What to See in Munich: Itinerary, Highlights & Tours
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, sits between the Isar River and the northern foothills of the Alps. The city has a rich history, from its beginnings as a salt-trade toll station in 1158 to the grand Residenz palace built by the Wittelsbach dynasty. Munich also witnessed some of the darkest moments of the 20th century, as the Nazi Party rose to power here. Today, the city blends its engineering achievements (like BMW Welt and the Deutsches Museum), beautiful Baroque churches, and a lively beer culture that hosts the world’s largest folk festival. With 1.56 million residents, Munich feels both vibrant and welcoming, with tree-lined streets, the famous Hofbräuhaus filled with music, and Viktualienmarkt food stalls serving Weisswurst breakfasts with pretzels and beer. The city is a major economic center in southern Germany, but it also preserves its history, from the Frauenkirche’s twin domes to Marienplatz’s Glockenspiel and the Feldherrnhalle at Odeonsplatz, which marks the site of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Free walking tours from Freetour.com, starting at the Altes Rathaus’s Juliet Capulet statue, guide visitors through Munich’s layered story—from Roman times and the Wittelsbachs, through Bismarck’s unification, the Nazi era, and the bravery of the Weiße Rose student resistance. All of this is set against the backdrop of the 1516 Reinheitsgebot beer purity law, which led to the city’s 600-plus breweries.
Must-see: Marienplatz & Glockenspiel mechanical theater, Frauenkirche's devil's footprint legend, Viktualienmarkt food market rituals, Wittelsbach Residenz Treasury jewels, English Garden's Chinese Tower beer garden, Hofbräuhaus beer hall origins, Nymphenburg Palace canals, Deutsches Museum aviation halls, Odeonsplatz Nazi Putsch site, Hellabrunn Zoo alpine exhibits.
Daily budget: €80–160 (excluding accommodation), covering Bavarian breakfast €12–18 (Weisswurst/Brezn/Bier), museum entries €12–18 (Residenz €15, Deutsches €17), MVV day pass €9.20 (citywide U/S-Bahn), beer garden Maßkrug €7–12, pretzel €3–5; budget travelers €85–110/day via markets/public transport, mid-range €130–170/day.
Best time: Late April–June (18–24°C, blooming Englischer Garten, Frühlingsfest precursor), September–early October (15–22°C, Oktoberfest peak without August heat), December Christkindlmarkt season (0–6°C, mulled Glühwein magic); avoid July–August 28–32°C humidity.
Famous for: Oktoberfest (6M visitors, 7.5M liters of beer), Reinheitsgebot 1516 purity law birthplace, Wittelsbachs' 738-year rule (1180–1918), Nazi Party origins (1920 DAP founding, 1923 Putsch), Glockenspiel's 32 automated figures, Hofbräuhaus timber vaults, BMW's automotive legacy.
Top tours: Munich Old Town Free Tour by Walkative!, English Free Walking Tour of Munich.
Marienplatz, Munich’s lively medieval center established in 1158 as a salt market, is the heart of the city. Here, the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus towers above, and the famous Glockenspiel performs three times a day from April to October (at 11am, 12pm, and 5pm). The show features 32 mechanical figures: coopers dancing to celebrate the end of the 1517 plague, aristocrats reenacting Duke Wilhelm V’s 1568 wedding, and knights jousting in a tournament, all accompanied by 43 bells. In the middle of the square stands the gilded Mariensäule, a Marian column from 1638, which shows the Four Horsemen being defeated by angels. This column is a pilgrimage site visited by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, marking the city’s deliverance from the Swedish siege in 1632. Nearby, the Altes Rathaus, built in 1310, houses the original 14th-century carillon, now a lesser-known attraction.
To the west, Viktualienmarkt, a produce market since 1807, is a food lover’s paradise with 22 stalls over 22,000 square meters. Here, you can try Leberkäsesemmeln (steamed meatloaf sandwiches), Obatzda (a cheese spread), and fresh trout. Maypoles decorated with brewery garlands reflect Munich’s rural traditions. The nearby Platzl alleys lead to the Hofbräuhaus, where the Nazi Party held its first rally in 1920. Max-Joseph-Platz features a statue of Bavaria’s first king, the Nationaltheater, and the Residenz entrance. Odeonsplatz is home to the Feldherrnhalle, the site of the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, now marked by plaques honoring the victims and resistance. Free walking tours connect these historic squares, all within a 10-minute walk of each other.
The Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, began construction in 1468 and was completed in 1494. Its 99-meter twin onion domes dominate Munich’s skyline, making it Europe’s largest brick basilica. Built without scaffolding, it used gravel from the Isar River. The church is famous for the legend of the Devil’s footprint, a black mark said to have been left by Satan after a wager. The nave, founded by Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1327, is the burial place of the Wittelsbach family, including Ludwig III. The crypt features 18th-century stucco art about salvation. You can climb 1,200 steps in the south tower (€7.50) for panoramic views from the Alps to Dachau. The church’s bells, weighing a total of 50 tons, ring out every hour and can be heard up to 10 kilometers away.
The Asamkirche, built between 1733 and 1746 by the Asam brothers, is a small Baroque church filled with dramatic decoration. Its 70-kilogram solid-silver altar shines under a dome painted with cherubs, and the walls are covered in mother-of-pearl and stucco that resembles lapis lazuli. Originally a private chapel, it was later given to the Jesuits and is known for its impressive trompe l’oeil art. St. Michael’s Jesuit Church, built from 1583 to 1597 as a response to Protestantism, features Bavaria’s largest bronze statue: a 17.5-meter Archangel Michael defeating a dragon, above a marble nave that symbolizes good and evil. The church also holds the tombs of kings Ludwig I and II. Theatinerkirche, with its yellow stucco facade built between 1663 and 1690, has twin towers that overlook the Putsch memorials on Odeonsplatz.
Residenz—Wittelsbachs' Munich seat 1385–1918—bloats into largest contiguous palace globally (130,000m², 300+ rooms, 10 courtyards) fusing Renaissance-Baroque-Rococo across five centuries: Antiquarium's 1569 groin-vaulted hall (Europe's oldest secular Renaissance space, Julius Cäsar frescoes) hosted 1568 ducal wedding inspiring Glockenspiel choreography; Treasury dazzles with crown jewels—225-carat Wittelsbach Diamond (largest cut blue topaz globally, €16M), 16th-century St. George statuette encrusted 2,291 gems including stolen Florentine Diamond (€1T value); Cuvilliés Theater's Meissen porcelain walls/chandeliers premiered Idomeneo 1781. Richardsaal's lapis lazuli/gold stucco hosted Napoleon's receptions.
Nymphenburg Palace, built between 1664 and 1728 as a summer residence, features a 700-meter Grand Canal with swans and was the birthplace of Ludwig II in 1845. The Amalienburg hunting lodge is known for its ornate silver furniture, while the Badenburg bathhouse had Germany’s first porcelain tub in 1719. The palace park is filled with pavilions and lakes. Schleissheim Palace, built from 1616 to 1726, displays Dutch Golden Age paintings and has French-style gardens, showing the Wittelsbach family’s support for the arts. The dynasty’s 738-year rule shaped Bavarian identity, from Ludwig I’s neoclassical buildings in the 1820s to Ludwig II’s romantic style, ending with the monarchy’s abdication in 1918.
Munich was the birthplace of National Socialism. The Bürgerbräukeller hosted the 1919 refounding of the Nazi Party, and the Hofbräuhaus was the site of a major rally in 1920 and the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, after which Hitler was imprisoned and wrote Mein Kampf. The city became known as the “Capital of the Movement.” The NS Documentation Center, opened in 2018, shows the locations of Nazi offices in the old town. Dachau, 16 kilometers north, was the first concentration camp in 1933 and now receives 800,000 visitors a year. The site includes preserved barracks, a crematorium, the “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate, and a memorial chapel, with a free shuttle from the main train station. The resistance is remembered at the Weiße Rose University courtyard, honoring Hans and Sophie Scholl, who distributed anti-Nazi leaflets and were executed in 1943. Valentin-Falkner-Platz marks a 1943 student uprising, and Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of the Frauenkirche spoke out against Hitler. In 1944, conspirators in Operation Valkyrie plotted from Bavarian estates. During World War II, 71 Allied air raids destroyed 40% of the city, killing 42,000 civilians. After the war, women cleared the rubble and rebuilt key sites like the Frauenkirche and Marienplatz. Tours today highlight both the city’s complicity and its efforts to remember the past through plaques and street markers.
