30 Must-See Attractions in Munich

This park in the southwest of the city, about 10 minutes on the U-Bahn from Marienplatz, is often overlooked by tourists, yet it has so much to offer. As well as a BBQ area by the lake, it has a Japanese garden, a Thai temple and even an outdoor cinema in summer. Many families and friends bring picnics or have a BBQ, but there’s also a beer garden and a tiny wooden hut selling spit-roasted fish (steckerlfisch) for those who don’t fancy cleaning the BBQ!

This museum is a reminder of a past that Munich all too often tries to sweep under the rug. More than a collection of Nazi documents, its focuses on the history of antisemitism and racism, and the many different forms they can take. Its blank white walls and hushed, library-like atmosphere mirror the seriousness of its content. The exhibits are almost entirely text based, so reading stools are even provided for relief – make sure to take one as you’re bound to spend more time here than intended.

A swimming pool might not sound like much of a destination, but this beautiful Art Nouveau building on the banks of the Isar shouldn’t be missed. Müllersches Volksbad Volksbad has been a public pool since it opened in 1901, and taking a dip today still costs only €5.50 (£4.64/$5.89). Inside is also a Roman steam bath and a Finnish-style sauna with colourful lighting. You’ll need to make like a Münchener, though, and leave the bathing suit at the door – saunas are an important part of German culture, and in most saunas, swimwear is actually banned.

Despite covering over 5,000 years with its collection, this museum prides itself on presenting its ancient relics in an easily digestible way – quality over quantity. The building itself is worth seeing; set below ground with bare concrete walls, large halls, and custom neon lights, it manages to be modern and interesting yet match its contents perfectly. Good German-speakers can also attend one of their regular lectures on ancient Egyptian culture.

Right next door to Nymphenburg Palace are Munich’s Botanical Gardens, covering over 50 acres. The greenhouse complex is home to everything from palm trees to terrapins inside its beautifully tropical environment – keep an eye out for the lawn-mowing robot. There’s also a café in the centre of the gardens serving full meals, alcoholic drinks, and excellent ice cream. Open almost everyday until early evening, the gardens are strangely good for a rainy day, and at only €5.50 a ticket for adults, visiting is a bargain.

While the garden is better known for river surfing and naked sunbathing than it is for its views, there’s also a Grecian-style bandstand called the Monopteros, hidden in this sprawling 900-acre park. Munich is a pretty flat city, so King Ludwig I decided a Greek temple was just what his Englisch Garten needed, and the hill was constructed 15 metres (49 feet) high from bricks then covered with earth. Today, it offers views back down to central Munich including the distinctive onion domes of Frauenkirche.

Though this park is best known as the place to go tobogganing in Munich in winter, it also offers great views of the city from its hill, made from World War II rubble. On a clear day, even the Alps are visible. Rather than a traditional beer garden, Luitpoldpark has a Mexican cantina at its centre. Ready to work off those spicy tacos? Join one of the free “Fit im Park” sessions run by the city, or just get lost in the hedge maze.

Tucked in between the buildings on Sendlingerstrasse is one of the most important late baroque buildings in southern Germany. This tiny chapel measures just 22 by 8 metres (72 by 26 feet), but it’s full of ornate marble work and statues. It was built from 1733 to 1746 by the Asam brothers as their personal chapel, hoping to secure their salvation in building it – they could even see the altar from their house next door. The interior of the church conveys their goal quite clearly: the lightest part of the church is the top, symbolising the salvation of heaven, while the pews representing the earth are mostly in darkness.

Museum Brandhorst only opened its doors in 2009 but has already become an established part of the Munich art museum trail. Rather than packing the hyper-modern building full of exhibits, the museum has wide-open galleries and vast white walls. Its permanent exhibitions include works by modern art icons such as Damien Hirst, Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol (including his Marilyn portrait). Make the most of €1 entry on Sundays and avoid Mondays when the Brandhorst is closed.

If you have more than a couple of days in the city, make like a Münchner and spend the afternoon relaxing by a lake. Just 36 minutes on the S-Bahn from Marienplatz will take you to Lake Starnberg – Germany’s fifth largest freshwater lake. Only 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the center, it feels like another world. Starnberg even gets a mention in T. S. Elliot’s poem The Waste Land. If you’re not inspired to pen a poem, stroll around the lakeside, stop for a beer and admire the view. In summer you can also rent boats, pedalos, or even take a dip.

A cultural and community centre, Bellevue di Monaco is run as a social cooperative by locals and refugees; every member has an equal share and vote in the way the organisation operates. Stop by Bellevue di Monaco to taste one of the dishes on their menu, which changes daily and includes options such as moussaka, tagine and mezze plates. As well as providing housing for young refugees who’ve aged out of the youth care system, the centre, which opened in 2018, offers recurring events to the public including poetry and rap workshops, open art studios, boxing classes, concerts, language courses, migration counselling and film screenings. Check the centre’s online calendar to see what’s coming up. Recommended by Valeriya Safronova.

Located in the maths department of The Technical University of Munich, the parabolic slide is a work of art, a way for students to get around and a fun attraction for visitors. The slide extends from the fourth floor of the building’s atrium down to the ground and is in the shape of a parabola, which looks like a wide U. Anyone is welcome to zip down, and many have, including a former prime minister of Bavaria. Though technically located in Garching, the maths department’s building is easy to get to on the U-bahn, or the underground, from Munich. Recommended by Valeriya Safronova.

Once a pleasure boat that sailed around the Ammersee – a lake in Bavaria – the Alte Utting was decommissioned several years ago after a six-decade run. A group of friends decided to buy the boat; they cut it in half, shut down the autobahn, and brought it to Munich, where it has become a combination of a bar, food market and events space. Alte Utting’s decks are a great place to watch the sunset, and its indoor areas are a welcoming place to warm up in the colder months. Nearby, the same group of friends runs a popular club in a previously abandoned lot, called Bahnwärter Thiel. Here, you can party inside of a subway car or the main building, or come during daylight and early evening hours for flea markets, dance lessons and exhibitions. Recommended by Valeriya Safronova.

The aptly named ‘Die Lange Nacht de Musik’ – long night of music – sees the city of Munich turned into a huge network of concert venues. From cultural embassies to cosy wine bars, you can see many different types of artists perform at over 100 venues with just one ticket. The best bit is that the organisers have partnered with the city’s transport networks to provide four different routes around the city to shuttle music lovers from venue to venue, all included in your €20 ticket.

If you’re not in Munich for Oktoberfest, no problem – April is the time for Frühlingsfest, also affectionately known as ‘little Wiesn’, the little Oktoberfest. Like its big brother, there are plenty of rides and two large beer tents selling the special ‘festbier’. A maß will set you back €12.60, a slight price increase on recent years. If you like vintage vehicles, make sure to check out the collection of vintage cars, buses, and tractors at the Oldtimertreffen. It’s a great excuse to dust off your dirndl and start enjoying the weather.