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Ready to plan an epic trip to Munich? Let’s get started!
This vibrant Bavarian city is the perfect destination for a short getaway, offering a captivating mix of history, culture, and mouthwatering food. And we promise, when you know what to do, three days in Munich is plenty of time to experience the best of everything the city has to offer.
How do we know? Because we fell in love with Munich the moment we arrived and keep coming back for more! We’ve crafted the ultimate 3-day itinerary so you can make the most of your time in this incredible city. Keep reading to discover Munich like a local!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE Munich experience is this in-depth tour of Dachau Concentration Camp. Our guide was excellent as we learned the somber history of this place. Train and bus tickets were included, and it was a day we will always remember.
Check out the 4,800+ reviews for this tour and book it here.
Day 1
Breakfast – Cafe & Bäckerei Mauerer
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Café & Bäckerei Mauerer, a cozy bakery known for its fresh bread and cold meats. This is where we found the best cappuccino that we had in Munich, and we paired it with savory arugula cheese muffins and pastries. It’s really the perfect place to fill up before a busy day exploring Munich.
Morning – Walking tour of Munich
Day one is all about getting the lay of the land, so book this private walking tour! We suggest booking the 4-hour option and starting at 8 am so that you really get to make the most of your time in Munich. You can even set the meeting point at Café & Bäckerei Mauerer – how convenient is that?
What we love about this tour is that it’s totally customizable! After booking, we filled out a short questionnaire, and our guide tailored the whole experience to our interests.
We loved this tour because we got to see all of the classic sights, including Frauenkirche with its iconic twin domes, the bustling Marienplatz with its famous Glockenspiel, and the peaceful English Garden where we caught surfers riding the Eisbach wave. We also popped by the Hofbräuhaus, which is one of Munich’s oldest beer halls!
This tour felt so personal and engaging, and we really appreciated the flexibility. It was the ideal way to get to know Berlin, and booking a private tour meant that we got to see the highlights and hidden gems without being rushed or stuck in a big tourist group. And you don’t just have to take our word for it, because you can read hundreds of rave reviews right here!
Book your private walking tour of Munich here with free cancellation!
Lunch – Viktualienmarkt
The walking tour often visits the bustling Viktualienmarkt, but it’s worth heading back for lunch. We love this place because it has such a wide variety of food stalls, from fresh Bavarian specialties to diverse international flavors. We went local and filled our boots with hearty pretzels and weisswurst, but there truly is something for everyone here, and the lively atmosphere is always enjoyable.
Afternoon – Visit the Munich Residence and Treasury
Visiting the Munich Residence and Treasury is a must! It’s the largest city palace in Germany, and it’s a huge, sprawling complex with ten courtyards and 130 rooms, all of which are just brimming with Bavarian history. Oh, and it’s just a 10-minute walk from Viktualienmarkt.
We had so much fun exploring, so it’s definitely worth a few hours of your time and the €15 entry fee. You can buy tickets in person on the day, or grab them online!
The residence has three main sections: Königsbau, Alte Residenz, and Festsaalbau. They’re all packed with architectural wonders and ornate room decorations. Our favorite was the Cuvilliés Theatre in the Festsaalbau section. Seeing the former royal stables and Court Riding School was also super interesting!
We recommend allocating a few hours to fully appreciate the grandeur of this historical site. The Munich Residence and Treasury is a must-visit for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the city’s royal past. It’s an immersive experience that gives you a taste of the history, culture, and art that once defined Bavarian royalty.
Climb to the top of St. Peter’s Church
St Peter (also known as Alter Peter) is about 10 minutes from the Munich Residence and Treasury on foot. This morning’s walking tour does pass by here, but if you find yourself with some extra time, why not head back and go right to the top of this gorgeous, historic church?
You’ll need to pay €5 to climb up, and there are around 300 steps. We thought the climb was well worth it – I mean, just look at the rooftop views of Munich! It gave us an even greater appreciation for this historic and architecturally stunning city, and there are few places in the city to get a view like this.
Dinner – Hofbräuhaus
After Alter Peter, it’s only a 5-minute walk to tonight’s traditional Bavarian dinner spot: Hofbraühaus! It’s one of Munich’s most famous beer halls, and it’s always buzzing with energy. We can never get enough of the live music, communal tables, and traditional décor – it feels like a never-ending Oktoberfest celebration, and it’s a great spot to meet new people. We highly recommend the roasted pork and some of their yummy soft pretzels to soak up all the beer with.
Related Read: Traveling to Berlin? Check out our 3-day Berlin itinerary to see the top sights in the easiest way possible!
Day 2
Breakfast – Near your hotel
Since you have two different tour options today, it’s best to grab breakfast at a local spot near your hotel. Keep in mind that most breakfast restaurants in Munich don’t open until 9 or 10 am, so you may need to find a coffee shop or pick up some snacks the night before to ensure you’re ready in time for your tour.
