The main attractions of Munich, what to see first
Among the cities of Bavaria, Munich, the capital, is not inferior to Berlin and Cologne in popularity. While immersing yourself in its streets, you can enjoy the unique beauty of the city, however, we offer a more exciting experience - exploring its sights to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the capital of Bavaria to the fullest.
What to see first in Munich
The number of attractions in Munich is huge, and listing them all would take a lot of time. Therefore, we have put together for you a brief overview of the most significant places that every tourist in Munich should visit. When preparing this review of “wonderful places in Munich”, we took into account reviews from experienced travelers and recommendations from experienced guides. When visiting this beautiful city in Germany, be sure to check out the following fascinating places in Munich:
Old Town Hall
Compared to the New Town Hall, the Old Town Hall, built in the 15th century, has a richer history and a more modest appearance. Its architectural style is presented in the Gothic direction, with the addition of Renaissance elements. The building with its distinctive spire now houses the Toy Museum, making it an attractive place to visit for anyone traveling with children in Munich.
Marienplatz
If you are planning to spend a day in Munich and don’t know where to start, then you should definitely visit this historical square, founded back in 1158. Many locals and tourists flock here every day to admire the architecture of the majestic columns and the statue of the Virgin Mary crowned with gold. This square also contains such significant sights of Munich as the New and Old Town Halls.
Blutenburg Castle
This 15th century hunting lodge was built by order of Albrecht the Third. A disturbing legend is associated with him: the Duke’s father, who disapproved of his marriage to a commoner, took his son away from Blutenburg and, while he was away, ordered the girl to be drowned in the river. A chapel was built in her memory.
Nymphenburg Palace
Like many other historical sites in Germany, this palace has a rich and important history. It was built in 1664 as the residence of the city rulers. In the modern palace, visitors can see an office with Chinese lacquered panels in red and black, paintings by the famous artist Stieler, frescoes created by Zimmermann, as well as a central hall with a luxurious interior in the Rococo style.
Schleissheim Palace
Built in the 16th century, this building once served as the retreat residence of William the Fifth. The territory of the modern palace complex includes three buildings representing different historical eras. The interior decoration of the premises was created under the direction of F. Rosa, D. Trubillio and I. Gump. Schleissheim is surrounded by a magnificent park, which adds to the beauty of the place.
New Town Hall
This building also belongs to the neo-Gothic style, but was built in the 19th century. Important features that make a trip to the New Town Hall a must: the 85-meter observation deck on the tower, which offers magnificent views of the city, and the exquisite clock with mechanical figures representing the daily mini-show "knight tournament".
English Garden
What places are worth visiting in Munich with the whole family? One of the most attractive places is its huge parkland, which is one of the most extensive in the world. The park was established in 1789, and since then its territory has been constantly expanding. Here you will find a beautiful lake with artificial waves, a clearing ideal for sunbathing, and even a Japanese-style tea house. For the convenience of visitors, the park has many benches and gazebos.
Munich Residence
This is the largest city palace in the country, built during the Second World War, it was significantly damaged. However, the government subsequently invested heavily in its restoration. The Munich Residence is considered one of the most beautiful palace museums in Europe. In its exhibitions you can see unique figurines, chandeliers, furniture, silver and porcelain, as well as portraits and landscapes.
Asamkirche Church
This baroque architectural masterpiece attracts attention with its golden-white façade and exquisite stucco work. The interior, made in soft pastel colors and decorated with numerous “golden” elements, delights not only tourists, but also local guides in Munich. The walls and ceiling of the temple were painted by hand using the finest brushes. The internal space of the temple is conventionally divided into three parts: the upper part is a symbol of the Heavenly Kingdom, the middle part is a place for parishioners with chairs, aisles and choirs, and the lower part is a blue and white balcony tier dedicated to the emperor.
St. Peter's Church
One of the features of this ancient temple, which appeared only in the 17th century, is its dome, made in the shape of a lantern. One of the main architectural elements of the interior decoration is the majestic altar with Corinthian columns on the sides and a statue of St. Peter on the throne.
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Frauenkirche)
This is a majestic cathedral with a cathedral church and a tower 99 meters high, built in the 14th-15th centuries. At a time when only 13,000 people lived in the city, the cathedral could accommodate up to 20,000 parishioners.
Bavarian National Museum
The exhibition halls display exclusive items: porcelain tableware, luxury furniture, handmade decorative carpets, gold and ivory items, as well as figurines and paintings representing various regions of Germany and Europe.
Bavarian State Opera
This theater is one of the largest cultural and musical centers in the world. About five hundred different performances are held here every year. If your trip is aimed at immersing yourself in the culture and history of the country, then a visit to this theater should definitely be included in your itinerary.
