Fondly referred to as “Germany’s secret capital”, Munich is near the Alps and well-placed for cooling in lakes on summer days, while browsing traditional Christmas markets proves fun in winter. The home of the original Oktoberfest is a year-round destination with beer gardens and the vast English Garden popular on sunny days. Options for art aficionados include the museums in the Art District and performances by the state opera and orchestra.

The best neighbourhoods to visit in Munich

Altstadt (Old Town)

Munich's Marienplatz is considered the heart of Munich

Munich's Marienplatz is considered the heart of Munich (Photo: GettyImages)

Marienplatz, the public square in front of the Neo-Gothic New City Hall, is considered the heart of Munich. Join crowds below the ornate clock tower at 11am and noon, plus 5pm from March until October, to see mechanical figures recreate key scenes from the city’s history as bells chime.

In winter, browse handcrafted seasonal decorations and sip aromatic mulled wine on Marienplatz while visiting wood huts at Munich’s oldest Christmas market. Several are held across Bavaria’s capital, including a medieval-style market at nearby Wittelsbacherplatz. Spiced nuts count among seasonal delicacies sold from stalls at Sendlinger Tor, one of the historic city gates.

Whatever the time of year, pause at the Viktualienmarkt to find the likes of Bavarian cooked meats, freshly baked bread and pressed fruit juice for a lunch on the go. Choose from seasonal dishes accompanied by regional wine at the Pfaelzer Residenz Weinstube.

The Munich Residence, the urban palace from where Bavaria was formerly ruled, counts among historic places to visit in the Altstadt. So too does the Hofbraeuhaus, Munich’s best-known beer hall. It doesn’t have to be the Oktoberfest for you to sip beer and sway to a brass band’s jaunty tunes.

Climbing the 306 steps in the tower of St Peter’s Church is one of the best things to do to orientate in Munich. Predating the city’s iconic twin-domed cathedral, ‘Old Peter’ is the city’s oldest church. Its observation platform gives you panoramic views of the urban skyline and even the Alps in optimal weather.

After sightseeing, you can relax with a cocktail in the stylish Oléo Pazzo Bar inside the nearby Courtyard Munich City Centre. The terrace of the 248-room hotel is a welcoming place to sit, unwind and nibble Mediterranean cuisine. Alternatively, return to the Aloft Munich, close to the central railway station, to sample nightlife at the W XYZ Bar, whose signature cocktails include expertly mixed piña coladas.

Maxvorstadt

Immediately north of the city centre, Maxvorstadt is characterised by broad streets and elegant 19th-century buildings. Pause at the Alter Simpl on Tuerkenstrasse to sample traditional Bavarian dishes such as white sausage with pretzel or pork cutlet filled with horseradish and ham. Culturally significant in the early part of the last century, the tavern was an artists’ meeting place: framed photos of guests from that era are displayed on walls.

Artworks by the likes of Albrecht Duerer, Vincent van Gogh and Cy Twombly are shown in the galleries of the Art District. The Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne and Brandhorst Museum are near neighbours. Spanning centuries, their highly regarded collections warrant viewing over multiple days. Stay nearby at Le Méridien Munich. The 381-room design hotel has a spacious lobby and courtyard seating. Book a treatment at the spa to unwind before dinner at Irmi, its Bavarian restaurant. Spätzle, a form of hand-rubbed pasta baked with cheese, is a regional specialty ideal for replenishing energy after a busy day.

Glockenbachviertel

Glockenbachviertel

Glockenbachviertel, one of Munich's prettiest neighborhoods

Gaertnerplatz is the location of the State Theatre, a building from the 1860s whose programme includes operas, ballets and classical concerts. Characterised by independent boutiques and laid-back eating establishments, the Glockenbachviertel hugs the sweep of the river for several blocks, beginning immediately south-west of the theatre.

This is where to go to find the heart of Munich’s thriving LGBTQ+ scene. The Deutsche Eiche Bathhouse, Ochsengarten bar and Café Nil count among the long-established focal points. Pride Week, during July, sees parades and events in the Glockenbachviertel and elsewhere in the city.

Neuhausen

Ducks on the lake at Nymphenburg Palace

Ducks on the lake at Nymphenburg Palace (Photo: GettyImages)

Three U-Bahn stops east of the city centre, Rotkreuzplatz square is at the heart of Neuhausen and hosts a compact Christmas market. Locals rate the handmade ice creams of Sarcletti among the best in the city: standing in line on summer weekends is worth the wait.

Stroll north along Nymphenburger Strasse to visit Nymphenburg Palace. Designed by Augustino Barelli in the 1660s, the summer residence of Bavaria’s rulers is in parkland dotted with statues, follies and the grand Amelienburg hunting lodge whose mirrored interiors are well worth a peek.

