Top 10 Places to Visit in Munich

The city grew from a Benedictine monks' settlement into the seat of the Wittelsbach dukes, electors and kings, and its centre still shows their work: the Residenz, the Frauenkirche with its two brick towers, and Nymphenburg Palace on the western edge. Heavy bombing in the Second World War destroyed much of the Old Town, and the post-war reconstruction kept the medieval street plan, so the sights cluster within a compact walkable core around Marienplatz.

Most visitors arrive by rail at Munich Hauptbahnhof or by air at Munich Airport (MUC), about 40 kilometres north-east, which connects to Marienplatz by S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 in around 40-45 minutes. Public transport runs on the MVV network of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses, with day tickets that cover the central zone; verify current fares at mvv-muenchen.de. The Old Town is largely pedestrian, and the main museums, including the Deutsches Museum and the Alte Pinakothek, are a short tram or U-Bahn ride away.

May to September is the best window for beer gardens such as the English Garden and the Viktualienmarkt, with June to August the warmest and busiest. Oktoberfest, from mid or late September to early October, pushes hotel prices sharply upward, and the Christmas markets in December draw a second wave of visitors. Most shops close on Sundays, but museums, beer halls and markets with Sunday hours stay open; many museums are closed on Mondays, so an outdoor day around the English Garden and Olympiapark suits that day.