Option 1: Half-day tour to Dachau Concentration Camp
The name “Munich” conjures images of beer festivals and food markets, but there’s also a much darker side to the city’s history. Not far from the city center is the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
This was the first and longest-running Nazi concentration camp. Booking this tour of Dachau is a powerful way to learn more about its history and pay your respects to those who suffered here.
The tour leaves at 9 am and includes train and bus tickets to the site. We met our group in central Munich and traveled to Dachau together, where we found our guide, Eric, who gave us a comprehensive 3-hour tour.
Eric took us to different types of torture cells, as well as the bunkers where the prisoners slept, and guard towers. We also saw the camp’s gas chamber, although, as Eric explained, there is debate on how much this was used. Dachau was not designed to be a death camp, like Auschwitz, although due to the brutal conditions and hard labor, around 20,000 prisoners died here during its operation.
We think visiting Dachau on this tour is a must for everyone who comes to Munich. It has 4,800+ reviews (see them all here!), so you can be confident in booking. It was a sobering reminder of one of the darkest chapters of human history, and we learned so much more than we ever could have from a textbook. You should get back to Munich by about 2 pm, ready for some light-hearted activities to lift your mood.
Book this popular tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
Afternoon – Alte Pinakothek Art Museum
The tour to Dachau will return to Munich by mid-afternoon if you choose the morning departure time. That leaves the afternoon free for more exploring, and we found visiting one of Munich’s famous art museums to be the perfect activity after such a heavy morning.
The Alte Pinakothek is home to an incredible collection of European masterpieces from the 14th to 18th centuries. We spent a very agreeable afternoon here admiring works by legends like Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Raphael. It’s a must-visit for art lovers!
The museum itself is stunning, with grand halls that make the experience even more immersive. Standard entry costs €9, or €12 if you want to see the current special exhibition.
Option 2: Full-day tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace
If you’d prefer a more light-hearted and fairytale-esque way to spend your second day in Munich, then we highly recommend this full-day castles tour! It departs from central Munich at 8:30 am and gets you back at around 7 pm, so it’s a long day, but we promise it’s totally worth it.
First up, we visited Linderhof Palace, which was inspired by Versailles. That should give you some idea of how extravagant it is! Since we booked the premium version of the tour, we also got a guided visit inside the castle. It was just as beautiful as you would imagine!
Then, we stopped in the fairytale-esque village of Oberammergau, which is famous for its woodcarvers and beautifully painted houses. I think the village itself felt like it belonged in a Disney movie. Speaking of which, the tour also visits Neuschwanstein Castle, which is actually the inspiration for the Disney logo! It’s really no surprise this tour is popular – just check out the 6,000+ positive reviews here!
This was such a magical day trip, and the tour made it so easy to visit these architectural wonders without any planning! It would have been a headache to plan it all on our own, but thanks to this tour, all we had to do was turn up and enjoy the experience. The standard tour is an awesome option for those on a budget, but we highly recommend doing the premium one if you can!
Book this top-rated castle tour here to secure your spot!
Dinner – Augustiner Klosterwirt
Augustiner Klosterwirt is the perfect spot for a traditional Bavarian dinner! The food is hearty and full of flavor. We recommend ordering “the German Plate” so that you get to try a bit of everything. The pork knuckle is delicious, too, although there are plenty of vegetarian options available. And, most importantly, there are plenty of great local beers on the menu!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Day 3
Breakfast – Tante Emma Cafe
We love having breakfast at Tante Emma Cafe, especially when it’s sunny and we can sit outside on the terrace. The homemade focaccia is delicious, or the creamy yogurt with fruit is perfect if you’re looking for a lighter bite. It’s reasonably priced, too!
Morning – BMW Museum and Olympic Park
BMW Museum and Welt
BMW originates from Bavaria, and the company is still based here today. So whether you’re a car enthusiast or just curious about the local culture, visiting the BMW Museum and Welt is a must. We really enjoyed the sense of local pride and innovation here!
Tickets for the museum cost €14 per person. The exhibits take you through BMW’s history, from its early days to its most groundbreaking models. It’s so interesting to see the prototypes and design concepts for some of the company’s most legendary cars, as well as the finished products themselves!
Right across the street is BMW Welt, an exhibition space where you can check out the latest BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models up close. The futuristic architecture alone is worth seeing, and we even saw a customer picking up their brand-new BMW in the grand showroom! Best of all, admission is free, so it’s an easy addition to your itinerary. We recommend planning to spend 2-3 hours at the museum and the Welt, depending on how into cars you are.
Olympic Park
Munich’s Olympic Park is so much fun to visit! As the name suggests, it was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, and it remains a hub for sports, culture, and entertainment to this day. It’s also right next to the BMW Welt and Museum, which is super convenient.
How much time you spend here depends on what you want to do. If you’re in the mood for a leisurely visit, a simple stroll through the park is a great way to take in the beautiful green spaces and Olympic Lake. For those looking for a bit more action, you can go for a swim at the Olympic swimming hall, try rowing, or even test out the sauna. Sports lovers will find plenty of options, from tennis to Nordic walking.
