The capital of southern Germany’s famous Bavaria region, Munich lies about 50km north of the Alps and is known for its pristine nature, avant-garde architecture and the (in)famous laid back Bavarian attitude. And of course, beer. And lots of it.
Bavaria sees the most visitors of any German state each year, and for good reason. With no shortage of authentic beer halls (as well as the world famous Oktoberfest each year), interesting museums, as well as providing the gateway to some of the country’s best castles and hiking trails, Munich makes an excellent base for your trip to Germany.
But, as with any holiday destination, there are some considerations to think about before you get booking! Here’s the main things to be aware of when visiting Munich.
1. Time your visit
It's almost always a good time to visit Munich, but there are few key dates to know about when planning your trip.
Christmas in Bavaria
Thinking of visiting a traditional European Christmas Market over the winter season? Well, look no further than the absolute Christmas cracker that is Munich’s Christmas market, or Münchner Christkindlmarkt. The main market is placed in the idyllic setting of Munich’s Marienplatz, for our money, the nicest main square in Germany, surrounded on all sides by stunning Gothic architectural delights lit up for the holidays. But if that gets too hectic, you can always get some respite at the smaller markets across the city’s various districts.
Oktoberfest
Munich is the home of OktoberfestIf you’re thinking of tackling the original and best Oktoberfest, we wish you luck! The country’s best Volksfest, or Peoples Festival, Oktoberfest usually kicks off in late September and runs only until the second week of October - despite the name. It’s the world’s largest folk festival celebrating traditional Bavarian food, styles of dress. And beer, rivers and rivers of fantastic beer. There’s over 30 big and small beer tents to choose from spread out over Munich’s large open space, Theresienwiese. You don’t need tickets to get into the tents, but often they’ll be so busy, you’ll find it hard to get a table, or even be permitted into the tent due to overcrowding. But if you arrive before 3pm, you should have no problem.
Accommodation prices soar over the festival season, so book early if you know the dates you’ll be in Munich. Bavarian weissbier tends to be strong and is served in huge mugs, so it’s best to pace yourself and get some soakage with the great German sausage and pretzels on offer! Things can get quite messy later in the evening, which is good to be aware of if travelling with kids. Best of luck! Don’t forget to pack your lederhosen or dirndl.
Other good times to visit
Just before summer in April or May is the best time to visit the Bavarian capital in our humble opinion. The Christmas market crowds have long since departed, the peak summer surge hasn’t kicked in just yet and it’s well before the madness of Oktoberfest. Spring cherry blossoms bring a gorgeous hue of colour to the city and temperatures are pleasant, so it’s the perfect time to rent a bike and explore the city at your leisure.
2. Getting from the airport
The best option in Germany for public transport is usually to hop on a train. The Germany reputation for efficiency when it comes to trains has taken a hit in recent years, with trains often late. But, it’s still a pretty good service when compared to some of its European neighbours.
The S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines connect the airport to Munich city centre and run every 10 minutes. The S1 travels via the west of the city and the S8 via the east. The journey into the city centre should take around 40 minutes, without delays. The Lufthansa Express Bus is another option, running every 20 minutes, 365 days a year. That will also leave you at Munich Central Station and takes around 45 minutes.
3. Getting around
If you’re travelling to Munich, a lot of the main attractions are within close proximity to each other, and so, getting around by foot is a viable option. And with its flat terrain, wide, well maintained roads and great cycling infrastructure, Munich is definitely cycle-friendly, too. Particularly pre-summer, before the weather gets too sweltering hot. But if your legs get tired just pondering these options, the city has a great public transport system too, and you’ll usually have an option for U-Bahn (underground train), S-Bahn, tram or bus to get you where you need to go.
The München card is a great option, as it will provide select discounts on sightseeing attractions, and you get a day ticket for all public transport. Make sure you validate your ticket before hopping on board. Ausstieg links/rechts!
It's helpful to have navigation apps like Google Maps on standby when you're finding your way around the city. Fortunately, you can now download a travel eSIM to access affordable mobile data while you're in Germany.
