If you can manage to secure a ticket for a European Championship match at Munich's Arena (football stadium), you can look forward to almost two hours of pure football bliss. But what can you do until then? You're left with the best kind of problem: how to fill the time until kick-off. We have a few suggestions on how to organise the ideal match day, whether you're a foodie, a die-hard football fan, a business traveller, a culture vulture, or a family looking for fun.
- A match day for ... foodies
- Match day for ... culture vultures
- Match day for … genuine football fans
- Match day for ... business travellers
- Match day for ... families
Munich also plays in the Champions League in culinary terms. From breakfast to dinner: Here are some great stops to get a taste for the city.
In the morning: Traditional Weisswurst breakfast
There's only one way to kick off a foodie day in Munich: with a traditional Weisswurst breakfast (traditional veal sausages). At the Großmarkthalle restaurant, you can enjoy the famous Weisswurst, which is regularly ranked as the city's best. This rustic pub in Munich's Schlachthof district, is located right next to the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market hall), where the sausages are, of course, made in-house. In combination with sweet mustard, a basket of warm pretzels and a fresh wheat beer, this is the perfect foodie start to the day. After this fortifying meal, you can join a guided tour through the Grossmarkthalle or embark on a short shopping spree through the craft beer shops in the neighbourhood.
Lunch break: Gourmet tour of the Viktualienmarkt
The Viktualienmarkt (market) is one of Munich's most traditional places and a Mecca for food lovers. There are around 100 stalls selling everything your heart desires, from fresh produce to numerous delicacies for the small appetite in between. Highlights include Caspar Plautz's potato stall, known for its creative reinterpretations of the tuber; for example served with celeriac glazed in teriyaki sauce with an apple salsa and fermented celeriac with chimichurri.
Fisch Witte offers a selected fish counter, a variety of daily specials and fish sandwiches, such as the classic with ultra-thin smoked salmon and red onions. If you want to round off your meal with a sweet treat, you should visit Lea Zapf's stand. She is a trained master confectioner. If you're lucky, you can get your hands on briolini, a fluffy brioche variation with a dough that takes more than 42 hours to rise. Be quick, because they regularly sell out.
For dinner: authentic Munich cuisine.
Whether before or after the game, the culinary finale takes place in the Weisses Bräuhaus. It is an institution among Munich's pubs, where the Bavarian way of life has been cultivated and celebrated for over 150 years. This is the perfect place to savour the classics of Bavarian cuisine.
Brave foodies will also be delighted by the “Kronfleischküche“, which is offal prepared in Bavarian style. Other restaurants in the city centre, such as Braunauer Hof, Andechser am Dom, or Ayinger am Platzl, offer equally excellent but slightly less adventurous options.
It would probably take a month to explore all the top-class museums, opera houses, cultural theatres, galleries, and collections in Munich. We have selected a few highlights for you.
In the morning: Wander through 5000 years of art and cultural history
If you want to discover a lot of culture in a short time, head straight to the Maxvorstadt district. Here, you'll find the Kunstareal (art quarter), one of Europe's most exciting cultural centres, with a total of 18 museums, six universities and countless galleries, concentrated on an area measuring just 500 by 500 metres. With a combined ticket, you can get an impression of the three top-class Pinakothek museums and Museum Brandhorst. Even a stroll around the area is worthwhile, as you'll discover numerous architectural gems like the Propyläen (propylaea), as well as the Glyptothek and Lenbachhaus (art galleries).
Lunch break: explore the city's royal roots
Munich's history is rich with dukes and kings, who shaped the cityscape with their palaces and magnificent buildings. To get a glimpse of their lives and reigns, visit the Residenz in the historic city centre. As Germany's largest city palace, covering over 40,000 square meters, the Residenz features many rooms with original furnishings. Explore the famous Antiquarium, the early Baroque Imperial Hall, and the Treasury, and experience royal splendour.
In the evening: round off the day in a jazz bar
Even if they are often rousing, euphoric or even heart-wrenching: Stadium chants are not necessarily considered the pinnacle of musical culture, not even by the “Capos“. So, if you've had your fill of “Schalalala“ after 90 minutes, you should treat yourself to Munich's diverse jazz club culture after the game. Options include the Unterfahrt jazz club, the Vogler jazz bar, the Night Club in the Bayerischer Hof, or Mister B's.
Football is a major part of Munich's culture, making it a welcoming destination for true football enthusiasts. Whether it's a visit to the match venues, following in the footsteps of the legendary FC Bayern, or enjoying one of the many football pubs - Munich has something to offer every football lover.
