There is always something to discover in Munich, whether you have 4 or 24 hours, a long weekend or a whole week. A few suggestions for this summer!
Even with little time to spare, you can be sure to explore the most stunning highlights Munich has to offer. Whoever books a Munich City Walk, is right in the middle of the action and can savour the most famous landmarks of the city, such as the Neue Rathaus (town hall) at Marienplatz (main square), the Viktualienmarkt (food market) and the Frauenkirche (cathedral), all while on foot. Even the Maximilianstrasse and the Residenz (city palace) are just a stone's throw away.
If you feel like it, you can walk to the Odeonsplatz (square) and enjoy Munich's Italian side. The yellow Theatinerkirche (church) radiates directly beside the Feldherrnhalle (historical monument), which was built on the model of a loggia in Florence. From here you walk into the baroque Hofgarten (park) and then finally to the famous Eisbachwelle (river wave) in the English Garden – one of the few surfable river waves worldwide.
If you have visited the most important sights in the Altstadt (with our Highlights-Tour you can also do this quite easily by bike), then why not enjoy a pleasant Mass of beer in the Beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt. This is not only the city’s most central beer garden, but also the only one in the city where the big Munich breweries alternate with serving drinks.
Alternatively, you can book a Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour where you not only learn everything about the city’s well-known food market, but also have a look at the different stands on show. Those who still have time left can take a short walk from the city centre across the Ludwigstrasse to Siegestor (gate) and on to the Maxvorstadt (quarter).
And if you prefer a break from the hustle and bustle of the Altstadt, why not take tram 12 from Rotkreuzplatz directly to Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace). Here, you can take a leisurely stroll through the castle complex - past the park castles Amalienburg, Pagodenburg und Badenburg, the Marstallmuseum (museum) and the Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg (porcelain manufactory).
The park and its canal cover a total of roughly 229 hectares. Afterwards, you can enjoy a relaxing stop, for example, at the Hirschgarten (park), the largest beer garden in Bavaria, which is only 15 minutes away on foot.
The second day is spent in amongst nature. The green corners of Munich are best explored by bicycle. You can find all bike rental services here, at a glance. If you cycle south along the Isar (river), you will pass the Tierpark Hellabrunn (zoo), the Flaucher (pebble beach), the Großhesseloher Brücke (bridge) before finally cycling all the way to Pullach.
Those who like to go on longer bicycle tours can even ride all the way up to Starnberger See (lake). At the Isar, there are unlimited bathing options, while on the way people can also take advantage of some Beer gardens – such as the Waldwirtschaft (inn), the Gasthaus zur Mühle (inn) or the Bruckenfischer (inn). If you want to start more to the north in Munich, you should definitely take a look at the stations of our “Isar river tour by bike”.
If you follow our two-day programme, on the third day you can focus your energy on English Garden – with its 375 hectares, it is the largest park in the world. Here, too, it is advisable to travel by bike; an exciting route can be found in our “Bicycle tour: English Garden”: From Marienplatz (main square), the route takes you via the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) and the Eisbachwelle.
For those who want to explore the north of the park, stop at the Aumeister or the Seehaus-Biergarten (beer garden) and order a cool “Mass” of beer or a “Radler” (beer shandy). But the park can also be explored in all its beauty on foot. If you need refreshment, you can get it at Milchhäusl (kiosk and beer garden) or the kiosk Fräulein Grüneis (café).
The next day is spent in the surrounding area of Munich in good weather. Bathing fans make their way to the Lake – by public transport, for example, the Starnberger See (lake) and the Ammersee (lake) are easy to reach.
If you want to go a little further away, for example, to the Chiemsee (lake), Schliersee (lake) or Tegernsee (lake), you can either rent a car or take the BOB (Bavarian Uplands Railway) or train in the morning. The closest lakes for bathing, such as the Feringasee, the Poschinger Weiher or the Fasaneriesee, are within easy reach by bike.
But even if the weather is not so good, there are plenty of activities that you can do in summer. How about a tour through the Kunstareal (art quarter)? Around 18 museums and exhibition houses are located in the Maxvorstadt – including the Lenbachhaus (art gallery), the Pinakotheken (museum) and the Museum Brandhorst (museum). If you are planning several stops, you can walk from one museum to the next.
More ideas for Munich in the rain can be found in our guide “Good ideas for bad weather ”. Of course, you can also go to the museum at any time when the weather is fine – this is particularly easy in Haus der Kunst (art gallery), because afterwards you can sit down with a drink on the terrace of the Goldene Bar (café) and enjoy the sunset.
If you're here for a whole week, there's no way you should miss out on the Olympic Park and the BMW Welt. The fifth day, for example, could look like this: By bike or on foot, you can explore the Olympiapark (Olympic Park), the architecturally unique Olympiadorf (Olympic Village) and the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium).
You can rent a pedal boat on the Olympiasee (Olympic Lake) – or simply take a picnic blanket and stretch out in the meadow. Thereafter, head to the BMW Museum – a real must for car fans – and the BMW Welt, a masterpiece of architecture, not just from the outside. The best place to end the evening is on the Olympiaberg (Olympic Mountain), from where you can enjoy a stunning view over Munich.
The following day could be used for a second excursion into Munich’s surrounding area. Particularly beautiful and popular spots include the Tour Schloss Neuschwanstein and Linderhof (palace), as well as the Kloster Andechs (Andechs Abbey) with its beer garden.
And for those who like it quieter and greener: Summer is also the season for Klamm-Wanderungen (gorge walking tour) – because they not only offer spectacular views, but also some cooling off when temperatures soar. If you want to go hiking in the Alps, some well-earned rest can be found in the Hütten (mountain chalets). And even the Zugspitze (Wetterstein mountain peak) is a well-worth Day trip when heading out from Munich.
Why not use the last day Football fans for the Allianz Arena (football stadium) and the FC Bayern Museum (museum). Even here, there is a Guided tour of the city of Munich, where you can find out everything about Munich's most famous club.
If you don't know much about football, why not explore the Westpark (park), for example – it's centrally located, yet spacious and quiet. Here you can explore exotic-looking structures such as the Thai Sala or enjoy a tasty snack in the beautifully located Café Gans am Wasser (café) directly at the Mollsee (artificial lake). Afterwards, you are quickly back in the city centre and ready for your departure.