4. Where to stay
If you’re looking to plant yourself right in the action, Altstadt-Lehel is the most central district, close to the Marienplatz. Here you’ll find a plethora of historic sights, popular beer halls, top notch shopping and department stores and the Marienplatz central square is a handy public transportation hub for venturing further afield.
For budget travellers, accommodation to suit all budgets can be found near the Hauptbahnhof Central Station. It’s not the most scenic part of town but completely safe and vibey.
Everything is easily reachable by Munich’s fantastic public transport system anyway, no matter where you end up staying.
5. Beer gardens
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Bavarian tradition of breweries and beer halls, and Munich is home to many of the country’s oldest and best. There’s plenty to choose from, all serving phenomenal beer, straight from the barrel. But our picks are without a doubt Hirschgarten, Chinesischer Turm, Augustiner Keller and the world-famous Hofbräuhaus which dates back to the 16th century. It’s absolutely massive, spanning 3 floors and even has a traditional Bavarian restaurant serving up delicacies.
Fun fact: In 1862, King Maximilian I of Bavaria issued a decree permitting drinks to be served in beer gardens, but not the sale of food. Even today, anyone visiting a beer garden can bring their own food. But it is polite to order a beer first. Ahh, we love tradition… Prost!
6. Historic sites
Rathaus-Glockenspiel mechanical clock
When you’re not taking in all that great beer, you’ll want to lap up some culture while you’re in Germany’s cultural heartland.
Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady) and St. Peter's Church (oldest church in Munich) are must-see attractions. Some other favourite picks are the gorgeous baroque era Nymphenburg Palace, the summer residence for Bavaria’s former rulers; the breathtaking Asamkirche, small but beautiful in it’s design, a masterpiece of the late Baroque-era; and the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, the large mechanical clock found in Marienplatz central square. Iconic for its life-size characters, the clock rings twice daily and reenacts scenes from Munich's history.
The best part: most of Munich’s sites are in close proximity to each other and easily reachable on foot or by bike.
7. Live like a local
If you’re really looking for some local flavour, you could stay in, or even visit the trendy Au-Haidhausen neighbourhood, close to the Isar river banks and Deutsches Museum.
You’ll find endless hip cafés and restaurants frequented by locals to choose from, all in easy walking distance in this mostly residential neighbourhood and the river looks simply stunning lit up at night.
8. Local cuisine
Weisswurst & PretzelWhile German cuisine isn’t exactly renowned internationally, it’s always hearty, rich and diverse and pairs excellently with the high-quality beer on offer. Take a stroll down the famous Viktualienmarkt and sample the local delicacies on offer like Weisswurst, traditional German sausage commonly eaten in the morning alongside sweet mustard and a salty pretzel. Or schnitzel, which hails from Bavaria, and is a thin slice of meat, breaded then fried and served with salad and fries. Like everywhere in Germany, Munich also has some of the best doner kebabs in the world, due to the country's large Turkish population. Best eaten late at night after a few beers…
9. Tipping
Munich sees its fair share of tourists, and so hospitality and tourism sector workers do expect tips if the service is good. You should aim to tip around 10-15% in Munich restaurants, depending on place, occasion and size of your party and order. Or to tip like a local, it’s common to round your bill up to the nearest euro and then add 10%.
10. Punctuality
Maybe you’ve heard some horror stories about German punctuality, and to be honest, the stories are all true. Being punctual is not just the norm, it’s a way of living country wide, and is an important aspect of German culture. So it’s best to be on time to avoid offence. In Germany, there’s a saying that says it's better to be five minutes early than one minute late…so use that as your rule of thumb.
11. Talk like a local
While many people in Munich speak English, especially the younger ones, locals do appreciate it when visitors try their hand at a bit of German. Simple phrases like Danke schön; (Thank you), Bitte; (Please), and Guten Tag; (Good day) go a long way. Our personal favourite, Alles Gut (everything is fine) comes in handy in many situations. To avoid offence, it’s worth noting that most people in Bavaria speak Bavarian, a dialect of German, and consider themselves Bavarian first and German second…
Don't forget to download your travel eSIM for Germany and stay connected during your travels, just like home. No contract. No roaming charges. No nonsense.
