When you think of visiting Germany, Munich is the city that perhaps comes to mind for the first time. This city is considered the second most important city in Germany after Berlin and some even consider it the second capital of the country. Munich is appreciated by its residents, but especially by tourists for its monuments, its incredible museums and the architectural style of the city. In this travel guide you will find all the details you need to plan your vacation!

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Munich tourist attractions

Transport

The fastest and most convenient way to get from the airport to the city is the S-Bahn train (the one that also circulates through the city). They run every 10 minutes between 4:15-1. You can take lines S1 (it travels more through the western part of the city) or S8 (it travels more through the eastern part of the city), and the trip to the city center will take about 40 minutes. There are 2 S-Bahn stations at the airport, and they are located at terminals 1 and 2. You can follow the green signs with the "S" sign that you will see once you leave the arrivals hall. The ticket to the center will cost approximately 11.20 euros and can be purchased from ticket offices or ticket machines. You can find details on https://www.munich-airport.com/public-transport-260822.

You can also take one taxi, because they circulate 24/7. The trip to the center will take 30-40 minutes, but the cost of the ticket is quite high. The average price is 70 euros/trip, and if you take a taxi at night, the cost can even reach 90 euros.

What do you drive around Munich with?

Public transport in Munich is well developed and you have 4 transport options through the city: the S-Bahn train, the U-Bahn subway, the bus and the tram. They are operated by the companies MVG AND MVV, so any type of ticket is valid for all 4 modes of transport. Tickets for the S-Bahn and U-Bahn can be purchased from the ticket machines in the stations. Those for buses and trams can be purchased on board and online from https://ticketshop.mvv-muenchen.de/index.php/tickets or from the MVV or MVG applications.

There are the following types of tickets:

ticket for 1 single trip: 3.50 euros
1-day ticket/1 adult: 8.20 euros
1-day ticket/1 child between 6-14 years: 3.30 euros
1-day ticket/group of maximum 5 people: 15.60 euros

Munich Card VS Munich City Pass

Tourists have 2 options that can help them save their vacation budget: Munich Card and Munich City Pass. Munich Card offers you discounts of up to 70% at over 100 attractions, tours and restaurants, free public transport in the city, a guide and a map of the city. The card costs 14 euros/adult and 5.90 euros/child between 6-14 years. You can find out more details directly on https://www.munich.travel/en/offers/booking/munich-card.

Munich City Pass gives you free access to over 45 attractions, free public transport in the city, guide and map of the city. It costs 47.90 euros/adult, 21.90 euros/child between 6-14 years and 32.90 euros/youth between 15-17 years. You can find details on https://www.munich.travel/en/offers/booking/munich-city-pass.

Accommodation Munich

Hotels in Munich offer everything they say they offer - excellent conditions and gourmet menus. But they can come at a reasonable price, Munich being the most expensive city in Germany when it comes to hotels. But if you want to get to know the local people, then the most suitable would be the smaller, family hotels. Prices can even start from 45 euros/night. Here are some options that we recommend:

Super 8 by Wyndham Munich City North - the hotel is located in the northern part of the city, approximately 5 km from the center. A double room starts from 65 euros per night. The accommodation has a simple modern design, is pet-friendly and is perfect for a low-budget travel
Buddy Hotel – this hotel located at approx. 800 meters from the city center uses smart technologies to offer guests a pleasant experience. The rooms are modern, and in the hallways there are jukeboxes for drinks and coffee. The cost is 90 euros/night and the accommodation allows you to stay close to the center at an affordable price
Hotel Mio By Amano – this 3 star hotel is located at approx. 500 m from the heart of the city, being located in the central area. The rooms are ultra-modern, and the reception is open 24/7. And this hotel is pet-friendly, and the price starts from 125 euros/night

Munich tourist attractions

Neuschwanstein Castle

Who does not know, regardless of age, the Disney movies with princes and princesses in a dream castle? Many do not know, but many of these childhood movies were created right in this fairytale castle. Even Swan Lake was composed by Tchaikovsky after visiting this wonderful castle.

This is the most visited castle in all of Germany, being built in the romantic-renaissance style at the end of the 19th century. That's why, if you want to get here, book your ticket on https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/Shop/Index/en/39901 at least 2-3 weeks before because access is limited to a certain number of people. Tickets cost 17.50 euros/adult and 2.50 euros/child between 0-17 years.

