Munich is one of the cities in Europe that is becoming increasingly popular among travelers. Where many travelers typically go to Berlin, a city trip to Munich is a nice surprise. This is because Munich has a lively historic center where you can visit great museums and especially the beer culture appeals to many people.
In this article, we share the best activities for a city trip when you have 2 days in Munich. You can also read many tips such as which neighborhood is the best to stay, where to eat, and what nice day trips are worth exploring. Finally, in this Munich itinerary, you find detailed maps to navigate yourself during your trip.
Things to do in Munich in 2 days?
Munich is after Berlin the biggest city in Germany, so you can do plenty of fun things. If you have 2 days for Munich, this is enough to discover the most important things in the city.
Tip: below you see the map for all activities, accommodations, eateries, and metro stations. In addition, we have made a map per day, which makes it easier to orientate yourself. Click on the top right corner to view the map larger. If you click on the star symbol next to the title you can save this map in your Google Maps account. In the folder, you can show or hide different categories. You can then use this map to navigate when you are at your destination.
2 days in Munich | day 1
The first day is mainly devoted to visiting the historic center and the gardens of Munich. The first day is intensive. After breakfast at the accommodation, the day begins with a visit to Marienplatz. We recommend starting at 09:00 am. You can do everything walking today.
If breakfast is not included, you can have breakfast at Rischart Café am Marienplatz. Here you can order various sandwiches and drinks. It is located on Marienplatz which is convenient because you can start your day at the first sight seen.
#1.1 Marienplatz
Marienplatz is the central part of the historic center of Munich. This is the most beautiful square you will find in the city as it is surrounded by magnificent buildings. The Neues Rathaus town hall in particular is impressive because of its facade, which is decorated in such detail. The best part is to hear the world-famous chimes play at 11:00 am. During the show, the wooden dolls move and it symbolizes the medieval period.
When you get to Neues Rathaus, don’t forget to walk through the gates to the courtyard. You can see more splendor in this courtyard.
Tip: a good way to discover the historic center of Munich is by following a free walking tour. These start daily at 10:45 am at Marienplatz. You can reserve a place here.
Tip: another great way is to follow a certified tour. The advantage is that you can discover all the highlights together with a guide. The advantage is that the groups are not as big as a free walking tour. Book a ticket for an official tour here.
Tip: if you like to follow bike tours, this is also possible. Book a ticket for a bike tour here.
#1.2 Altes Rathaus
The Altes Rathaus which is the old town hall of Munich is one of the oldest buildings you can find in Munich. This building dates from the 15th century and served as a town hall until the construction of the Neues Rathaus. The best thing is to walk under the town hall and pay attention to all the details of the building.
It is possible to visit the tower as a historical toy museum is located here. This is a nice place to visit for families traveling with children. In this museum, you can see model trains, antique dolls and many more toys.
#1.3 Peterskirche
In the historic center, you find the Peterskirche, which is together with the Frauenkirche the most important church in Munich. The Peterskirche dates back to the 12th century making it the oldest church in Munich. The beauty of the Peterskirche can be found inside. When you are inside you see a beautifully decorated church. Especially the statues, the altar, and the fresco on the ceiling in Gothic style are beautiful to see.
The nice thing about the Peterskirche is that you can climb the tower for €3 ($4). On top of the tower, you have a panoramic view of the region. The best thing is that you see Marienplatz and the Frauenkirche from above. The tower has just over 300 steps and can only be reached by walking the stairs. It is well worth climbing the tower because the view is amazing.
Where to stay in Munich
Option 1 Comfort & quiet location: King’s Hotel First Class
King’s Hotel First Class is located a 5-minute walk from the train station and is therefore perfect accommodation if you travel by train from the airport or another destination to Munich. The hotel is fully equipped, the beds are very good and the rooms are big. Check prices and availability for King’s Hotel First Class here.
Option 2 close to the center: Hotel Admiral
Hotel Admiral is a great place to stay because it is 2 blocks from the historic center, so you can walk to the main sights within a few minutes. In addition, the rooms are nicely and modernly furnished. The great thing is that a luxury breakfast is included. Check prices and availability for Hotel Admiral here.
#1.4 Viktualienmarkt
If you want to get an idea of how the locals do their shopping, it is nice to visit Viktualienmarkt. For us, this was a fun way to learn the culture of Germany. The market is located in the center behind the Peterskirche. Products have been sold here daily since 1807, there are several stalls where you can buy typical German or regional products. For lunch, you buy something tasty at one of the stalls. If you prefer to have lunch in a restaurant, this is of course also possible. In this case, we recommend going to Bratwurstherzl Am Viktualienmarkt.
