Munich is extremely photogenic and offers a variety of spots that are perfect for content on Instagram and TikTok. Whether historical architecture, modern locations or idyllic spots in the English Garden or along the Isar - there are motifs for creative photo and video shoots everywhere. Here is a selection of the best photo backdrops.
Whether you're planning to shoot a TikTok, upload a new Instagram post or just want to take a cool group photo. There are plenty of suitable backgrounds in Munich. We can highly recommend the following locations for expressive photos.
Marienplatz with the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) in the heart of the city is one of the most popular photo motifs. This is due on the one hand to the imposing neo-Gothic architecture of the town hall with its Glockenspiel (carillon) and on the other to the many scenes of lively city life on the square, where many street artists perform day after day. This place is particularly inviting for capturing unforgettable Munich moments, as it epitomises this city in a very special way.
Munich's Friedensengel (Angel of Peace) is a wonderful photo hotspot that captivates tourists and locals alike. The gleaming golden figure against a mostly blue sky embodies the splendour of the state capital and exudes serenity. There isn't a photographer in Munich who hasn't tried their hand at a very individualised shot of the Angel of Peace.
The Siegestor in Munich is a photo location steeped in history. Originally dedicated to victory, it has been a reminder of peace since the end of the Second World War. The lively surroundings with the hustle and bustle of Ludwigstraße and a view of Odeonsplatz with the Feldherrnhalle at the other end of the boulevard offer a variety of perspectives for selfies and special architectural images.
The China and Japan Gardens in Westpark are hidden gems and delight visitors with their exotic aesthetics. The design with traditional pagodas, picturesque ponds and special plants and trees creates an oasis in the centre of the city. Flowers along the artistically designed paths offer numerous opportunities for inspiring pictures. The Asian garden art impressively reflects Munich's cultural diversity. Ideal for anyone who wants to unwind and capture unforgettable moments.
The Olympisches Dorf (Olympic Village) in Munich constantly gives photographers new ideas for bringing the history of the 1972 Olympic Games to life. The striking architecture amidst the extensive green spaces of the Olympiapark (Olympic Park) provides a unique backdrop for creative shots. The entire ensemble is considered a milestone in the history of modern architecture and design of the 20th century. The colourful painted pavilions of the student city are particularly beautiful to photograph.
Lost places such as the Olympiapark ghost station with its special atmosphere are sought-after motifs. The Olympiapark S-Bahn station was built especially for the 1972 Summer Olympics and closed in 1988. Since then, the former station has developed into a particularly photogenic biotope. The aim here is to capture the unique atmosphere and melancholy of this place, from which the many enthusiastic visitors once flocked to the Olympic Park to watch the games up close.
Where have you seen these ornate spiral staircases and high walls of books before? Yes, that's right, the Juristische Bibliothek (Law Library) in the New Town Hall with its Art Nouveau interior is reminiscent of Harry Potter's school library at Hogwarts and you will never tire of trying out all possible perspectives to capture the many architectural details, the wonderful light and the time-honoured atmosphere. You can only enter the library as part of a guided tour.
The Hackerbrücke in Munich delights locals and tourists alike with its listed steel arch construction. The view from the historic railway bridge over the tracks into the distance is a particular highlight at sunset. This is the big city at its best: on mild evenings, couples and groups settle down on the steel girders in the bridge arch to celebrate life. An ideal place for selfies and group photos.
The Monopteros in the English Garden offers a picturesque panorama of the towers of Munich's Altstadt (historic city centre) and enchants visitors with its classicist architecture and idyllic location. The harmonious combination of architecture and nature, shaped in the style of 18th century horticulture with hills, groups of trees and lawns, attracts photographers who want to capture the beauty of Munich at this particularly iconic location. The park is one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace) captivates Instagrammers with its magnificent baroque architecture, its fairytale park with watercourses, the lake with the Temple of Apollo and the four historic park palaces. The reflections on the surface of the ponds and the colourful flowerbeds create a particularly picturesque backdrop. This is a particularly impressive setting for royal Munich.
