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Tourist guide: what to do and see in Munich
Eclectic like few other cities
A city that knows how to mix old and new, it's an ideal destination for car, beer and architecture lovers… and, even though it's nowhere near the sea, for surfers as well. You will have a grand time indeed in the capital of Bavaria. Welcome to Munich!
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Walking Man
A modern landmark for a lively neighbourhood
Featureless yet distinctive
At Leopoldstrasse 36, in the middle of the Schwabing nieghbourhood, you'll notice a featureless yet distinctive white striding sculpture 17 metres (56 feet) high amid the office buildings and other monochromatic structures surrounding it. Jonathan Borofsky's 1995 work was commissioned by the nearby insurance company Münchener Rück. It's a particularly notable landmark of a neighbourhood with a fairly lively flair to it; during the day there's a goodly number of restaurants and street stands (even a street market much of the year), and at night, plenty of bars and pubs keep the after-work fun going until the wee hours.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Mediaeval romanticism and the operas of Wagner are the reigning aesthetic at this over-the-top castle, a popular day trip from Munich
Ludwig's folly
Arising like a grandiose chivalric fantasy in the forested hills an hour and 40 minutes' drive southwest of Munich, the Romanesque-Revival-style Schloss Neuschwanstein was commissioned by Bavaria's "Mad King Ludwig" in 1869. In fact, the designer - in close cooperation with Ludwig - was a prominent stage designer of the day, and the interior decoration of its more than 200 rooms and chambres was inspired by the dramatic operas of Ludwig's friend Richard Wagner, the composer. After the king died in 1886, the castle was opened to the public, and to this day it's still one of the most popular attractions for visitors to Munich and Bavaria. If it looks familiar, that's because it was a prime inspiration for the Cinderella's Castles of the Disney theme parks.
Side Trip to Salzburg
Another magical city less than two hours' drive away, as day trip or overnight
An Austrian excursion
If you have enough time, we'd also recommend an overnight pop over the Austrian border to the lovely city of Salzburg, up in the Alps some 90 minutes' drive from Munich. The magical home town of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and setting for The Sound of Music is soaked in history dating back to 1077, with must-visits including the cathedral, Hellbrunn Palace, and the hilltop Festung fortress.
Dachau concentration camp
If you are brave it is worth your guided tour. You will know the places where those unspeakable atrocities were committed...
tragic chapter.
Known throughout the world, Munich keeps one of the most tragic chapters in the history of humanity. As if to keep the memory of these events so that they never happen again, the Dachau Concentration Camp has been maintained. This center began to function on March 22, 1933, shortly after the appointment of Adolf Hitler. And within it the worst imaginable atrocities were carried out. More than 200,000 prisoners stepped on these soils and were tortured. The official figures for fatalities amount to 31,000. Now, in these facilities there is a memorial for the victims and a museum that, together with the guided tour, offers a historical tour that explains this fatal chapter of the city.
Flauchersteg Beach
An Isar River enclave where locals take their ease in warm weather
Down by the riverside
After a long, chilly winter, Müncheners love nothing more than to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather by flocking to various bucolic getaways tucked away in corners of their city, such as the Englischer Garter. Another of their favourites is the "lakes zones" along the Isar River such as Flauchersteg, a river beach some five kilometres (three miles) downstream from city centre, alongside the footbridge of the same name. Basically a little offshoot of the Isar screened off from the city (and protected from the summer heat) by a patch of woods, it's an enjoyable place to rub shoulders with the locals kicking back.
Borstei Development
A residential development which revolutionised the architecture of its day, with museum included
Mellow yellow
Right in the heart of Munich, the Borstei residential development seems attractive but otherwise relatively undistinguished today. When it was built in the late 1920s, however, as part of a burst of economic and industrial development, this complex of yellow façades and white windows revolutionised the architecture of the time. For architecture geeks, there's also a museum here about the life and times of the development and its developer, Bernhardt Borst.
Schleissheim Palace
Actually a trio of grandiose royal palaces of the 17th and 18th centuries
Worth the schlep
It's well worth a half day trip to the town of Oberscheleissheim, 13 kilometres (eight miles) north of Munich, to experience the lovely natural settings as well as an impressive edifice that for centuries was quite important in Bavarian history as the holiday residence of its rulers. Schloss Schleissheim is actually a hilltop complex of three palaces, the first of which is the Old Schleisshem Palace, built in the 17th century for Duke Wilhelm V. In the 18th century, Elector Maxililian II Emmanuel had the New Palace built, along with the Lustheim Palace, an Italianate villa. Just as impressive as the buildings themselves are the gardens surrounding them - the only Baroque gardens remaining in the region.
