What to do once you land inMunichFind your bearings
Munich blends Bavarian tradition with cosmopolitan culture. Beer gardens fill on sunny afternoons, the English Garden rivals Central Park, and the Alps are an hour away by train. The city is walkable, efficient, and surprisingly affordable outside the tourist core around Marienplatz.
Neighborhoods
Altstadt (Old Town) — The historic core around Marienplatz with the Glockenspiel, Viktualienmarkt, and beer halls
Schwabing — The university district with leafy streets, independent bookshops, and the English Garden's north end
Maxvorstadt — Museum quarter with three Pinakotheken galleries, cafés, and a student-friendly food scene
Haidhausen — The 'French Quarter' across the river with brunch spots, wine bars, and a village feel
Glockenbachviertel — The vibrant LGBTQ+ and nightlife district south of the center with craft bars and independent shops
Best time to visit
June through September for beer gardens and outdoor swimming. Late September through early October for Oktoberfest. December for Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt). Spring is lovely but unpredictable.
Getting around
The U-Bahn/S-Bahn network is excellent. A day pass ($8) covers all zones in the city
Bike rental is the local way Munich is flat with dedicated cycling lanes everywhere
S-Bahn from airport to center takes 40 min for $12 (or free with the Bayern day ticket)
Bayern Ticket ($26) gives unlimited regional trains for a full day perfect for Alpine day trips
Key areas
MarienplatzEnglish GardenViktualienmarktOlympiaparkSchwabing
Zero-dollar wins
1
English Garden surfingWatch surfers ride the Eisbach wave in the middle of the city. Free to watch, free to surf if you dare
2
Viktualienmarkt browsingMunich's open-air food market since 1807. Free to wander, smell, taste samples, and soak in the atmosphere
3
Marienplatz GlockenspielThe famous mechanical clock performs at 11am, noon, and 5pm. Arrive early for a good viewing spot
4
English Garden strollOne of the world's largest urban parks bigger than Central Park. Meadows, streams, and beer garden views
5
BMW WeltThe futuristic BMW showroom is free to enter with concept cars, history exhibits, and architecture to admire
6
OlympiaparkWalk the 1972 Olympic grounds, climb the hill for city views, and watch locals picnic in summer
7
Pinakothek der Moderne (Sundays)World-class modern art museum for just $1 on Sundays. Free for under-18s always
8
Nymphenburg Palace gardensThe palace gardens are free year-round. Baroque landscaping, canals, and hidden pavilions
Treat yourself
(we think it's worth it)
Tantris$120 to $180
Two-Michelin-star institution serving avant-garde German cuisine in a retro 70s settingBrenner Grill$60 to $100
Glamorous Mediterranean grill in a converted BMW headquarters with an open-fire kitchenTherme Erding day pass$50 to $70
Europe's largest thermal spa complex with 27 slides, saunas, and warm mineral poolsPrivate Neuschwanstein tour$150 to $200
Skip-the-line access to the fairy-tale castle with a driver through Alpine scenerySchumann's Bar$30 to $50
Munich's legendary cocktail bar. Impeccable drinks, well-dressed crowd, and bartenders who've been here decadesThe legendary bites
The dishes this city perfected
Augustiner Brustuben$12 to $22
Locals' beer hall less touristy than Hofbruhaus with arguably better beer tapped from wooden barrelsSchweinshaxe (crispy pork knuckle) with potato dumplingHofbruhaus$15 to $25
The world-famous beer hall since 1589. Touristy? Yes. Worth experiencing once? AbsolutelyWeiwurst with sweet mustard and pretzelWirtshaus in der Au$14 to $22
Haidhausen gem beloved by locals for its bread dumplings and rustic Bavarian cookingBread dumplings with mushroom cream sauceSchneider Bruhaus$12 to $20
The home of wheat beer. Their Aventinus doppelbock pairs perfectly with roasted meatsSchweinebraten with dark beer sauce and dumplingsTantris DNA$35 to $55
The casual sibling of the 2-star same kitchen, relaxed atmosphere, half the priceTuna tataki with Bavarian wasabi and misoBroeding$60 to $80
No-menu restaurant that pairs an Austrian wine flight with a 5-course surprise dinnerChef's surprise 5-course Austrian wine pairingWhere locals eat
Where residents actually go
Viktualienmarkt stands$3 to $6
Grab a Leberkse-semmel (meatloaf sandwich) and eat standing at a market table like a localFraunhofer Wirtshaus$8 to $14
Beloved neighborhood pub in Glockenbachviertel. Traditional food, good beer, no touristsMnchner Stubn$8 to $12
Tiny old-school Bavarian pub near Sendlinger Tor. Schnitzel the size of your plate for $10Trkitch Dner$5 to $7
Munich's best dner kebab spot near the university. Huge portions, fresh bread baked on-sitePommes Boutique$4 to $7
Belgian-style fries with 20+ sauces in Glockenbachviertel. Perfect late-night fuelCafé Frischhut$2 to $4
Open since 1973 for Schmalznudel hot fried dough dusted with sugar. Best at 6amGo off-script
1
Eisbach river surfingGrab a board and join the queue to surf the standing wave in the English Garden. Yes, in a city
2
Day trip to ZugspitzeGermany's highest peak (2,962m) is 75 min by train. Cable car to the top for jaw-dropping Alpine views
3
Flaucher river swimmingMunich's locals swim in the Isar river at Flaucher park in summer. Bring a BBQ and beer it's legal here
4
Third-wave coffee crawlMunich's specialty coffee scene has exploded. Hit Man Versus Machine, Vits, and Mono for world-class brews
Insider intel + tourist traps
Tips
- ✓Beer gardens let you bring your own food just buy your drinks there. Pack a picnic and save big
- ✓Sunday everything closes. Plan museum visits or beer gardens. Shops and most restaurants shut down
- ✓Learn 'Gr Gott' (hello) and 'Zahlen bitte' (check please). Bavarians appreciate the effort
- ✓The Bayern Ticket lets a group of up to 5 ride all regional trains for $36 total. Split it for day trips
“We brought our own cheese and bread to the Augustiner beer garden, bought $4 liters of beer, and had the best evening of our trip for almost nothing.”
Skip
- ✗Hofbruhaus ground floor on weekend nights chaotic tourist mosh pit. Upper floors or other halls are better
- ✗Marienplatz souvenir shops identical cheap items at 3x fair price. Kaufingerstrae has better options
- ✗Tourist bus tours ($30) when the S-Bahn and walking show you the real city for $8/day