Itineraries for Your Trip to Munich
2 Days in Munich for First Timers
Although it’s fun to witness the city come to life with activity in summer, some of my favorite memories of Munich are from visits during the winter. The Christmas market fills up the Marienplatz with the smell of glühwein, and regular stops in beer halls or museums are a necessity to escape the chill.
Whether or not you’re in town over the holidays, having two days in Munich means plenty of time to learn about the city’s history and experience its culture for yourself. That could include visits to museums to admire the royal Wittelsbach family’s art collection, day trips to nearby castles, or just plenty of Bavarian beer.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a beer tour.
Sunshine often doesn’t last long in Munich, so bring layers for when the inevitable clouds roll in.
After enjoying a typical local breakfast (like weisswurst sausage with sweet mustard and a pretzel), go on a walking tour of Munich that illuminates the city’s history. Although a sobering option, a Third Reich walking tour gives you a look at how this city became known as the capital of the Nazi movement. Along the way, you’ll visit several significant landmarks, squares, and buildings that bring the past back to life.
Now that you've seen Munich’s city center take a day trip outside the city to the Nymphenburg Palace, once the Bavarian royal family’s summer residence. If you opt for a tour that includes round-trip transportation from Munich, you won't have to worry about the logistics of getting there and can relax and enjoy the palace and its galleries.
So far today, you’ve learned about Munich’s history, so bridge the gap to Munich’s present with a beer tour. Learn about how beer was made in Munich’s early days and its role in modern German life on an excursion through the city to all the best street food stands and beer halls. You’ll get a sense of Munich’s nightlife and do some people-watching.
Viktualienmarkt has been held in Munich's center six days a week for more than 200 years. On your second day in the city, get breakfast at this market and browse the stands, trying everything from bread, cheese, meats, and sausages to the classic Bavarian pretzel. Then, gather items for a morning picnic in the nearby park. If you have time, wander over to the nearby Maximiliansplatz square.
In the afternoon, continue your cultural exploration of Munich with a tour of the Munich Residence, once the home of the Wittelsbach royal family. You’ll walk through the enormous palace while learning about the family’s history and art from a private guide. The Kunstareal museum quarter isn’t far away if you want to visit more museums in the afternoon.
On your last night in Munich, get outside the city center and get a sense of Munich’s true personality with a visit to some of the more modern neighborhoods, like the artsy Schwabing, residential Au-Haidhausen, or trendy Glockenbach. Or go on a ghost tour to listen to long-held legends about witches, ghosts, and beasts believed to roam the city.