Munich's 300+ beer gardens trace 1812 edict permitting self-service beneath chestnut canopies: Hirschgarten (8,500 seats, world's largest) serves Augustiner Edelstoff Maßkrüge (€7–9) amid deer park, Seehaus lakeside pedal-boats accompany Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier (€8), Chinesischer Turm oompah orchestras animate Löwenbräu tents—Reinheitsgebot (1516 Duke Wilhelm IV decree mandating water/barley/hops/yeast) ensures Helles clarity across 600 breweries. Hofbräuhaus (1553 royal brewery, 1608 public hall) crams 7,000 revelers across six floors where Hitler rallied 1920—timber vaults echo brass bands, Maßkrüge foam cascades stairs.
Oktoberfest, which began in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Luise, takes place at Theresienwiese from September 20 to October 6. The festival features 14 large tents from breweries like Hacker-Pschorr and Löwenbräu, serving 7.5 million liters of beer and 500,000 chickens, along with rides and fireworks. The opening ceremony, marked by the phrase “O’zapft is!” and the tapping of the first keg, welcomes around 6 million visitors. Beer is expected to cost €14 per liter in 2025. At Viktualienmarkt, maypoles decorated with hops supply the traditional Weißwurst breakfast, which is eaten before noon, and the Augustiner-Keller cellars show the old tradition of storing beer on ice underground.
Munich Old Town Free Tour by Walkative!: 2h30 comprehensive English exploration from Altes Rathaus's Juliet Capulet statue (yellow Walkative umbrella) covering Marienplatz Glockenspiel pageant, Frauenkirche's devil's footprint legend and Wittelsbach tombs, Max-Joseph-Platz Residenz gateway and Nationaltheater, concluding at Odeonsplatz's Feldherrnhalle 1923 Beer Hall Putsch memorial. Traces Roman origins through 700-year Wittelsbach dynasty, Bismarck unification, Nazi Party birthplace (Hofbräuhaus rallies, Bürgerbräukeller founding), and Cardinal Ratzinger's archbishopric—balances "light and dark pages" via engaging historical depth. Highly rated; typical tips €12–20/person; free cancellation.
English Free Walking Tour of Munich: Fun & Informative: 2h lively alternative emphasizing entertaining anecdotes across identical Altstadt circuit—covers Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt Bavarian breakfast traditions (Weißwurst etiquette), Frauenkirche quirks, and beer garden culture evolution. Focuses on Munich's contradictions: BMW innovation meeting Lederhosen tradition, Catholic conservatism birthing beer hall debates. Ideal for first-timers seeking accessible introduction with practical tips (Hofbräuhaus seating, Oktoberfest reservations). Tip-based €10–18, family-friendly, free cancellation.
Free Tour of Munich (Italian): 2h30 Italian-language exploration mirroring Walkative's route through Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Residenz, and Odeonsplatz—emphasizes Bavaria's Italian Renaissance influences (Wittelsbach patronage of Venetian artists, Theatinerkirche's Barelli design, Asam Baroque connections to Bernini). Covers Roman origins through postwar reconstruction with cultural-artistic focus. Tips €12–20/person, instant booking, free cancellation.
All tours tip-based (€10–25 typical), electronic payment accepted, free cancellation up to start time
Explore more tours in Munich.
Getting There: Munich Airport (MUC, 40km NE): S-Bahn S8/S1 Marienplatz (40/45min €13.20), Lufthansa Express Bus Hauptbahnhof (45min €14), taxi/FlixBus €80–120; Hauptbahnhof centralizes ICE (Berlin 4h, Vienna 4h); Memmingen (FMM, 120km) Ryanair hub.
Getting Around: MVV Deutschlandticket (€58/month nationwide) or Zone M day pass €9.20 (U/S-Bahn/trams cover airport/Old Town/English Garden); CityTourCard (€13/1day) bundles transport+museum discounts; MVG Rad bikes €4/60min; Altstadt walking radius (Marienplatz-Hofbräuhaus 600m).
Accommodation: Hostels (Wombat's €35–55), Altstadt mid-range (Hotel Torbräu €140–220), Schwabing trendy (€110–190), luxury Bayerischer Hof €400+; beer garden-proximal Giesing cheaper €90–150.
Visit Duration:
Temperate continental: blooming springs (late April–June 15–24°C, Englischer Garten picnics), warm summers (July–August 22–30°C peaks/occasional storms, beer garden zenith), golden autumns (September–October 12–22°C, Oktoberfest optimal), festive winters (December–February -2–6°C, 20–30cm snowfalls enabling Christkindlmärkte mulled wine/ice rinks) — May/June/September sunshine (7–9h/day) ideal sightseeing sans peak humidity/rain (80mm/month average).
