🍺 Munich: beer traditions, old town and a practical two-day route

Munich is Germany's third-largest city after Berlin and Hamburg and serves as the main gateway to Bavaria. Beer has been brewed here since at least 1328, when the Augustiner brewery opened. Traditions are taken seriously here.

In one or two days you can walk the old town, stop by the Hofbräuhaus, and decide whether it is worth going to Oktoberfest. We have put together a practical route through the center, ideas for day trips, and current prices.

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What to see in central Munich

💡 In short:

Central Munich is compact: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, and Hofbräuhaus are within a ten-minute walk of each other.
The south tower of Frauenkirche is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, on Sundays from 11:30 am (as of 09/2026, City of Munich website).

A convenient place to start is the main train station. Karlsplatz with the Karlstor gate opens the way into the old town, and from there you walk along Neuhauser Strasse, the main pedestrian street. Along the way you will pass street musicians, mimes, and carts selling Bavarian souvenirs.

On the same line stand Bürgersaalkirche, the Old Academy building, and Michaelskirche, the Church of St. Michael. The Wittelsbachs are buried in the crypt of Michaelskirche, including the "fairy-tale king" Ludwig II.

But the heart of the city is Marienplatz with the New and Old Town Halls. The square is lively at any time of day. At 11:00 and 12:00 a crowd gathers for the glockenspiel of the New Town Hall. From Marienplatz to Frauenkirche is only a couple of minutes on foot (according to the city website).

Frauenkirche was built in the late Gothic style, and its two towers with onion domes have become a symbol of Munich. Climbing the south tower opens up a panorama of the city, and on a clear day you can make out the Alps. A ticket costs €7.50, children under 7 go free (as of 09/2026, City of Munich data).

View of Marienplatz and Munich's city hall from above

Hofbräuhaus and Platzl beer square

Behind the Alter Hof, the first residence of the Bavarian dukes, lies Platzl square. Here stands Hofbräuhaus, the brewery founded in 1589 by order of Wilhelm V (official website). Today it is one of the most visited beer halls in Europe.

Facade of Hofbräuhaus with gold lettering above the entrance arches

Inside it is loud and crowded. Long oak tables, waiters carrying four steins at once, a brass band. Seats are easier to find on weekdays during the day; in the evening and on weekends the hall is packed.

Oktoberfest: dates and how to get in

Oktoberfest takes place on the Theresienwiese meadow, and in 2026 it runs from September 19 to October 4 (as of 09/2026, official website). It is the 191st festival by count.

Crowds of visitors among the Oktoberfest beer tents

© Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern · CC BY-SAPhoto: Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Entry to the grounds is free, you only pay for food and drinks. On the first day at 12:00 the lord mayor taps the first barrel, and the festival officially kicks off. The program includes the brewers' parade, tents seating several thousand people, and service until late at night.

If you want a calmer experience, come in the morning on a weekday. On weekends the tents are packed, and tables are booked months in advance. Hotels noticeably raise their prices for these dates, so look for accommodation early.

Tours and tickets on GetYourGuide help if you don't want to deal with table reservations yourself.

The Residenz, museums, and the Olympic Park

See the royal apartments at the Residenz Museum. It is Germany's largest urban palace complex. Inside, the highlights are the Ancestral Gallery, the Antiquarium, the imperial hall, and the richly decorated state rooms.

Panorama of the Munich Residenz facade with people and cars

Ticket prices are listed in the table below (as of 09/2026, official website).

Ticket	Adult	Under 18
Residenzmuseum	10 €	free
Residenz and Treasury	15 €	free
Full ticket with Cuvilliés Theatre	20 €	free

Next on the list are the City Museum with its photography and fashion museums, Bavaria Film Studios, the Olympic Park, Hellabrunn Zoo, and the BMW Museum. The last three are especially good if you're traveling with kids.

The City Museum offers free admission on holidays, so it's easy to time your visit around the calendar. The Olympic Park and Hellabrunn are a half-day outing. The BMW Museum shows the brand's history from its first engines to electric cars.

Tours and tickets in Munich

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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Day trips from Munich

From Munich you can easily cover the entire south of Germany. Regensburg sits on the Danube, and its entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Convenient trains run here, and the city itself serves as a starting point for river cruises.