Karlsplatz/Stachus
Home to a remnant of the mediaeval city gates, and gateway to the Innere Stadt
Another historic central square
A few metres away from Marienplatz, another square is also a major downtown hub. Karlsplatz (better known to locals as Stachus, after a famous pub which once stood here) was built after the old mediaeval city walls were razed to give Munich more breathing and expansion room; from here, pedestrian Neuhauser Strasse, now one of the city's main shopping streets, heads into the Old Town. The square is also home to a preserved gate of the old mediaeval wall, crenellated Karlstor; a central fountain; and the Justizpalast, the Bavarian justrice ministry, an imposing neo-Baroque edifice especially notable for its glass dome.
Marienplatz
And check out that Glockenspiel show!
Right in the middle of it all
The city's central square since 1158 has borne witness to many of Munich's trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Originally referred to as Markt or Schrannenplatz (for the grain sold there), the square was rechristened Marienplatz after a Mariansäule (column honouring the Virgin Mary) was erected in 1638 at its centre to mark the end of the Swedish invasion during the Thirty Years' War. It became a focal point for civic and commercial life, from markets to celebrations to executions, and site of both the old and new city halls. Every day at 11 am and noon, crowds gather in front of the latter to watch the show put on by its Glockenspiel, a 43-bell carillon with two levels of animated lifesize figures.
Olympiapark
The Olympic Park from the 1972 Games still entertains and exercises locals and visitors to this day
That's quite a spider
It's said that this complex built for the 1972 Summer Olympics was inspired by the pattern of morning dew on a spiderweb - from the aerial shots we've seen, it certainly is suggestive enough of that. Ever since, its 300 hectares (just over a square mile) have served as a recreational complex where Muncheners can enjoy skating rinks, pools, and all sorts of other sport facilities, as well as an enormous and diverse aquarium. Looming 291 metres (955 feet) over it all, however, is the district's icon, the Olympiaturm, a radio/TV tower which also includes a revolving restaurant with not only eye-popping views, but award-winning cuisine that even rates a Michelin star.
Hofgarten
Like other city parks popular with locals and visitors alike - but much more classically formal than, say the Englischer Garten
Just a formality
One of the factors that has always made Munich such a lovely city is its knack of mixing its urban side with large, easily accessible green spaces where locals can relax for a bit away from the hustle and bustle. The rectangular Hofgarten, right off the centrally located Odeonsplatz, is one of them, though radically different from the enormous Englischer Garten. Just north of the royal Residenz, this was built in the early 17th century as the immaculately groomed Italianate garden of the Bavarian court. At its centre is the "Temple of Diana", and along one side is the Bavarian state chancellery.
Englischer Garten Park
One of Europe's largest urban parks is full of charming corners - and one particularly kicky surprise
Greenery, beer & surfing
Even in a continent full of wonderful parks, the "English Garden" is a real standout. A huge and locally beloved expanse just north of the historic centre, it started out in 1789 as a "military garden" but was soon expanded to become a public park. It's full of charming little corners, such as the Japanese tea house; the Chinese Tower (with a nearby beer garden); the Monopteros (a classical-Greek-style pavillion); an open-air amphitheatre; a nude sunbathing section; and even a section of one of the park's artificial streams with current so strong it's regularly used for surfing!
Mister B.'s Jazz Club
With a 50's-New-York vibe and some of Europe's best jazz/blues performers
Cool cats in Munich
Located in the Goethesplatz neighbourhood, this spot may be tiny but it looms large on the German jazz scene. The atmosphere feels like New York City in the 1950s, with an American bar, brightly upholstered sofas, and a bunch of tables. The joint has some of the best jazz and blues talents of Europe and beyond taking the stage daily except Monday, 8 pm to 3 am.
Views at the Technical University of Munich
A little known café atop the architecture school will knock your knickers off with its city panoramas
Worth going back to school for
You might not suspect it, but one of Munich's most special corners is to be found at the heart of its Technical University (TUM, est. 1868). After strolling the pleasant, historic campus, head toward the School of Architecture and go up to the top floor. Here you'll find a café with a terrace affording one of the most spectacular possible panoramic views over the city. The café is also a great place for affordable meals, and sometimes you'll even find DJ sets and other music. Sure not like the universities of yore!
Tollwood Festivals
A newer festival - in summer and winter editions - has also become tremendously popular
Music, food & the environment
Of much more recent vintage (just 1988, in fact), the Tollwood Festival has two versions: the summer festival over 25 days in June and July in Olympiapark, and since 1991, the winter edition in the Theresienwiese from late November through the end of the year. Live music plays a big roll - especially in the summer festival, but there are other diverse aspects, as well, including theatrical and circus performances; talks especially about environmental topics; a "marketplace of ideas"; and an organic culinary festival featuring local Bavarian fare as well as specialities from all over the world. In the wintertime, there's also ice skating and a Christmas market. Something for nearly everyone, in warm weather or cold!