The Olympiaberg in Munich is a popular Instagram photo spot that inspires with its view over the city to the Alps. The landscape of hills, valleys and the Olympic Lake provides a perfect backdrop for creative shots, especially at sunset when the sky is bathed in warm colours or at concerts, when the slopes of the Olympic Hill are populated by the audience at the concerts in the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium) opposite.
The Asamkirche is a striking building and an unusual example of a church integrated into the front of a building. Here on Sendlinger Strasse in Munich's old town, it stands out with its colourful façade with columns and figures. And inside! Not a white spot, but gold, silver and pathos. And then this very special light, which impressively sets off the paintings, figures and stucco work. Be sure to take a look inside!
The Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden) in Munich is an idyllic spot. In its beautiful old greenhouses from the beginning of the 20th century, you can wander through the plant world of the different climatic zones of the earth, with cacti, palms, orchids and many more exciting plants. Opposite, in the outdoor area, is the popular ornamental courtyard with ornamental plants in ever-changing colourful arrangements. The alpine garden at the back of the garden is also very popular. With over 14,000 plant species in all colours and shapes on display, there is certainly no shortage of attractive photo opportunities.
Kink in the optics? No, there really is a ship on the bridge! A few years ago, the decommissioned excursion steamer was brought from Lake Ammersee to Munich to its unusual location in the Schachthof district. You can play captain at the original steering wheel and toast the last sun of the day with a sundowner. Concerts, readings and many other events often take place on board.
The Eisbachwelle (wave) on the edge of the English Garden inspires even surfing pros from all over the world. It is also a real challenge for experienced surfers and certainly for the odd Instagrammer who tries to get the perfect picture of the boys and girls on the wave.
The art treasures in the Lenbachhaus have a golden wrapping. The Lenbachhaus in Munich was renovated over a period of four years. Under the direction of British architect Norman Foster, the 19th century villa was extended to include the gleaming gold new building. Inside, you can see the world-famous works of the ‘Blauer Reiter’ group of artists, including Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Gabriele Münter.
The architects Sauerbruch Hutton have come up with something special for the façade of the Brandhorst Museum of Contemporary Art: it looks like an abstract painting itself and consists of 36,000 ceramic rods glazed in 23 different colours. A real eye-catcher in the museum landscape of the Kunstareal in Maxvorstadt. And the ideal background for selfies and group photos.
Café Jasmin is a coffee house in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich. Its interior, with its sofas and armchairs in light green velvet, the formica tables and the white leather-clad counter, dates back to the 1950s and is a listed building. It is said that even Mick Jagger sometimes drops by for the delicious cakes and tarts.
The murals in the Golden Bar in the Haus der Kunst date back to the 1930s and show maps of areas of the world known for their production of rum, cigars, tobacco, champagne, whisky and wines, such as Cuba, Jamaica, Italy, Champagne and many more. At the beginning of the 21st century, these images were uncovered again in order to allow an open discussion of the company's National Socialist past. When furnishing the bar, a conscious effort was made to create a contrast to the aesthetics of the 1930s with the help of well-known designers such as Konstantin Grcic. Not only the interior is an experience, but also the drinks menu of the multi-award-winning bar.
One of the largest murals in the city can be found at the SWM substation in Giesing (U2/U7/U8 or tram 15/25 Silberhornstraße). Münchner Stadtwerke commissioned it from Markus Müller, alias Won ABC. He dedicated the 38 by 18 metre street art artwork to Kurt Eisner, Sarah Lerch-Rabinovitz, Erich Mühsam, Gustav Landauer and Ernst Toller, the pioneers of the Bavarian Soviet Republic of 1919. Robin Page, the artist's professor at the Münchner Kunstakademie (Munich Academy of Art), is also immortalised on the wall. You can find more Halls of Fame here.
