18 Best Things to Do and See in Munich
Exploring Munich on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Munich, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Munich. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Marienplatz
Marienplatz is Munich’s central square, a lively historic place that has long been a major meeting point for both locals and visitors. It offers a large urban space surrounded by striking facades, shops, cafés, and iconic buildings that give the whole area a setting that feels both monumental and vibrant. Once a market square, it remains an excellent starting point for exploring the city center, admiring Bavarian architecture, and enjoying the constant flow of activity in the heart of Bavaria’s capital.
2. Munich Olympic Park
Munich Olympic Park is a vast green and leisure area in the north of the city, known for its modern architecture and large lawns. Visitors can enjoy lakes, artificial hills, walking paths, and sports and event facilities that regularly host concerts, exhibitions, and public events. The site also offers great views over Munich and makes for a relaxing break between nature, sport, and culture. It is a popular stop for unwinding, walking, or attending an event in an iconic setting.
3. Englischer Garten
Englischer Garten in Munich is one of the city’s great urban parks and a favorite place for walking, sports and relaxing. Discover wide meadows, shaded paths, ponds and plenty of space to run, cycle or simply unwind. The park also offers pleasant viewpoints and a peaceful atmosphere, right in the heart of the city. It’s an ideal place to enjoy nature without leaving Munich.
4. Viktualienmarkt
At Viktualienmarkt, in the heart of Munich, visitors discover a lively farmers' market with stalls of fresh produce, Bavarian specialties, flowers, cheeses, meats, breads, and other regional treats. This much-loved spot for both locals and visitors offers a friendly atmosphere, ideal for tasting local flavors or taking a break with a drink. Between the colorful stalls and the bustling market scene, Viktualienmarkt reveals an authentic, food-loving side of the city, lively, popular, and unmistakably Munich.
5. BMW Museum
Located in Munich, the BMW Museum lets you discover the world of the famous car brand through a modern, immersive experience. Explore the evolution of BMW cars, motorcycles and related technologies, with iconic models, prototypes and design objects that tell the story of innovation. The visit highlights style, performance and engineering, making it a great stop for car fans and travelers looking for a distinctive museum.
6. Deutsches Museum
Deutsches Museum in Munich is one of Germany’s leading science and technology museums. Discover vast collections on science, inventions, and technology, from physics and astronomy to energy, transport, telecommunications, and medicine. The museum features original objects, models, and live demonstrations that make the visit both educational and accessible. It is a must-see for understanding the evolution of technology and sparking curiosity for the whole family.
7. BMW Welt
In Munich, BMW Welt is a large space dedicated to the BMW brand, combining showroom, exhibition venue, and tourist attraction. Its modern architecture is as impressive as the vehicles on display, from recent models to the brand’s technological innovations. Visitors can discover cars, motorcycles, and sometimes interactive displays highlighting design, mobility, and the manufacturer’s image. The site also hosts events and offers an enjoyable visit for car enthusiasts and curious travelers looking for a contemporary experience.
8. Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace in Munich is a vast Baroque complex known for its elegant architecture, historic rooms, and visiting areas connected to Bavarian history. Inside, you can discover decorated interiors, art collections, and many features that reflect princely life. The estate also invites you to stroll through landscaped gardens, canals, and pavilions, offering a peaceful break in the city. It is an ideal visit for combining culture, heritage, and a relaxing walk.
9. Karlsplatz
Karlsplatz, often called Stachus by locals, is one of Munich’s best-known squares. Located in the heart of the city, it is a lively crossing point between the historic centre, shopping streets and public transport. Visitors find a wide urban space busy at all hours, lined with shops, cafés and buildings typical of Munich architecture. The square is also appreciated for its lively atmosphere, open views and close access to many sights within walking distance.
10. Odeonsplatz
Odeonsplatz is one of Munich's most iconic squares, where monumental architecture meets the energy of city life. This large downtown esplanade links several major sights and offers beautiful views of historic buildings with imposing façades. With cafés, lively streets and elegant perspectives that highlight Munich's heritage, it is an ideal place to feel the city's charm and watch daily life unfold.
11. Bavaria Filmstadt
Bavaria Filmstadt is a film-focused attraction inside the Bavaria Film complex in Grünwald, south of Munich. The visit takes you through shooting sets, special effects and the stages of making a movie. It showcases the behind-the-scenes world of film production, scenography and studio craft, offering a clear look at one of Germany’s key audiovisual sites.
12. Sendlinger Tor
Sendlinger Tor offers a clear look at Munich’s fortified past. This former city gate, at the southern entrance to the historic center, stands out with its towers and central arch. Visiting it reveals a rare remnant of the city’s old boundaries, now set within a lively urban area. The contrast between historic stone, busy streets and nearby buildings shows Munich’s evolution from defensive stronghold to modern city.
13. Saint Peter’s Church
Saint Peter's Church is one of the oldest and most recognizable landmarks in central Munich. Located on Petersplatz, it reflects both Bavarian Catholic tradition and the continuity of the old urban fabric. Visiting the church reveals an architecture that stands out in the city skyline through its vertical presence and central location. Inside, visitors find a simple yet historically rich place of worship, where stone, altars and liturgical elements create an atmosphere shaped by local religious history. It appeals as much for its spiritual significance as for its importance in Munich's memory.
14. Residence Museum
The Residence Museum in Munich invites visitors into one of Germany’s most important princely residences. Explore grand historic rooms, ceremonial spaces, and richly decorated interiors that reveal Bavarian court life. The museum also shows how the palace evolved over time, preserving traces of different styles and uses. In this monumental setting, the visit highlights the artistic, political, and residential significance of the Residence in the center of Munich.
15. National Museum of Ethnology of Munich
The National Museum of Ethnology of Munich brings together objects and works that shed light on the diversity of world cultures through ethnography and art. Set on Maximilianstraße, it features pieces linked to everyday customs, symbolic practices, and material forms of expression. The venue also appeals for its architectural and representative status, giving the visit both a museum and heritage dimension in Munich.
16. MUCA – Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art
MUCA, the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art, offers a contemporary look at urban creativity in Munich. Discover works linked to street art, painting, sculpture, and installations in a space designed to connect different forms of modern expression. The museum showcases artists and visual languages that first emerged on the street before entering the museum world. Located at Hotterstraße 12 in the heart of Munich, it is also an easy cultural stop to add to a city visit.
17. Karlstor
Karlstor offers a clear glimpse of Munich’s fortified past in the middle of a very urban setting. Visiting it reveals a historic gate built into a major commercial and transport corridor, where traces of the old city are still visible. It appeals both for its heritage value and for the contrast between its stone structure and the lively atmosphere of Neuhauser Straße. It is a simple but striking landmark for understanding how central Munich has evolved.
18. Rathausturm
The Rathausturm offers a unique view of central Munich from the top of the Neues Rathaus. See Marienplatz from above, with its tight façades, urban rooftops, and historic center layout. The tower stands out both as a viewpoint and as part of the town hall’s neo-Gothic architecture. It helps visitors understand how this civic building shapes the public space around the city’s main square.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