Oktoberfest
One of the world's most famous parties, a folk festival where beer is only part of the fun
The one and only
Celebrated since 1810 (when it marked a Bavarian royal wedding), Oktoberfest is not just Germany's biggest party but one of the biggest and most famous on the planet, and imitated worldwide. It's attended by some six million annually at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds for 16 days from mid or late September. Kicked off by the arrival of the Wiesnwirte (city brewers) and the tapping of the first keg by the lord mayor, the Wiesn (as the festival is nicknamed) also involves copious folkloric performances, amusement rides, games, and massive consumption of traditional foods. Many locals bring out their traditional finery - lederhosen for men and dirndls for women - for the occasion. O'zapft is!
Hofbräuhaus
A witness to the roller coaster of Munich history, today it's a beloved bastion of Bavarian food, drink, and music
Munich's top beer hall
Munich's most famous beer hall has been in business since 1589, at first just supplying the aristocratic Wittelsbach clan. The Hofbräuhaus started serving the public at large when it moved to these current premises in 1828, and slowly became a magnet for the great and good of the city - including major political figures such as Vladimir Lenin and Adolf Hitler. In fact, these walls ended up witnessing some key events of the 20th century, including the 1919 attempt to proclaim a Soviet Republic of Munich and Hitler's 1920 declaration of the Nazi Party's "25-point programme". Like many other buildings in Munich, it was flattened during World War II but was rebuilt in the 1950s. Today it's wildly popular and you can always find locals in lederhosen and dirndls having a grand old time quaffing beer; feasting on Bavarian cuisine; and listening to oompah bands. Ja, ja, ja, ja!
BMW Plant
Near BMW World, the automaker's main plant offers a fascinating two-hour tour
Where the magic begins
Before or after visiting nearby BMW World, hardcore car enthusiasts will want to schedule a tour of the "mother ship", the main BMW plant where some 7,700 employees build more than 950 cars and more than 3,000 engines per day. The visit takes a bit over two hours, covering all aspects of the manufacturing process - the cutting of the chassis steel; assemblage of the motors; installation of the sophisticated electronics and accessories; righ up to the final paint job. It's one of Munich's most popular attractions, so book ahead at infowelt@bmw-welt.com.
BMW World
An award-winning modern home for a multimedia celebration of a century of BMW
You'll never tyre of it
If you're a BMW fan - or just an auto enthusiast in general - you'll want to treat yourself to a visit to shiny BMW Welt, one of Munich's most popular attractions, a glass behemoth in the shape of a giant tyre. This city is the company's world headquarters, and they pull out all the stops in this glitzy, multimedia display tracing their various vehicles back to the very beginning, in 1916 - including manufacturing processes, technological evolution, and of course some of the most outstanding models over the past century. The award-winning building is an experience in itself (in fact, tours are given focusing primarily on the architecture). Combine this with a visit to the nearby BMW factory, and car peeps will be in motor heaven.
Das Besondere Buch Books & Antiques
A treasure trove for history and culture lovers
Vintage books & antiques
History and culture buffs interested in learning more about Munich's origins and traditions will find the city full of fine and second-hand bookshops. One of the best is Das Besondere Buch at Rindermarkt 10. This fascinating establishment of many decades' standing is a funky mix of bookshop (especially strong in world literature, history, and German art) and antiques emporium (also with a very interesting section devoted to second-hand merchandise).
Flea Markets
Flea-market culture runs deep, and Müncheners love to spend weekends browsing them - 4 fab finds
Locals are flea-bitten!
Muncheners love flea markets, and their culture runs deep in this town, with at least a half dozen operating weekly and trafficking in antiques, old books, vintage clothing and records, as well as craft items, edible treats, beer steins, and much else. Top picks include Messegelände Riem (the biggest, every Saturday), Antikpalast and Flohmarkt Freimann (especially for antiques, Fridays/Saturdays), Flohmarkt am Ostbahnhof (Saturdays March through October), and Flohmarkt Olympiapark (Friday/Saturdays, benefitting the Bavarian Red Cross). They all start early in the AM, and so the earlier you go, the better!
