Museum in Munich, Germany

Tourist sit outside the Museum Brandhorst, a contemporary art museum in Munich.

Photograph by Westend61, Getty Images

Discover the Best of Munich

Ten must-do activities in Munich.

ByLaurel Robbins
July 1, 2018
4 min read

Wildlife

Head to the English Garden, located right in Munich. It's one of the world's largest urban parks with an area of 1.4 square miles. Approximately 50 to 60 different species of birds breed here enjoying the streams, trees and open meadows.

Natural Wonder

The Isar River runs through the center of Munich but originates in the Austrian Alps and is loved by locals. It offers miles of beautiful shorelines, extensive walking and cycling paths. On sunny days its shores are lined with locals enjoying a picnic or birdwatching. The more adventurous can do a rafting trip.

Archeological Site

The Roman Limes are one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Europe. They mark the former Roman boundaries that existed around 2,000 years ago consisting of forts, watchtowers and walls guarded by the Roman Empire. They stretch from the Rhine River to the Danube River near Regensburg, just 90 minutes away from Munich. They're also a UNESCO Site.

Cultural Site

Dachau Concentration Camp is a somber but important site located just 10 miles from Munich. Visitors can take a guided tour from Munich or arrange for a guide once they're there. On an entirely different note, check out both the Alte and Neue Pinakothek. They're art museums with extensive collections of major European art and 19th-century art, respectively.

Best Day Trip

One of the most popular day trips is to Neuschwanstein, the castle of the mad King Ludwig II that inspired the Disney Castle. It's also worth checking out Linderhof Palace, his only finished palace and one that's beautifully landscaped. It's possible to visit both of them in a day.

Late Night

Head to the Feierbanane, or in English, the Party Banana. It's the area between Sendlinger Tor and Maximilansplatz that's lined with clubs. You'll find everything from student specials to a posh evening out and music for all tastes. It's not uncommon for as many as 13,000 partygoers to be hanging out in this area on a weekend.

This picture was taken at Lake Oberssee in Germany. What appealed to me was the stillness of the water and its pristine untouched beauty. The water was so clear that it was unbelievable and I was even afraid to touch it so as to not disturb the peace. The water itself with the reflections almost looked like glass from one edge to another. This is one sight I will never forget in my life!
I had to beg with a security guard to get this view of one of the tents at Oktoberfest
Winter in Spessart region, Bayern, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen Germany
The gothic architecture of the Cologne Cathedral (Kolner Dom) glistens in silver right next to the gold-draped structure of the Hohenzollern bridge in Cologne, Germany.
The old town centre of Wangen in southern Germany is enclosed by a mediaeval wall with impressive clocktower gates. Many of towns buildings are decorated with painted facades that reflect their historical heritage.
This shot was taken at Potsdamer platz. I did not have a tripod so was forced to use a dirt bin to steady the camera
Sunset
Taken on a cold night in Berlin, Germany as my brother and I were admiring the incredible street art.
The Reichstag (Parliament) was destroyed by fire under suspicious circumstances in 1933. The restoration work was completed based on a design by Sir Norman Foster following the reunification of Germany. The futuristic glass dome is one of the most visited sites in Berlin.
A punt on the river Neckar in the university town of Tuebingen, in Germany, awaits collection after a long hard summer.
This man was in Bamberg, Germany. He made his instrument himself and he was a wonderful musician. He stole my heart with his passion. When I walked back through 7 hours later, he was still sitting in the same spot playing.
2711 stelai make up the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The narrow alleys on uneven ground between the stelai create a sense of disorientation and discomfort; a powerful reminder of the Holocaust.
North Sea Coast, Germany
X-mas Market, Hildesheim, December 2010
Beechforest in wintertime (Fichtelgebirge - Bavaria - Germany)
The magnificent baroque architecture of the Hofkirche, Dresden's prized icon, seems like a rocket ready to be launched, by the way it's reflected onto the Elbe river in Germany.
Neuschwanstein, Germany
The Berlin Wall's East Side Gallery is a 1.3km-long section of the wall near the center of Berlin.
Hikers at the alpine border between Germany and Austria.
The famous photograph of the streetways in Rothenburg, Germany.
Frühlingsfest Hannover Germany
This photo was taken at the highest point in Germany, Zugspitze. We were in the Alps when I decided to take this amazing photo of the mountains. I like the way the clouds navigate though the mountain range as well as the beautiful blue color scheme.
Late afternoon at the summit of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain of Germany (2.963 meters), looking southwest over the Alps to Switzerland and Italy.
Our flight out of Venice got cancelled in early January, and had to take the train 14 hours to Frankfurt. This was the first thing I saw as I stepped off the train to home.
Volkmesse, Mannheim
On the picture you can see the historic district of Passau. A city located in the south of germany.
A perfect sunset in Munich lead to this photo of a downtown fountain.
Fireworks during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Museumsuferfest in Frankfurt, Germany. Over 3 Million people visit the weekend long festival organized by the Museum District of the City along the River Main. The country featured this year was Turkey. With the second largest ethnic turkish population in Germany, the event in Frankfurt was a smashing success.
Munchen, Germany
A mother duck allows her brood to rest on her back momentarily as she swims outside Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany.
These stronghold ruins still stand today in Flossenburg, Germany, built more than 1200 years ago upon the highest hill in the area.
Munich Germany
Rothaargebirge Germany
Doner Kebap vendor Ramiz Meral selling his wares from a boat in front of the skyline of Frankfurt/Germany
The top of Germany. I took a trip around southern Germany with my German class in highschool. This was my favorite part of the entire vacation. I think I nearly got frostbite when I took this picture.
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Lake OberseeThis picture was taken at Lake Obersee in Germany. What appealed to me was the stillness of the water and its pristine untouched beauty. The water was so clear that it was unbelievable, and I was even afraid to touch it so as to not disturb the peace. The water itself with the reflections almost looked like glass from one edge to another. This is one sight I will never forget in my life!(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photograph by Vibhav Gupta, My Shot

Historic Site

Viktualien Market originated as a farmer's market in the 1800s but has become a popular market and delicatessen. You can find ingredients here that you won't find elsewhere in the city. The 140 stalls provide a wide variety to suit everyone's tastes. There's even a beer garden.

Local Quirk

Munich is home to hundreds of beer gardens each with their own unique flair. For example, the Hirschgarten is the largest beer garden in Europe with 8,000 seats and provides the opportunity to view deer as a nod to the area's former hunting grounds for royalty. There's also the Waldwirtschaft Grosshesselohe, a beer garden in the south of Munich along the Isar River that plays jazz music. The beer gardens are family friendly and many even have playgrounds.

Neighborhood to Explore

Visit Haidhausen, the French Quarter and you'll almost forget that you're in Munich as all the streets have French names. It's also one of the most beautiful areas in the city and can easily be explored on foot. Pop into the small locally owned shops and then recharge at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area.

Best Rainy Day Attraction

It might sound strange to go to a swimming pool while you're in Munich but the Müller'sches Volksbad is one of the most beautiful swimming pools in all of Europe. Its indoor art nouveau baths will make you feel like you're stepping back in time.

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