Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is an incredible city located in southern Germany. You’re probably aware of it’s famous Oktoberfest which takes place annually, but, when we got there, we quickly realized that there is FAR more to see and do than just eating pretzels and drinking beer (although this is a VERY fun thing to do)! Munich offers unique architecture, friendly people and, of course, delicious food!
Why Munich?
Munich, or München, literally translates to “Home of the Monks.” We heavily debated between visiting Berlin or Munich (because sadly, we didn’t have the time to visit both). After extensive research, we chose Munich because of the classic Bavarian culture and close proximity to nearby cities on our road trip.
Munich is a quick 6 hour drive from Venice, 4 hours to Vienna and 3 hours to Zurich, making it very easy to visit if you’re roaming around Southern Europe with a car (or by train). It’s a city where old meets new.
One minute you’re walking down the street looking at gothic style structures built in 1600’s and then venture to another part of town with modern style buildings. Fortunately, Munich has strict height limitations for buildings, which has limited the construction of skyscrapers. Not to mention that Munich is INCREDIBLY pet friendly and we could bring Miesha everywhere with us!
Where To Stay In Munich?
We stayed one week in Munich and, if you’re new to my page, we travel with our dog, so we needed something affordable, clean, with good wifi and that was obviously dog friendly. Fortunately, our Airbnb in Munich was one of the nicest we’d stayed in our 2 years living out of a suitcase roaming the globe.
DO NOTE: It was located a bit out of the city in a quiet neighborhood, but it was easily walkable to the city. There was also nearby grocery stores and many restaurants and bars. If you do decide to stay here, be sure to check out nearby Café Neuhausen! They have great beer, food and an wonderful atmosphere!
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5 Things You CANNOT Miss in Munich
1. Hofbräuhaus München
It’s safe to say Hofbräuhaus was our favorite spot in the entire city. Nothing radiates true Bavarian culture like this 3 story beer hall that dates way back to the 16th century.
When you walk in, you’re instantly hit with the sound of live traditional Bavarian music along with the smell of delicious German food. You’ll see women and men strolling around the classic wooden tables wearing laderhosen and selling giant pretzels. You’ll also see VIP members wearing special hats, sitting at designated tables and drinking out of ornate beer steins that their families have drank out of for decades. In fact, the Hofbräuhaus has more than 100 active groups as regulars, with the oldest table being held for 70 years!
This place is the bees knees. You’ll have so much fun soaking in the atmosphere, you’ll never want to leave. Not to mention the food is really delicious there as well! Be sure to get their Haus made beer (I like the Weisse beer best), pretzels, sausages, spaetzle…it’s all delicious!
Augustine Keller
If you’re interested in exploring another famous beer hall and garden, be sure to check out Augustine Keller! With 5,000 seats, it is the 3rd largest beer garden in Munich.
Besides the obvious beer to order, the food is delicious as well! Josh had the oxtail in a peppercorn sauce, which literally melted in his mouth. The cheese spatzle was also incredibly good-almost as good as my Grandmothers!
We sat outside in the garden the first time we came here and then chose to sit inside the second go-around. Each time was unique in its own way and I highly suggest you do both to gain the full experience!
Hirschgarten
Hischgarten was closed when we were in Munich, as it’s a popular place during the warmer months. It houses 8,000 seats, and is the largest beer garden in Bavaria, so add that to your list if you’re visiting in the summer!
2. Viktualienmarkt
Existing for more than 200 years, this market used to be the local famers market in town and was previously known as Marktplatz-meaning “market place” in German. Because it quickly outgrew it’s space, it was then moved to Altstadt (old town) and gained its new name as Viktualienmarkt, which translates in Latin to ‘food market.’ Why the name change? It had evolved into so much more than just a farmers market-it’s a foodie market!
Open daily, you’ll quickly notice locals, tourists and the city’s top chefs strolling through it’s aisles looking for anything from the obvious meats, fruits and veggies to wines, spices, honey, and flowers! Be sure to stop at its Beer Garden located right in the middle, which houses all the cities greatest local beers.