Munich coalesced 1158 when Guelph Duke Henry the Lion demolished Holy Roman Emperor's bridge toll at "apud Munichen" (by the monks), founding salt market under Benedictine auspices—1180 Wittelsbach acquisition launched 738-year dynasty transforming hamlet into electoral duchy (1506 Golden Bull), kingdom (1806 Napoleon elevation), erecting Frauenkirche (1468 civic symbol), Residenz expansions funding Italian masters, and 1516 Reinheitsgebot safeguarding monastic brewing monopolies against adulteration. Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) ravaged the population 30,000→9,000 via Swedish siege/plague, yet Elector Maximilian I's Baroque reconstruction/Jesuit St. Michael erected Counter-Reformation bastions.
Elector Karl Theodor's 1770s Enlightenment reforms birthed Nymphenburg park theater, Ludwig I's 1820s neoclassicism Glyptothek/Propyläen framed Königsplatz, Ludwig II's romanticism Wagner operas/Neuschwanstein—Bismarck 1871 unification subsumed Bavaria yet preserved cultural autonomy. Weimar hyperinflation/occupation spawned the 1919 NSDAP (ex-DAP) in Sterneckerbräu, 1920 Hofbräuhaus 2,000-man rally, 1923 Putsch (Odeonsplatz massacre birthing Mein Kampf)—Munich "Capital of the Movement" hosted 1925 NSDAP congresses, 1935 Nuremberg Laws drafting, Dachau 1933 prototype camp.
Operation Gomorrah 1942–1945 raids flattened 40% infrastructure (42,000 dead), rubblefrauen (women) rebuilt prioritizing Frauenkirche/Marienplatz; 1946 denazification purged 80% officials, 1972 Olympics symbolized renaissance despite Palestinian attack killing 11 Israeli athletes. Contemporary Munich fuses BMW/Siemens innovation (Fraunhofer Institutes), Oktoberfest €1.35B tourism (2025 projection), Wittelsbach exiles (Franz’s heir, Nymphenburg ties)—600 breweries uphold the Reinheitsgebot while Pinakothek museums house Rubens/Dürer masterpieces, balancing Lederhosen kitsch with quantum computing hubs.
What defines Munich's beer heritage?
Reinheitsgebot (1516 Bavarian decree mandating water/barley/hops/yeast exclusivity) codified monastic brewing standards across 600+ establishments serving 1L Maßkrüge in 300+ gardens—Hofbräuhaus (1553 royal, 1920 Nazi launchpad) exemplifies timber-vaulted tradition, Oktoberfest guzzles 7.5M liters/500,000 chickens across Theresienwiese tents (September 20–October 6, €14/Maß 2025).
Where do traces of Munich's Nazi origins/resistance lie?
Bürgerbräukeller (1919 NSDAP founding), Hofbräuhaus (1920 rally/1923 Putsch origin), Odeonsplatz, Feldherrnhalle (putsch deaths), Dachau (1933 prototype camp)—contrast Weiße Rose University (1943 Scholl siblings leaflets/guillotine), Frauenkirche, Cardinal Faulhaber anti-Hitler sermons; NS-Dokumentationszentrum maps "Movement Capital" trajectory.
Iconic Munich squares sequence?
Marienplatz (Glockenspiel/Mariensäule pilgrimage hub), Viktualienmarkt (Weißwurst/Obatzda ritual ground), Max-Joseph-Platz (Residenz/Nationaltheater royal opera), Odeonsplatz (Putsch memorial/Theatinerkirche Baroque)—2h30 free tours orchestrate a 1km Altstadt loop, unveiling the Wittelsbach–Nazi–beer continuum.
Optimal beer garden/Oktoberfest timing?
May–October Biergartenwetter (>18°C): Hirschgarten/Seehaus/Chinesischer Turm peak weekends—Frühlingsfest (April/May mini-Oktoberfest), Oktoberfest (late Sept–early Oct, tent reservations essential); spring/autumn milder, balancing 7–9h sunshine sans August 32°C humidity.
Wittelsbach architectural imprints?
Residenz (largest city-palace, Antiquarium Renaissance/Meissen rococo), Frauenkirche (1468 domes), Nymphenburg (Versailles canals/porcelain bathhouse), Schleissheim (Dutch masters)—Treasury jewels (225ct Wittelsbach Diamond) funded opera patronage spanning Ludwig I neoclassicism to Ludwig II romanticism.
Old Town walking feasibility?
