When to go to Munich?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: May to July and September to October
At a glance
Why go to Munich?
Munich is the German city with the best quality of life, and you can feel it from Marienplatz onwards. The Bavarian capital has the refinement of a court city, a legacy of the Wittelsbachs, who covered it with palaces, museums and gardens for seven centuries. But it also has the conviviality of a village: here, sharing a beer-hall table with strangers over a one-litre Mass is the most natural thing in the world.
It is also a green and surprisingly sporty city. The English Garden, larger than Central Park, sees a parade of joggers, Eisbach bathers and surfers taming a permanent wave in the city centre, a free and fascinating spectacle at any hour. The Alps appear on the horizon when the foehn blows, and Bavarian lakes such as the Starnberger See are 30 minutes away by S-Bahn.
Finally, Munich is a dream base camp. Neuschwanstein Castle, the most photographed in the world, is two hours away. Salzburg, Nuremberg and the peaks of the Zugspitze are within reach by regional train. Between excursions, the Pinakotheken of the Kunstareal line up Dürer, Rubens and Kandinsky in one of the finest museum quarters in Europe.
Map of Munich: what is where?
The map shows the 6 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Marienplatz
- English Garden (Eisbach)
- Nymphenburg
- Hofbräuhaus
- Alte Pinakothek
- Theresienwiese
How much does a trip to Munich cost?
Munich is the most expensive city in Germany, especially for accommodation, but beer gardens where you can bring your own picnic and €1 museums on Sundays rebalance the bill.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | €75-110/day | hostel or hotel near the station, lunch at the Viktualienmarkt, beer garden with a picnic, €1 museums on Sundays |
| Comfort | €140-210/day | 4-star hotel in the Altstadt, beer halls and good restaurants, trip to Neuschwanstein, unlimited transport |
| Premium | €320+/day | palace hotel such as the Bayerischer Hof, Michelin-starred table, spa, private excursions in Bavaria |
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but some beer gardens and market stalls still favour cash: keep €30-40 on you.
Is Munich safe?
Munich regularly ranks among the safest big cities in the world, and you can walk around without a second thought at any hour, English Garden included. The only caution concerns pickpockets during Oktoberfest and in the very touristy areas around Marienplatz. Watch out for the cycle lanes too, which are sacred here: a pedestrian who lingers on one gets rung at without mercy. The size of the fines for jaywalking sometimes surprises visitors.
What to see and do in Munich
- Marienplatz
- English Garden
- Nymphenburg Palace
- Hofbräuhaus
- Viktualienmarkt
- Kunstareal Pinakotheken
- Theresienwiese
- Neuschwanstein Castle
Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus
The beating heart of Munich since 1158. The neo-Gothic town hall, bristling with turrets, houses the famous Glockenspiel: at 11:00 and noon (and 17:00 in summer), its 32 life-size figures re-enact a knights' tournament and the coopers' dance. Climb the neighbouring tower of St Peter's, 306 steps for the finest view over the red roofs and, in good weather, the Alps. All around, the pedestrianised old town unfolds its Baroque churches and shopping arcades.
The English Garden and the Eisbach wave
Covering 375 hectares, this park laid out in 1789 is bigger than Central Park. Its most astonishing attraction is the permanent Eisbach wave at the southern entrance, where surfers string together tricks all year round in front of passers-by, even in winter. Further north, the Chinese Tower is home to a 7,000-seat beer garden, and locals sunbathe on the lawns at the first sign of sun. Hire a bike to go round it: it is the finest ride in the city.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Wittelsbachs' summer residence stretches its Baroque facade over more than 600 metres, in front of a canal where swans glide. Inside, King Ludwig I's Gallery of Beauties lines up 36 portraits of women who had charmed him, including the scandalous Lola Montez. The English-style park hides exquisite pavilions, among them the Amalienburg, a rococo masterpiece. Ludwig II, the builder king of Neuschwanstein, was born here in 1845.
The Hofbräuhaus and the beer halls
Founded in 1589 for the royal court, the Hofbräuhaus is the most famous beer hall in the world: a band in lederhosen, waitresses carrying ten steins at arm's length, room for 3,000 people at long tables and painted vaults. Touristy, admittedly, but the atmosphere is genuinely Bavarian, especially in the regulars' room, where locals keep their personal stein in a locker. For a more local experience, head to the Augustiner Bräustuben or the Viktualienmarkt beer garden.
