Travel blog - Tips to explore the world on a budget: Munich

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.