If you plan to spend two days in Munich, this guide and itinerary shares everything you need to know!
Munich is one of Germany’s most popular destinations thanks to its status as the capital of Bavaria and its beautiful city center. The city is brimming with historic landmarks that range from epic Gothic architecture to romantic castles that wow with ornate details.
You likely think of Oktoberfest when Munich comes to mind; it is one of the world’s largest beer fests held annually at the end of September. But Munich has so much more to offer than that (even though it is a roaring good time!)
No matter when you visit, here’s how to spend a perfect two days in Munich from someone who’s seen the city multiple times.
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Best Time to Visit Munich
The best time to visit Munich is the summer or Oktoberfest which is held annually at the end of September through the first weekend in October. But be warned, travel prices are at their highest during these times.
However, to avoid crowds and enjoy slightly cheaper prices, spring and fall are also lovely times to visit. You’ll likely have more chances of rain and cooler temps, but nothing an umbrella and a jacket can’t fix!
Another great time to visit Munich is during Christmas when German Christmas markets (which are absolutely magical) are in full swing. However, I recommend avoiding visiting in January and February when it’s cold and gray, and there’s not much going on in the city.
How to Get Around Munich
Munich is a very walkable city, which makes exploring its top attractions a breeze. Public transportation and taxis are easy to use for things to do in Munich outside downtown.
Here’s how to get around Munich.
- Munich Metro (U-Bahn) & Tram: Munich has 8 underground metro lines and 13 tram lines across the city.
- Above Ground Train (S-Bahn): German S-Bahn are the above ground trains that act similarly and in conjunction with the metro.
- Munich City Bus: is also an option, and the city has night buses too
- Taxis: Uber works in Munich but FreeNow is more widely taxi app used in Germany
- Munich Hop-on Hop-off Bus: Another convenient option for a one day visit with routes to Munich’s significant attractions and audio guides along the way.
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Public Transportation Tickets in Munich
If it’s your visit riding public transportation or you are curious how it works in Munich, here are some things to keep in mind:
- You can look up the routes for all public transportation in Munich’s MVV-App.
- Tickets must be purchased and then validated by using a stamp machine located on the metro platforms before getting on.
- Tickets can be purchased online or at ticket machines. Online tickets usually don’t need to be validated.
- You can buy single-journey or day tickets for unlimited travel around the city. Single tickets allow for transfer to multiple modes of transportation, usually within an hour.
- The CityTourCard Munich is another option, which offers unlimited travel on supported public transportation plus discounts to participating Munich museums, shops, and attractions. You can order it online and pick it up from the S-Bahn Customer Service Centers at the airport or central station.
- From the Munich airport, lines S1 and S8 on the S-Bahn take you to the city center.
Where to Stay in Munich
You have a lot of choices for choosing where to stay in Munich, but I recommend staying in the city center or somewhere near a metro station.
$ Hotel MIO by AMANO is a reasonably priced, modern hotel in the heart of Munich.
$$ Unsöld’s Factory Hotel features attractive industrial design elements located a 10-minute walk from the Munich Residenz.
$$$ 25hours Hotel München The Royal Bavarian offers upscale accommodation with an onsite fitness center and a bar, near the central train station.
$$$$ Sofitel Munich Bayerpost is a sophisticated five-star hotel conveniently located.
Hostel Wombat’s City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof is one of Munich’s best hostels thanks to its central location, social atmosphere (hello onsite bar), and cozy community areas that make it easy to make friends.
We stayed at A&O Hostels because it was cheap for our trip to Oktoberfest, but it wouldn’t have been my first pick. However, it was overall fine and probably the most affordable place to stay in Munich if you’re on a tight budget.
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Two Days in Munich Itinerary
If I were to spend two days in Munich for the first time again, this is how I would explore and prioritize the best of the city!
Day 1 in Munich
Stop 1: Nymphenburg Palace or Munich Residenz
Germany is home to countless beautiful castles and palaces, as is Munich! I recommend choosing between the Nymphenburg Palace or the Munich Residenz. Here’s a rundown of the two.
If you’re up for it, try visiting in the morning to beat the crowds and return to the city center in time to see the famous Glockenspiel, which plays at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace is located outside the city center, about 35 minutes via tram or metro, plus a short walk from the stop.
The palace was once the residence of Bavarian royalty and features green gardens and beautiful baroque architecture. It’s often considered one of the best palaces in Germany.
