Munich Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Munich

Munich, situated towards the SE corner of Germany, in the heart of Bavaria (45 mls N of the Austrian border, 150 mls SE of Stuttgart, 90 mls W of Salzburg, 18 mls SW of the airport). It is found astride the river Isar and surrounded by rolling farmland, with the foothills of the Alps to the South.

This Bavarian city is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations and is particulartly famous for its breweries and beer halls. There is certainly plenty of this type of fun to be had, but Munich and the Bavarian region has lots more to attract and entertain its visitors. The city has numerous great museums, art treasures, hi-tech industries and gems of Gothic and Baroque architecture. It is also the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, drawing winter sports enthusiasts from near and far.

Munich attracts backpackers, package tourists, expense-account executives and conference delegates. It is also popular with academic, political, financial, managerial and scientific people.

The accommodatiion in Munich varies from basic student campsites and budget pensions to top-of-the-range 5-star grand palaces, though the emphasis is on mid-range hotels geared to the Mon-to-Fri business traveller and tour groups at weekends and during the peak summer holiday season.

The pedestrianised centre hosts a wide variety of upmarket department stores and boutiques. A large open-air fruit and vegetable market, Viktualienmarkt, has expensive but high-quality merchandise. Maximilianstrasse and vicinity for designer fashion shops. All this makes Munich a great place for the shoppers.

During the daytime take strolls around the traffic-free streets of the old town, see the panoramic views from the tower of St Peter's church, tour the rather eclectic Munchener Stadtmuseum, see the Residenz palace, whose Schatzkammer showcases royal treasures.

Visit the Neue Pinakothek for Impressionists and early 20th-century artists, the Deutsches Museum of Technology, one of the largest of its kind, the Schloss Nymphenburg (one-time summer residence of the Bavarian royalty), with its lovely grounds, botanical garden and several museums.

The nightlife offers numerous drinking halls, cafes, bars, nightclubs and discos. There is much on offer musically, from jazz, rock and pop to opera and classical concerts (3 orchestras of international fame are based in Munich and the July opera festival ranks third in the world). There are 11 major theatres and a further 40 fringe and cabaret venues. There are also 3 cinemas specialising in English-language soundtracks.

There is something here to suit virtually every taste (and budget), from traditional Bavarian fare to Italian, Balkan, Greek, Persian, Romanian, Thai, Turkish and vegetarian. Bavarian specialities tend to be hearty, and include braten (roasts), schweinshaxe (pork shanks) and weisswurst (spiced veal sausages); sauerkraut is the typical accompaniment. A popular snack-on-the-go is "semmel mit ein paar Wiener" (a roll with 2 frankfurters). Lots of locally brewed beers.

Munich's main attractions include:

Frauenkirche - The distinctive towers of Munich's most famous landmark can still be seen from all over the city.

Marienplatz - This historic square, bordered by the new and old town halls, forms the heart of Munich.

Viktualienmarkt - A visit to Munich isn't complete without a visit to its popular central market.

Olympiapark - The site of Munich's 1972 Olympics is known for the stadium's futuristic tent-like roof.

Residenz Palace - Munich's large palace, once the home of the Bavarian monarchs, now houses a museum.

Suggest a change to the Munich Things to do section (click to dropdown)

Population: 82.431.400
Languages: German
Currency: euro
Currency code: EUR
Local Times:
Germany - Berlin - Berlin

Germany - Hesse - Frankfurt

Country Dialling Code: +49
Voltage: 230V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

'Schuko' type with two earth connectors on the sides

Germany is a federation of 16 states, roughly corresponding to regions with their own distinct and unique cultures. Germany is one of the most influential nations in European culture, and one of the world's main economic powers. Known around the world for its precision engineering and high-tech products, it is equally admired by visitors for its old-world charm and "Gemütlichkeit" (coziness) or hospitality. If you have perceptions of Germany as simply homogeneous, it will surprise you with its many historical regions and much local diversity for its relatively small size. Cities of all sizes boast some of Europe’s best nightclubs, as you’d expect from the home of techno. Enjoying the outdoors, from skiing Alpine peaks to hiking carefully preserved forests, is also an experience worth having.

Germany wears its riches well: elegant big-city charm, small picture-postcard towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of art and culture and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest, delightful castles and fine wine and beer are all there for the savouring.

Germany is made up of the North German Plain, the Central German Uplands (Mittelgebirge), and the Southern German Highlands. The Bavarian plateau in the southwest averages 1,600 ft (488 m) above sea level, but it reaches 9,721 ft (2,962 m) in the Zugspitze Mountains, the highest point in the country. Germany's major rivers are the Danube, the Elbe, the Oder, the Weser, and the Rhine.

This is the land that spawned Beethoven and Bauhaus, Goethe and Glühwein, Lager and Lederhosen and Walt Disney's inspiration for Cinderella's Castle. Whatever your interest, there's a strong chance it'll be satisfied somewhere here.

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