Ultra-compact: Marienplatz-Frauenkirche 400m (5min), Residenz-Viktualienmarkt-Hofbräuhaus triangle 800m (10min), Odeonsplatz loop adds 600m—cobblestone Altstadt preserves 14th-century scale, perfect 2h30 free tours; MVV €9.20 supplements English Garden (20min S-Bahn).
Quick Takeaway
Must-see: Marienplatz & Glockenspiel mechanical theater, Frauenkirche's devil's footprint legend, Viktualienmarkt food market rituals, Wittelsbach Residenz Treasury jewels, English Garden's Chinese Tower beer garden, Hofbräuhaus beer hall origins, Nymphenburg Palace canals, Deutsches Museum aviation halls, Odeonsplatz Nazi Putsch site, Hellabrunn Zoo alpine exhibits.
Daily budget: €80–160 (excluding accommodation), covering Bavarian breakfast €12–18 (Weisswurst/Brezn/Bier), museum entries €12–18 (Residenz €15, Deutsches €17), MVV day pass €9.20 (citywide U/S-Bahn), beer garden Maßkrug €7–12, pretzel €3–5; budget travelers €85–110/day via markets/public transport, mid-range €130–170/day.
Best time: Late April–June (18–24°C, blooming Englischer Garten, Frühlingsfest precursor), September–early October (15–22°C, Oktoberfest peak without August heat), December Christkindlmarkt season (0–6°C, mulled Glühwein magic); avoid July–August 28–32°C humidity.
Famous for: Oktoberfest (6M visitors, 7.5M liters of beer), Reinheitsgebot 1516 purity law birthplace, Wittelsbachs' 738-year rule (1180–1918), Nazi Party origins (1920 DAP founding, 1923 Putsch), Glockenspiel's 32 automated figures, Hofbräuhaus timber vaults, BMW's automotive legacy.
Top tours: Munich Old Town Free Tour by Walkative!, English Free Walking Tour of Munich.
Marienplatz & Historic Squares
Marienplatz, Munich’s lively medieval center established in 1158 as a salt market, is the heart of the city. Here, the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus towers above, and the famous Glockenspiel performs three times a day from April to October (at 11am, 12pm, and 5pm). The show features 32 mechanical figures: coopers dancing to celebrate the end of the 1517 plague, aristocrats reenacting Duke Wilhelm V’s 1568 wedding, and knights jousting in a tournament, all accompanied by 43 bells. In the middle of the square stands the gilded Mariensäule, a Marian column from 1638, which shows the Four Horsemen being defeated by angels. This column is a pilgrimage site visited by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, marking the city’s deliverance from the Swedish siege in 1632. Nearby, the Altes Rathaus, built in 1310, houses the original 14th-century carillon, now a lesser-known attraction.
To the west, Viktualienmarkt, a produce market since 1807, is a food lover’s paradise with 22 stalls over 22,000 square meters. Here, you can try Leberkäsesemmeln (steamed meatloaf sandwiches), Obatzda (a cheese spread), and fresh trout. Maypoles decorated with brewery garlands reflect Munich’s rural traditions. The nearby Platzl alleys lead to the Hofbräuhaus, where the Nazi Party held its first rally in 1920. Max-Joseph-Platz features a statue of Bavaria’s first king, the Nationaltheater, and the Residenz entrance. Odeonsplatz is home to the Feldherrnhalle, the site of the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, now marked by plaques honoring the victims and resistance. Free walking tours connect these historic squares, all within a 10-minute walk of each other.
Frauenkirche & Religious Architectural Jewels
The Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, began construction in 1468 and was completed in 1494. Its 99-meter twin onion domes dominate Munich’s skyline, making it Europe’s largest brick basilica. Built without scaffolding, it used gravel from the Isar River. The church is famous for the legend of the Devil’s footprint, a black mark said to have been left by Satan after a wager. The nave, founded by Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1327, is the burial place of the Wittelsbach family, including Ludwig III. The crypt features 18th-century stucco art about salvation. You can climb 1,200 steps in the south tower (€7.50) for panoramic views from the Alps to Dachau. The church’s bells, weighing a total of 50 tons, ring out every hour and can be heard up to 10 kilometers away.