The Kunstareal, the museum quarter
Three Pinakotheken within 200 metres of each other: the Alte Pinakothek with its masterpieces by Dürer, Rubens and Leonardo, the Neue Pinakothek for the 19th century, and the Pinakothek der Moderne for contemporary art and design. Next door, the Lenbachhaus shows the world's finest collection of the Blue Rider group, led by Kandinsky and Franz Marc. On Sundays, several museums drop their admission to €1, a bargain not to be missed.
Day trip to Neuschwanstein
Two hours from Munich, Ludwig II's castle rises from a rocky spur facing the Alps, so unreal that it inspired the Disney logo. Built from 1869 by a king fascinated by Wagner, it was never finished: Ludwig II lived there for 172 days before his mysterious death in Lake Starnberg. The interior tour is short but the site is grandiose, especially from the Marienbrücke bridge suspended above the Pöllat gorge.
How many days, and which itinerary?
Allow 3 days for the city, 4 with the trip to Neuschwanstein, and a week to explore Bavaria.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Munich guide (PDF) · 🌍 All of Germany
Essential Munich (2 days)
Day 1: Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel, St Peter's tower, the Viktualienmarkt, then the Residenz and an evening at the Hofbräuhaus. Day 2: the Alte Pinakothek in the morning, the English Garden and the Eisbach surfers in the afternoon, the Chinese Tower beer garden at sunset.
Munich and the mad king (4 days)
Two days in the city as above, a third between Nymphenburg and the BMW Museum or the Olympic Park, and a full day trip to Neuschwanstein with the village of Füssen. The great Bavarian classic.
Bavaria in full (7 days)
Four days in Munich and Neuschwanstein, then Lake Starnberg or the Tegernsee, a day in Salzburg (1 hour 30 minutes by train) and a trip up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, via Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Getting there and getting around
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses on a single ticket: zone M at €4.10, a day card at €9.60, very reliable
From the airport: the S1 or S8 in 40 minutes (~€14), or the Lufthansa Express bus to the central station
The bike is king: 1,200 km of cycle lanes, rentals everywhere, and the English Garden and the Isar are ideally discovered on two wheels
For Neuschwanstein: regional train to Füssen, then bus 73/78; the Bayern-Ticket (~€29/day) covers everything
Where to stay in Munich?
Altstadt: everything on foot around Marienplatz, allow €150 to €250 for a double in a 4-star
Glockenbachviertel: the creative, party district, boutique hotels from €120 to €180
Schwabing: elegant and close to the English Garden, guesthouses and charming hotels from €100 to €160
Around the station: the best value for money (€70 to €120), practical but charmless
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Munich?
Weisswurst: the white sausage is eaten before noon, poached, with a pretzel and sweet mustard, never with the skin
Schweinshaxe: roast pork knuckle with crackling skin; the Haxnbauer's version is famous throughout the city
Beer gardens: you can bring your own picnic, only drinks are bought on site, and a one-litre Mass costs €9-10
Viktualienmarkt: 140 stalls of cheeses, cold cuts and obatzda (cheese whipped with paprika), the perfect quick lunch
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Frequently asked questions about Munich
When is the best time to visit Munich?
May to July and September to October: the beer gardens are in full swing and the Alps reveal themselves in the sunshine. Oktoberfest (mid-September to early October) is a unique experience but triples hotel prices; December appeals with its Christmas markets on Marienplatz.
What daily budget should I plan for in Munich?
Allow €75 to €110 a day on a tight budget, €140 to €210 for a comfortable stay with a central hotel and beer halls. The beer gardens, where you can bring your own picnic, and the €1 museums on Sundays lighten the bill considerably.
How do I get around?
The U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram network is one of the best in Europe: a zone M day card costs €9.60, with German punctuality guaranteed. The historic centre is walkable, and a bike is ideal for the English Garden and the banks of the Isar.
How many days should I plan?
Three days cover the city: the old town, the Pinakotheken, Nymphenburg and the English Garden. Add a fourth day for the unmissable trip to Neuschwanstein, and more if you have your sights on Salzburg or the Bavarian lakes.
How do I get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich?
Regional train to Füssen (2 hours), then bus 73 or 78 to Hohenschwangau, all covered by the Bayern-Ticket at around €29 a day. Be sure to book your tour slot on the official website several days in advance, as on-site tickets are gone before 10am.
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