Munich Attractions: 20 Must Things to See In Munich 2023
There’s a lot to see and do in Munich, Germany’s third largest city, whether you’re there for a long weekend or want to move there. People know this green city for its beautiful parks, museums, and palaces. To help you get the most out of your trip, we’ve put together a list of things you can’t miss in Munich, from the best museums to the best views of the city.
Marienplatz
Since 1158, when it was used for markets and even tournaments, this square has been the center of the city. Today, it’s best known for its Christmas markets, which start three weeks before Christmas. The Neues Rathaus is the most important building on Marienplatz. It is 9,159 m2 (3.5 sq mi) and has more than 400 rooms. Georg Hauberrisser made it. He won a contest to make the new town hall for the city. The elaborate Glockenspiel cuckoo clock with dancing figures at 11 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. is one of its most famous features.
Theatinerkirche
The towers of the Theatinerkirche, which are yellow and 66 meters (216.5 feet) tall, can be seen from the Feldherrnhalle. A Bavarian nobleman built this Catholic church in the 1600s to give thanks for the birth of a long-awaited heir to the throne. Agostino Barelli, an Italian architect, gave it a touch of the Mediterranean with its High Baroque style. Step inside past the yellow Rococo exterior and look up at the dome 71 meters (233 feet) above you while you admire the stucco and sculptures.
Eisbachwelle
One of Munich’s favorite and most unusual things to do is surf at the edge of the Englisher Garten, near Bruderstrasse. Surfers line up on both sides of the bank as water roars out from under a small bridge. They are patiently waiting for their turn. To avoid the river walls, surfers have to jump off the bank and onto their boards and make sharp turns. This is why surf shops in Munich sell small boards with kevlar-protected edges. Even though Munich has cold winters, people ride the waves all year long, and Eisbachwelle is strangely mesmerizing.
Hofbräuhaus
When a city has a state-run beer hall, you know that beer is important there. The famous Hofbrauhaus has been around since the 1600s. It has a live brass band and is the perfect example of a German beer hall. No one will serve you if you don’t have a seat, so be prepared to charm your way onto the end of a table and share space. If you can, try to avoid Friday and Saturday nights. It can take over 45 minutes to find a table and get a beer at one of Munich’s most popular tourist spots. Instead, go on a Sunday evening to get better service and a less stressful time.
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Museum of Glyptothek
The Glyptothek is a neoclassical building that is one of the most impressive on Königsplatz. This beautiful building is said to be the only museum in the world that only shows sculptures from the past. Visitors can walk around the displays and get close to the art, which isn’t hidden behind glass but is instead out in the open. It’s not at all like a stuffy, traditional museum. Instead, it feels like an art gallery and is proud of its interesting, modern twists. For example, famous statues have been carved out of wood with a chainsaw to make modern copies. The State Collection of Antiques is in the building across the street, and you can get in with the same ticket. On Sundays, it only costs €1 to get in.
West Park
This park in the southwest of the city, about 10 minutes by U-Bahn from Marienplatz, is often overlooked by tourists, but it has so much to offer. It has a Japanese garden, a Thai temple, and in the summer, an outdoor movie theater. It also has a BBQ area by the lake. There is a beer garden and a tiny wooden hut selling spit-roasted fish (steckerlfisch) for those who don’t want to clean up the BBQ.
Residenz
The Residenz is a very nice hotel that is right outside the Odeonsplatz U-Bahn station. In 1385, it was just a small castle, but later rulers fixed it up and added to it, turning it into a grand palace and gardens. It is now a huge complex with a museum and exhibits about the history of Bavaria. It also hosts classical concerts and music competitions. It’s open every day until 5 or 6 pm, depending on the season, except for a few public holidays. Make sure to leave your bags at home or at the hotel. Bringing large bags into the Residenz is against the rules.
Bavaria Statue
Every year, the Statue of Liberty of Munich watches over the Oktoberfest grounds. The 18.5-meter-tall (60.75-foot-tall) statue stands for Bavaria. King Ludwig I put it up in 1850. It is made of bronze and weighs almost 90 tons. Because it is so big, it had to be made in several pieces. There is a spiral staircase inside the statue that leads to an observation deck. From there, you can see the whole Oktoberfest area and downtown Munich through the four holes in her helmet.
NS-Dokumentationzentrum
This museum is a reminder of a part of Munich’s history that the city tries to forget about too often. It’s more than just a collection of Nazi documents; it’s about the history of antisemitism and racism and the many ways they can show up. Its serious content is reflected in its white walls and quiet, library-like atmosphere. The exhibits are almost all text, so there are reading stools to give you a break. Take one, because you’ll probably spend more time here than you planned.