Entry to the palace is €15 in the summer and €12 during the off-season.
Munich Residenz
The Munich Residenz dates back to 1385 andis the largest city palace in the nation. The interior has undergone much change over the centuries, and was severely bombed during the war. It’s been restored and is a prime example of Renaissance, rococo, and other architectural styles.
There are multiple ticket options to access different exhibits, but the combo ticket for the treasury and the main interior costs €14.
Stop 2: Marienplatz
The Marienplatz is the main city square in Munich and likely what you envision or see when you Google Munich.
From the square, you can see iconic landmarks that include the Frauenkirche (Cathedral), the Mariensäul (column statue), and the Neues Rathaus (new town hall).
Stop 3: See the Neues Rathaus and its Glockenspiel
The famous Rathaus Glockenspiel was added to Munich’s New Town Hall in 1908. This large clock features life-sized moving figures that reenact historical moments in Bavaria, much like a cuckoo clock.
The Glockenspiel plays every day at 11:00 am, noon, and 5:00 pm between the peak months of March and October. Crowds form in the Marienplatz to watch the Glockenspiel, so be prepared!
The Neues Rathaus has an observation deck that costs €6 and has an elevator to the top.
Stop 4: Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche Cathedral is Munich’s iconic cathedral known for its two towers and legendary Devil’s footprint preserved in marble. An observation deck in the cathedral’s south tower offers another excellent vantage point of downtown.
Entrance into the church is free and it’s €7.50 to climb the south tower.
Stop 5: Climb the Tower of St. Peter’s Church
If you don’t climb the observation tower at the cathedral, you have another option: St. Peter’s Church, the oldest church in Munich, on the other side of the Marienplatz.
This observation deck offers the best view of Munich because you can see the epic Neues Rathaus and the Munich Cathedral from here!
Entry to the tower requires a stair climb and can be found outside the church. Tickets cost €5.
Stop 6: Lunch at the English Garden
For lunch, head over to the English Garden, a lush park on the outskirts of downtown. The park is home to one of the Chinese Tower Biergarten, which has over 7,000 seats. Here you can enjoy a liter of beer and grab lunch from the multiple stalls serving classic German dishes.
I highly recommend trying käsespetlze (German “mac n cheese”) or dishes like currywurst, giant pretzels, potato salad, roast chicken, schnitzel, and more. When you order your beer, you can choose light, dark, or radler (with lemonade) in half or full liters. There’s also wine and soft drinks.
After lunch, I recommend walking to see more of the park, which features year-round river surfing (Eisbachwell) on the Eisbach River. You can even try it yourself if you’re a skilled surfer!
Stop 7: Odeonsplatz & Theatine Church
Odeonsplatz is a beautiful square in Munich lined with eye-catching palatial buildings. The square hosts notable landmarks like the Feldherrnhalle, Munich Residenz, and Hofgarten.
While there, I think it’s worth stepping into the Theatine Church right off the square. I think it’s prettier than the more famous Munich cathedral, the Frauenkirche.
Stop 8: Shop And Wander Downtown
While wandering downtown Munich, make time to see other iconic places with more things to see in Munich than things to do. One notable place is Karlsplatz, a famous city square where a medieval gate stands that once acted as an entry to the old city.
The Toy Museum Munich is also worth seeing as it’s housed in Munich’s Gothic Old Town Hall, which dates back to the 14th century. The museum is dedicated to showcasing antique toys for those interested in popping inside.
This is also a great time to shop for German souvenirs from the numerous shops to remember your trip!
Stop 9: Have Dinner at the Hofbrauhaus
No trip to Munich is complete without eating dinner at the Hofbrauhaus. This brewpub is arguably one of the most famous things to do in Munich, which also happens to be one of the world’s most famous pubs.
With its towering ceilings, servers carrying towers of beer liters, and live traditional music, it offers a classic German experience and pretty good food, too (I recommend the roasted chicken!).
Stop 10: Sip a Nightcap at a Biergarten
As the day ends, consider enjoying a nightcap at one of Munich’s best beer gardens. There are over 100 in the city, and it’s a tradition that has permeated Bavarian culture for centuries! Each beer garden is dedicated to one brewery, typically serving only that beer, so choose wisely!
Beer gardens usually have indoor seating for bad weather days and typically serve food and classic German desserts like apple strudel if you still have room! Those who don’t love beer can usually order wine.
