The Best Things To Do In Munich For Free

Munich is probably the most expensive city in Germany, so it can be difficult to spend a few days there on a budget. Nevertheless, there are ways to take in the sites and vibe of the city without emptying your wallet on a daily basis. Here are our picks for best free (or nearly-free) things to do in Munich.

Museum Sundays

About a dozen of Munich’s best museums, including Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne, Glyptothek, and the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum charge just €1 entry on Sundays, which considering what else you can buy for €1 is basically free. Anyone 18 or under is generally admitted for free on any day. Check here for a full list of what is free when.

1. Watch FC Bayern München train

Tickets to actual games are scarce and wickedly expensive. The next best thing is to watch the football wizards pass, dribble, tackle, and score during the training sessions that are held several times a week at Bayern headquarters about six kilometres south of the city centre. The full schedule is here.

Bayern Munich e.V., Säbner Str. 51, Munich, Germany

Munich likes to do things its own way. And that includes surfing. In the river. At the southern end of the Englischer Garten at Prinzregentenstrasse you’ll see loads of people cheering on the wet-suited daredevils as they ride the artificial waves. Rocks and strong currents make participating suitable for only experienced surfers, but if that’s you, then….

2. BMW Welt

Museum, Stadium

A temple to all things cars – well, specifically BMW, Rolls Royce and Mini – BMW Welt is a great afternoon-half to an Olympic Stadium/BMW day. Both places are in the north of Munich. It’s important to note that BMW Welt has plenty to look at, but it is not the same as the BMW Museum on the same site. The former is basically a car showroom on steroids and is free. The latter has tons of information about the automobile history and costs €10 per adult.

BMW Welt, Am Olympiapark 1, Munich, Germany, +49 89 1 2501 6001

3. Hear a concert at the Kulturzentrum Gasteig

Concert Hall, Theater

It’s one of the more boring-looking buildings in the city, but inside you’ll find some of the best concert hall acoustics in the world. Even better, nearly every day there is a free lunchtime concert of some sort and often in the early evening as well. Most of the players are from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater (Academy of Music and Theatre).

Gasteig, Rosenheimer Str. 5, Munich, Germany, +49 89 480 980

Gasteig concert hall in Munich | © MagentaGreen / WikiCommons

4. Olympic Park

Park, Stadium

Entrance to the park itself is free, though seeing inside the stadium, doing a roof tour and the like do cost money. The great secret of the Olympic Stadium is that you can hear concerts given there, by the likes of Beyoncé, Alt-J or Harry Styles from the top of Olympic Hill absolutely free. Bring some blankets, snacks, and a friend, and have a picnic with the best soundtrack ever.
Olympiapark, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, Munich, Germany, +49 89 30670

5. Walk around the gardens at Nymphenburg Palace

Memorial, Park, Building

Munich and more-largely Bavaria is home to many, many castles, but hardly any are as grand as Nymphenburg Palace. In all senses of the word. Choose a sunny day and devote it to rambling around the grounds of this fantastic piece of history. There are formal French gardens like you might see at Versailles, as well as a botanical garden and palm house with plant species from all over the world.

Munich Old City walking tour

The best way to see a city is by walking. Even large cities like Munich usually have a relatively compact city centre that it’s possible to see plenty of in one day. Highlights include the Old Town Hall, St Peter’s Church, and the Munich Residenz. Refuel at the lively Viktualienmarkt and pop into the renowned Hofbräuhaus beer hall.

6. Hear the Glockenspiel at the Rathaus

Every day at 11am and noon (and 5pm in summer) you can hear the Rathaus Glockenspiel in Marienplatz chime a 15-minute show. For more than 100 years, the 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures have re-enacted events from Bavarian history. Keep an eye out for the golden bird; when he chirps three times, the show is over.

Rathaus-Glockenspiel, Marienplatz 8, Munich, Germany, +49 89 2330 0155

Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz | © Roanna Mottershead / Culture Trip

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.