Fünf Höfe Shopping Arcade
Very 21st-century in feel, very upmarket in merchandise
Innovative and cool
In the city centre just a few paces from Odeonplatz, this modern shopping arcade (whose name means "Five Courts") is a fairly new addition which takes up many of the façades along one of Munich's most important commercial boulevards, Theatinerstrasse. It's one of the city's most significant examples of modern architecture, designed by the prestigious firm of Herzon & De Meuron, and set the local bar for contemporary work in the 21st century. In addition to a variety of German and international fashion boutiques, there are seveal fine restaurants, along with the Kunsthalle, one of Germany's leading art exhibition venues.
Oktoberfest Attire/Mementos
Dirndls, lederhosen, gingerbread, and steins
A gemütlich dress code
The world-famous Oktoberfest which takes over the city for a little over two weeks every September and October also comes with its own folkloric dress code, when locals break out their traditional Bavarian finery. If you're here and wish to get into the spirit with them, check out some of the many Trachten (traditional Bavarian dress shops) for dirndls (if you're a woman) and lederhosen (if you're a man). You'll also find a good number of souvenirs with Oktoberfest as theme. One edible example is a profusion of gingerbread hearts, large and small. Another item you should particularly strive to bring back is a commemorative beer stein. Because of course.
Typical Food Mementos
Food and drink top the list of souvenirs/gifts to shop for - and most especially beer
Tasty treats
Munich and Bavaria as a whole have no shortage of options to bring home as souvenirs or as gifts for friends and family. Top of the list are foods and drink, with perhaps the number-one spot going to beer, the most popular and typical product there is - consider for example bringing back bottles of local brands Augustiner, Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, or Löwenbräu (or for something a tad stronger still, a bottle of the prestigious gin The Duke). For edibles, check out the gourmet shop/restaurant called Dallmayr, whose core product line is coffee, but also has 14 departments selling the in chocolates, cheeses, sausages, German wines, and much more.
Leopoldstrasse
Alt/boho chic in Schwabing, with quirky shops and fun eateries/drinkeries
Bohemian charm
Welcome to Munich's "alternative" district, in the heart of the artsy Schwabing neighbourhood - a boho-feeling area that's unsurprisingly one of Munich's coolest. Get lost in its network of streets to browse quirky shops dealing in antiques, music, books, and interesting accessories of various types (a kind of speciality in Munich, actually). Interspersed among them all are various bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants in which to kick back and drink in the vibe.
Maximilianstrasse
Posh upmarket retailers meet historic 19th-century architecture
Elegant twice over
This boulevard in the historic centre, together with Leopoldstrasse, is a "two-fer". On the one hand, it's one of Munich's most interesting streets architecturally, maintaining a balance between commercial development and the historic architecture dating from the mid-19th century. Its western stretch in particular is known for luxury boutiques showcasing Bavarian and international designers, along with one of the city's top hotels, the Vier Jahrezeiten.
Theresienwiese Flea Market
Locals eagerly look forward to this huge, 2,000-vendor festival of vintage treasures
Spring extravaganza
Several kilometres southwest of the Innere Stadt (city centre), the Oktoberfest grounds known as Theresienwiese also host another big annual event: the Riesenflohmarkt in April around the time of the spring beer festival. Muncheners are big second-hand buyers, and Bavaria's biggest flea market is eagerly awaited for its more than 2,000 vendors peddling all manner of clothing, records, books, antiques, bric a brac, food, drink, and much more.
Kaufinger Strasse
International brands predominate along a street that together with nearby Neuhauser Strasse constitutes Munich's upmarket shopping district
Munich shopping's 'golden mile'
Downtown Munich is of course the city's main shopping hub, and nowhere more so than Kaufingerstrasse, which starts from the west side of Marienplatz and together with nearby Neuhauser Strasse comprise the city's main upmarket retail district, especially when it comes to clothing, shoes, and (especially along the smaller streets intersecting Kaufinger) accessories such as umbrellas and German designer hats. Most of the brands you'll see along here tend to be the famous international ones.
Neuhauser Street
Fashion both local and international, antiques, restaurants - if you like to shop on holiday, this downtownpedestrian boulevard is a must.
Shopping central
An enormous pedestrian thoroughfare that's the spine of Munich's main downtown shopping area, it is lined with all manner of especially clothing shops, a mix of blue-chip international brands and local designers and generations-old family enterprises (the latter especially along the nearby streets). And it's not just fashion - here you'll find a variety of merchandise including antiques and typical Bavarian products, as well as restaurants and cafés. When the weather's fine, Neuhauser Strasse is a very popular strolling spot for locals, especially on weekends. Take a deep breath, and - charge!