St Peter’s Church
St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche) is a well-known landmark in Munich. It stands on a hill between Rindermarkt and Marienplatz and has a great view of the city. From 56 meters (183.7 feet) up, you can see the roofs of Aldstadt and the Frauenkirche, which is the most famous building in Munich. On a clear day, people can see more than 100 km (62 miles) away, all the way to the Alps! To get to the top and see such a great view, you have to walk up a spiral staircase with 306 steps.
Müller’sches Volksbad
This beautiful Art Nouveau building on the banks of the Isar should not be missed just because it has a swimming pool. Since it opened in 1901, Müller’sches Volksbad has been a public pool, and it still only costs €4.40 (£3.75/$4.70) to swim there today. There is also a Roman steam bath and a Finnish sauna with bright lights inside. But, like a Municher, you’ll have to leave your swimsuit at the door. Saunas are a big part of German culture, and in most of them, bathing suits are not allowed.
State Collection of Egyptian Art
Even though its collection spans more than 5,000 years, this museum is proud of the fact that it presents its ancient artifacts in a way that is easy to understand. The building itself is worth seeing. It is set below ground and has bare concrete walls, large halls, and custom neon lights. It is modern and interesting, and it goes well with what is inside. People who speak German well can also go to one of their regular talks about ancient Egyptian culture.
Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace was built to mark the birth of Bavaria’s heir to the throne, Max Emanuel, and to honor his mother. It quickly became a favorite of the rulers of Bavaria because of its beautiful gardens and grand rooms. Several of them were born or died here. Not as many of the palace’s rooms are open to tourists as you might think. After you’ve seen everything inside, go outside and enjoy the formal gardens. There’s even an app that uses augmented reality to help visitors learn more about what they’re seeing.
The Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens in Munich are right next to Nymphenburg Palace. They cover more than 50 acres. In the beautiful tropical setting of the greenhouse complex, you can find everything from palm trees to terrapins. Keep an eye out for the robot that cuts the grass. In the middle of the gardens, there is a café that serves full meals, alcoholic drinks, and great ice cream. The gardens are open almost every day until early evening. They are a strangely good place to go on a rainy day, and adults only have to pay €4.50 to get in.
Frauenkirche
The two onion domes of Frauenkirche stand out the most on the skyline of Munich. It was built at the end of the 15th century, but bombs dropped during World War II badly damaged it. Since then, it has been slowly fixed up. Inside the church, you can look at the small chapels and find the grave of Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian. If the weather is clear, you can see all the way to the Alps from the top of the south tower.
The Monopteros, Englisch Garten
Even though the garden is known more for river surfing and sunbathing without clothes on than for its views, there is a Grecian-style bandstand called the Monopteros hidden in this 900-acre park. Munich is pretty flat, so King Ludwig I thought his English Garden needed a Greek temple. He built a hill 15 meters (49 feet) high out of bricks and then covered it with dirt. Today, you can look back down and see the distinctive onion domes of Frauenkirche and the city center.
Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is a bit of an understatement when it comes to how many stalls there are. It was the first food market in Munich, and it moved from the center of the city to the square between Frauenstrasse and Heiliggeist-Kirche when it got too big. Today, you can buy everything at the market, from fresh vegetables and spices to meat. It’s a great place to go for lunch. You can get anything from fresh falafel to homemade soup and a pretzel. In addition to food, you can now buy homemade toiletries and fresh flowers there.
Luitpoldpark
Even though this park is best known as the place to go tobogganing in Munich in the winter, it also has great views of the city from its hill, which is made of rubble from World War II. On a clear day, you can even see the Alps. In the middle of Luitpoldpark, instead of a traditional beer garden, there is a Mexican cantina. Are you ready to burn off those hot tacos? Join one of the city’s free “Fit im Park” classes or just get lost in the hedge maze.
Asam Church
One of the most important late-Baroque buildings in southern Germany is hidden between the buildings on Sendlingerstrasse. This small chapel is only 22 meters by 8 meters (72 feet by 26 feet), but it is full of statues and marble work with a lot of detail. From 1733 to 1746, the Asam brothers built it as their own chapel. They hoped that by doing so, they would be saved, and they could even see the altar from their house next door. The inside of the church shows their goal very clearly. The top of the church is the brightest, representing the salvation of heaven, while the pews are mostly dark, representing the salvation of earth.
Museum Brandhorst
Museum Brandhorst just opened in 2009, but it is already a well-known stop on the art museum trail in Munich. The museum is in a very modern building, but instead of being full of exhibits, it has large white walls and open galleries. Modern art stars like Damien Hirst, Joseph Beuys, and Andy Warhol have pieces in the museum’s permanent shows (including his Marilyn portrait). On Sundays, you can get in for only €1, and on Mondays, the Brandhorst is closed.
Topic: Munich Attractions: 20 Must Things to See In Munich 2023
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By: Travel Pixy