The Asamkirche, built between 1733 and 1746 by the Asam brothers, is a small Baroque church filled with dramatic decoration. Its 70-kilogram solid-silver altar shines under a dome painted with cherubs, and the walls are covered in mother-of-pearl and stucco that resembles lapis lazuli. Originally a private chapel, it was later given to the Jesuits and is known for its impressive trompe l’oeil art. St. Michael’s Jesuit Church, built from 1583 to 1597 as a response to Protestantism, features Bavaria’s largest bronze statue: a 17.5-meter Archangel Michael defeating a dragon, above a marble nave that symbolizes good and evil. The church also holds the tombs of kings Ludwig I and II. Theatinerkirche, with its yellow stucco facade built between 1663 and 1690, has twin towers that overlook the Putsch memorials on Odeonsplatz.
Royal Munich: Residenz, Nymphenburg & Wittelsbach Legacy
Residenz—Wittelsbachs' Munich seat 1385–1918—bloats into largest contiguous palace globally (130,000m², 300+ rooms, 10 courtyards) fusing Renaissance-Baroque-Rococo across five centuries: Antiquarium's 1569 groin-vaulted hall (Europe's oldest secular Renaissance space, Julius Cäsar frescoes) hosted 1568 ducal wedding inspiring Glockenspiel choreography; Treasury dazzles with crown jewels—225-carat Wittelsbach Diamond (largest cut blue topaz globally, €16M), 16th-century St. George statuette encrusted 2,291 gems including stolen Florentine Diamond (€1T value); Cuvilliés Theater's Meissen porcelain walls/chandeliers premiered Idomeneo 1781. Richardsaal's lapis lazuli/gold stucco hosted Napoleon's receptions.
Nymphenburg Palace, built between 1664 and 1728 as a summer residence, features a 700-meter Grand Canal with swans and was the birthplace of Ludwig II in 1845. The Amalienburg hunting lodge is known for its ornate silver furniture, while the Badenburg bathhouse had Germany’s first porcelain tub in 1719. The palace park is filled with pavilions and lakes. Schleissheim Palace, built from 1616 to 1726, displays Dutch Golden Age paintings and has French-style gardens, showing the Wittelsbach family’s support for the arts. The dynasty’s 738-year rule shaped Bavarian identity, from Ludwig I’s neoclassical buildings in the 1820s to Ludwig II’s romantic style, ending with the monarchy’s abdication in 1918.
Nazi History Sites, Resistance & WWII Shadows
Munich was the birthplace of National Socialism. The Bürgerbräukeller hosted the 1919 refounding of the Nazi Party, and the Hofbräuhaus was the site of a major rally in 1920 and the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, after which Hitler was imprisoned and wrote Mein Kampf. The city became known as the “Capital of the Movement.” The NS Documentation Center, opened in 2018, shows the locations of Nazi offices in the old town. Dachau, 16 kilometers north, was the first concentration camp in 1933 and now receives 800,000 visitors a year. The site includes preserved barracks, a crematorium, the “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate, and a memorial chapel, with a free shuttle from the main train station. The resistance is remembered at the Weiße Rose University courtyard, honoring Hans and Sophie Scholl, who distributed anti-Nazi leaflets and were executed in 1943. Valentin-Falkner-Platz marks a 1943 student uprising, and Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of the Frauenkirche spoke out against Hitler. In 1944, conspirators in Operation Valkyrie plotted from Bavarian estates. During World War II, 71 Allied air raids destroyed 40% of the city, killing 42,000 civilians. After the war, women cleared the rubble and rebuilt key sites like the Frauenkirche and Marienplatz. Tours today highlight both the city’s complicity and its efforts to remember the past through plaques and street markers.
Beer Gardens, Hofbräuhaus & Oktoberfest Universe
Munich's 300+ beer gardens trace 1812 edict permitting self-service beneath chestnut canopies: Hirschgarten (8,500 seats, world's largest) serves Augustiner Edelstoff Maßkrüge (€7–9) amid deer park, Seehaus lakeside pedal-boats accompany Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier (€8), Chinesischer Turm oompah orchestras animate Löwenbräu tents—Reinheitsgebot (1516 Duke Wilhelm IV decree mandating water/barley/hops/yeast) ensures Helles clarity across 600 breweries. Hofbräuhaus (1553 royal brewery, 1608 public hall) crams 7,000 revelers across six floors where Hitler rallied 1920—timber vaults echo brass bands, Maßkrüge foam cascades stairs.
