The capital of Bavaria is not in vain considered an open-air museum. The real pearl of Germany will surprise even the most picky tourists who have seen a lot in their lifetime. Munich, associated primarily with German beer, boasts numerous architectural and cultural values. The third largest city is full of attractions, and it’s simply impossible not to visit them.
As travelers admit, it is impossible to get acquainted with all the curious corners even in a month. The amazing natural beauty here is adjacent to the man-made, and opening up new opportunities for a memorable vacation, the capital of Bavaria attracts foreign visitors all year round.
Oktoberfest - large-scale city event
Founded in 1158, the cozy city is known worldwide for a large festival - the Oktoberfest, which is annually attended by about six million people. 16 days pass mass festivities and costumed processions in the center of Munich. Of course, the hero of the bright holiday is a special beer with a pronounced taste of malt. However, not only this drink, which can be bought only during a fun festival, will appeal to its guests. At the October festivities, aged and young wines, alcoholic cocktails flow like a river, and a variety of meat delicacies are incredibly popular among tourists who come to Munich.
Where to go to the guests of the main event of the city and the largest holiday in the world? Fourteen beer tents belonging to a certain brand of hop drink are lined up annually. And those who want to try something new are waiting for a giant tent of local champagne.
Next to the so-called beer alley there is an amusement park where not only adults but also children will spend their free time with pleasure. All 16 days of Oktoberfest are accompanied by costumed processions and noisy concerts until the morning, so those who do not know where to go to Munich in the evening go to fun events, the memory of which will remain for a long time.
In the opened souvenir shops, city guests purchase gifts with holiday attributes. For the sake of the atmosphere of joy of the festival, people from all over the world rush to Bavaria.
Main square
Where to go in Munich to a tourist who first arrives in a South German city? Of course, its main attraction is the Marienplatz square, located in the very center of a cozy and noisy settlement at the same time. This is a favorite place for walking for all guests and locals who believe that those who did not see the Bavarian landmark did not know anything about real Germany.
The square got its name thanks to the bronze figure of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms. A marble column dedicated to the patroness of the city with the image of Our Lady appeared after the invasion of the Swedes in the 17th century. And at the bottom of the monument, city guests stare at small figures of angels who fight human troubles for a long time.
Marienplatz is very easy to find: it is located in the very center of the pedestrian zone, and you can get to the square by metro or train (exit at the Marienplatz station, Munich). Where to go and what to see in a busy square, where life is in full swing day and night?
New town hall
In the heart of the city are delightful architectural structures erected in different eras. Familiarity with the ancient city begins with Marienplatz, and a wonderful view of Munich opens from the observation deck of the New Town Hall. An ancient architectural monument, built in the neo-Gothic style, is a whole complex of buildings with an area of about 10 thousand square meters. Here is the city government and numerous shops with branded clothing.
The high observation tower is the main advantage of the building popular with tourists, and the ringing of the famous clock, on which 32 figures in human height play interesting scenes, sounds enchanting music for travelers admiring a wonderful place.
The performance lasts several minutes and gathers a huge crowd of people peering at the height, so when the question is where to go in Munich in the center, the answer suggests itself.
Old town hall
The Old Town Hall is also located on the square - a white building in the Gothic style with renaissance elements. A fabulously beautiful building will surprise guests with a clock tower, which depicts gilded zodiac signs. During the war, most of the historical monument was destroyed, but after a thorough restoration, the town hall acquired its former appearance.
Toy museum
Foreigners know where to go in Munich, and go on an excursion to the tower of the Old Town Hall, where there is an unusual museum on four floors. The assembled collection of Spilzeugmuseum toys will appeal to people of different ages, but the kids will be most pleased, and when they see the many teddy bears, wooden soldiers, Barbie dolls, they will breath away with delight.
Fischbrunnen
The ancient fountain, called "Fish", will confuse tourists. Young men with buckets are seated from different sides of the structure, but they are not fishermen, as many people think. There was a custom in Munich - graduate butcher students jumped into the Fischbrunnen fountain. It is said that such a consecration once a year washed away all sins. And tourists who rinse empty wallets in the water are sure that this will help to fill them with banknotes as soon as possible.
