The Complete Munich Guide: Beer, Castles, Alps, and Everything Between
Munich is Germany's most visited city, and for good reason: it has the beer culture, the fairy-tale castle, the Alps on the doorstep, and a historic center that survived WWII better than most German cities. Here's everything you need to know.
Overview
Munich (Munchen) is the capital of Bavaria, Germany's largest and most traditional state. Population: 1.5 million. The city sits on the Isar River, with the Alps visible on the southern horizon. It's wealthy, orderly, and proud — Bavarians consider themselves Bavarian first, German second.
Best Time to Visit
May-September: Warm (20-25°C), beer gardens open, long daylight hours. Peak tourist season.
Late September-early October: Oktoberfest (mid-Sept to first Sunday of October). The biggest beer festival on Earth. Book 6+ months ahead.
December: Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz). Cold but magical.
Winter: 0 to -3°C, short days, but the Alpine ski resorts are 1-2 hours south.
Getting There
Munich Airport (MUC) is 28 km northeast. Options:
S-Bahn S1 or S8: 13.20 EUR, 40 minutes to Marienplatz. Best value.
Lufthansa Express Bus: 13 EUR, 45 minutes to Hauptbahnhof.
Taxi: ~70-80 EUR. Not worth it.
The Bayern Ticket (27 EUR for 1 person, +9 EUR per additional, max 5) covers all regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses across Bavaria for one day (valid 9AM-3AM). A game-changer for day trips.
Where to Stay
Altstadt (Old Town): Walking distance to everything. 120-200 EUR/night mid-range.
Schwabing: University area, good restaurants, near the English Garden. 80-140 EUR.
Maxvorstadt: Museum quarter, central, good value. 90-150 EUR.
Haidhausen: Across the Isar, trendy, local-feeling. 70-120 EUR.
What to Do
Essential Sights
Marienplatz & Glockenspiel: Central square, neo-Gothic New Town Hall. Glockenspiel show at 11AM, noon, 5PM (March-Oct). Free. Climb St. Peter's Church tower (3 EUR, 299 steps) for the best view.
English Garden: One of the world's largest urban parks. Free. Eisbach surfers (southern entrance), Chinese Tower beer garden (7,000 seats), rowboat rental on the lake. Nude sunbathing in designated areas.
Hofbrauhaus: World's most famous beer hall (1589). Mass of beer: ~12 EUR. Schweinshaxe: 16 EUR. Go for the experience, but eat at beer gardens for authenticity.
Viktualienmarkt: Open-air food market since 1807. 140 stalls. Obazda with pretzel (5 EUR), Leberkassemmel (4 EUR), central beer garden. Mon-Sat 8AM-6PM.
Day Trips
Neuschwanstein Castle: 2 hours by train. Bayern Ticket: 27 EUR. Castle tour: 15 EUR (book ahead at hohenschwangau.de). Bus from Fussen station. Walk uphill 30-40 min. Allow a full day.
Salzburg, Austria: 1.5 hours by train. Vienna is another easy Austrian addition to your itinerary. (Bayern Ticket valid). Mozart's birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Sound of Music locations. Full day trip.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen & Zugspitze: Germany's highest peak (2,962m). 1.5 hours by train. Cable car to summit: 63 EUR round trip. Spectacular on clear days.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial: 30 minutes by S-Bahn + bus. Free entry. Sobering and essential. Allow 3-4 hours.
Museums
Alte Pinakothek (7 EUR, 1 EUR on Sundays, closed Mon): Durer, Rubens, Da Vinci. World-class.
Pinakothek der Moderne (10 EUR): Modern art, design, architecture.
BMW Welt & Museum (Welt: free. Museum: 10 EUR, closed Mon): Even for non-car enthusiasts.
Nymphenburg Palace (8 EUR): Baroque royal residence with free 200-hectare gardens.
Food & Drink
Bavarian Essentials
Dish
Description
Price
Weisswurst
White veal sausage (eat before noon, peel the skin)
Hirschgarten: Largest in Europe. 8,000 seats. Deer enclosure. Family-friendly.
Chinese Tower: English Garden. Most central. 7,000 seats.
Seehaus: English Garden lakeside. Romantic. Smaller.
Paulaner am Nockherberg: On a hill, great views. Strong food menu.
Remember: you can bring your own food to any beer garden. Just buy beer there.
Oktoberfest Survival Guide
Dates: Mid-September to first Sunday of October (16-18 days)
Entry: FREE (you only pay for beer and food)
A Mass of beer: ~15 EUR. A roast chicken: ~15 EUR.
Book tent reservations 6+ months ahead through brewery websites (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Lowenbrau)
Without reservation: arrive before 9AM on weekdays for a seat in tents
Wear lederhosen or dirndl — it's expected, not costume. Buy affordable versions at H&M or Angermaier (from 60-100 EUR)
Take the U-Bahn to Theresienwiese (U4/U5)
Pace yourself. A Mass is 1 full liter.
Budget Tips
Beer gardens: bring your own food, buy beer only
Sunday museum admission: Pinakotheks for 1 EUR each
Bayern Ticket: 27 EUR covers all Bavarian regional transport for a day
Bakeries serve cheap breakfasts: pretzel + coffee for 3-4 EUR
Lunch menu specials (Mittagsmenu): 8-12 EUR at many restaurants
Safety
Munich is one of Germany's safest large cities. Standard precautions: pickpockets at Marienplatz and the Hauptbahnhof area. During Oktoberfest, watch for intoxicated crowds and unlicensed taxi drivers. Emergency: 112.
Sunday Warning
All shops and supermarkets close on Sundays (German law). Stock up Saturday. Open Sundays: restaurants, beer gardens, museums, bakeries (morning), and the Hauptbahnhof shopping area.
The Bottom Line
Munich is the complete package: history, art, food, beer, nature, and Alpine day trips. It's more expensive than Berlin and less edgy, but it's also safer, cleaner, and infinitely more scenic. Give it 3-4 days — or a full week if you include day trips to the castles and mountains.