Oktoberfest, which began in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Luise, takes place at Theresienwiese from September 20 to October 6. The festival features 14 large tents from breweries like Hacker-Pschorr and Löwenbräu, serving 7.5 million liters of beer and 500,000 chickens, along with rides and fireworks. The opening ceremony, marked by the phrase “O’zapft is!” and the tapping of the first keg, welcomes around 6 million visitors. Beer is expected to cost €14 per liter in 2025. At Viktualienmarkt, maypoles decorated with hops supply the traditional Weißwurst breakfast, which is eaten before noon, and the Augustiner-Keller cellars show the old tradition of storing beer on ice underground.
Free Walking Tours in Munich
Munich Old Town Free Tour by Walkative!: 2h30 comprehensive English exploration from Altes Rathaus's Juliet Capulet statue (yellow Walkative umbrella) covering Marienplatz Glockenspiel pageant, Frauenkirche's devil's footprint legend and Wittelsbach tombs, Max-Joseph-Platz Residenz gateway and Nationaltheater, concluding at Odeonsplatz's Feldherrnhalle 1923 Beer Hall Putsch memorial. Traces Roman origins through 700-year Wittelsbach dynasty, Bismarck unification, Nazi Party birthplace (Hofbräuhaus rallies, Bürgerbräukeller founding), and Cardinal Ratzinger's archbishopric—balances "light and dark pages" via engaging historical depth. Highly rated; typical tips €12–20/person; free cancellation.
English Free Walking Tour of Munich: Fun & Informative: 2h lively alternative emphasizing entertaining anecdotes across identical Altstadt circuit—covers Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt Bavarian breakfast traditions (Weißwurst etiquette), Frauenkirche quirks, and beer garden culture evolution. Focuses on Munich's contradictions: BMW innovation meeting Lederhosen tradition, Catholic conservatism birthing beer hall debates. Ideal for first-timers seeking accessible introduction with practical tips (Hofbräuhaus seating, Oktoberfest reservations). Tip-based €10–18, family-friendly, free cancellation.
Free Tour of Munich (Italian): 2h30 Italian-language exploration mirroring Walkative's route through Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Residenz, and Odeonsplatz—emphasizes Bavaria's Italian Renaissance influences (Wittelsbach patronage of Venetian artists, Theatinerkirche's Barelli design, Asam Baroque connections to Bernini). Covers Roman origins through postwar reconstruction with cultural-artistic focus. Tips €12–20/person, instant booking, free cancellation.
All tours tip-based (€10–25 typical), electronic payment accepted, free cancellation up to start time
Explore more tours in Munich.
Practical Tips
Getting There: Munich Airport (MUC, 40km NE): S-Bahn S8/S1 Marienplatz (40/45min €13.20), Lufthansa Express Bus Hauptbahnhof (45min €14), taxi/FlixBus €80–120; Hauptbahnhof centralizes ICE (Berlin 4h, Vienna 4h); Memmingen (FMM, 120km) Ryanair hub.
Getting Around: MVV Deutschlandticket (€58/month nationwide) or Zone M day pass €9.20 (U/S-Bahn/trams cover airport/Old Town/English Garden); CityTourCard (€13/1day) bundles transport+museum discounts; MVG Rad bikes €4/60min; Altstadt walking radius (Marienplatz-Hofbräuhaus 600m).
Accommodation: Hostels (Wombat's €35–55), Altstadt mid-range (Hotel Torbräu €140–220), Schwabing trendy (€110–190), luxury Bayerischer Hof €400+; beer garden-proximal Giesing cheaper €90–150.
Visit Duration:
- Weekend (3 days): Old Town free tour, arienplatz/Frauenkirche/Viktualienmarkt, beer garden evening (Hirschgarten),
- Nymphenburg half-day. Week: Add Dachau morning, Deutsches Museum (full day), English Garden bike/Surf school, Neuschwanstein day trip, Dachau-Residenz contrast.
Weather in Munich
Temperate continental: blooming springs (late April–June 15–24°C, Englischer Garten picnics), warm summers (July–August 22–30°C peaks/occasional storms, beer garden zenith), golden autumns (September–October 12–22°C, Oktoberfest optimal), festive winters (December–February -2–6°C, 20–30cm snowfalls enabling Christkindlmärkte mulled wine/ice rinks) — May/June/September sunshine (7–9h/day) ideal sightseeing sans peak humidity/rain (80mm/month average).
