Munich, Germany Travel Guide - visitor attractions

The Munich Welcome Card | A little bit of history | Central Munich | Museums and Galleries | Schloss Neuschwanstein

The Munich Welcome Card

The Munich Welcome Card is a must have for the Munich visitor. It is offered by the Munich Tourist Office and essentially combines a 3-day public transport ticket (covering all forms of public transport in Munich) with cost saving concessions to a number of tourist sites in Munich. The card will also cover your transport to and from the airport (you can buy the Welcome card at the Service Centre in both terminals).

Concessions for holders of the Munich Welcome Card include:

reductions on admission charges at museums
reductions on sightseeing tours, bicycle hire and carriage tours
reductions on admission charges at Royal palaces
reductions on admission charges at cinemas, parks, the zoo, etc

Prices for the 3 day card including travel to/from the airport as follows:

Single 3-Day Card - € 28,00
Partner 3-Day Card valid for up to 5 adults Euro 43,00

Cheaper options excluding travel to/from the airport are available - ask at the tourist office for details.

A little bit of history

It will come as no surprise to you that Munich is a very old city, rich in history, both good and bad. As you walk around Munich during your visit, you will see this rich history combined with the richness of today and the general wealth of the city. Rather than boring you with lots and lots of historical detail,we've decided to list down some key Munich dates across the ages to give you a feel for the place rather than a Phd in it! Here we go:

1158 - Munich founded by Henry the Lion

1214 - the first recorded reference to Munich as a city

1328 - Munich becomes an imperial city, a status that is retained until 1350

1504 - Munich becomes the capital of Bavaria. Current population equal to 13,500

1705 - Munich comes under Habsburg rule

1818 - Munich is the first German city to have a written constitution

1848 - Munich is considered a city of Art

1882 - electric lights introduced to the city

1901 - population grows to 500,000

1935 - The "capital of the movement"

1945 - Munich is occupied by the US army

1957 - Population rises to 1,000,000

1972 - Summer Olympics

1974 - Soccer World Cup

1985 - 175th anniversary of the world famous Oktoberfest

1994 - 500th anniversary of the Munich Cathedral

Now you're an expert on the history of Munich!

Central Munich

This is probably where you will be spending a lot of your visit. The centre of Munich is quite compact, so you will be able to explore the area on foot (which is always nice in the sunshine, not so nive in the rain....). We've listed down below some of the things in the centre that you really should see on your visit:

Karlstor - located to the east of the main train station you'll find one of the surviving city gates. One of the city's main pedestrianised street busy with shoppers and tourists runs away from Karlstor towards...
Marienplatz - you are now at the very heart of Munich. The Marienplatz is a very large square, dominated on one side by the Gothic Neues Rathaus (city hall). The Rathaus can look perhaps a little sinister, but its mood is lightened by the famous carillon, where mechnical musicians and jousting knights entertain visitors at 11:00 each day (other times are posted on the Rathaus and are subject to change). See the picture to the right of the carillon.

Frauenkirche - close by to Marienplatz lies the symbol of Munich, the Frauenkirche. The two onion topped towers dominate the skyline of Munich. Also worth a look is the church of St. Michael - check out the crypt.
Viktualienmarkt - just south of Marienplatz you'll find this cheerful food market. You'll find good quality cheeses and hams at the market in particular (matched by quality prices!).

Hofbrauhaus - no visit to Munich would be complete without a couple of beers and some sausages at the world famous Hofbrahaus. Located just to the north east of Marienplatz, you don't have far to go to enjoy a real Munich experience ("real" in terms of what visitors expect a beer hall to be like I hasten to add!!). It is a bit touristy, but you really should have a drink there. The picture to the right shows the Hofbrauhaus from the street.

Damenstiftskirche and Asamkirche - lying a short distance to the south west are two of Munich's finest churches. The Damenstiftskirche is high baroque whilst the Asamkirche is quite something in terms of rococo - an incredible interior.
Max-Joseph Platz - marks the start of some very impressives streets to the north of Marienplatz. The square itself is overlooked by the huge Corinthian columns of the Nationaltheater and the southern end of the huge Residenz.

Maximilianstrasse - a tree lined thoroughfare weel known for its high class boutiques and galleries. At the far end of the street you'll find the Maximilaneum (1874), the Bavarian parliament and Senate.

Schwabing - just to the north of Odeonplatz, this area, slightly out of the centre is well known for its numerous bars, pavement cafes, theatres and so on. This is the place to go at night.
Englischer Garten - no visit to Munich would be complete without a wander around the Enlgish Graden. This is one of the largest city parks in the world, stretching along the banks of the river Isar for 7km. The park itself is in the English style with informal areas of grass and mature woodlands. You'll share the park with cyclists, other strollers, joggers and sunbathers (the odd one nude!). There is a lake in the park with boat hire available. A popular meeting place is the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) with its great beer garden.

[Back to top]

Museums and Galleries

Munich has plenty to offer in the area of museums and galleries. We have included some highlights of what's on offer in this section:

Alte Pinakothek - specialises in paintings up to the 18th century. The alte Pinakothek is particularly famed for its works by Duerer and for its Spanish, Dutch and Italian collections.
Neue Pinakothek - just across the street from the Alte, this one specialises in late 18th and 19th century art, including French and German impressionists.

Deutsches Museum - rates as one of the best science and technology museums in the world.

BMW Museum - if you like cars this is one not to miss. Walk through the factory, view BMWs through the ages - it's great!

Nymphenburg - located in the western suburbs of the city, this is one not to miss if you have the time. It's a baroque palace surrounded by a landscaped park featuring lakes and fountains. There's plenty to see inside and outside at Nymphenburg. Opening times vary throughout the year, so check before you travel.

[Back to top]

Schloss Neuschwanstein

Located over an hours drive away to the south west of Munich lies Schloss Neuschwanstein. This is quite simply a fairy tale castle set in a fairy tale landscape. You might think you've ended up in Disney World! The castle was built by Ludwig II between 1869 and 1886. The king stayed there for 6 months, was promptly certified insane drowned shortly thereafter in the Starnberger See.

Interestingly only about a third of the building was actually completed - this will become obvious to you as you walk around the open areas. For instance the second floor is just a shell - doors open to nothing but sheer drops (don't worry you're not allowed to go anywhere near these dangerous parts). The parts of the castle that were finished and are included in the tour - about 15 rooms in total - are incredible in terms of the attention to detail and the craftmanship. For instance Ludwig's bedroom took 14 carpenters, 4 and a half years to complete!

You'll get the best view of the castle from the Marienbruecke - make sure you make the extra effort to walk there.

[Back to top]