Christmas market
From the end of November until Christmas (December 25), the most magical time begins. The area is decorated with Christmas tree and sparkling garlands. Thousands of tourists come here who know exactly where to go in Munich in winter. The Christmas market, where you can buy original handmade souvenirs, national treats and drinks, beckons with a festive atmosphere in which all problems are forgotten.
Corners for tourists with kids
Tourists who have arrived in the Bavarian capital often have a question about where to go with their children in Munich? Our recommendations will help determine the choice and visit the most interesting corners of the city.
Ponyhof is a wonderful stable with horses and ponies. No child will miss the unique chance to ride a cute animal and feed him. Entire families come here to enjoy the picturesque nature and walks in the fresh air. Located at Beuernerstraße 7, 86926 Pflaumdorf, the equestrian courtyard will delight young riders and their parents.
All children are sweet-tooths, and adults who founded the family-owned Beeren Cafe open-air company are well aware of this. Unfortunately, this cafe is open exclusively in the summer months, when you can pick berries directly from the bushes. Children adore the place equipped with swings and pools, and parents watch their game in the shade of umbrellas, enjoying delicious desserts. The berry cafe, located on Feldmochingerstrasse, will delight you with a varied menu of adults and their kids.
Rain is not an obstacle to children's entertainment
Well, if the weather in the city turned bad, and the children require entertainment, then there is a great option to take your child in a specially equipped room where you can feel dexterous and strong. So where to go in Munich in the rain with a child? Coco Loco Gaming Center will appeal to active fidgets tired of outdoor games. What is there: bright trampolines, various attractions, bouncy castles, high slides, intricate mazes will delight all children.
It is recommended that you bring along replacement shoes for the child, since running outside is prohibited. Tram number 25 will take you to a magical children's paradise, located at the Ludwig-Thoma-Strasse stop.
Aquarium
Where else to go with children in Munich? The Sea Life Aquarium is a huge territory where kids will get to know the inhabitants of the seas and oceans, which are fascinating to watch in their natural habitat. This adventure guarantees positive emotions and new experiences. The fairy-tale atmosphere with the sunken old ships, heavy chests with jewelry is pleasant to children, and such scenery adds a mysterious fleur to transparent aquariums in which living creatures frolic and have a rest.
Most marine inhabitants do not care about people, but curious fish and turtles can swim close, thereby delivering a lot of pleasant emotions to children. And after a walk along Sea Life (Willi Daume Platz 1), you can relax in a cafe where the child feasts on desserts and pastries. To get to the Munich Aquarium, you need to get off at Olympiazentrum Underground Station.
Nympembourg Palace
It must be said that the status of the capital of the Bavarian lands left its mark on the number of magnificent palaces that the German pearl is famous for. Tourists who love history do not ask where to go in Munich, but immediately go by tram number 17 to Schloß Nymphenburg, where there is a beautiful architectural monument, striking in its splendor.
Built in the Baroque style, the palace complex, surrounded by a picturesque park area, is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists who admire the interior decoration of the halls. Now in the territory of the former residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty, four museums and the so-called gallery of beauties are opened, where portraits of ordinary village girls and noble ladies are presented.
Located near the Rotkreuzplatz station, Nymphenburg Palace is one of the most popular sights that help you look into the distant past.
Park zone of the palace
City guests, thinking about where to go in Munich in the summer, go for a walk in the park, in which the art of landscape design is most clearly manifested. The green zone, spread over 180 hectares of land, delights with a harmonious combination of nature and architecture.
Tourists realize the grandeur of the palace park and freeze with admiration for the original fountains, pacifying lakes, cozy pavilions, unusual sculptures, twined arch plants.
It seems that this amazing creation is the work of Mother Nature herself, a little perfected by talented gardeners.
Former residence Schleissheim
Not far from the hospitable city is the Schleissheim Palace, in which the Wittelsbach dynasty also lived. Take the S1 train to the Oberschleißheim stop and you won’t have to think where to go in Munich. A photo of a fabulously beautiful manor cannot convey the magnificence of the architectural complex, which was supposed to overshadow Versailles.
