History · Munich · Germany
8 historic sites to see in Munich
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, Frauenkirche and Hofbräuhaus. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–16 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 13–16 hours
- Areas
- Altstadt, Nymphenburg and Museumsinsel
Historic sites in Munich
Landmark · Altstadt
1.Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus
The neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus fills its north side, and its tower Glockenspiel re-enacts a 16th-century royal wedding and the coopers' dance with 32 life-size figures, usually at 11am, with extra performances in summer. A lift climbs the tower for views of the square.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Architecture
Religious site · Altstadt
2.Frauenkirche
Inside, look for the 'Devil's Footstep' imprint near the entrance and the tomb of Emperor Ludwig IV.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Altstadt
3.Hofbräuhaus
Its vaulted ground-floor hall fills with long wooden tables, a brass band and litre mugs of Hofbräu beer, served with roast pork, sausages and pretzels.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Food
- After dark
- History
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Palace · Altstadt
4.Munich Residenz
The Treasury displays crowns and jewels, and the rococo Cuvilliés Theatre can be visited separately.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Art
Palace · Nymphenburg
5.Nymphenburg Palace
King Ludwig II was born here.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Couples
Museum · Museumsinsel
6.Deutsches Museum
Its branch museum on Theresienhöhe covers transport, and a further aviation collection is at Schleissheim.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Maxvorstadt
7.Alte Pinakothek
One of the world's great Old Masters galleries, with European paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries, including Albrecht Dürer's 1500 self-portrait, one of the largest Rubens collections anywhere, and works by Rembrandt, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Architecture · Altstadt
8.Odeonsplatz, Theatinerkirche and Hofgarten
Next to it, the formal Hofgarten has hedged paths, a central temple and arcades where locals play music on summer evenings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, Frauenkirche, Hofbräuhaus, Munich Residenz and Odeonsplatz, Theatinerkirche and Hofgarten | 45 minutes + 30 minutes + 1–2 hours + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes |
| Nymphenburg | Nymphenburg Palace | 3 hours |
| Museumsinsel | Deutsches Museum | 3–4 hours |
| Maxvorstadt | Alte Pinakothek | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Deutsches Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Altstadt): Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus → Frauenkirche → Hofbräuhaus, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Altstadt): Munich Residenz → Odeonsplatz, Theatinerkirche and Hofgarten, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Nymphenburg): Nymphenburg Palace, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Museumsinsel): Deutsches Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Maxvorstadt): Alte Pinakothek, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 5°C (41°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still cold; carnival parties peak before Lent and skiers pass through for the Alps.
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, often grey, with snow some days; museums and taverns are cosy and quiet.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Early spring with the first beer garden days on sunny afternoons.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Altstadt — Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus
- Maxvorstadt — University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés
- Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz — Stylish streets of cafés, cocktail bars and the city's LGBTQ+ scene by the Isar
- Haidhausen — Village-like streets of 19th-century houses across the Isar from the Deutsches Museum
More of Munich
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Munich?
Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus. Munich's central square has been the heart of the city since the Middle Ages.
+Which of these are free in Munich?
Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, Frauenkirche and Odeonsplatz, Theatinerkirche and Hofgarten.