Mulled Wine
Warmed red wine with spices and brandy - just the thing to take the winter chill off
Warming up the winters
Germans have little ways of making their long, cold winters more tolerable, and one of them is Glühwein (literally, "burning wine"), red wine to which sugar and spices such as cloves, cinammon, and cardamom are added, along with a nice slug of brandy, then warmed. It's most especially common during the Christmas markets set up in many Old Town squares in November and December, but available all winter long in many pubs, taverns, and other establishments throughout the city.
Spring Festival
Oktoberfest's 'little sister' is something to look forward to in April and May
Springing into spring
Muncheners of course awaits the autumn blowout Oktoberfest, but spring also has its festive side, such as the "Strong Beer Days" and this, Frühlingsfest, held from 19 April to 5 May and dubbed "Oktoberfest's little sister". Festival-goers flock to the Theresienwiese for beer tents; traditional-food stands, carnival rides and games; folkloric performances; flea market; vintage car show; and more. Oh, and did we mention beer? Lots. And lots. Of beer.
Café Luitpold
Worth a splurge for its fine coffees; superb German fare; and elegant, historic ambiance
Munich's top café classic
One of Munich's most classic cafés, the Luitpold at Brenner Strasse 11 has been a local insitution since its founding in 1888, and was faithfully reconstructed in the 1940s after the destruction of World War II. Besides its sheer elegance and fine cuisine, another attraction is the more than a century of Munich history found on its walls and an onsite museum (it has served royalty, intellectuals, and artists - for example, the pioneering, avant-garde Blaue Ritter (Blue Rider) movement was founded here in 1909 by Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee). One thing to keep in mind is that it's not cheap, and it's not open too late (just till 11 pm).
Olympic Tower Revolving Restaurant
In the onetime Olympic Village, award-winning German cuisine comes with a lofty eyeful
Wurst with a view
The symbol of Munich's Olympic Village, a legacy of the 1972 Games that has become one of the city's major entertainment districts, the city's highest building is the Olympiaturm, 291 metres (955 feet) high. Some 180 metres up, you can treat yourself to some mighty tasty - indeed, award-winning - German and Austrian fare with an enormous extra: spectacular views out over the city as the restaurant slowly revolves.
Munich's Best Hamburgers
Top-quality local choices for one of the world's most popular sandwiches
When you just need a burger…
Though hamburgers are naturally more associated with fellow German city Hamburg, Munich is no slouch when it comes to one of the world's most popular foods. And perhaps the top two options includes the Hans Im Glück Burger Grill, with various locations but we'd especially recommend visiting the one on Türkenstrasse in the university district, one of the city's most fun neighbourhoods (be sure also to pop into the university café, with one of the greatest panoramic views imaginable). Another sure bet is The Burger House, with locations at Rablstrasse 37 and Ismaninger Strasse right alongside Max Weber Platz (the latter is a little roomier), which combines traditional meat-preparation methods with innovative recipes; you'll want to reserve ahead here.
Weisswurst Sausages
Popular all over town, and especially for breakfast - but what makes it white?
Tasty and white
One of the most distinctive stars of Munich and Bavarian cuisine is white because it's made from minced veal and pork back bacon. Usually seasoned with a secret recipe of parsley, lemon, mace, onions, ginger, and cardamom, weisswurst also differs from other German wurst in that it's boiled rather than roasted. You'll find it served virtually everywhere in Munich - and in fact, it's quite popular for breakfast, usually alongside a nice hot pretzel. A top spot to find wonderful weisswurst is Old Town's Viktualienmarkt.
Weisses Bräuhaus Brewery
A bastion of excellent white beer and Bavarian traditional cuisine
Vision in white
To experience local beer and culture, you definitely need to visit spots like the Hofbräuhaus and the Englischer Garten, but also do not miss the Weisses Bräuhaus (White Brewery), on two historic floors near the Marienplatz on the street known as the Tal. Full of locals in lederhosen and dirndls, it's known for some of Bavaria's best wheat beer, along with traditional local cuisine such as liver dumplings with sauerkraut, and Munich-style sauerbraten.
Café Mozart
A historic local favourite with a tasty mix of tradition and innovation
Antique yet up with the times
One of Munich's most casual culinary institutions, it's been offering Bavarian home cooking to locals and visitors alike for decades. Located on Pettenkoferstrasse right in front of the Sendlinger Tor (the Old Town's southern gates), as well as near Glockenbach, Café Mozart preserves its historic look - the past of Munich is practically written on its walls. But antique ambiance notwithstanding, it has also kept up with the times admirably. The menu is a mix of traditional (Wiener Schnitzel, for example) and innovative (such as the signature Putenbrustfiletstreifen, turkey strips with stir fry of veggies in sweet-chili oyster sauce), while evening diners are treated to cool DJ sessions.
Strong Beer Days
It's not called "strong" beer for the reason you think!