BMW Museum
This museum is an introduction to the products of the German concern, famous for its motorcycles and cars around the world. Here, in addition to new models, many rare cars are presented. The museum building itself is also unique: its shape resembles a double spiral in the shape of a cone, starting from the east side and having a length of 28 meters. In addition to the exhibition halls, the museum also has an official gift shop, where you can purchase goods related to the BMW brand and available only here.
Munich Pinakothek
These museums are integral repositories of the history and culture of the city. The first contains examples of modern art and culture, the second presents masterpieces of the 19th century, and the third contains collections of paintings from ancient times. The Alte Pinakothek is one of the first art museums on the planet.
Allianz Arena Stadium
For more than twelve years, the famous football clubs Munich 1860 and Bayern Munich have been playing their home matches at this stadium. In addition, the Allianz Arena hosted the final game of the Champions League of the 2012 season, as well as matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. One of the features of this stadium is its amazing lighting system, which turns on at night and constantly changes its color.
Glyptothek
If you are interested in popular excursions in Munich, then visiting this museum is an excellent choice. Its name, literally translated as “sculpture repository,” speaks for itself. Here you will find exhibits from Greece and Rome. The Glyptotek was created especially for the royal family, who amassed an impressive collection of sculptures. All exhibits in the museum are made of stone. Among the most famous works of art here you can see the "Munich Kouros" and the "Tenean Kouros".
German Museum
This unique complex of museums presents exhibitions telling about the achievements of science and technology in Germany. The exhibits are located on six levels, each of which is dedicated to a different topic: engines, gas and oil, shipping, and so on. Here you can see unique examples of equipment preserved from the times of the World Wars.
Dachau Memorial Museum
In the past, there was a concentration camp on this territory, where thousands of people who were captured by the Nazi army died. Over more than ten years of operation of the camp, tens of thousands of prisoners were killed. The modern memorial was built in 1965. Despite the fact that the buildings from the Second World War have been preserved in a minimal amount, the atmosphere of the place is still full of gloom and horror.
Olympic Park
None of the best hotels in Munich attract as many visitors as this historical park. In addition to outdoor swimming pools and gyms, the territory has a stadium and a 290-meter tower with a panoramic platform. If you want to enjoy a view of the entire city, this place is worth a visit. The Olympic Park often hosts various entertainment events: festivals, fairs, exhibitions and other events. Open film programs are also regularly shown here.
What Attractions: what else to visit in Munich?
We briefly reviewed the main attractions of Munich. If you have some free time after visiting them, pay attention to the following significant places:
Oktoberfest
This world-famous event is a celebration of beer drinking. In the autumn of 1810, Prince Ludwig the First and Princess Theresa gave a luxurious reception for all the citizens of Munich in honor of their wedding. Since then, this event has become an annual tradition, enlivening the gray autumn days. During the 16 days of the festival, millions of beer and fun lovers come to Munich. Oktoberfest brings in more than $1 billion to the city budget. At the festival you can try different types of beer - from light and light to strong and dark. All drinks are prepared specifically for the holiday, which gives them a fresh taste and aroma.
Hofgarten Park
The landscaped park with clear geometric shapes, founded at the beginning of the 17th century, is a unique place for relaxation and walking. During the Second World War, this place was almost completely destroyed, but thanks to restoration according to old plans and sketches, the park was recreated with the addition of elements of English landscape design of the 19th century. Bright fountains, green lawns, flower beds and neat alleys attract the attention of even those who are not keen on vegetation.
Viktualienmarkt Market
The main shopping area of the city, where the freshest and highest quality products are offered. The market has more than 140 different stalls, owned by families from different parts of Bavaria, passed down from generation to generation. The prices here are, however, quite high. Visitors to Viktualienmarkt are usually wealthy tourists and local residents who value high quality and freshness of goods. However, even if you don't intend to buy anything, a visit to the bazaar is worth it if only for its authentic atmosphere.
Beer Hall Hofbräuhaus
We are talking about the royal brewery - the first in Munich, founded in 1589. At that time, she was visited by the highest-ranking persons of the country. For ordinary townspeople, the Hofbräuhaus opened its doors only two centuries later. If you are a beer connoisseur, want to taste unique varieties of this drink and immerse yourself in the history of brewing, this restaurant will be the ideal place for you.
Munich Zoo Hellabrunn
Guests to this expansive zoo can watch penguins, lions, and tigers feed, as well as keep an eye out for pelicans and anacondas. Within the "contact zone" visitors can not only observe and photograph the animals, but also interact with them up close, such as petting goats, llamas and ponies. The park has areas convenient for vacationers and open-air cafes.
We hope these exciting places you've learned about in Munich have piqued your interest. When planning a city tour, be sure to include them in your itinerary. Travel around Germany, discovering new amazing places, and don’t forget about the sights of Frankfurt.
