12 Things to Do in Munich on Your First Visit
Munich is such a fun city to explore, especially with so many different things to see and do. There’s a great mix of historic sights, beautiful parks, museums, markets, and plenty of places to grab a beer or a good meal. If it’s your first time visiting Munich, it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what’s actually worth adding to your itinerary. So, I put together 12 of my favorite things to do in Munich to help you plan your trip.
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Planning your first trip to Munich? Before you start building your itinerary, you might be wondering if the city is even worth adding to your trip. I recently spent a few days in Munich and shared my honest thoughts in my guide, Is Munich Worth Visiting? Pros, Cons & What to Expect.
1. Marienplatz
Marienplatz is the heart of Munich’s historic center and 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.
There are also a few souvenir shops in the area that you can pop into, along with plenty of nearby cafés where you can grab a pastry and coffee.
2. See the Glockenspiel at the Neues Rathaus
One of the most popular things to see in Marienplatz is the Glockenspiel at the Neues Rathaus. The famous clock comes to life with moving figures that reenact scenes from Munich’s history, accompanied by the sound of the bells. It’s a fun thing to stop and watch, especially if it’s your first time in Munich.
The Glockenspiel performs at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., so if you want to see it, make sure you’re in Marienplatz a few minutes beforehand. The plaza does tend to get more crowded around these times, but it’s such a large space that the crowds disperse pretty quickly afterward.
3. Visit Frauenkirche
Frauenkirche is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Munich and is definitely worth seeing during your first visit. We stopped in to see the church and take a look around before continuing on with our day. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated
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.
4. Explore Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s famous open-air market and is a great place to wander around, grab something to eat or drink, and take a break from sightseeing. We visited around 10:30 a.m., which ended up being the perfect time to visit. It wasn’t too crowded, and it was easy to find somewhere to sit and enjoy my bratwurst.
The market can get very busy around lunch and dinner, and it may be harder to find a place to sit if you’re grabbing lunch at the main beer garden. Don’t let that deter you, though! It’s still worth wandering around the market and checking out all the different food and drink options.
Tip: Hold onto your water bottles or bring a reusable water bottle. There are several water refill stations throughout the market, which came in handy while we were exploring.
5. Visit Asamkirche
Though much smaller than Frauenkirche, Asamkirche is still worth a visit. It’s easy to miss from the outside, but stepping inside is a completely different experience because of how elaborate the interior is.
The church is free to visit and is known for its dark interior and incredible amount of detail. It’s a small church, so you don’t need a ton of time to explore. However, I definitely think it’s worth adding to your list when visiting Munich.
6. Visit the Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum is a great place to visit if you’re interested in science, technology, or history. We spent the afternoon exploring the museum, and it was much bigger than we expected. Give yourself plenty of time if you want to see everything!
We bought our tickets online ahead of time for a specific entry time, but you can also buy tickets at the counter.
Since the museum is so big, I recommend taking a look at the map and prioritizing the exhibits you’re most interested in instead of trying to see everything. My personal favorites were the aircraft, space, and human body exhibits!
7. See the Residenz
The Munich Residenz was the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs and is a great place to visit if you’re interested in history, architecture, or beautiful historic interiors. Tickets are €10 and include an audio guide. They can be purchased online or in person at the ticket desk.
The Residenz is right in the heart of Munich, making it an easy attraction to add to your sightseeing list. 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 the current hours of operation below so you can plan your visit.
8. Try traditional Bavarian food
One of the best parts of visiting Munich is getting to try traditional Bavarian food. There are plenty of Bavarian foods to try while you’re in Munich. Pork knuckle, dumplings, sausages, and pretzels are just a few of the local favorites.
One restaurant I recommend is Augustiner Klosterwirt, located just across from Frauenkirche. The restaurant does tend to get busy, but luckily, the line moves pretty quickly and the service is prompt. It’s highly rated, with more than 14,000 reviews, and after eating there, I can see why!
We ordered the pork knuckle with dumpling and the Swabian onion roast beef, and both were probably some of the best food we had during our entire trip!
9. Visit Olympic Park
Olympiapark is a great place to visit if you want to get outside and see a different side of Munich. The park was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics and is home to the famous Olympic Stadium, Olympic Lake, and the iconic tent-style roof.
There’s more to do here than just see the Olympic landmarks. You can walk or bike around the park, relax by the lake, rent a pedal boat, or head up Olympiaberg for some great views of Munich.
One of the best times to visit is around sunset. Olympiaberg is a popular spot to watch the sunset, and the views across the park and city make it a beautiful place to end your visit.
10. Visit the BMW Museum
The BMW Museum is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about the history of one of Germany’s most well-known car brands. Admission is €17 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 is laid out really well, so you always know which exhibit to visit next. The exhibits take you through the history of BMW’s cars and engines and show how they have progressed over the years. You can even get a look at 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. Afterward, you can walk over to BMW Welt, which is free to visit.
At BMW Welt, you can see current BMW cars, motorcycles, and BMW M models, sit inside some vehicles, and check out special displays. Even if you aren’t a huge car enthusiast, I think both are worth checking out while you’re in the area.
11. Take a day trip to Dachau
The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is an important place to visit if you want to learn more about the history of Nazi Germany and the concentration camp system. Entrance is free, and guided tours in English are offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for €4.
We chose to explore the grounds ourselves and found there was plenty of signage throughout the memorial site. I recommend starting in the former Maintenance Building, which now houses a museum, to learn about the history before exploring the barracks, memorials, and other areas of the site.
Understandably, visiting Dachau is a very heavy and emotional experience. While it isn’t an easy place to visit, seeing the site firsthand provides an opportunity to learn about and remember the people who suffered and lost their lives there.
12. Take a day trip outside 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.
How Many Days Do You Need in Munich?
Two days is a great amount of time for a first visit to Munich. You can see most of the major sights without feeling like you’re rushing from one place to the next. That said, there were still a few places I didn’t get to see during my two days. If I were to visit again, I’d definitely spend more time exploring the English Garden and Munich Residenz.
If you’re planning a trip to Bavaria, I definitely recommend adding at least a couple of days in Munich to your itinerary. Munich is a great introduction to Bavaria and makes a convenient base if you want to explore the surrounding area. If you’re planning your first visit to Munich, check out my 2 Days in Munich itinerary for ideas on how to spend your time once you arrive!
After exploring Munich, I’d recommend heading to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to experience Bavaria’s beautiful mountain scenery. If you want to spend a few days exploring the area, check out my 3 Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen itinerary for a day-by-day plan covering the best hikes, attractions, and mountain views.
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.
Final Thoughts on Things to do in Munich
After spending two days in Munich, I can definitely see why it’s such a popular stop in Bavaria. I love how Munich has a good mix of history, museums, markets, ands things to see.
If it’s your first visit, two days is a great starting point for seeing many of Munich’s main sights. If you have more time, there are plenty of places you can add to your itinerary without running out of things to do. Whether you’re visiting Munich as part of a larger Bavaria trip or spending a few days exploring the city on its own, it’s worth adding to your itinerary!