A swell spring sudsfest
Far less well known outside Munich than Oktoberfest, the city's monthlong Starkbierzeit in February/March is one of the city's most historical celebrations - and one that's not so massive (and therefore for many visitors perhaps less intimidating). Exact dates vary depending on when Lent falls that year; the linkage is not accidental - in the days when Catholics had to lay off many solid foods for Lent, liquids like beer were not on that list. And in any case, this beer is called "strong" not because of its alcohol content but its malt content, which has also earned it the nickname "liquid bread". The fun begins in the Paulander Keller cellars, with well known local personalities chosen to tap the first keg.
Victuals Market
Right in the Old Town, food stalls and restaurants presenting the best of local cuisine
Daily Bavarian food fest
Out in front of St. Peter's Church and the Stadtmuseum, the Viktualienmarkt has stood on this spot since 1807, and its 140 market stalls are great for foodies who want to immerse themselves in local food products, ingredients, and cuisine. It's more than merely food stalls, but also a variety of restaurants, which in summertime put out sidewalk tables, as well as regular food-related festivals and events, such as Beermakers' Day and the Herring Festival. Delish!
Brandhorst Museum
More than 700 works from some of the 20th century's heavy hitters
More great modern art
The popular Brandhorst is one of Munich's newest museums, opened in 2009 to join the Pinakothek der Moderne as one of Germany's most distinguished modern art collections. It comprises more than 700 works by the likes of Warhol, Picasso, Twombly, Hirst, and Miró.
Glytothek Sculpture Museum
Breathtaking ancient Greek and Roman scupltures
A classical gas
Bavarian king Ludwig I was a huge patron of the arts, and was responsible for a number of monuments and cultural institutions. One of them is the neoclassical Glyptothek, built in 1816 to display ancient Greek and Roman sculpture fromm 550 AD back to 650 BC (glypto means sculpture in Greek). Standouts include the Munich Kouros; a bust of the Greek poet Homer; and statues from the temple of Aphaia on the island of Aigina; the Medusa Ronanini; and the Barberini faun.
Bavarian National Museum
A treasure trove of art and decorative art; its collection of Christmas crèches a particular standout
Impressive building/collections
Founded on Prinzregentenstrasse on the initiative of Bavarian King Maximilian II in 1855, this impressive castlelike building houses one of Europe's most important museums of decorative arts. The Bayerisches Nationamuseum's first floor is devoted more to pictoral artworks from the Middle Ages onward, by artists such as Erasmus Grasser and Adam Krafft. On the second floor you'll find its well known collections of porcelain and ivory, along with watches and inlaid marquetry. The third has among other things the world's most significant collection of Christmas crèches, many created in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Munich Jewish Museum
A public museum inaugurated in 2006 to documents both the achievements and tribulations of a people with deep local roots
Devastation and survival
With a distinguished history in Munich reaching back to the 5th century, the city's Jews had their shares of ups and downs, including both great achievement and periodic persecution and pogroms, as elsewhere in Europe. But of course the catastrophe that was the Nazi rise to power in the 1930s was uniquely and unimaginably devastating. The Jüdisches Museum München, inaugurated in 2006 in Sankt-Jakobs-Platz between a synagogue and a Jewish community centre, tells the story engagingly and well.
City Museum
From prehistory to the present day, but especially powerful when it comes to World War II and the Nazis
Munich's life & times
Founded in 1888 in a pair of Gothic buildings - the onetime municipal stables and arsenal, the Stadtmuseum covers the hiistory of the area from prehistoric settlements to the present day. One of its most fascinating sections is devoted to Munich's role as the capital of the Nazi movement, as well as the devastating effects on the city of World War II. Other superb collections here deal with music, film, photography, and puppets.
German Museum
The world's largest science and technology museum will leaved you wowed
Misleading name!
The Deutsches Museum is actually not about Germany per se, but rather devoted to science and technology, and it's enormous - in fact, Munich's largest as well as the world's largest of its kind. Built in 1903 on an island in the Isar River which then became known as Museuminsel, it does an admirable job of cover these subjects from prehistory to the space age, with notable exhibits including the first automobile; the laboratory where the atom was first split; the first electric dynamo; and a reproduction of the famous neolithic paintings of Spain's Altamira Cave. Huge as this is, there are two additional annexes, the Aviation Museum at a former airport north of the city, and the Transport Museum.
