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Looking for the best things to do in Munich? We have them here!
Since we’re both beer lovers, it should come as no surprise that Munich is one of our favorite European cities! Along with world-class breweries, Munich is also home to a rich (and sometimes dark) history, beautiful architecture, specialty foods, and folksy markets.
So if you’re looking to find the top activities, this list will help you explore Munich to the fullest!
Quick Pick: Our Top Activity
Don’t have time to read the full article?
The top thing we recommend in Munich 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 4,500+ reviews for this tour and book it here.
Tip: This tour is popular, so we recommend booking well in advance.
- Quick Pick: Our Top Activity
- Best Things to Do in Munich
- 1. Learn the dark history of Dachau Concentration Camp
- 2. Tour Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace
- 3. Join the top-rated walking tour of the city
- 4. Bavarian beer and food evening tour
- 5. Tour the city on a bike
- 6. Eat your way around Viktualienmarkt
- 7. Day trip to Salzburg by train
- 8. Munich in the 3rd Reich and WWII private walking tour
- Where to Stay in Munich, Germany
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Best Things to Do in Munich
1. Learn the dark history of 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, and we booked this tour of Dachau to learn more about its history and pay our respects.
We paid €47 each for the tour, which included train and bus tickets to the site. When we arrived we met with 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 4,600+ reviews, 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.
Reserve your tour to Dachau Concentration Camp in advance here
2. Tour Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace
Bavaria is filled with fairytale castles and palaces that you can visit on this full-day Castles tour!
First, we visited Linderhof Palace, which was inspired by Versailles, which 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 every bit 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 actually is the inspiration for the Disney logo! How incredible is that?
This was such a magical day trip, and the tour made it so easy to visit these architectural wonders without any planning! The tour was very well-organized and our guide, Nancy, was a pro. It’s really no surprise this tour is popular – just check out the 6,000+ positive reviews here!
The classic version of this tour costs €72, or you can snag the premium version for €199, which includes smaller group sizes, luxury transport, and all admission fees. 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 incredible castles tour here and you’ll get FREE cancellation!
3. Join the top-rated walking tour of the city
The best way to get to know the city of Munich is to take this awesome private walking tour! It helped us get our bearings and a feel for the history and character of Munich.
We love this tour because it’s fully customizable. We were able to choose how long we wanted our tour to be, and our guide tailored it to what we were interested in. This meant that we got to stop in a lovely local beer garden for pints and pretzels, so we were very happy!
You might already have an idea of what you want to see and do in Munich, so if you let your guide know, they’ll make it happen or you can just leave it all up to them! Suggested stops include Marienplatz, Munich Toy Museum, the Frauenkirche, and the beautiful English Garden.
Wherever we go, we always love taking walking tours with local guides who can share insider secrets with us. Our guide, Naveen, not only gave us tons of great recommendations, but he also knew everything that there is to know about the city’s history. We were so impressed!
Prices for this tour start from €75 for a 2-hour tour, but prices vary by group size. We think it’s a great option for families or friends, but we did it as a couple and loved it! It’s also the top-rated walking tour in the city – read the HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews here before you book!
Book here to get your private guide and a personalized itinerary to see Munich!
4. Bavarian beer and food evening tour
Munich is the capital of Bavaria which is world-famous for its beer and food. So booking this Bavarian beer and food tour just makes sense! It’s hands down the best way to spend an evening in Munich.
We loved this tour because it delivered a quintessentially Bavarian experience. We started off with a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum to learn about Munich’s famous beer festival. Our guide, Sara, really knew her stuff, and she was super passionate about good food and good beer, so we had that in common.
Then we visited Hofbrauhaus, and I’m not kidding when I say this is the ultimate Bavarian beer hall! Sara had us rapt with crazy tales from this venue’s history, and we loved trying different local beers and bar snacks in this cavernous but cozy beer hall. Hofbrauhaus is super popular but they only take bookings for large groups, so booking this tour is the best way to ensure you’ll get to visit.
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!
This tour was so much fun, and we would definitely do it again. It costs €72, and given how much food and beer we got, we couldn’t have done it much cheaper on our own!
This food tour can sell out, so reserve your spot now!
Related Read: If you’re exploring Germany more, our list of the best activities in Berlin will come in handy!
5. Tour the city on a bike
If you’re short on time in Munich, this half-day bike tour is the best way to make the most of your time in the city. And after having tried it out for ourselves, we can also confirm that it’s a blast!