Today, only part of the former summer residence is available for inspection, but even this is enough to enjoy an incredible sight. Powerful marble columns, colorful murals, decorated halls are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent.
Church of the Holy Virgin
The center of European tourism is famous not only for palace complexes, but also for religious buildings, which are not possible to calculate. According to popular legends, Munich is a city of 365 temples, which seems to be true, since throughout the history the role of churches has been very significant.
The symbol of the Bavarian capital is the Church of the Holy Virgin, whose onion domes are known far beyond the borders of Germany. When the question arises of where to go in Munich, city guests go to the highest cathedral on Frauenplatz 12. Street. The image of Frauenkirche has long been a favorite motif on the covers of numerous city guides. The local administration banned the construction of any structures above the main cathedral, and this requirement is strictly carried out by architects.
According to legend, the towers of Frauenkirche differ by one meter, and all the guides will not fail to tell about it, however, to be precise, only 13 centimeters above the southern extension of the northern extension.
The monumental construction has always surprised with its size. During the service, up to 20 thousand parishioners can be present in the church, and the population of all of Munich in the 15th century, when the Church of the Holy Virgin appeared, did not exceed 13 thousand. The inner space is divided by columns, which, like transparent walls, do not interfere with the passage of sunlight in the temple, and tourists admit that the cathedral is more likely to be filled with the atmosphere of an old museum than of Gothic mysticism.
The building received its famous domes in the 16th century, and it was believed that such a shape resembles the silhouettes of a celestial city that will appear after the Apocalypse.
St. Peter's Church
Of course, travelers do not have to think long about where to go in Munich, because there are many cathedrals, and St. Peter's Church is the oldest attraction of the glorious city. Destroyed and restored, she changed the appearance and interior decoration. Lookout St. Peter Kirche is a favorite place for foreigners admiring the Bavarian capital from a bird's eye view. True, you have to overcome the difficult path up, namely 306 steps.
Those who reached Rindermarkt 1, not far from Marienplatz, admire the mysterious beauty of the Gothic cathedral, from the bell tower of which you can hear the battle, sounding in memory of the dead citizens.
City market Victualienmarkt
Tourists who have visited all the main attractions of Munich want to get acquainted with the retail outlets of the Bavarian capital and first of all go to the market, which is located next to the main square. Attracting with national delicacies, it delights all the gourmets who are frozen in place by the sight of counters filled with Bavarian sausages, cheeses and spices. Having visited once the noisy Viktualienmarkt, city guests are no longer tormented by the question of where to go in Munich.
Reviews of vacationers are full of enthusiasm, and this is understandable: the rich assortment of products and the genuine abundance that the eastern markets envy deserve close attention. Wonderful aromas kindle the appetite of tourists who reached the bright attractions on buses numbered 52 and 132. The stop is called Viktualienmarkt.
Where to go in Munich in 2 days?
If a foreigner does not have the opportunity to devote more than two days to acquaintance with the city, then he will have to rush to develop a route in which sightseeing of the main attractions will be combined with shopping trips, because it is not in vain that Munich is called a huge shopping center.
We have already covered in detail the most popular corners of the tourist center, where you can go to feel the special atmosphere of the ancient city, so now we will focus on modern shopping centers that make the capital of Bavaria very attractive for those who crave new purchases.
Large stores are open until eight o’clock in the evening, and private shops may have an individual schedule, which you need to know about in advance in order to avoid an unpleasant surprise. Tourists, puzzled by the question of where to go in Munich on Sunday, should remember that all shopping galleries do not work on this day.
Sales: when and where
On the days of sales in Munich, shopping lovers come from all over the world, choosing models from last year’s collections that have become irrelevant. For example, in early August, discounts on clothes and shoes reach 90 percent, which is good news for tourists. Winter sales will start from the end of November, and summer sales in July.
Pedestrian streets of Zendlingershtrasse, Maximilianstrasse and Kaufingerhtrasse are the main shopping arteries, where they are always lively, and Teatinerstrasse will not be overlooked by guests who prefer expensive branded clothes.
Come to the welcoming city to feel for yourself its main motto: "Munich loves you." Tourists who once visited the cultural center of Germany return there and admit their strong love for the capital of Bavaria.