Bavaria · München
Munich
Munich pairs Bavarian tradition with a wealthy, modern city centre and is the gateway to the Alps. Its Hauptbahnhof is a major ICE hub linking north Germany with Austria and Italy.
Highlights
Marienplatz
The central square with the New Town Hall's glockenspiel and nearby Viktualienmarkt food market.
Englischer Garten
One of the world's largest urban parks, with a surfable standing wave on the Eisbach.
Nymphenburg Palace
The former summer residence of Bavarian rulers, with extensive baroque gardens.
Deutsches Museum
One of the world's oldest and largest museums of science and technology.
Frauenkirche
The twin-domed cathedral that defines the city's skyline.
Getting there by train
Main station: München Hauptbahnhof
| From | Journey time | Typical trains |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | about 4 h | ICE |
| Frankfurt | about 3.25 h | ICE |
| Nuremberg | about 1 h | ICE |
| Stuttgart | about 2.25 h | ICE |
Source: DB timetable data (typical journey times). Checked on 1 June 2024.
Local transport
Munich's S-Bahn and U-Bahn network, run by MVV, covers the city and surrounding region. The Deutschlandticket covers local buses, trams, U-Bahn and S-Bahn in and around the city, though not long-distance ICE/IC trains.
Day trips
- Neuschwanstein Castle (about 2 h) — Bavaria's fairytale castle near Füssen, reached by regional train and bus.
- Dachau (about 25 min) — The site of the former Dachau concentration camp memorial, a short S-Bahn ride away.
Neighbourhoods
Altstadt
The walled old town around Marienplatz, ten minutes on foot from the Hauptbahnhof.
Maxvorstadt
The museum quarter — Pinakotheken, university buildings and student cafés.
Haidhausen
Quieter streets east of the Isar, near the Gasteig concert hall and Ostbahnhof.
Schwabing
Bordering the Englischer Garten, with beer gardens at the Chinesischer Turm.
Food and drink
Weisswurst with sweet mustard and a pretzel is the traditional late morning plate, and the big brewery halls serve Helles by the litre. The Viktualienmarkt is the easiest place to graze between trains.
Practical notes
- München Hbf is being rebuilt for the second S-Bahn tunnel; signage moves, so allow extra time for connections.
- Neuschwanstein needs a regional train to Füssen plus a bus, and timed castle tickets sell out — book ahead.
- Oktoberfest (late September to early October) fills trains and hotels across Bavaria.
Munich bookshelf
German-language editions worth reading before or during a stop in Munich, grouped by shelf. Each link searches Amazon for that edition so you land on the copy currently in print — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.
Romane & Literatur
- Find on Amazon →MünchenRobert Harris
A 1938 thriller set around the Munich Agreement, largely in the city centre.
- Find on Amazon →ErfolgLion Feuchtwanger
A Munich novel of the early 1920s by a writer who lived through them.
Geschichte
- Find on Amazon →München und der NationalsozialismusWinfried Nerdinger
The catalogue of the city's documentation centre on the Nazi past.
Reiseführer
- Find on Amazon →Lonely Planet Reiseführer MünchenLonely Planet
City guide covering the centre and the Alpine day trips.