Visiting Munich for the First Time? Here’s What To See and Do

Munich’s Aldstadt, or Old Town, is a highlight for first-time visitors, with pedestrian zones, grand old buildings, and landmarks that tell the city's story since its founding in 1157. Once here, head to historical squares such as Marienplatz or Karlsplatz, look up at the twin domes of the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady (Frauenkirche), window shop on Maximilianstrasse, or see the town through a local’s eyes. To understand Munich’s history and culture, join a walking tour that shows off Old Town’s highlights.

The Munich Residence (Residenz München), located on the outskirts of Old Town, served as the palace of an old Bavarian dynasty (the Wittelsbach monarchs) between 1385 and 1918. After the monarchy dissolved, the palace was turned into a museum, where you can see how the royals lived, admiring their art collections and interior design skills along the way. Because each generation of royals added its own touch to the palace, walking the halls of the Residence is like peeling back the layers of time.

There’s a German saying that three beers equal one schnitzel, so stop for a “snack” at one of Munich’s beer gardens. The beer-friendly city is home to six main breweries, including the famous Hofbräuhaus, which was commissioned by Duke Maximilian I in 1589 for the royal family and then opened to the public in the 19th century. No first-time visit to Munich is complete without a stop at the Hofbräuhaus (kids are welcome, too), but you can also make it just one destination on a wider beer hall crawl if preferred.

Part of Munich’s appeal is its many green spaces. The whole city is dotted with parks like the English Garden (Englischer Garten), stretching from the center out toward the northeast corner of Munich. Covering more than 900 acres (364 hectares), it is one of the world’s largest urban parks, offering a vast lawn where locals hang out. View the pagoda-like Chinese Tower, a Greek-inspired temple, and the Eisbach Wave (Eisbachwelle), where surfers come to practice their skills on the Eisbach River. Walk or bike through this park and other green spaces to get a sense of local life in Munich.

The Viktualienmarkt has been held in the center of Munich daily since 1807, with more than 100 stands selling everything from fruits and vegetables to Bavarian pretzels and sausages, draught beer, and more. Eat like a local with a guided market tour, grazing the many goods on display, or check out the market’s fountains dedicated to important figures in Munich's history. It’s also a great place to take a break from exploring the city—hang out for a while at the Viktualienmarkt’s beer garden in the shade of giant chestnut trees.

Sure, Munich is an outdoorsy city, but it’s also home to plenty of museums to keep you busy on a rainy day. At the Deutsches Museum, check out exhibits on science and technology, or if cars are your thing, glimpse vintage models at the BMW Museum. Gain a new perspective on Munich’s beer culture at the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum; admire classic and modern art at the Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek) or New Pinakothek (Neue Pinakothek); or marvel at FC Bayern Munich’s record-breaking soccer history during a guided tour of the team’s Allianz Arena.

You can choose to stroll around the city or you can see even more of the sights when you travel on two wheels. With thousands of cycling routes crisscrossing the city, Munich is certainly bike-friendly, and renting a bicycle is a great way to experience the area like a local. If you’re looking for more structure than pedaling around the city yourself, join a bike tour or Segway tour. Otherwise, head to one of the city’s parks, explore Munich’s most interesting neighborhoods, or cycle dedicated bike paths along the Isar River.

Several viewing platforms and towers around Munich offer sweeping views over the city, many of which are accessible by elevator. So if you don’t mind heights, head to the New City Hall Tower to look over St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) and the Frauenkirche, take in the Olympic Tower’s vista, climb up to the viewing platform at St. Peter’s, or check out the Hackerbrücke bridge overlooking the city’s main train station. (Some of these viewpoints require tickets.)

Since the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, Munich has transformed its Olympiapark into a destination for outdoor recreation. Located north of the city center, the park has swimming pools, the Olympic Lake, tennis courts, Nordic walking tracks, a sledding hill, event venues, and more. A Munich hop-on hop-off city bus tour stops at the park where you can tour the grounds, play sports, catch an event, or dine at one of the many on-site eateries. For an added thrill, visit the Olympic Tower for views of the park, the city, and the distant Alps.

Take an excursion into the mountains for hiking in the summer, or try nighttime sledding in the winter at Obere Firstalm. But don’t miss out on guided day trips from Munich to other important Bavarian sites. Ride the train 30 minutes out of the city to Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), where you’ll find impressive grounds, ceiling frescoes, and all the other spoils of a baroque palace. Alternatively, visit Neuschwanstein Castle or Linderhof Palace or take a combo tour of both landmarks. Guided commentary on World War II sites like Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) and the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site offer a sobering view of history.

Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, when a festival was held in celebration of the Bavarian crown prince’s wedding. Now, it’s Munich’s most popular event of the year, when thousands of foreign and domestic tourists crowd the city searching for beer. To do Oktoberfest right, book a tour complete with beer hall tickets, check out the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum, and don’t forget to don your lederhosen or dirndl! Plan a trip to Munich a month or two later, and you’ll get to see Munich's Christmas markets, during which stalls sell snacks, mulled wine, and trinkets of all kinds.

Munich is a sum of its parts—25 different districts, each with a character of its own—so to understand the city, you’ll want to visit at least a few of these interesting neighborhoods. Start with Glockenbachviertel, where artisan markets and community events fill the streets during the day while clubs, bars, and restaurants come alive at night. For cultural exploration, check out Maxvorstadt north of the city center, visit Schwabing’s many galleries, or stroll through pleasant residential areas like Au-Haidhausen.