15 Things to Do in Munich (Beyond the Beer Halls)

Munich is far more than Oktoberfest. Bavaria's capital pairs a walkable, storybook old town with royal palaces, world-class museums, huge green parks and the Alps within day-trip reach. Here are 15 of the best things to do - starting in the centre and working outward.

1. Watch the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz

Munich's central square is where everything begins. The neo-Gothic New Town Hall dominates one side, and twice a day - at 11am and noon, plus 5pm in summer - the Glockenspiel in its tower springs to life with 32 figures re-enacting a royal wedding and a coopers' dance. Arrive a few minutes early and look up.

2. Climb the Alter Peter for the view

For the best view in the old town, climb the roughly 300 steps up the tower of St. Peter's Church - Munich's oldest parish church, known affectionately as Alter Peter. From the top you look straight across the rooftops to the Frauenkirche and, on a clear day, the Alps on the horizon.

3. Graze your way through the Viktualienmarkt

Just south of Marienplatz, this open-air food market has traded for more than 200 years. Wander stalls of cheese, charcuterie, spices, flowers and Bavarian delicacies, then grab a seat in its small beer garden - which by tradition rotates which Munich brewery it pours.

4. Watch the surfers in the Englischer Garten

One of the largest city parks in the world - bigger than New York's Central Park - the English Garden is Munich's green heart. Walk past the Chinese Tower beer garden and the sunbathing meadows to the Eisbach, a standing river wave where wetsuited surfers ride year-round in the middle of the city.

5. Spend an evening in a beer hall

No visit is complete without an evening in a beer hall. The Hofbräuhaus is the famous one - loud, historic and full of oompah music - while locals often prefer the quieter Augustiner halls. Order a Maß, a pretzel and a plate of something roasted, and settle in.

6. Tour the Residenz

The former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs is one of Europe's great interiors: over 100 rooms of Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo splendour, plus a treasury glittering with crowns and jewels. It is vast, so give it a couple of hours.

7. Escape to Nymphenburg Palace

This sprawling Baroque summer palace, a short tram ride from the centre, was the royals' warm-weather retreat. The highlight is the Gallery of Beauties and the enormous landscaped park behind it, made for a long, slow walk.

8. Get hands-on at the Deutsches Museum

The world's largest museum of science and technology is a hands-on wonderland - aircraft, ships, mining tunnels and live experiments - spread across an island in the Isar. Ideal for a rainy day or anyone travelling with kids.

9. Lose a day in the Kunstareal

Munich's museum quarter packs the three Pinakothek galleries and more into a few walkable blocks. The Alte Pinakothek holds Old Masters, the Pinakothek der Moderne covers modern art and design - art lovers can happily disappear here for a day.

10. Marvel at BMW Welt

Even non-car-people enjoy the futuristic BMW Welt, a free showroom of gleaming machines opposite the brand's museum and its four-cylinder tower headquarters. It sits right beside the Olympic Park.

11. Climb the tower at Olympiapark

Built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, this park's sweeping tented roofs still look futuristic. Ride up the Olympic Tower for a panorama over the city to the Alps, walk the lake, or catch an open-air concert in summer.

12. Duck into the Asamkirche

Tucked between shops on a busy street, this tiny Baroque church is one of Munich's hidden jewels - built by the Asam brothers as their private chapel and crammed floor to ceiling with gold, frescoes and drama. Easy to walk past, well worth stepping into.

13. Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

The fairy-tale castle that inspired Disney sits about two hours south of Munich. Book tickets well in advance and pair it with the alpine scenery around Füssen for a full day out - it is one of the most visited sights in all of Germany.

14. Reflect at the Dachau Memorial

On the site of the first Nazi concentration camp, just outside Munich, the Dachau Memorial is a sobering but important half-day. Entry is free, and an audio guide helps you absorb the history with the weight it deserves.

15. Find the Devil's Footprint in the Frauenkirche

Munich's landmark cathedral, with its two distinctive onion-domed towers, defines the skyline. Step inside to find the legendary "Devil's Footprint" set into the entrance floor, and in summer climb a tower for one more rooftop view.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Munich?

Two to three days covers the old town, a beer hall, a museum or two and the Englischer Garten. Add a day for a Neuschwanstein or Dachau day trip.

Is Munich worth visiting outside Oktoberfest?

Absolutely. The beer gardens run all summer, the Christmas markets are magical in December, and the palaces and museums are year-round. Oktoberfest is a bonus, not the only reason to come.

Is Munich expensive?

It is one of Germany's pricier cities, but street food, beer gardens and free sights like the Englischer Garten and BMW Welt keep costs down.

How do you get around Munich?

On foot in the centre, and by an excellent U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram network for everything else. You won't need a car.