Things to Do in München

The former royal palace's inner courtyards and gardens are free to enter. The ornate architecture gives a feel for Bavarian opulence without paying for the museum.

🕐 Courtyards open daily 8am to dusk

💡 Walk through the Hofgarten behind it for a quiet spot. The main entrance is free but the treasury costs. Stick to the courtyards.

A peaceful Renaissance garden behind the former royal palace, with fountains, hedges, and a temple.

🕐 Daily 6 am to 10 pm (April–September); 7 am to 6 pm (October–March)

💡 Enter from Odeonsplatz. Bring a picnic and sit by the central fountain — free and rarely crowded.

The original medieval residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty, dating back to the 12th century. A quiet, cobbled courtyard with a small free museum inside the old palace.

🕐 Courtyard open 24 hours; Museum open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00

💡 The free museum shows a 10-minute film about Munich's history in a restored vault. Best part: the courtyard has a free public toilet and a nearby bakery for cheap pastries.

Historic cemetery turned park, dating from 1563. Final resting place of many 19th-century Bavarian artists, scientists and industrialists. Feels like a peaceful sculpture garden.

🕐 Daily 8am–6pm (April–September), 8am–5pm (October–March)

💡 Visit on a weekday morning when it's almost empty. Look for the art nouveau mausoleum of the Schnitzler family. The old mortuary chapel has exhibitions occasionally.

Old Southern Cemetery, a peaceful green space with ornate 19th-century tombs of artists, scientists, and politicians. A quiet escape from the city bustle.

🕐 Daily 08:00–18:00 (closes at dusk in winter)

💡 Take the U-Bahn to Goetheplatz – it's a 5-minute walk. The graveyard is free and rarely crowded, good for sketching or reading.

Oldest church tower in Munich. Climbing the tower costs a small fee, but the church itself is free, with impressive interior and a free crypt. The square outside offers great views.

🕐 Church open daily 7:30am–7pm, tower has separate paid hours

💡 Don't pay for the tower climb—the free view from the nearby Petersplatz steps gives a nearly equivalent panorama. The crypt is often empty and serene.

The main central square with the Neues Rathaus. The mechanical glockenspiel re-enacts a 16th-century wedding and jousting tournament daily.

🕐 Glockenspiel runs at 11am, 12pm, plus 5pm (March–October). Square always accessible.

💡 Arrive 10 minutes before 11am or 12pm (March–October) to get a spot on the right-hand side steps for the best view. Avoid noon on Saturdays when the square is packed.

Munich’s central square since the 12th century, dominated by the neo-Gothic New Town Hall. The Glockenspiel re-enacts a 16th-century tournament twice daily.

🕐 Glockenspiel runs at 11 AM and 12 PM daily (also 5 PM March–October)

💡 Arrive by 11:55 AM to stake out a spot in front of the Rathaus for the 12 PM show. For quieter views, climb the Altes Peter tower (small fee, about 3 EUR).

The central square with the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and its Glockenspiel. Every day at 11:00 and 12:00 (plus 17:00 in summer) the mechanical figures perform.

🕐 Glockenspiel performance: 11:00, 12:00; tower open daily 10:00–19:00

💡 Climb the Rathaus tower for €2.50 – the view over the old town is better from there than the Frauenkirche dome, and it's cheaper.

The central square of Munich, home to the Neues Rathaus with its famous Glockenspiel show.

🕐 Glockenspiel shows at 11 am and 12 pm daily, plus 5 pm March–October

💡 Arrive by 11 am or noon to see the mechanical figures dance. For a quieter view, watch from the top of the tower (small fee).

The central square since 1158, dominated by the New Town Hall with its famous Glockenspiel that reenacts a 16th-century wedding every day at 11am and 12pm (plus 5pm May-Oct).

🕐 Square open 24 hours; Glockenspiel runs 11:00, 12:00 daily, plus 17:00 May-October

💡 Arrive 10 minutes early for the Glockenspiel. After watching, pop into the free Altes Rathaus tower for a panoramic view – it's €1 and never crowded.

A daily fresh food market established 1807. Stalls sell produce, flowers, cheese, meats, and what locals call the best weisswurst in town.

🕐 Mon–Fri 7 AM–6 PM, Sat 7 AM–4 PM (closed Sun)

💡 Grab a cheese or sausage snack at one of the standing tables – no cover charge. The beer stand near the maypole is run by local breweries and pours cheaper than tourist spots.

A daily food market with stalls selling produce, flowers, cheese, and local snacks. No entry fee but bring cash for samples or a pretzel.

🕐 Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–3pm, closed Sundays

💡 Go early on a weekday for fewer crowds. Don't buy bottled water here—it's cheaper at any supermarket nearby. Try the Obatzda cheese spread.

Famous beer hall dating from 1589. You can walk in, grab a bench, order a beer (€8 for a litre), and listen to oompah music. Entry is free, drink costs are reasonable.

🕐 Daily 09:00–23:30

💡 Avoid the upstairs restaurant. Head to the main hall downstairs – it's rowdy, authentic, and you'll share a table with strangers.

Museum of Munich city history. Some exhibitions are free, especially the permanent collection on selected days or times. Check the website for 'free Thursdays'.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10am–6pm, Thu until 8pm (free after 5pm on Thursdays)

💡 Thursday evening after 5pm often has free entry to the main collection. The film museum downstairs is separate and cheap, not free.

One of the world's largest urban parks, bigger than Central Park. Has beer gardens, a Chinese pagoda, rowing lakes and a river surfing wave on the Eisbach.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Watch surfers at the Eisbachwelle near Haus der Kunst entrance. Bring a picnic and skip the crowded Chinesischer Turm beer garden for the quieter Seehaus.

One of the largest urban parks in the world, stretching from the city centre to the northeast. Has river surfers on the Eisbach wave, beer gardens, and meadows for lounging.

🕐 Open 24 hours daily

💡 Watch the surfers at the Eisbach wave right near the Haus der Kunst, then walk 10 minutes north to the Chinesischer Turm beer garden for a cheap Maß.

One of the world's largest urban parks, larger than Central Park. Has beer gardens, river surfing on the Eisbach, and plenty of space to wander or sunbathe.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go to the Chinesischer Turm beer garden for a Mass of beer under budget. Avoid the main paths on sunny weekends.

One of the largest urban parks in Europe. You can walk for hours along the Isar river, watch surfers on the man-made Eisbach wave, or just lie on the grass.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go to the Chinese Tower beer garden for a cheap Maß and a plate of pretzels. Cash only, and bring a blanket.

A sprawling public park larger than Central Park, with meadows, beer gardens, and the Eisbach river wave for surfers.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Head to the Chinese Tower beer garden for a Maß under the chestnut trees. Weekday mornings are quieter.