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Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Itinerary · Munich · Germany

One day in Munich

A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Munich, not crossing it.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0

Quick answer

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. Day 1: Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus and Frauenkirche. Base yourself in Altstadt.

Key facts

Days
1
Sights covered
5
Day trips
None
Best base
Altstadt
Book ahead
Allianz Arena

Day by day

  1. Day 1: Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus and Frauenkirche

    Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and Hofbräuhaus, then Allianz Arena in the evening.

    1. Morning

      Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus

      Arrive ten minutes early and stand towards the back of the square near the Fischbrunnen fountain, where the view up to the tower is clearer than from under it. Allow 45 minutes.

    2. Late morning

      Frauenkirche

      Stand on the Devil's Footstep at the entrance; from that spot, the side windows are hidden by the pillars, as the legend describes. Allow 30 minutes.

    3. Lunch

      Lunch: White sausage

      Traditional taverns and beer halls in the Altstadt, usually only in the morning.

    4. Afternoon

      Viktualienmarkt

      Build a picnic from the stalls and eat it in the beer garden, where bringing your own food is allowed. Allow 1 hour.

    5. Late afternoon

      Hofbräuhaus

      Look for the regulars' tables (Stammtisch) marked with signs; don't sit there unless invited. Allow 1–2 hours.

    6. Evening

      Allianz Arena

      Book a tour on a non-match day, or watch the arena light up from the U6 station after dark.

Before you go

  • Allianz Arena: Tours and match tickets sell out; book through the official club site well in advance.

If it rains

  • Swap in Munich Residenz (Altstadt): Buy the combined ticket for the Residenz Museum and the Treasury, and allow a full afternoon.
  • Swap in Deutsches Museum (Museumsinsel): Pick two or three sections; it is impossible to see everything in one visit.
  • Swap in BMW Welt and BMW Museum (Olympiapark): Visit BMW Welt for free, then decide whether the museum interests you; combine with the Olympiapark next door.

Where to stay for this itinerary

$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping

Altstadt

Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–6 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.4 hours in December to 16 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Metro. Eight U-Bahn lines cross the city, with Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz and Hauptbahnhof as main hubs; trains are frequent from early morning until around 1am, later at weekends.

More or fewer days

Questions travellers ask

+Is one day enough in Munich?

One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. How many days Munich needs.

+What should I book before visiting Munich?

Allianz Arena.