Stone Bridge and cathedral in Regensburg

Munich is also a convenient base for a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, Salzburg, or Lake Chiemsee.

In the Bavarian town of Günzburg, Legoland Deutschland awaits, aimed at children and teenagers.

For traveling around Bavaria, renting a car through DiscoverCars is convenient.

What to eat in Munich

Bavarian cuisine is hearty food: fried sausages with cabbage, pork, onion tart, and dozens of types of bread. It's all traditionally washed down with a light lager called Helles.

Beer culture comes first here. The country has hundreds of breweries, and Bavarian beer is brewed under strict rules. In Munich, be sure to try Helles on tap: it's smooth and barely bitter.

The Hofbräuhaus brewery feeds tourists and locals in one hall. For a quick lunch, people stop by L'Osteria or beer halls, and for dinner in the center they head to the Koenigshof restaurant at the hotel of the same name. Mark's at the Mandarin Oriental hotel is also well known.

Shopping and souvenirs

Germany is not the cheapest country in Western Europe, but the selection in Munich is good. For budget T-shirts and basics, go to H&M and the pedestrian zones. Shoes and designer brands are concentrated on Maximilianstrasse.

Seasonal sales fall at the end of summer and the end of winter.

The best souvenir from Bavaria is a beer mug. For those, head to large shopping centers and small shops near breweries. Free guidebooks are available at the tourist information center.

Transport and tickets

Munich is connected by direct flights to many cities in Europe and around the world. The S-Bahn train runs from the airport to the center. The station is right next to the center, so from there you can walk.

High-speed trains connect Munich with Vienna, Prague, Zurich, and Berlin in just a few hours. Tickets for long-distance routes are cheaper when bought in advance, a couple of weeks ahead. Train tickets for Germany on Trip.com will help you compare options.

The center is easier to explore on foot, it's compact. Public transport uses a zone system, and tickets are valid across the metro, trams, buses, and suburban trains. A day ticket for the central zone M costs €10.10 (as of 01/2026, MVV). The metro runs until about 1 a.m., longer on weekends.

Money and payments

Germany uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but a small amount of cash comes in handy at beer halls and markets. ATMs dispense cash around the clock for Visa, Mastercard, and other international cards.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Munich?

One full day is enough for the center: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Hofbräuhaus, and the Residenz are all close together. Use a second day for museums or a trip into Bavaria. If you're planning on Oktoberfest, add another day, because the tents and crowds take more time than you'd expect.

How much does it cost to climb the Frauenkirche tower?

A ticket for the south tower costs €7.50 for adults and €5.50 for children aged 7 and up (as of 09/2026, city website). The church itself is free. The tower is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sundays from 11:30 am, with the last climb at 4:30 pm.

When does Oktoberfest take place in 2026?

The festival runs from September 19 to October 4, 2026 at Theresienwiese (as of 09/2026, festival page). Admission is free; you only pay for food and drinks. The first barrel is tapped on the first day at 12:00 pm.

How much does a ticket to the Residenz cost?

The Residenzmuseum costs €10, a combo ticket with the Treasury costs €15, and a full ticket including the Cuvilliés Theatre costs €20 (as of 09/2026, prices on the Residenz website). Children and young people under 18 get in free. Tickets are sold at the ticket office and online; in high season it's better to buy them in advance.

Is Oktoberfest worth visiting with kids?

Yes, but with some caveats. Theresienwiese is calmer during the day, and on Tuesdays there are family days with rides and non-alcoholic drinks. In the evening the tents get loud, so leave before dark. For younger children, the festival is more exhausting than interesting.

In short: what to book

Munich is great for a short trip: you can walk the compact center in a day, and in the evening you settle into a beer hall. If you have time, add a trip to the Alps or to Regensburg.

If you have two days, book a hotel in the center and don't waste time commuting. If you're going to Oktoberfest, book accommodation several months in advance. If you're traveling with kids, plan for Legoland or Hellabrunn Zoo.

Look for Munich hotels on Trip.com well in advance; prices rise quickly in season. Book a hotel in Munich.

Munich: old town, Hofbräuhaus and Oktoberfest in two days