In the morning: immerse yourself in the “Olympic spirit“
The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich – the Olympiapark (Olympic Park) built for the occasion still stands and continues to impress more than 50 years later. Explore the extensive grounds, marvel at the unique tent roof construction, visit the Olympiastadion (where football was played in Munich until 2005), and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Alps from the Olympic Hill. If you're here as a group and can't get enough football, you can also visit the SoccArena, an indoor football centre where pitches can be hired by the hour.
At lunchtime: visit the FC Bayern Museum
Whether you love or loathe FC Bayern Munich: The football club is extraordinary – just like the club's museum. On 3300 square metres of exhibition space, the museum displays trophies, original jerseys and videos of legendary players and tells the story of the FC Bayern myth and the magic of the sport. Conveniently, the museum is located in the Allianz Arena, where you will be watching the match later. This means you can arrive a few hours early and soak up the football atmosphere beforehand. If you need a snack in between, you should visit Café Gisela in the FC Bayern Museum, named after the café where FC Bayern Munich was founded in 1900.
Guided tours of the Munich Football Arena, as the Allianz Arena is known during the European Championships, will also be available to a limited extent during UEFA EURO 2024. Information on guided tours during the European Championships can be found here.
In the evening: football talk in a sports bar
No visit to Munich would be complete without a stop at one of the local football pubs. It's the perfect place to discuss the game you just watched, analyse your team's chances in the next round and debate about the strengths and weaknesses of your team. You might even have what it takes to become a much better national team coach yourself! Enjoy these conversations with like-minded fans over a freshly tapped beer at bars like the “Stadion an der Schleissheimer Strasse“, the “Vereinsheim“, the “Sax“ or the “Blue Adria“.
Some people know Munich – but only from business trips. But if you're here for the football this time, you can savour the day to the full.
In the morning: Private tour of the Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum on Museum Island on the Isar river is home to one of the most important scientific and technical collections in the world. Even Bill Gates, who visited Munich for the 2023 Security Conference, made a point to stop by. The museum offers various guided tours, including special tours for groups with prior knowledge, making it a fantastic option for those interested in science.
Lunch break: Shopping like the royals
Step into the world of the kings at the former “königlich bayerische Hoflieferanten“ (royal Bavarian purveyors), which are shops that supplied the court before the end of the monarchy. Still known for their exceptional quality, most of these former purveyors are located in the old town. Here, you can explore delicacies from Dallmayr, luxurious footwear from Eduard Meier, and the exquisite creations of master confectioner and chocolatier Heinrich Georg Erbshäuser. Just a stone's throw away is Maximilianstrasse, home to branches of the most important international luxury labels.
In the evening: visit the cradle of German Michellin-starred gastronomy
The Tantris is probably Munich's most famous restaurant and the perfect place to conclude an exclusive day. In 1971, building contractor Fritz Eichbauer realised his dream of opening his own gourmet restaurant and founded one of the first restaurants in Germany to receive two Michelin stars. The restaurant still maintains this standard today, with top chef Benjamin Chmura at the helm, who has been awarded two Michelin stars himself. If you can’t secure a table here, don't panic: There are alternatives: Munich has over a dozen restaurants that have been awarded one or more stars.
If you visit Munich as a family, you usually have to cater for several voices at once – the little ones want to be entertained, but the grown-ups also want to explore Munich around the European Championships. This daily plan caters to everyone’s desires:
In the morning: Stroll through the Englischer Garten with breakfast at the Eisbach river wave
Start your family day with fresh air and by taking an extensive walk through the English Garden. It's best to enter the park from the southern end, because that's where the first attraction is: the surfers at the Eisbachwelle (river wave). Just 50 meters further on is the charming Fräulein Grüneis kiosk, offering a second breakfast, a first ice cream, or a third coffee. A few minutes later, there's a large playground where the little ones can romp about and burn off some energy.
Lunch break: whizz through BMW Welt
Racing cars, luxury cars, vintage cars, and motorbikes are sure to delight even the little ones at BMW Welt. The centre also offers workshops for children, young people, and families throughout the year. While one part of the family tinkers, constructs, and tries things out, the other can peacefully admire the eight-cylinder cars. BMW Welt is one of the city's top attractions, drawing over three million visitors every year.
In the evening: Visit of the New Town Hall Tower
Alter Peter, Frauenkirche and much more – from the tower of the Neues Rathaus you can see all the important sights of Munich. And thanks to the elevator, you arrive on the platform in a few seconds.
For dinner: Enjoy a delicious Italian meal
If you've had enough excitement for the day and prefer a quick and uncomplicated dinner: Munich's reputation as the “northernmost city in Italy” and its Italophilia is also reflected in the quality of its Italian cuisine. Here are some recommendations from a real Italian!