A canal provides a formal symmetry to the palace grounds. They adjoin the city’s gorgeous botanical garden. Following the waterway towards the Olympic Park takes you to Dantebad, a heated outdoor swimming pool, public sauna and park. Spareribs and grilled Mediterranean vegetables count among the dishes to try in the nearby Taxisgarten beer garden.

Schwabing

Leopoldstrasse

Leopoldstrasse is one of Munich's key landmarks (Photo: GettyImages)

Schwabing lies north of the city centre and is a good location for people watching from the streetside seating of cafés, bars and restaurants. Reach the longstanding nightlife hub by ambling past the Siegestor triumphal arch, one of Munich’s key landmarks, and along Leopoldstrasse.

The Tante Emma bistro serves currywurst, Germany’s most popular snack. Take your pick from Schwabing’s cluster of drinking establishments. Cocktails are served into the small hours at Wallace Bar, whose wood panelling and subtle lighting foster a sophisticated vibe. For an authentic Turkish kebab, visit Tuerkitch on Feilitzschstrasse.

Sandwiched between Schwabing and the River Isar is the English Garden. The name of the enormous urban park reflects its naturalistic, English-influenced landscaping. Mount the base of the temple-like Monopteros to appreciate the cityscape. Surfing the waves of the Eisbach, on the park’s southern edge, is one of the unique things to do in Munich. The waterway’s name translates as “ice brook,” a reference to cool meltwater from the nearby Alps.

Staying at the nearby Munich Marriott Hotel places you in a smart property with a spa and health club. If you don’t manage to get tickets to a football game at the Allianz Arena, watch it live in the hotel’s Champions Sports Bar. There’s also The Westin Grand Munich and FourPoints by Sheraton Munich Arabellapark both of which are five minutes from the English Garden with breathtaking views across the city.

Schwanthalerhöhe (Westend)

Westend, Schwanthalerhöhe’s alternative name, accurately indicates that the district lies west of the city centre. Open ground at the Theresienwiese is the traditional home of the Oktoberfest and the significantly smaller Spring Festival. Funfairs with carousels and roller coasters stand tall next to beer tents.

Tollwood Winterfestival, an alternative Christmas market with handcrafted goods and cuisines from around the world, is also held at the site. Throughout the year the site is worth visiting to see and enter the bronze statue of Bavaria, designed by Ludwig Michael von Schwanthaler.

The colossal sculpture stands in front of the colonnaded Hall of Fame, a 19th-century construction celebrating high-achieving Bavarians. Beyond the neighbouring Bavaria Park you’ll find the Deutsches Museum’s Transport Centre. Cars, trams and buses count among artefacts on show.

For something special, Roomers Munich, Autograph Collection is notable for its upscale contemporary design, spa with a cinema screen and fashionable Izakaya Restaurant, where Japanese cuisine is fused with South American flavours.

Haidhausen

East of the River Isar, the Haidhausen district is occasionally referred to as Munich’s French Quarter because of streets named after cities in France.

Bavaria’s state parliament meets at the Maximilianeum, an imposing mid-19th-century building topped by sculpted figures. Members of the public can enter the Maximilianeum and other municipal premises during Open Door Day, usually held in May.

If you’re seeking authentic, interesting things to do, try a textile-free sauna at the riverside Müllersches Volksbad. Inspired by Roman bathhouses and incorporating Jugendstil design, the building houses Munich’s oldest indoor swimming pool.

The baths are just a couple of minutes’ walk from the Deutsches Museum, whose array of technological exhibits and live demonstrations warrants at least half-a-day. It’s possible to view a V2 rocket and watch artificial lightning zapping a Faraday cage. Check the programme at the Gasteig, a performing arts centre with five halls, to reserve tickets for concerts, plays and cultural events.

Get to know the city during an extended stay in one of the 125 roomy apartments at the Residence Inn Munich City East. The Residence Inn Munich Ostbahnhof and Moxy Munich Ostbahnhof are both ideally located for visiting the multi-use Werksviertel. The dynamic, creative area is daubed with colourful street art and is home to several nightclubs.

Go deeper

In any new city, it’s handy to know some of the most important phrases and in Munich, you’ll likely want to know how to order a beer. Say eine Mass, bitte in a pub in this part of Germany and you’ll be served a litre of beer. People drinking wheat beer (Weissbier) clink together the bottoms of their glasses rather than the rims as they say prost – “cheers”.

You can use gruess Gott as a greeting at any time of day – a legacy of Roman Catholicism’s historic significance in Bavaria, it translates literally as “greet God”.

Munich’s well-planned public transport system is reliable and easy to use; download the Munich Transport Association app to plan your journeys, including out to Lake Starnberg, one of the lakes south of the city. Alternatively, cabs are plentiful.

Published: July 26, 2022

Last Updated: August 16, 2023

Article Tags:  Munich , Germany

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