Modern Picture Gallery
Most of the stars of 20th- and 21st-century art shine brightly at Muich's newest major art museum
World-class modernism
The third of Munich's great Pinakotheks (picture galleries) in the Kunstareal arts district is a sleek, minimalist affair with a collection of the stars of the 20th and 21st centuries - and since opening in 2002 it has gone a long way toward putting itself on a footing with eternal German rival Berlin as a modern art power. The collection is particularly strong in Cubism, Pop Art, and Fauvism, with names such as Picasso, Miró, Braque, Dalí, Bacon, Warhol, Hockney, Twombly, Serra, and Tàpies. There are also superb architectural and design collections, as well as temporary exhibitions.
New Picture Gallery
Greatest hits of Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Symbolism…
More bodacious brushstrokes
Established in 1853, the second in the great Pinakothek triumvirate in the Kunstareal (art district) area of central Munich has had modern stone-and-glass digs since 1981 (as the original was destroyed during World War II), but still specialises in European art of the 18th and 19th centuries - and in fact is one of the world's most distinguished museums covering this era. Highlights include Goya, Van Gogh, Monet, Gainsborough, Gauguin, and Munch.
Old Picture Gallery
One of Europe's foremost collections of painting and sculpture from the Middle Ages through the 19th century
Old Masters a-go-go!
The wealth of painting and sculpture in Munich is such that there are now three separate museums to house it all. The Alte Pinakothek is the most prestigious - and is both one of the world's oldest art museums and its most distinguished collection of Old Masters. Neoclassical in style yet in museum terms innovative for the day, this enormous gallery was inaugurated in 1836 for the collection of Bavaria's royal house of Wittelsbach. Its impressive halls display more than 8,000 works ranging from the Middle Ages through the 19th century, particularly strong in the oevre of Peter Paul Rubens and other Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, but also other greats of European art such as Dürer, Cranach, Raphael, Da Vinci, and El Greco.
BMW Museum
Part of a triumvirate of awesome auto attractions showcasing one of the world's foremost luxury car manufacturers
Vroom, vroom!
Established in 1973, the museum at the world headquarters of BMW is a definite bucket-lister for car fans. And it's unlike most other museums you may have experienced - starting with the building itself, built in the shape of a titanic tyre (FYI with an equally large logo covering its entire roof). The extensive exhibitions inside cover not just automobiles but motorcyles, small planes, and other motors and machinery BMW has turned out since its founding in 1916. And that's not all - right nearby is BMW Welt, which showcases the automaker's current models, as well as the factory, which offers tours to the public. You could easily spend the better part of a day here!
St. Michael's Church
One of Europe's largest Renaissance churches also played an outsize role in its history
Big Mike
Finished in 1597, the Renaissance Michalskirche was key in German and European history as a spiritual centre of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, which changed the course of the continent's history. The blue-and-white façade is especially notable, with its adornments and allegories touting the triumph of Catholicism (of which Bavaria remained a bastion) over Protestantism, such as the most popular image, St. Michael battling a dragon. The interior continues the same theme, and in addition houses a number of tombs of Bavaria's Wittelsbach royal dynasty. The church also holds the distinction of being the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps.
Cathedral of Our Lady
Distinctive on the Old Town skyline, the enormous 'Frauenkirche' comes with a devilish tale
Angels and demons
Better known as the Frauenkirche, Munich's largest church (and one of the largest and most important in all of Germany), is a Gothic icon with a capacity for 20,000, built mostly between 1468 and 1494. Highlights inside include the understated (not!) tomb of Holy Roman Emperor Louise IV - previously Duke Ludwig of Bavara; the lovely altars (especially the San Andreas altar); and one curious floor tile with a (curiously human-looking) stone footprint known as the Teufelstritt (Devil's footprint). Various forms of legends had the architect selling his soul to the Devil to finance the cathedral's building but managing to trick Satan, who then stomped his feet in rage, leaving an imprint. Other versions have Lucifer unsuccessfully trying to destroy the cathedral - but what he couldn't accomplish, Allied bombing in World War II almost did - what's here now is largely reconstructed.
Asam Church
Mixing the Gothic and the Rococo, this is without a doubt one of the city's most distinctive churches
Over-the-top wonder
Fans of religious architecture will love Munich for its variety of styles and epochs, and the Asamskirche, built in the 1740s, is one of the most important and impressive. Its actual name is St. John Nepomuk, but everyone has always referred to it by the name of its popular and well known architects, a pair of brothers. These guys pulled out all the stops here, with a narrow, elongated façade blending Gothic with over-the-top Rococo. Above the entryway you can see various scenes from the life of the Bohemian saint, including his murder by drowning. The interior is just as extravagant. Well worth a visit.