Lunch at Bratwurstherzl Am Viktualienmarkt
After visiting the Viktualienmarkt, it’s time for lunch. We recommend eating at Bratwurstherzl Am Viktualienmarkt. Here you can order a typical German dish: bratwurst with sauerkraut. The sauerkraut is fresh and with the traditional bratwurst, it is a good meal to be active the rest of the day. Also, order a beer and you will experience how it is to eat as a German. The prices for the more popular dishes are between €9 and €12 ($10 – $14). When the weather is nice you can sit outside and in the winter it is also a great place to sit because it is cozy.
After breakfast at your accommodation, you can also get a sandwich at Rischart Café am Marienplatz.
#1.5 Munich Residenz
If you love to get to know more about history in general and Germany, it is recommended to visit Münich Residenz. In this palace, several kings, emperors, and other important persons ruled over Bavaria between 1508 and 1918. During your visit, you see many rooms where you can see how they ruled at the time. It’s unique to see how the rooms were decorated, when you walk through the museum you have the feeling that you stepped back in time. Ticket costs €9 ($10) which you can buy on-site at the museum.
#1.6 Odeonsplatz
A surprising square to see is the Odeonsplatz which is located just north of the historic center. The appearance of the square is Italian because of the building Feldherrnhalle which is a replica of Loggia Dei Lanzi from Florence. This building makes the appearance of the square different than other squares in Munich. You can also admire the Theatinerkirche on this square. The great thing about this church is that it was built in the Borrok architectural style. When you visit the church you will be amazed at how high the pillars are.
#1.7 Hofgarten
Next to Odeonsplatz is located Hofgarten which is worth visiting. This is because the garden is inspired by the Italian Renaissance. The beauty is the small temple in the middle of the garden that is surrounded by plants. The nice thing is to walk through the garden and enjoy the time on one of the benches. So make sure you have bought some drinks and snacks beforehand at a supermarket or market that you passed earlier in the day.
#1.8 Englischer Garten
The Hofgarten is a small garden, if you would like to visit the city park of Munich, then you should go to Englischer Garten. This is a large park where you can walk through an English garden. When you walk from the Hofgarten to the Englischer Garten you enter the park at one of the gates where people are surfing. Now you’re probably thinking, surfing at a park? Yes, you can surf in Munich. Because the water flows into the park at great speed through the lock, you can surf at the waves. It is great to see this activity in the park.
In addition to surfing, it is worth walking to the large grassy square with the Italian temple. From the temple, you have a view over the park.
Dinner at Schneider Bräuhaus München
During our trip through Bavaria, eating at Schneider Bräuhaus München was one of the best places we’ve been. The atmosphere is great, when you enter it feels very cozy. The menu is very extensive and the beer tastes good. The service is good and they are happy to help you make choices.
The average prices are between €12 and €22 (14 – $24) per dish. We ordered the starter barlauchkremsuppe which is a cream soup with garlic. As the main course, we chose eintopf bayernox which is a stew with beer. We recommended trying the beer Hell, this is blond beer. In total, we paid €52.14 ($54) for two people.
If you like it, using a hop-on hop-off bus is something for you. This is a bus with an open rooftop that gives you a good view when you visit different parts of the city. This bus is perfect for travelers who want to see a lot of the city without having to walk too much. Tickets for the hop-on hop-on bus for Munich can be bought here.
2 days in Munich | day 2
The second day is dedicated to learn more about the Second World War by visiting the former Dachau concentration camp. You will also visit two other important churches in Munich, the beer museum, and finally the most iconic beer house in Munich. We recommend starting around 09:00 am. If you are going to visit Dachau you have to be at Marienplatz at 09:30 am.
If you do not have breakfast at the accommodation, you can have breakfast on the second day at Cotidiano Gärtnerplatz München. You can order delicious summer bowls here. This organic bowl is filled with fusilli, pesto, peanuts, ham, mozzarella fruit, olives, and other ingredients. The bowl costs €13.90 ($15). If you don’t like bowls you can have breakfast at Rosi coffee & bar. Here you can order a sandwich with scrambled eggs for example. You can choose from many different dishes at this place.