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Day 2 in Munich: Two Options to Consider
Day 2 in Munich is an excellent opportunity to see some popular sites just outside the city. Here’s how you can spend your second day in Munich.
Option 1, Stop 1: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is located about an hour’s train ride from Munich. Here you can learn about the atrocities committed by Germany upon Jewish people and other minorities during WWII.
The memorial is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is free to visit; no advance booking is required. If you want a guided tour, English tours are offered at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm daily, and German tours at 12:00 pm daily. The tour costs €4 and is 2.5 hours long.
Visiting on your own is easy as you can take a train direct from downtown Munich to the memorial with a designated bus transfer that takes tourists back and forth from the station. Or you can take a guided, half day tour to Dachau for ease and convenience.
Stop 2: Afternoon in the City: More Things to Do in Munich
A day trip to Dachau Memorial typically takes a half day if you plan to arrive right at opening. When you return to the city, you’ll likely want to stop for lunch and see some of the other attractions Munich offers.
Here are even more noteworthy Munich attractions to add to your second day:
- BMW Museum: Car lovers and those interested in our industrial past should consider checking out this museum, which has vintage models on display and exhibitions dedicated to the automobile industry.
- Allianz Arena: Soccer fans should make time for a tour of FC Bayern’s Allianz Arena or even a game if you’re visiting during soccer season.
- Olympiapark München: This massive park was the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics, and today, it is a sprawling place where you can tour the historic stadium, enjoy events and live music, and an aquarium, great for families.
- Guided WWII Tour: World War buffs should check out the various guided walking tours that share historical facts about Munich and Germany’s part in WWII.
- Viktualienmarkt: a historic market where you’ll see various stalls selling fresh produce, souvenirs, hot food, beer, and more. Open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, with some stalls closed all day Monday.
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Option 2: Take A Longer Day Trip From Munich
If you’d like to venture further outside of Munich, there are many beautiful and noteworthy day trips to consider!
And IMHO, if you see everything I shared in my Day 1 Munich itinerary (and are a fast traveler like me), you’ve gotten a great introduction to the city. You won’t miss much if you decide to take a day trip.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is arguably Germany’s most famous castle. It is rumored to have inspired Cinderella’s castle in the 1950 Disney classic. This 19th-century castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the rolling foothills of the Bavarian Alps.
While you’re there, you can tour the ornate interiors and hike around the grounds for epic vantage points of the castle. Neuschwanstein is about a 1.5-hour drive from Munich and is best visited via driving or on a Neuschwanstein guided day trip, which you can expect will take the entire day.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber tops the charts as one of Germany’s most beautiful small towns. This medieval gem is one of only three intact medieval walls in Germany. The many timber frame homes look straight out of a Hallmark movie.
Rothenburg is one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Germany, thanks to the many beautiful things to see and do there. Those who appreciate small towns and quaint destinations should consider taking A Rothenburg day trip from Munich.
Other Munich Day Trips
If neither of these interests you, here are more day trips!
- Salzburg Day Trip by Train: Venture across the border to Austria on a day trip to a charming small town that inspired the film the Sound of Music and was the birthplace of Mozart.
- Nuremberg Day Trip by Train: Nuremberg is another medieval town in Germany known for its cobblestone streets and WWII sites. It’s a 90 minute train ride away.
- Zugspitze Mountain Van Tour: The Zugspitze is the tallest peak in Germany on the Austrian border and is great for nature lovers. The tour includes a van transfer to where you can pay to ride a cable car to the top, and time to sip a beer at the tallest beer garden in Germany.
- Berchtesgaden Foothills and Obersalzberg WWII history buffs should consider a day trip to Hitler’s Eagle Nest, a mountaintop bunker located about 2 hours from Munich.
Best Places to Eat in Munich
If the above places to eat don’t interest you, Munich is home to plenty of other places to eat, especially when it comes to beer gardens and pubs!
- Augustiner Keller: A famous beer garden serving up Augistiner beer and Bavarian dishes.
- Löwenbräu Keller: Another famous Munich beer hall dedicated to Löwenbräu brews.
- Guido Al Duomo: A yummy Italian restaurant with terrace seating right next to the cathedral.
- DO & CO Bistro: Upscale dining serving a variety of classic European dishes.
- Cinnamood: A chain serving up unique cinnamon roll flavors that is popular with locals.
- La Burrita: A relaxed spot serving California-style Mexican.
- Madam Chutney: A hip and modern spot for Indian food