Our favorite thing to do is head up to the Olympic Tower for an unforgettable panoramic view of the city. It’s almost 300 meters (985 ft) high, but unfortunately, it’s closed until summer 2026!
Lunch – Bayerischer Hof Roof Terrace
The food at Bayerischer Hof Roof Terrace is great, but the real draw is the breathtaking views of Munich’s city center. We loved relaxing up here and admiring the city’s spires and beautiful buildings as we enjoyed lunch, coffee, and a cocktail – when on vacation, right? It’s definitely one of Munich’s top photo spots, and the perfect place to treat yourself.
Afternoon – Visit museums or palaces
Munich is home to lots of excellent cultural sites, including top-notch museums and fascinating palaces. If you visited Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace yesterday, then you can head to Alte Pinakothek this afternoon. But if you ticked that off yesterday, no worries, because there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from today.
- The Nymphenburg Palace – a stunning Baroque palace that was once the summer residence of Bavarian monarchs. It features lavish rooms, including the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, and beautiful gardens which we love to explore on a sunny day. Entry costs €10 per person, or €16 – €20 if you want to see the Park Palaces and the magnificent collection of royal carriages in the Marstallmuseum.
- Deutsches Museum – This is the perfect choice for science and technology enthusiasts. We had so much fun checking out its exhibits, which cover everything from space travel to historic machinery. A day ticket costs €15.
- Pinakothek der Moderne – One for the art lovers! This museum showcases cutting-edge works from 20th and 21st century artists.
- Beer and Oktoberfest Museum – As a beer lover, the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum was a must-visit for me! This quirky building takes you through the fascinating history of brewing, particularly in Bavaria. With four floors dedicated to all things beer, you’ll learn about the origins of Oktoberfest and even see the oldest known beer recipe before wrapping up the experience with a cold one. Just note that a visit here is included in the dinner activity below, so make sure you skip it if you have the tour booked!
Dinner – Enjoy a beer and food tour
After a day of culture and museums, it’s time to kick back and unwind on your last night in Munich with this Bavarian beer and food tour! We had such a blast on this tour and met some really fun people. Plus, given how much food and beer we got, we couldn’t have done it much cheaper on our own!
You can book this tour for either 5 or 6 pm, so just choose whichever time suits you better. It’s worth noting that the tour doesn’t run on Sundays, so you might need to rejig the itinerary a little if that’s when your third day in Munich happens to be. The tour also usually sells out a couple of weeks in advance, so don’t wait too long to book!
The tour kicks off with a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum to learn about Munich’s famous beer festival before heading to the iconic Hofbrauhaus. Now, you may have already visited on day one, but trust me, you can never get enough of this famous beer hall! Plus, going with a guide is so much better. Our guide, Sara, had us rapt with crazy tales from this venue’s history, and we loved trying the different local beers and bar snacks.
Then, Sara took us to Hackerhaus, a traditional local restaurant that was first used as a brewery back in 1147! Here, we enjoyed yet more beer, as well as a huge meal consisting of lots of meat, cheese, sausage, and giant pretzels. It was just what we needed to soak up all of the beer, and the perfect way to round off an epic trip to Munich!
Book your food and beer tour here before it sells out!
Related Read: If you need more activities to fill your itinerary, check out our 8 favorite things to do in Munich!
Where to Stay in Munich
Now that you have the perfect three days planned out, you need somewhere comfortable to stay. You won’t have trouble finding accommodation that checks all the boxes – in fact, there are too many choices! That’s why I’ve narrowed down my top three options for those looking for a luxury, mid-range, or budget stay.
Luxury – $$$
If you’re looking for an elegant stay in an ideal location, the Platzl Hotel – Superior is my top pick. This hotel is known for its upscale suite-style rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows and ornate design, and they also offer smaller standard room options. I love the 16th-century style restaurant, and that they home-brewed beers for an authentic Bavarian feel.
Rooms start around €400 and go up. Check the prices and book this stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
Conveniently located near Munich Main Station, the NH Collection München Bavaria is a comfortable stay for a mid-budget traveler. The rooms are modern in design and offer rooms with city views, a terrace, or a basic room. You can enjoy the onsite fitness center, restaurant, and bar, or hop on the train and easily travel around Munich.
Rooms range from around €240 to €360 and can be booked on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Leonardo Hotel & Residenz München is a comfortable hotel with budget-friendly options. They offer double or twin rooms, and have an onsite gym, a restaurant, and even a spa! It’s only a few train stops from downtown, so it’s in a pretty convenient location too.
Prices start at €86 per night and can be booked on Booking.com.
For more options, see all of the hotels in Munich here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Munich is such a fun city to explore, and we think these three days hit the best of the best! We loved visiting museums, eating all the yummy food, and gawking at the stunning architecture. It’s truly a unique city, and if you follow this itinerary, you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!
Before you go, check out our other Europe blogs! We’ve traveled all over and love sharing our favorite places and experiences with fellow adventurers. Here are a few related blogs to help you plan your next getaway:
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