Munich - Top 10 Attractions

Introduction:
Start your exploration in Munich's city centre at the pedestrianised and lively Marienplatz Square, the geographical and cultural heart of Munich since 1158.

Marienplatz is lined with stunning Gothic architecture, shops, restaurants, street musicians and artists. Marienplatz also serves as the start of one of Munich’s primary shopping avenues, Kaufingerstrasse. Top Tip: Visit the square at 11 am, noon or (5 pm during summer months) to see the Rathaus Glockenspiel put on its daily performance.

Visit the Neue Pinakothek art gallery (see details below) with paintings and works by Goya & Renoir. Also worth a visit is The Residenz, a former and substantial royal palace now open to visitors. The Residenz is known for its historical importance, range of architectural styles, traditional courtyards and ornate fountains. It is the largest urban palace in Germany housing 130 rooms, riding stables, pus ten courtyards.

Visit the Deutsches museum, the largest science museum in the world and explore the Englischer Garten (English Garden), one of the largest municipal parks in Europe. Don't forget to visit the Hofbräuhaus München - The world's oldest tavern and home to Bavarian culture. These are just a few (of the many) attractions that make Munich one of the most visited cities in Germany, eclipsing both Frankfurt and Hamburg.

Read on for more sightseeing tips.

(1). Munich Beer Festival: The city was founded in 1158 on the River Isar; and was called Munchen (home of the monks) due to its first monastery. It was the monks who first started the beer brewing tradition - for which the city is now world-famous. The celebrated annual beer festival (the largest beer festival in the world) first took place here in 1810. Today approximately six million people visit Oktoberfest every year and consume more than 5.5 million litres of beer during its two-week celebration.

(2). Hofbräuhaus Beer Hall: Pay a visit to the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall. The hall dates back to the 16th century and offers a quintessential German beer hall experience; it also includes live performances by Bavarian brass bands. Top Tip: Be prepared to queue or wait for a seat at the Hofbräuhaus; the Hall is one of Munich's most popular tourist attractions; (making tables hard to find during peak times). Fridays and Saturdays are usually very busy from late afternoon onwards, and Sundays are much quieter.

Historically, beer production played a crucial role in the early development of the city. Nowadays, Munich has six breweries producing beer for Oktoberfest, as well as for numerous beer halls and gardens throughout the city and for towns in surrounding Bavaria. There's no doubt Munich is a city with a vibrant and hearty nightlife; you will also find Munich has some of the finest restaurants in southern Germany.

(3). The Art Museum (Alte Pinakothek): The Art Museum is located in the Kunstareal area in Munich and is a must-visit for art lovers. The museum is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses one of the most important art collections in Europe. This gallery spreads across two floors of a large neo-classical building - spend your time wisely as there are lots to see and take in.

Nearly 1,000 paintings are on display at the Alte Pinakothek, featuring the great works of European artists from the 14th through to the 18th centuries. Highlights include works by Dutch and Flemish masters, plus Italian masters such as Botticelli and Titian. Alternatively, head to Pinakothek der Modern, - one of the largest modern art museums in Germany. You’ll find many modern masterpieces, including works by Dali, Franz Marc and Paul Klee.

(4). St Peter's Church: Munich's most famous landmark is St Peter’s Church (Peterskirche), known as Alter Peter (Old Peter) - located in the city centre right next to Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt. The church towers high above the city, making it the perfect location for photo opportunities. Top Tip: Climb the 306 steps; up the winding spiral staircase to the 56-meter-high viewing platform. Here you will be greeted with fantastic panoramic views of the city and weather-permitting views of the alps 62 miles / 100 km into the distance. Also, look out for the 300-year-old Baroque high altar with its golden figure of St. Peter.

(5). Neuschwanstein Castle: Visit the Neuschwanstein Castle, known as 'the castle of the fairy-tale king'. Neuschwanstein is a beautiful & historic relic built by King Ludwig III; the building was inspired by characters from Wagner's epic operas. The castle receives 8000 visitors a day and is located in the southwest region of Bavaria, flanked by the spectacular Bavarian Alps as its background. Disney World's Sleeping Beauty Castle was inspired by Neuschwanstein, which is thought to be the most photographed building in Germany.

(6). Munich's Modern Museums: Take a break from the traditional, and visit two of Europe's most modern-era museums: The BMW Museum & the Deutsches Museum.

(7). The BMW Museum: The museum is located near the Olympiapark in Munich and is a spectacular celebration of BMW's fascinating achievements and automobile history. The BMW Museum (brings to life) over 100 years of German automotive inovation as it showcases the companies technical importance and advancements.

As one of the most visited museums in Germany, you will find a 4,000 m² permanent exhibition containing 110 exhibits crammed with authentic BMW cars. Explore aspects of BMW's history and the Group’s individual brands; also, look out for temporary exhibitions featuring special vehicles, design exhibits and prototypes, see the BMW Museum website for further details.

(8). The Deutsche Museum (German Museum): The Deutsche Museum is one of the largest and most traditional science and technology museums - it's a great visit if you're interested in how things work. At the museum, you'll find original exhibits and models illustrating various aspects of science & technology and how the laws of nature affect everyday life. You'll also discover the workings of a 42-meter-long U1 submarine, the science of flight in the aviation section, plus spectacular views and answers to the wonderful world of astronomy in the planetarium and observatory.

(9). Munich and Bavaria: Munich has a distinctive Alpine flavour that’s quite unlike other German cities. The city is located in southern Germany, just a couple of hours' drive from the Italian border, so it's not surprising Italy's influence can be felt throughout the city, especially concerning its beautiful Renaissance and Baroque stylings. Munich's location makes an ideal base for touring surrounding Bavaria, with its numerous lakes, castles, delightful traditional country villages and refreshing alpine scenery. Munich is also the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, drawing winter sports enthusiasts from across Europe.