3. Marienplatz
Marienplatz has been the city of Munich’s main square for the past 850 years. Take a stroll around it’s cobble stone streets and soak in the incredible Old and New Town Halls in their ornate Gothic style architecture. If you’re in the area at the time, be sure to watch the clock tick the hour at 11am and 12pm at the New Town Hall Rathaus-Glockenspiel, where the watch tower re-enacts stories from the 16th century. The show only lasts for around 15 minutes.
Be sure to stop by St. Peter’s Church, which is the oldest church in all of Munich. You can enter inside for free or pay 3 Euros to climb to the top of the church tower where you’ll have beautiful views of the town from above.
After roaming around a bit, why not grab a a beer and some schnitzel and people watch for a while? There’s always some form of entertainment in the City Square going on!
4. Nuschwanstein Castle
While Nuschwanstein Castle isn’t technically in Munich, it’s a MUST see when you’re in the area. Just a 1.5 hour drive through the beautiful German countryside, this fairy tale looking castle is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen!
Built in 1869, this massive castle was constructed atop a hill in the village of Hohenschwangau and receives more than 1.5 million visitors annually. It houses nearly 200 rooms in 65,000 total square feet.
Neuschwanstein Castle actually rumored to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland!
To get the the castle, you’ll have to park in the village of Hohenschwangau (6 Euros) and then take a bus (3 Euros) or walk (45min) up a GIANT hill to the castle. Do note the bus does not permit dogs, so if you’re bringing your fur baby with you like we did, wear some tennis shoes and get ready for a trek.
Tickets cost 13 Euros for adults (children 18 and under are free), but we weren’t able to go inside because Miesha was with us (see photo of perplexed furry creature). Fortunately, there is an INCREDIBLE suspension bridge just 15 minutes walking from the castle itself that is a MUST VISIT while you’re in the area because you can take in the beauty of the castle from afar!
Just a Few Tips For The Road: Tickets to enter the castle can only be purchased at the Ticket Center in the village. This castle is beautiful in both summer and winter, so you can choose whenever you’d like to visit, although I’m quite sure driving/walking up that giant hill in the winter can be quite challenging.
5. BMW Welt & Museum
Calling all BMW lovers! The BMW Welt is a true work of art, from the cars on display in the inside to the architecture of the building from the outside. Not only do they have the latest and greatest of BMW vehicles on display, you’ll also the latest Rolls Royce and Mini Cooper’s as well!
Fortunately, the BWM Welt is located just across the street from Olympic Stadium, so, if you’re in the neighborhood anyway, why not stop by?! The Welt is basically a showroom, but fortunately, the museum is located just opposite and is worth a visit. Do note that the WELT is free to visit, while the museum has a paid entry fee-10 Euros per person or 24 Euros per family.
Other Notable Museums in Munich:
Nymphenburg Palace
Also known as the “Castle of the Nymph,” Nymphenburg Place was the main summer residence of the former rulers of Bavaria and is looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m kicking myself for not getting to this one! The palace is about a 30 minute drive from central Munich.
Munich Residenz
What is the largest city palace in all of Germany, Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. Fortunately, it is located in central Munich so it’s easy to access, especially if you don’t have a car.
The Pinakothek der Moderne
If modern and contemporary art are your cup of teas, then don’t miss the Pinakothek Der Moderne. Why? Because it’s 4 museums wrapped into one including art, architecture, design and works on paper.
Other Nearby Cities To See
Fortunately, Munich is located nearby SO many great cities in southern Europe. Although I loathe the city, Venice, Italy, is just a 6 hour drive away. Vienna, Austria is a quick 4 hours and the closest, is Zurich, Switzerland at just over 3 hours.
If you don’t have a car, the Eurorail is an easy and convenient way to jump from city to city as well. There is also Blah Blah Car, which we usted from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Venice and it was really easy and affordable.
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Thankyou for the information so looking forward to our visit in December
Thank you so much for reading!Enjoy your trip!