The castle is located approximately 120 km from the city, but it is a must-see because it is very close to other cities. You can also arrive on your own, but there is no direct means of transport. Take the train to Fussen from Munich station at a price of 9 euros in the months of July and August or 23 euros in the other months (follow the train schedule in advance because there are only 2-3 direct trains per day - https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?&journeyProducts=8 ). The trip will take about 2 hours, and once you arrive in Fussen you will have to take one of the buses 73, 78 or 9651 to the castle for about 2.50 euros (8 minutes). From the station you will have another 15 minutes to walk, but this is the only option for all visitors, access by car being prohibited above.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle it is located 1.5 km from Neuschwanstein Castle and is accessible on the same road. You can go to it only on foot, by carriage (7 euros/way and 3.50 euros/return - you will still have to climb 500 m), by express bus (2.50 euros/way and 1.50 euros/return - you will still have 500 m to descend). Tickets can be purchased directly from the drivers and it's worth getting here if you're still so close!

This castle was built in the 19th century in neo-Gothic style and here Ludwig II, king of Bavaria, grew up. And here it is advisable to reserve a ticket because the seats fill up quickly - https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/Shop/Index/en/39901 . Tickets cost 23.50 euros/adult, 13.50 euros/child between 7-17 years and 2.50 euros/child between 0-6 years.

Nymphenburg Palace

The palace built in baroque style has one of the largest and most important gardens. With huge fountains, pavilions and elegant alleys, but also with an absolutely magnificent interior - the palace is a location you should not miss. Its construction began in the 17th century, and at that time the palace was in the wilderness, at a great distance from the city.

The palace is located west of the central area, but you can reach it in just 25 minutes with the S-Bahn trains with numbers S1, S3, S4 or S8. You will have to get off at the Laim station, from where you have to walk about 15 minutes to the entrance to the palace park. The full ticket for the palace, park, museum and the small palaces in the park costs 15 euros/person. If you want to visit only the park, you will pay 5 euros/person. You can buy tickets on the Nymphenburg Palace website - https://nymphenburg.bsv-ticketshop.de/de#/ .

From April to mid-October, the palace is open every day between 9-18. From mid-October until March, you can visit the palace daily between 10am and 4pm. Also, people under 18 have free access. With Munich City Pass you have free access, and with Munich Card you have 13% discount.

Linderhof Castle

Linderhof Castle it was built in the 19th century and is the smallest of the 3 castles of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The interior has some of the most beautiful rooms, decorated with important valuables. And the exterior is just right – a large fountain in front of the castle with a statue in the center and a mountain landscape behind.

To visit the castle and its surroundings, you will pay a ticket of 10 euros/person. You can buy tickets online at https://linderhof.bsv-ticketshop.de/en . It can be visited from mid-October to March between 10-16, and between April and mid-October between 9-18.

Marienplatz

Marienplatz is the central and main square of the city since the 12th century. Full of emblematic buildings such as the Old and New City Hall, it is the perfect place where you can discover more about the city's culture. In addition, you will find souvenir shops, cafes and terraces. Marienplatz is right in the center of the city.

The Royal Palace in Munich

The Royal Palace in Munich it was the home of many dukes and kings from 1508 to 1918. It contains art collections with objects from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical periods. Although most of the palace was destroyed during the Second World War, its reconstruction began in 1945.

Today it is among the largest museum complexes in the entire region of Bavaria. To visit everything the palace has to offer, i.e. the museum, the treasury and the theater, you will have to buy the 17 euro ticket. If you only want to visit the museum, the ticket costs 9 euros. If you just want to admire the palace and its gardens from the outside, access is free. Tickets can currently be purchased only from the entrance offices.

The palace has the same visiting schedule as Nymphenburg Palace and Linderhof Castle: between 9-18 between April and mid-October and between 10-16 from mid-October to March. The palace is only 450 meters north of Marienplatz.

The German Museum

The German Museum is the largest technical-scientific museum in the world. It holds exhibits from over 50 fields of science and technology. It is an emblematic place of the city that you should not miss if you arrive in Munich. Tourists can carry out certain experiments themselves in rooms equipped with special instruments.

Tickets can be purchased from the official website https://deutsches-museum.ticketfritz.de/en/Event/Kachel/deutsches-museum-muenchen/26247 and it costs 15 euros/adult, 8 euros/child between 6-17 years old and it is free for those under 6 years old. There is also a family package for 2 adults and minors from the same family. You can visit the museum between 9am and 5pm. The museum is less than 1 km from the central area of Marienplatz and you can reach it by S-Bahn type S1, S2, S6, S7 or S8. Or you can opt for a nice walk in the city center if the weather permits! You have free access with Munich City Pass and 14% discount with Munich Card.