Munich's public transport network is provided by The Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund transit authority (MVV). The MVV is responsible for the Munich S-Bahn (commuter trains), the Munich U-Bahn (subway), plus Munich's tramway and bus networks.

Munich's Transport Options: The city centre is mostly a pedestrian zone meaning most of the city's central attractions are easily reached on foot. Munich has a clean and efficient public transport system consisting of buses, trams, the U-Bahn (subway) and the S-Bahn (suburban train). To identify the different station types, all subway station signs are marked with a white "U" on a blue background, the S-Bahn suburban lines are marked with a white "S" on a green background, and both tram and bus stops are marked with a green "H" on a yellow background.

All S-Bahn trains run through the city centre and connect the city's central station (Hauptbahnhof) with the city's east station (Ostbahnhof), linking popular tourist destinations such as Marienplatz and Karlsplatz.

Munich's Subway (U-Bahn): Munich's subway system consists of 8 U-Bahn lines serving approximately 100 stations in and around the city. The underground rail system is interconnected with the S-Bahn network making public transportation in Munich quick and convenient.

Munich's Tram Network: The tram network consists of 13 lines serving a large area of the city, making it an enjoyable form of transport for sightseeing. The Munich tram network interconnects with the MVG's bus network, U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. Night tram services operate late into the night - these services are marked with the letter "N" in front of the line number.

Munich's Public Transport Tickets: Day Tickets are usually the best ticket option for travellers visiting the city's central attractions. They are slightly less complicated and cheaper than Single Trip or Stripe Tickets. They also allow unlimited travel on all U-Bahn, trams and buses from the point of validation; until 6:00 am the next day. Tickets can be purchased at blue ticket vending machines located at both U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations and at many tram and bus stops. You can also buy tickets online at the MVV website.

Alternatively, you can purchase a City Tour Card, which allows an unlimited number of trips on all modes of transport indicated within the selected area and period of validity. The tour card can be purchased for a 3, 4, 5 or 6-day validity and includes entry discounts on more than 80 tourist attractions in Munich and the surrounding area.

Alternatively the München Card also offers an (unlimited number) of trips on all modes of transport with MVV - within the selected area and period of validity. It also includes entry discounts on many of Munich's top tourist attractions.

Top Tip: Your travel ticket will be valid on most types of public transportation mentioned above; you don't need different tickets when transferring from train to tram to bus. Always validate your ticket/pass before boarding by inserting it into the small ticket stamping machines. Stamping machines are located at the entrances to U-Bahn and S-Bahn platforms; or on entry to trams and buses. Lastly, your travel pass will often provide discounts on Munich's city and bus tours, plus certain shops and gastronomy partners, so always ask if a discount applies before you buy.

Munich - Nightlife & Festivals

Nightlife & Dining: For centuries Munich has brewed excellent beers such as Lowenbrau, which can be enjoyed in the many brewery halls such as the Hofbrauhaus and the authentic Augustiner-Keller. Augustiner is perhaps the most popular beer hall/garden in Munich - and interestingly remains unchanged in appearance, mainly due to surviving WWII bombings.

Munich is full of nightlife options and has a good choice of pubs and clubs. The city's nightlife can be split into four main areas, each offering something different. Head to the bohemian Schwabing district; (a chic area of town), known for its fashionable boutiques and trendy wine bars, or try the small streets leading off the Leopoldstrasse; they're full of lively atmospheric cafes, bars and fine dining restaurants.

Maxvorstand is the university area and caters well for student nightlife; plus the pretty Glockenbachviertel district is laid back and buzzing with bars.

Eating out in Munich - try Munich's popular traditional dishes such as Fleischpflanzerl (Bavarian meatballs) or Weißwurst (veal sausage), for dessert Apfelstrudel, plum cake or cherry gateau; alternatively, fine dining can also be found throughout the city.

Events in Munich: The Oktoberfest is held at the beginning of October and dominates proceeding when the world's beer lovers descend on the city. Other festivals include the Tollwood Summer Festival, held in June and July and the Stadtgrundungfest (City birthday), which takes place in June, don't forget the famous Christmas Markets, which start in early December.

Munich International Airport (MUC). The airport is 18 miles (29km) northeast of the centre of Munich.

Airport Transport and Shuttle Services:

• S-Bahn / Munich Transport Network (MVV): The most convenient method of travelling from the airport to Munich's city centre is by train using the S-Bahn / Munich Transport Network (MVV).
• (The S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines connect the airport terminals 1 & 2 with Munich city center, with trains departing every 10-minutes. The S1 travels via the west of the city and the S8 via the east. Journey time is approximately 35-40 minutes with services stopping at various stations throughout Munich, as well as Munich's main station for connections to other major European cities.
• The Lufthansa Express Bus: This is a nonstop connection from Munich Airport to the city centre and back again. The service operates 365 days a year and is available to all passengers irrespective of the airline used. The service departs every 20 minutes from Munich Central Station via Munich North (Schwabing) to Munich Airport terminal 2. Journey time to Central Station from the airport is 45 minutes, the journey time from Munich North (Schwabing) to the airport is 25 minutes.
• Munich Airport Taxi: Taxi services operate from outside the arrivals hall and they take about 45 minutes to reach Munich city centre.

General Facts: Flughafen München airport is the second-busiest airport in Germany in terms of passenger traffic. Lufthansa has established Munich as a second hub offering several short-haul and long-haul connections.

Car Hire: All major car rental companies are represented at Munich airport, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.