all in.

Twice a day, at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., the famous Glockenspiel has a show that is really cool to watch. The plaza does tend to get more crowded around these times. However, it’s such a large plaza that the crowds disperse pretty quickly afterward.

There are also a few souvenir shops in the area that you can pop into. You can also grab a pastry and coffee from one of the nearby cafés.

Deutsches Museum

From here, make your way over to the Deutsches Museum, especially if you’re interested in science, technology, or history. We spent the afternoon exploring the museum, and it’s a much bigger experience than you might expect, so give yourself plenty of time if you want to see everything! We bought tickets online ahead of time for the 12:00–1:00 p.m. entry time, but you can also buy them at the counter if you don’t want to choose a time ahead of time.

Since the museum is so big, I recommend taking a look at the map and prioritizing the exhibits you are most interested in instead of planning to see every one. My personal favorites were the aircraft, space, and human body exhibits!

Try Traditional Bavarian Food for Dinner

For dinner, I recommend eating at Augustiner Klosterwirt, just across from Frauenkirche. The place does tend to get busy, but luckily, the line moves pretty quickly and service is prompt. This restaurant is highly rated, with over 14,000 reviews, and after eating there, I see why!

We got the pork knuckle and dumpling and the Swabian onion roast beef, and both were probably some of the best food we had our entire trip!

The food here isn’t the cheapest. For two entrees, two beers, and one dessert, we paid around 100 euros. It’s pretty on par for food like this in Munich, but it’s best to know ahead of time!

Day 2: Cars, History & Culture

On day two, travel just outside the city to learn about Germany’s heavy history at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and visit the iconic BMW Museum before heading back to the city to explore the Munich Residenz. While the concentration camp is a heavy sight, it’s an important part of history and one of the most meaningful places you can visit near Munich.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Start the morning off at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Entrance is free, and they offer guided tours in English at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily for 4 euros. We chose to explore the grounds ourselves and found there to be sufficient signage around the camp. I recommend starting in the old Maintenance Building, which is now a museum, to read through the history before heading to the barracks, memorials, and gas chambers.

Understandably, the place is very heavy and sad, but seeing it firsthand is a way to remember those who lost their lives and learn about the history so that something like this can hopefully never happen again.

Visit the BMW Museum

From here, stop at the BMW Museum to learn more about the history of one of Germany’s most well-known car brands. Admission is 17 euros and can be purchased online or in person.

I am not a big car person, but I found the BMW Museum to be very interesting and am glad I visited! The museum itself is laid out very well, so you always know what exhibit to go to next. The exhibits show you a bit of the history of the cars and engines and how they progressed over the years. You can even see where BMW is headed in the future.

I personally loved seeing all the older cars that were still in mint condition! I’d expect to spend around 1–2 hours here. Then, you can walk over to the BMW Welt, which is free to visit.

At the BMW Welt, you can walk around and see current BMW cars, motorcycles, and BMW M models, sit in some vehicles, and see special displays.

Spend the Evening at the Munich Residenz

End your day back in Munich exploring the Munich Residenz, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs. Tickets are 10 euros and include an audio guide. They can be purchased online or in person at the museum front desk.

The Residenz is right in the heart of Munich, making it an easy stop after visiting BMW and Dachau. Give yourself around 1–2 hours to walk through the rooms and learn more about the history of the Bavarian royal family. I’ve included their hours of operation below so you can plan accordingly.

Late March to mid-October (March 28 – October 19): 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 5:00 PM)
Mid-October to late March (October 20 – March 27): 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM)

Where to Stay in Munich

I recommend staying close to the city center so you can easily explore Munich on foot. There’s also nothing quite like waking up in the city instead of having to commute into and out of it, especially for a quick trip like this.

If you plan to take the train to the airport and want to stay close to the train station, Aloft by Marriott Munich is a great option. I personally stayed here and found the location to be great. The staff was friendly, the rooms were comfy, and they offered free coffee 24/7, which was a nice touch.

If you prefer to be in the city center, right where the action is, then The Platzl Hotel – Superior is a good option for you. It’s just a two-minute walk from Marienplatz, so you’ll be close to all the hotspots in Munich.

Still looking for more options on where to stay? Check out my guide on where to stay in Munich for a breakdown of the best areas and a few hotel recommendations to help you find the right spot for your trip.

FAQ About 2 day Munich Itinerary

How to Get Around Munich

Munich is a super walkable city and so easy to walk most places! When you’re heading outside the city, like to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, you can easily take the train or bus. I actually recommend walking around the city instead of renting a car. You really don’t need one unless you’re staying longer or planning to venture outside the city.

Is 2 Days in Munich Enough?

Yes, two days is enough to get a really good first taste of Munich. You can see most of the iconic spots during that time. You obviously won’t be able to see everything, but two days is a great amount of time for your first visit.

What Are the Best Day Trips From Munich?

If you have additional days in Munich, I’d recommend visiting Neuschwanstein Castle! It’s about 2 hours away, but a tour makes getting there super easy. You can just sit back and enjoy the views. I recommend this highly rated tour on GetYourGuide that also includes a visit to the Linderhof Castle: From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle Full-Day Trip.

If you want to get out of the city and see some of Bavaria’s mountain scenery, Zugspitze and Garmisch-Partenkirchen are a great option! They’re only about an hour from Munich, and you can take the train yourself or make things even easier by joining a guided tour. This highly rated GetYourGuide tour combines a visit to Zugspitze with time to explore Garmisch Town: From Munich: Zugspitze Mountain Van Tour with Garmisch Town.

Final Thoughts on Our 2 Days in Munich

Overall, I really enjoyed our two days in Munich! I found the city had a great mix of history, food, architecture, and things to do.

I think two days is a great amount of time for a first visit. You can see most of the major sights without feeling like you’re rushing around the entire time. There are still plenty of things I didn’t get to see, though. If I were to visit again, I’d definitely spend more time exploring places like the English Garden and Munich Residenz.

If you’re planning a trip to Bavaria, I definitely recommend adding a couple of days in Munich to your itinerary. I also think Munich is a great introduction to Bavaria and a good base for exploring the surrounding area.