Munich Cathedral

The Munich Cathedral is often considered the symbol of the region of Bavaria. It was built in Gothic style, as we see it today, in the 15th century. The church is famous because of the Teufelstritt - the so-called "Devil's Sole", around which the legend circulates that the devil entered the church and hit the church floor with force, his imprint being visible even today.

The entrance ticket costs 7.50 euros/adult and 5.50 euros/child. You can visit the cathedral from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 17:00, and on Sundays between 11:30-17:00. The cathedral is located in the Marienplatz area, right in the center of the city.

Schleissheim Castle

Schleissheim Castle it is actually a complex consisting of 3 castles in a large park in baroque style. Many princes of Bavaria lived here. Here are the Lustheim Castle, the Old Schleissheim Castle and the New Schleissheim Castle. We recommend at least 2-3 hours to visit this wonderful place.

To visit the entire complex, you will need to purchase the 10 euro/person ticket at the entrance office. You can visit the pavilions around Lustheim Castle for free, but if you still get here, it's worth admiring the whole complex. The location is approximately 20 km from the city, but you can easily reach it in just 20 minutes by S-Bahn number S1. From the Oberschleissheim station, you have to walk about 10 minutes to the entrance to the castle courtyard.

English Park in Munich (Englischer Garden)

The English Park in Munich it got its name due to its different location compared to the baroque style parks. The park is the largest urban park in Munich and one of the largest in the world, being even larger than Central Park in New York. With a lake, some sculptures where you can take photos and sports activities, this urban garden is worth visiting. The park is located in the central area, north of Marienplatz.

The BMW Museum

Certainly car enthusiasts and not only will have a wonderful experience in The BMW Museum. It offers visitors a highly appreciated interactive program and an exhibit of inestimable value, including even the first models of BMW brand cars, but also the latest generation cars.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00. It consists of BMW Welt – a kind of interactive showroom and the BMW Museum itself. Access to BMW Welt is free, and it has a different program than the museum: Monday-Saturday between 7:30-00 and Sunday between 9-00. Access to the museum itself costs 10 euros/person and there is also a family package: 2 adults and 3 children under 18 - 24 euros. The museum is 9 km from the city center and you can reach it with the U3 metro in just 12 minutes. You will have to get off at the Olympiazentrum station.

Shopping

Munich is a perfect city for a shopping session that will relax you. But when you get to Maximilianstrasse and see brands at affordable prices and huge discounts, you can't overlook them. Most discounts are in July and December, although right next to Munich is Ingolstadt Village, an enormous complex with brand stores where you can find everything you could want at discounts all year round.

Let's not forget either Marienplatz, which, in addition to being a must-see when you go to Munich, also offers a large number of shops and shopping centers that must be visited.

What do you eat in Munich?

The inhabitants of Germany have been proud of their traditional culinary preparations for years, but the Bavarians are all the more proud to show and offer a culinary variety that has mostly been preserved for centuries. You can't leave Munich without eating one pork knuckle with sauerkraut. Restaurants compete in the art of preparing this kind of food, and we compete in tasting all the variants.

Also, it is almost mandatory to eat one Weisswurst (a white pork sausage) with a bun and necessarily with mustard in a specific Bavarian style. You can find it in all restaurants, but it's even better when you eat it on the street from the many food stalls.

In case you are vegetarian, another Spaetzle is a very famous and beloved Bavarian specialty, a kind of food between pasta and dumplings served with eggs, bacon but especially with vegetables.

Obviously, it should not be missed either the famous Schnitzel, served with mashed potatoes and cooked sauerkraut (Sauerkraut), but not the well-known one either Pretzel, the specific Bavarian pretzel which can be found at all corners.

Where do you eat in Munich?

Hofbrauhaus am Platzl is a brewery in the city center built in 1598. Initially it was an extension of a brewery, but now it is one of the most famous locations in the whole city. Here you will find specific Bavarian food, wheat beer produced by the factory itself, which is no longer located here, and wine. At the busiest times, Bavarian music is also played. It is a place populated not only by tourists, but also by residents because it preserves the spirit of Bavaria from the past.

Munich should be on the list of all tourists, not only for its culinary delights or distinct historical landmarks, but if you want fun and relaxation, you can find them all in the capital of Bavaria.

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Transport

Tourist cards

Accommodation

Tourist spots

Munich travel guide! Tourist spots