Plan Your Trip to Munich: Best of Munich Tourism
Munich, Germany
Essential Munich
Things to do
Food & drink
Embrace Europe’s great outdoors
How to Enjoy Oktoberfest Year Round in Munich
- Seehaus im Englischen Garten765In Munich they love their beers so much you can get one right in the middle of its most famous park. The upscale Seehaus in this palatial lake-side park has a rambling beer garden and tables along the placid waters of the Kleinhesseloher See. On my last visit, I got a frosty mug, a heaping plate of currywurst and fries, and even made a couple of new friends at the convivial spot.
- Hofbräuhaus31,406Quick: close your eyes and picture an old-school German beer hall. What do you see? I’m guessing exactly this place. Founded by a Bavarian Duke in 1589, this spot was originally part of a brewery and everyone from Mozart to Lenin has sat on the long wooden benches sipping a lager under the soaring ceiling adorned with baroque frescoes.
- Löwenbräukeller462This rambling old-school beer hall and beer garden has some beautiful spaces to enjoy your brew. Come for the beer, which they brew themselves, including a really lovely, crisp, half-dry Pilsner that I loved. Then stay for the music—a band plays live Bavarian tunes six days a week. The food is excellent too—think, seasonal, elevated local classics. My recommendation—the weisswurst, the traditional white sausage of Munich, with a nice, spicy mustard.
- Tap House - Camba Bavaria158This cozy basement spot owned by a certified beer sommelier opened a decade ago with a modest goal: to be the ultimate destination for beer lovers. At any given time, you’ll find some 200 different options to sip here, both hyper-local choices and varieties from around the globe. I love to chat with the staff, all beer aficionados, and try a truly unique or even experimental beer that I wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world.
- M'Uniqo Rooftop Bar94Right, so stick with me on this one. Yes, it’s a hotel bar, and an Italian/Mediterranean themed one at that. But the beer is good and the view alone—with the skyline of Munich at your feet and the snow-capped Alps on the horizon—is worth a visit. And the part I love most is that this is where locals grab a drink after work; I often start my evening here just to take in the scene.
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Munich Travel Guide
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Munich
Jermaine M
Eating out might get expensive in Munich. Remember the secret of Bavarian beer gardens, though: You are allowed to bring your own food!
Elena Z
Munich is a typically efficient German city. Follow the orderliness, and you'll blend in well.
Irmie E
While in Munich, a visit to the Viktualienmarkt, the local Farmers Market, is a must. But wear comfortable shoes for all the walking you do as you visit the various booths.
Rambling Lawyer
The Munich Christkindlmarkt is one of the largest in the world, but actually there are about two dozen Christmas Markets in Munich and its surroundings alone. A good source of information about what's coming up is muenchen.de.
Alex90028
Basically, we can not predict the weather. Last year it was hot in the spring and rather cool in the summer. Could be the opposite this year. Best advice is to go with layers: T-shirt and shorts would usually be fine, but have a jacket with you in case of cooler nights.
Margaret K
Getting around Munich is easy on public transportation. If you are going to be in the city several days, you can get a 3-day pass for use on all trains, subways, buses, and trams.
Jermaine M
One of the first reasons that many visitors come to Munich is the world-famous Oktoberfest, but while Munich beers are definitely excellent, the city offers much more to discover — both in winter and in summer — including the charming historical center, the beautiful green areas, and many art galleries.
Margaret K
According to polls, Munich is the German city that most Germans would like to live in, if they could. It actually is composed of several smaller towns, and since no buildings taller than the tallest church steeple are allowed according to building code, the center feels like a town.
Jermaine M
One reason that more and more people move to Munich is the high quality of life you can enjoy here. Bavarians just know how to take good care of their environment! Take for example the beautiful urban parks where you can enjoy a variety of different sports, or just relax after work in clean, peaceful surroundings. Furthermore, Munich is only a 1-hour train ride away from the Alps and beautiful lake regions. In short, anybody who loves nature and outdoor activities is bound to love Munich!
Drachsi
Munich is a well known and popular destination for people from all over the world. With a friendly relaxed living style, and plenty of attractions for visitors of all ages, Munich has it all.
What is the best way to get there?
flying
Munich International Airport is located 18 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Munich. The S1 and S8 S-Bahn trains depart for the city center every 20 minutes. The journey takes around 45 minutes.
car
Munich is well connected with other cities in Germany and Austria by the German autobahn network.
train
Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) is conveniently located in the center of Munich and well connected to Munich's excellent public transport network.
bus
Long-distance buses from other European cities (notably the Balkans and Central Europe) provide an inexpensive way to travel to Europe. Buses arrive at Munich Central Bus Station.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting Munich from overseas, visit the Federal Foreign Office for information
When is the best time to visit?
Many visitors come to visit to celebrate the city’s famous Oktoberfest but, if you want to avoid crowds, between March and May is an ideal time. Fall’s crowds have long gone and summer's peak season hasn't yet begun. Average high temperatures are the high 40s °F (10 C) in March and high 60s °F (19 C) in May.
Get around
walking
Munich’s largely traffic-free city center is best explored on foot.
public transit
The city’s dense public transportation system consists of suburban trains (S-Bahn), underground trains (U-Bahn), streetcars (Tram), and buses. There is only one ticket system, called MVV, which means you can use all modes of transportation with the same ticket. If you plan to use the system several times in one day, buying a day ticket can save you money
bike
With its network of bike paths, Munich is a very cyclist-friendly city. The local dockless bike-sharing scheme is called Call-A-Bike.
taxi
Taxis are generally easy to find at ranks, train stations or on the street.
ridesharing
Uber is available in Munich on your smartphone.
On the ground
What is the timezone?
Central European Standard Time
What are the voltage/plug types?
In Germany, the standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The plug type is F and has two round parallel pins.
What is the currency?
The Euro
Are ATMs readily accessible?
Yes.
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Yes.
How much do I tip?
Restaurant
A tip of around 10 percent is expected.
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking
The federal legal age for buying and drinking beer and wine is 16 years old. For other drinks, it is 18.
Cheers the right way
When you are toasting your companions with a drink, make eye contact and say a hearty “prost” as you clink glasses — clink with the bottom of your glass
Share table space
At many Munich restaurants, especially beer gardens, you are expected to share tables with other diners so don’t take up too much space.
Table manners
Wait for everyone in your party to get their food and say “Guten Appetit” before tucking in.
Be on time
Germans are punctual and showing up late is considered rude.
Public transit
Let passengers off before boarding. Offer your seat to elderly and pregnant people and to those with disabilities.
Walking
Walk to the right of the sidewalk and step off to the side of the sidewalk if you want to stop to check your phone, look up directions, or want to take in a view.
- We recommend staying at one of the most popular hotels in Munich, which include:
- Some of the most popular restaurants in Munich include:
- Munich is known for some of its popular attractions, which include:
- We recommend checking out these popular tours when looking for something to do in Munich:
- If you're a more budget-conscious traveler, then you may want to consider traveling to Munich between December and February, when hotel prices are generally the lowest. Peak hotel prices generally start between September and November.