St. Peter's Church
An architectural hodgepodge with an impressive view and an impressive skeleton in its closet (or case)
Munich's oldest
The church popularly known as Alter (Old) Peter has the distinction of being Munich's oldest church, dating back to the 12th century and expanded over the years so that in addition to its original Romanesque style it also has elements of Gothic, Renaissance, Rococo, and Baroque. As for its interior, items of note include the relics of the Roman martyr St. Munditia - a gilded, bejeweled skeleton, found in the second chapel on the left. A second is the view from its 91-metre (299-foot) tower, one of the best panoramas in town, where on a clear day you can see clear out to the Alps. One caveat: it's a 300-step climb.
New Town Hall
A stone's throw from the Old Town Hall, it takes up an entire side of the Marienplatz
Over-the-top neo-Gothic
Munich's current city hall, called the Neues Rathaus, is a grandiose Gothic Revival structure which takes up an entire side of Old Town's Marienplatz, (a square which also includes the much smaller Old Town Hall at its eastern side). The growth of the city and its government in the 19th century was such that new quarters were needed, and so in 1874 the government was transferred to this behemoth 85 metres (279 feet) high, built in elaborate Neo-Gothic style that has become one of Munich's most recognisable buildings. Parts are open to the public; for example, you can take a lift up to the top of its tower for some impressive views out over the city.
Old Town Hall
Unmistakable gables and tower on the Marienplatz - and a playful surprise inside
Key Gothic landmark
The fairytale stepped gables and pointy towers of the Altes Rathaus - dating back to at least the 14th century but overhauled in the 15th in relatively restrained Gothic style - are still a distinctive landmark on the Old Town's Marienplatz, and served as town hall until 1874. The interior preserves its wooden ceilings along with the heraldic and other symbolic adornments of the era. The tower is 55 metres (180 feet) high and actually predates the rest of the building, having been built in the 12th century as part of the city's defences. Today its use is more benign, a charming toy museum displaying and curating Bavarian children's playthings back to the 19th century.
City Gates
The only remnants of the stone defensive walls built during the Middle Ages, dramatic reminders of the past
And then there were three
In the early Middle Ages, Munich like all Germanic (and, indeed, European) cities was regularly besieged by bellicose groups like the Swabians and the Alani, so doughty defensive stone walls became de rigueur. Munich's later development and expansion, as well as the receding of these kinds of threats from without, made the mediaeval walls obsolete, and many were torn down. Three, however, yet remain to remind us of the old walled city. Karlstor was originally called Neuhauser Tor, but the name was changed to parallel that of the newly constructed Karlsplatz. Built in 1337, Isartor was severely damaged during World War II but subsequently restore. Sendlinger Tor, dating back to 1318, was built as a departure point for merchants travelling to Italy.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Bavarian rulers' huge, grandiose summer palace stars spectacular gardens and an interesting carriage museum
There's a summer place…
Out west of central Munich in the Neuhauser district, the summer palace of the Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria is an amazing Baroque pile designed by Italian Agostino Barelli, also architect of the Theatine Church. It was inaugurated in 1664 during the reign of Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. The estate was originally not as enormous as it later became - it was renovated and enlarged up until the early 19th century, when the spectacular formal gardens were renovated and enlarged. One highlight within the palace is the Carriage Museum, with all the splendid conveyances which hauled the royal family around from the 17th century onward.
The Residenz Palace
The rococco seat of Bavaria's monarchs is Germany's largest city palace, and quite a piece of work - especially its extravagantly bejeweled Treasury
The big house
The old rococo residence of the monarchs of Bavaria, off the Odeonplatz, it's Germany's largest city palace, built in 1385 and with rather more modest dimensions, and getting remodeled and enlarged, serving as the royal digs until the November Revolution of 1918 which abolished the monarchy. It was between 1750 and 1755 that one of the most extravagant and popular halls was added, the Cuivilliés Theatre. It was severely damaged in World War II, but restored, and is today a popular attraction for visitors, who are especially entranced by its Schatzkammer (Treasury) with an eye-popping collection, of artwork, coins, and all manner of extravagant bling, including the crown jewels and other inestimably valuable objects belonging to the royal house of Wittelsbach.
Odeonsplatz
A monumental plaza with some of the city's most important buildings - and one of its most notorious associations
Grandiosity & history
One of Munich's main squares, it gets its name from the Odeon, once a distinguished concert hall, now a government building. The rest of its buildings are no slouches, either - it was designed in the early 19th century as the main entrance to the city, and so the architecture is majestic, with highlights including the Feldhernhalle (Field Marshalls Hall), an Italianate loggia commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria (and also notorious as the site where the Nazis' early failed Beer Hall Putsch was defeated in 1923). Across the way are the Residenz, the Bavarian monarchs' palace; the grandiose 17th-century Baroque Theatine Church; and the Italianate Renaissance Hofgarten.
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