#2.1 Dachau
Dachau is the first concentration camp used by the Nazis. This concentration camp conducted experiments on the inmates and Dachau was a role model for all other concentration camps. A visit to Dachau is not a fun thing to do in Munich, but it is worth it because you learn more about the Second World War. It is difficult to express in words the impact of a visit. The only thing we can recommend is to visit it and experience it for yourself. It is certainly intense when you consider and learn what has happened here.
We recommend taking a tour from Munich to Dachau because you will learn a lot about Dachau under the supervision of a guide. The tour starts by visiting the rooms and buildings. You will also visit the SS training facilities, the bathhouse, and the main entrance with the gate that reads ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’. During your visit, you will learn how it was to live as a prisoner and be a guard. You will also visit the infamous gas chambers and the crematorium.
All in all, an intense visit that makes an impact on your soul. The excursion lasts 4.5 hours and you will be back around 2:00 pm. Tickets for the Dachau tour can be booked here.
Lunch at Augustiner Klosterwirt GmbH
We recommend taking sandwiches with you when you visit Dachau, you can buy this at a supermarket or bakery the day before. If you prefer to eat something fresh, you can have lunch at Augustiner Klosterwirt GmbH at 2:00 pm. Here you can order salmon prepared with homemade pepper sauce, delicious! The salmon costs €15.90 ($17) per person.
#2.2 The Frauenkirche and Asamkirche
The Frauenkirche is Munich’s Dom. It is an impressive church due to the fact that it is so huge. When you arrive, the two towers are striking in their architectural style. Unfortunately, the inside of the church is not that special because it is very sober.
Whereas the Frauenkirche is huge and somewhat sober, the Asamkirche is the opposite. When you arrive you don’t immediately think of wow that place does need to be visited but once inside you see that this is a hidden gem. This church was built in the Baroque period and therefore it has plenty of decorations. Much is decorated in gold and the marble pillars, statues and painting make this church worth a visit.
It is special to see that two churches within 10 minutes walking distance are so different. The Frauenkirche costs €7.50 ($8) per person to visit. Asamkirche is free to visit.
#2.3 Discover the Bavarian beer and food culture
What couldn’t be more fun is when you travel to Germany to get to know the Bavarian beer and food culture better. You can follow a tour where you will taste different types of beer together with a guide, visit the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum and taste traditional dishes in a traditional beer hall.
On a 3-hour tour, you will learn a lot about Bavarian beer and food culture. It is fun to walk through the museum with other travelers and learn more about the history of German brewing.
It is fun to join this tour, let yourself be surprised. It is important that you book a few days in advance because places fill up quickly. Tickets for Bavarian beer and food culture you can book here.
#2.4 Hofbräuhaus
If you don’t do activity #2.3, it is worth visiting Hofbräuhaus because this is the oldest brewery in Germany. You can book a tour, for this, we recommend activity #2.3. If you prefer to taste different beers, all you have to do is take a seat at one of the tables. When you enter you will be amazed at how many people there are and what a unique atmosphere there is. A visit is highly recommended because you can experience how it is to enjoy a beer in a traditional way. It is not possible to make a reservation.
Tip: if you don’t like crowds, it’s better not to visit Hofbräuhaus but to have dinner at Ayinger am Platzl.
Dinner at Ayinger am Platzl
If you follow activity #2.3 you don’t have to look for a place to eat because it is included in the tour. If you do not follow the tour, we recommend eating at Ayinger am Platzl. This is located upfront of Hofbräuhaus which is very convenient because you can walk straight to Hofbräuhaus after dinner if you prefer.
Ayinger am Platzl is a cozy place that is nicely decorated. We recommend the ochsenbackerl to try. Ochsenripperl is ox ribs prepared by slow cooking. Caramelized vegetables are served with this dish. This dish costs €24.90 ($27) per person. It is possible to make a reservation via this link.
Nice day trips from Munich
If you have more time in Munich it is nice to see more of the area. We recommend visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle is world famous because Walt Disney inspired the Sleeping Beauty castle. The Neuschwanstein is the most beautiful castle you can visit in Germany. This is because the setting and the castle itself are spectacular, for example, the castle is surrounded by huge mountains. The tour to visit the Neuschwanstein from Munich can be booked here.
In addition to the Neuschwanstein Castle, you can book many other fun day trips from Munich. For example, you can go to Rothenburg ab der Tauber, this is the most beautiful medieval village in Germany. You can also visit Salzburg which is located in Austria, this is the city where you see most baroque architectural styles buildings and it is the birthplace of St. Wolfgang. Another fun day trip is to visit the Eagle’s nest which was its vacation home of Hitler. Or visit Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitze. There are many choices, a full list can be seen here.
