Things to do in  Munich

With its snow-white limestone facade and fanciful turrets peeking out from the forested mountain tops of the Hohenschwangau valley, Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein) could easily have been lifted from the pages of a fairy tale. In a way, it has—the German castle famously inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle.

Inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France, Bavaria’s 19th-century Linderhof Castle is one of the country’s most magnificent structures. The smallest in a trio of elaborate royal palaces built by King Ludwig II (also known as the “Mad King”), Linderhof was the only one he saw completed.

Hemmed in by Italianesque palaces, grand concert halls, and Baroque churches—Odeonsplatz is a testament to Munich’s storied past and the site of some of the city’s key historic events. At the northern end of Munich Old Town (Altstadt), the busy public square is the gateway to the Hofgarten gardens and the Munich Residenz.

A public plaza in the center of Munich, Marienplatz is full of history—it’s been the city’s main square and central heart of Munich’s Old Town (Altstadt) since 1158. Marienplatz is a popular gathering spot and possibly the busiest location in all of Munich, with crowds of locals and tourists visiting its landmarks, shops, and restaurants on foot from early morning until late at night.

A Munich landmark, the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady (Frauenkirche) features two 325-foot (99-meter) towers topped by spherical domes. According to local ordinance, no other building in the city may be taller than this, preserving the cathedral’s central position on the skyline of Bavaria’s capital.

Munich's historic Victuals Market is the city’s main destination for gourmet Bavarian goods. Its stalls—many family-run for generations—overflow with exotic fruits, fresh vegetables, truffles, flowers, spices, sausages and hams, artisanal cheeses, honey, and much more. Snack as you go or gather items for a picnic at the nearby park.

One of the largest urban parks in the world, the English Garden (Englischer Garten) is Munich’s most popular green space, boasting over 48 miles (78 kilometers) of walking and cycling trails. It offers plenty to explore, including a Japanese teahouse, a boating lake, and traditional beer gardens.

Elaborately adorned rooms and royal art collections define the Munich Residence, the former royal palace of the Bavarian Monarch. This landmark is the largest city palace in Germany, containing museum displays spread across 130 rooms, including collections of porcelain, silver, antiquities, and paintings.

Home turf of Munich’s FC Bayern and TSV 1860 football (American soccer) teams, Allianz Arena is one of Germany’s largest sports stadiums. Built in 2005, it’s renowned both for its award-winning architecture—by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron—and sports legacy as host to major events, such as a World Cup and UEFA Champions League Final.

The Dachau Concentration Camp was opened by Adolf Hitler's Nazi government in 1933. The first concentration camp in Germany, it served as a model for later concentration camps. Today, the camp is a memorial to the more than 32,000 people who died and the more than 200,000 who were imprisoned there during the Nazi regime. The memorial was established as a site of memory and education in 1965, 20 years after Dachau was liberated by American troops.

Explore a piece of Munich’s history with a visit to St. Peter’s Church or Peterskirche, a Roman Catholic church built in the 12th century. The building is known for its Gothic paintings, sculptures, and a ceiling fresco, plus panoramic views from its spire. Colored rings at the lower platform reveal details about the view from the spire; a white ring means the Alps are visible.

King’s Square is a square in Munich that dates back to the 19th century when King Ludwig I commissioned two temple-like museums inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. Notable sites include the Propylaea, the Glyptothek, and the State Collections of Antiquities. The area also holds significance as a site for Nazi rallies during World War II.

A formal court garden built by Elector Maximilian I in the 17th century, the Hofgarten is one of Munich’s favorite parks. At its center lies an octagonal pavilion, known as the Diana Temple; covered arcades skirt the edges; and the landscaped grounds host games of boules and even tango dancing during summer.

One of Munich’s architectural landmarks, the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) encloses the city's central square, Marienplatz, and today serves as the center for city council activity. The building’s tower is now home to the Toy Museum, a childhood collection by filmmaker Ivan Steiger.

The Amalienburg palace is the former hunting lodge of Emperor Charles VII. Located on the expansive, scenic grounds of Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), it is considered a fine example of European Rococo style.