Bavaria's capital, and its most comfortable city: beer halls and gardens, a park bigger than the centre, serious galleries, and the Alps close enough for a day.
Free things to do
Free
Explore Marienplatz and watch the Glockenspiel
The Rathaus carillon turns at 11 and 12, and at 5pm from March to October — eleven minutes of jousting knights and coopers' dance. Watch from the Fischbrunnen side.
Free
Watch the Eisbach river surfers
Standing wave in the English Garden — surfers year-round.
Free
Nymphenburg Palace Park
The park, canals and lakes are free and open till dusk; the palace rooms and the Amalienburg hunting lodge are the ticketed part. Tram 17 to the gates.
Where to stay
from $91
MEININGER Munich Olympiapark
Private room · per night
from $38
Wombat's City Hostel Munich Werksviertel
Dorm bed · per night
from $81
Hotel Schmellergarten
Private room · per night
from $42
Jaeger's Munich
Dorm bed · per night
Trips that take it in
Europe · 18 days · loop · 4 nights in Munich
The Bohemian Line
Munich → Prague → Vienna → Budapest → Munich
$950
plus flights · Dec 2026 dates