We visited all these destinations during our trip through Bavaria. If you are looking for an itinerary that will make sure that you to see the highlights of the Bavaria region, you can use our 10-day Bavaria itinerary for inspiration.
Transport in Munich
The easiest way to see the various sights in Munich is to walk to everything. The sights are relatively close to each other. If you want to travel for example to the museums that are just outside the historic center, you can use the S-Bahn train. These are the stations marked in green.
The easiest way is to buy a CityTourCard during your 2 days in Munich if you want to use public transport. With this pass, you can make unlimited use of public transport in Munich.
If you like to discover cities with a hop-on hop-off, you can also do this in Munich. These types of buses have open roofs where you can sit and use them during the day to visit different parts of Munich. Tickets for the hop-on and hop-on bus for Munich can be bought here.
Where to stay in Munich?
In Munich, you can choose from many accommodations. First of all, it is advisable to determine in which area you want to stay. We recommend staying in Altstadt. This is the historic center, the advantage of staying here is that you are close to all the sights of Munich. This makes it easy to walk to every sight. We do recommend that you do not stay in the center of the city center but just outside of it. The two accommodations below are both quietly located and are an excellent place to discover Munich.
Tip: due to the good location and price-quality ratio, both accommodations are fully booked quickly. We, therefore, advise you to book quickly.
Comfort & quiet location:
King’s Hotel First Class
King’s Hotel First Class is located a 5-minute walk from the train station and is therefore perfect accommodation if you travel by train from the airport or another destination to Munich. The hotel is fully equipped, the beds are very good and the rooms are big.
Close to the center:
Hotel Admiral
Hotel Admiral is a great place to stay because it is 2 blocks from the historic center, so you can walk to the main sights within a few minutes. In addition, the rooms are nicely and modernly furnished. The great thing is that a luxury breakfast is included.
Where can you eat well in Munich?
In the article, you were able to read about our recommended places to eat per part of the day. To help you, we have summarized our tips below. It is best to consult the map at the beginning of the article to see where the restaurants are located.
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
| Day 1 | Rischart Café am Marienplatz | Bratwurstherzl Am Viktualienmarkt | Schneider Bräuhaus München |
| Day 2 | Cotidiano Gärtnerplatz Munich / Rosi coffee & bar | Augustiner Klosterwirt GmbH | Ayinger am Platzl |
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How do you get to Munich?
Munich is easy to reach, you can do this by using the plane, public transport or your own car.
When you travel by plane, you must use the S-Bahn train when you arrive at the airport. You can use the line S1 or S8, both lines go to the center. The lines take about 45 minutes and depart every 10 minutes.
If you travel to Munich by public transport, it is best to buy a train ticket via the official railways of Germany.
If you travel to Munich by plane and you are looking for a car to rent, you can rent it through Rentalcars. We use Rentalcars when we want to travel by car to discover new destinations. They’re easy to use and book with.
When you are in other areas of Germany or Europe you can also drive to Munich. You can park your car at the accommodations we recommend.
What is the best period to visit Munich?
The answer to this question is very simple, you can visit Munich all year round. The ‘best’ period is during the Oktoberfest, which is during the last two weeks of September and the first week of October. The winter period with Christmas is also a recommended period because the Germans are fanatical with Christmas decorations, which makes the city look beautiful.
If you like to be active and want to see a lot of the city, spring, summer, and autumn are the best periods (April to October). But again Munich is fine to visit all year round, every period has its charm.
Want to see more of Germany?
Munich is located in the state of Bavaria, which is a fantastic area because of the Alps. We have made a road trip through Bavaria and recommend doing one yourself. Check our Bavaria road trip to get inspired.
From Munich you can travel to Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden or Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Füssen is the city next to the world-famous Neuschwanstein which is worth a visit. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the winter sports capital of Germany and is a great place to hike into the mountains outside the winter period. Berchtesgaden is located in the east of Bavaria and is nice because you can visit several important World War II sites here plus unique places such as Lake Königssee. Finally, you can also head north and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This is a medieval village that is arguably the most beautiful village in Germany to visit.
What do you think of Munich? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. We regularly update our articles. Would you like to help us to provide to best possible insights to help other travelers leave a comment with the latest information. Thanks!
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