Exploring the city on two wheels allows you to cover so much more ground. Our bikes looked brand new and were very well-maintained, and our guide, Mike, was awesome. He took us to so many landmarks, including famous spots like Odeonplatz and the English Garden. But he also pointed out lesser-known local landmarks and told us some interesting local secrets.
We also loved exploring the beautiful Residenz courtyards, but what we loved the most about this tour was the hour-long stop in the Chinese Tower Beer Garden for lunch. We really got the full Munich experience on this tour! Our lunch and beers weren’t included, but the prices were reasonable, and it was so cool to visit one of Munich’s most beloved beer gardens.
The tour costs €38 per person, including bike rental, helmets, and entry to the Residenz courtyards. It’s a fun and budget-friendly way to explore the city in just a few hours!
Book this bike tour of Munich in advance for the best price!
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.
6. Eat your way around Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is the beating heart of Munich’s food scene. It started as a farmer’s market in 1807, but today it’s a mecca for gourmet goods, from Bavarian cheeses and cured meats to exotic fruit, game, and flowers. Basically, visiting Viktualienmarkt is a must while you’re in Munich!
We wanted to make the most of our visit to Viktualienmarkt, so we booked this private food tour. And boy, did we love our 3-hour deep dive into Bavaria’s best market!
Our guide, Kevin, took us to the best food stalls to try traditional delicacies and modern gourmet goodies. We ate so much, from weisswurst, aka white sausage, and schmalznudel, which is a Bavarian donut that’s even more enjoyable to eat than it is to say! Also on the menu were Viennese cakes, Bavarian ice cream, and brezenknödel, which is essentially a cross between a pretzel and a dumpling.
Kevin helped us avoid the touristy spots, and instead sample goodies from places locals like. We also got to enjoy some traditional Bavarian beer, which naturally made the tour even better!
The tour costs between €160-€250 per person, depending on the size of your group, so we especially recommend this tour for larger groups. But honestly, it’s a must for all foodies!
Book this tour here and you can pay later!
7. Day trip to Salzburg by train
Did you know that the picturesque city of Salzburg is less than 2 hours from Munich by train? We wanted to get the most out of our visit, so we took this day trip to Salzburg and it made everything so easy.
Our train tickets were organized for us and we had an in-depth guided tour of the city, which is so perfect that it almost doesn’t seem real. We felt like we had stepped right into a Disney movie!
In just one day, this tour allowed us to explore Salzburg’s highlights, from the beautiful Domkirche Cathedral to the Festung Hohensalzburg fortress that towers above the rest of the city. We even visited filming locations for The Sound of Music!
We also had 3 hours of free time to explore by ourselves, which we loved. This place is straight out of a fairytale with gorgeous architecture, and views of the Alps, so it was nice to have some time to relax, grab some food, and soak in the scenery.
Last but not least, we have to mention the price of this tour – it only cost us €79! Given that it includes train tickets to a different country and a guided tour, we were surprised by how low the price was. It’s no wonder other travelers love it too – just check out the 2,600+ reviews!
For a budget-friendly way to visit beautiful Salzburg, book this day trip here!
8. Munich in the 3rd Reich and WWII private walking tour
Munich was the birthplace of the Nazi party, and we wanted to learn more about this dark history, so we booked this private walking tour. It’s a must for history buffs.
Our guide, Taff, gave us a comprehensive overview of Munich’s Nazi history, starting with why the conditions were ripe for the birth and rise of the Nazi Party in Munich after the First World War.
As the tour progressed, Taff taught us more about the rise of Nazi Germany and what daily life in Munich was like under the regime. We visited sites where key historical events took place, such as the beer hall where the Nazi party’s program was officially announced, and another where Hitler attempted a putsch in 1923. We even stopped in for a beer.
Taff was a very friendly and charismatic guide, and the fact that this was a private tour meant that we could ask him all of our questions.
This tour is a must for anyone with even a vague interest in history, and we are so glad that we did it. It costs €320 for a group of up to six people, so the price gets cheaper per person, but we still thought it was worth it for just the two of us. It was the most interesting history lesson ever!
Book this private history tour easily here
Where to Stay in Munich, Germany
Now that you’ve figured out the best things to do in Munich, 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 Muenchen 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!
I hope our list of the best things to do in Munich has helped you plan some fun activities for your trip! This city is full of history, amazing food, and some incredible day trips. We can’t wait for our next visit and hope you have an amazing time when you visit.
Whether you’re touring Europe or looking to explore other parts of the world, check out all our blogs here. We have lots of travel inspiration and advice for destinations around the globe!
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