Short History
Munich coalesced 1158 when Guelph Duke Henry the Lion demolished Holy Roman Emperor's bridge toll at "apud Munichen" (by the monks), founding salt market under Benedictine auspices—1180 Wittelsbach acquisition launched 738-year dynasty transforming hamlet into electoral duchy (1506 Golden Bull), kingdom (1806 Napoleon elevation), erecting Frauenkirche (1468 civic symbol), Residenz expansions funding Italian masters, and 1516 Reinheitsgebot safeguarding monastic brewing monopolies against adulteration. Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) ravaged the population 30,000→9,000 via Swedish siege/plague, yet Elector Maximilian I's Baroque reconstruction/Jesuit St. Michael erected Counter-Reformation bastions.
Elector Karl Theodor's 1770s Enlightenment reforms birthed Nymphenburg park theater, Ludwig I's 1820s neoclassicism Glyptothek/Propyläen framed Königsplatz, Ludwig II's romanticism Wagner operas/Neuschwanstein—Bismarck 1871 unification subsumed Bavaria yet preserved cultural autonomy. Weimar hyperinflation/occupation spawned the 1919 NSDAP (ex-DAP) in Sterneckerbräu, 1920 Hofbräuhaus 2,000-man rally, 1923 Putsch (Odeonsplatz massacre birthing Mein Kampf)—Munich "Capital of the Movement" hosted 1925 NSDAP congresses, 1935 Nuremberg Laws drafting, Dachau 1933 prototype camp.
Operation Gomorrah 1942–1945 raids flattened 40% infrastructure (42,000 dead), rubblefrauen (women) rebuilt prioritizing Frauenkirche/Marienplatz; 1946 denazification purged 80% officials, 1972 Olympics symbolized renaissance despite Palestinian attack killing 11 Israeli athletes. Contemporary Munich fuses BMW/Siemens innovation (Fraunhofer Institutes), Oktoberfest €1.35B tourism (2025 projection), Wittelsbach exiles (Franz’s heir, Nymphenburg ties)—600 breweries uphold the Reinheitsgebot while Pinakothek museums house Rubens/Dürer masterpieces, balancing Lederhosen kitsch with quantum computing hubs.
FAQ about Munich
What defines Munich's beer heritage?
Reinheitsgebot (1516 Bavarian decree mandating water/barley/hops/yeast exclusivity) codified monastic brewing standards across 600+ establishments serving 1L Maßkrüge in 300+ gardens—Hofbräuhaus (1553 royal, 1920 Nazi launchpad) exemplifies timber-vaulted tradition, Oktoberfest guzzles 7.5M liters/500,000 chickens across Theresienwiese tents (September 20–October 6, €14/Maß 2025).
Where do traces of Munich's Nazi origins/resistance lie?
Bürgerbräukeller (1919 NSDAP founding), Hofbräuhaus (1920 rally/1923 Putsch origin), Odeonsplatz, Feldherrnhalle (putsch deaths), Dachau (1933 prototype camp)—contrast Weiße Rose University (1943 Scholl siblings leaflets/guillotine), Frauenkirche, Cardinal Faulhaber anti-Hitler sermons; NS-Dokumentationszentrum maps "Movement Capital" trajectory.
Iconic Munich squares sequence?
Marienplatz (Glockenspiel/Mariensäule pilgrimage hub), Viktualienmarkt (Weißwurst/Obatzda ritual ground), Max-Joseph-Platz (Residenz/Nationaltheater royal opera), Odeonsplatz (Putsch memorial/Theatinerkirche Baroque)—2h30 free tours orchestrate a 1km Altstadt loop, unveiling the Wittelsbach–Nazi–beer continuum.
Optimal beer garden/Oktoberfest timing?
May–October Biergartenwetter (>18°C): Hirschgarten/Seehaus/Chinesischer Turm peak weekends—Frühlingsfest (April/May mini-Oktoberfest), Oktoberfest (late Sept–early Oct, tent reservations essential); spring/autumn milder, balancing 7–9h sunshine sans August 32°C humidity.
Wittelsbach architectural imprints?
Residenz (largest city-palace, Antiquarium Renaissance/Meissen rococo), Frauenkirche (1468 domes), Nymphenburg (Versailles canals/porcelain bathhouse), Schleissheim (Dutch masters)—Treasury jewels (225ct Wittelsbach Diamond) funded opera patronage spanning Ludwig I neoclassicism to Ludwig II romanticism.
Old Town walking feasibility?
Ultra-compact: Marienplatz-Frauenkirche 400m (5min), Residenz-Viktualienmarkt-Hofbräuhaus triangle 800m (10min), Odeonsplatz loop adds 600m—cobblestone Altstadt preserves 14th-century scale, perfect 2h30 free tours; MVV €9.20 supplements English Garden (20min S-Bahn).
