Bavaria’s capital pairs Alpine charm with big-city energy: baroque palaces and beer gardens sit a short walk from glass-fronted BMW towers and world-class museums. Munich is also one of the best-connected rail hubs in southern Germany, making it a natural base for day trips into the Alps.
Why visit Munich
Marienplatz, the city’s medieval main square, comes alive at 11am and noon when the Glockenspiel’s mechanical figures perform above the crowds. Just north, the English Garden is one of the largest urban parks in the world, big enough to surf a standing wave on the Eisbach river in the middle of summer. History runs deep here too, from the Nymphenburg Palace grounds to the sobering Dachau memorial site on the city’s edge.
Getting to Munich by train
Munich Hauptbahnhof is a major interchange for high-speed and regional services across southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Direct trains connect it with Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Vienna in a few hours, and it’s the natural jumping-off point for shorter regional connections to Füssen and Salzburg.
Top things to do in Munich
- Watch the Glockenspiel show at Marienplatz and climb St. Peter’s Church for the best rooftop view over the old town
- Wander the English Garden and grab a beer at the Chinese Tower biergarten
- Tour the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs, right in the city centre
- Visit the BMW Museum and futuristic BMW Welt near Olympic Park
- Browse the Viktualienmarkt food market for Bavarian specialties and fresh produce
- Take a day trip to Nymphenburg Palace, a short tram ride from downtown