Self guided free walking tour of Munich
I love Berlin but have always had a soft spot for Munich. I fell in love with the city on a random visit back in 2010 when I had the mission of visiting the city for just 15 hours as part of easyJet’s 15th birthday celebration. It was the last day of Oktoberfest and the city was just buzzing. I fell in love with its beautiful parks ( Munich has 5,680 acres of public parks and long established tradition of historical gardens ) , the intriguing mix of brutalist, bauhaus baroque and gothic architecture, strolling through its grand and wide boulevards and of course enjoying its rich beer garden culture.
If you are short on time and just have a day to visit Munich, this tour will allow you see all the main sights in a few hours. So, here is my self guided free walking tour of Munich. Also checkout guide to the best cheap eats in Munich
1. Head to Marienplatz and observe the Glockenspiel
Address: Marienplatz, 80331,Munich, Germany.
We start the walking tour in the absolute heart of Munich – the Marienplatz which has been the main city square since 1158. It is bordered by the Gothic spires of the New City Hall to the north, the Old City Hall to the east and since the Middle Ages, has very much been the place where all the action occurred. Tournaments and markets were hosted in the central square. Nowadays, tourists flock to view the delights of the ornate glockenspiel. Twice a day (and thrice a day in summer) (11am, noon, or 5pm) the clock comes to life and 32 life-sized characters dance to delicate chimes. The show lasts for about 15 minutes and reenacts, among other things, the love story of Duke Wilhelm V with Renata of Lorraine. Who can resist an age-old love story?
2. Climb St Peter’s Tower
Address: Rindermarkt 1, 80331,Munich, Germany.
Not far from Marienplatz, stands the 91 metre tower of St Peter’s Church. 301 steps and 14 flights of stairs up the tower will enable you to look down upon the beautiful architecture of old Munich. On a clear day you will be rewarded to views of the snow-clad Alps. St Peter’s is the oldest standing parish church in Munich (hence its name Old Peter) and apart from the view from the tower, the church interiors, including five Gothic paintings by Jan Polack and altars by Ignaz Gunther are worth noting.
Admission to the church is free of course and tickets to climb the tower are €5.
3. Residenz
Address: Residenzstrasse 1, 80333, Munich, Germany.
The north side of Marienplatz is dominated by the imposing structure of the Residenz Palace. This was the seat of power for the Wittelsbach dynasty, ruling for over 700 years. If you are willing to splurge on a ticket (7 euros) you will be treated to glimpses of the opulent Palace Treasury, the Cuvillies-Theatre, which staged the first production of Mozart’s Idomeneo opera.
4. Viktualienmarkt
It’s heading to near lunch time. What better way to celebrate it than with a pre-lunch beer in the idyllic biergarten at Viktualienmarkt? You’ll find even the locals sipping on the Weissbier. It’s the perfect way to quench your thirst whilst you indulge in a spot of people watching.
5. Beers and Lunch at Hofbrauhaus
Address: Platzl 9, 80331, Munich, Germany.
A trip to Munich would be incomplete without a visit to the famous Hofbrauhaus of Munich. It’s every bit as loud, raucous, over the top as you imagined it. Evenings are very busy, so lunch time is a better time to take in the atmosphere. The concept of the Hofbrauhaus focuses on extending the Oktoberfest celebrations to a year -long extravaganza of beer drinking, enjoyment and merriment. Although service might not be the very best, the beer is decent and you can indulge in hearty Bavarian fare and listen to an Oompah brass band to top it off.
6. Head to the Container Collective
Address: Atelierstrasse 10, 81671, Munich, Germany.
After a heady lunch, its time to make way to a creative art space with a difference called the Container Collective. Creative geniuses have converted nothing other than old shipping containers into a very cool creative space at Werksviertel, near Ostbahnhof. Many of the 27 containers are filling up. Everything from motorbike workshops to cocktail schools, to theatre performances are hosted here. Visiting the Container Collective is an invigorating experience.
7. Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinokothek der Moderne
Address: Barer Strasse 27, 80333, Munich, Germany
Top tip: Visit them each for €1 on a Sunday!
Continue in the indulgence of the Munich cultural experience with an afternoon of exhibition hopping at the Alte pinakothek/ Neue Pinakothek and Pinokothek der Moderne. The Alte Pinakothek has one of the most estimable collections of Old Master paintings in the world. German, Netherlandish, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish and Flemish paintings stand side by side. Don’t neglect seeing masterworks from Pieter Bruegel and Peter Paul Rubens. The Neue Pinakothek features 19th century art and the Pinokothek der Moderne exhibits modern art.
Top tip: Lunch at Zum Koreanear for cheap and delicious Korean food.
8. Afternoon Drinks or Flammkuchen at Cafe im Vorhoelzer Forum
Address: Arcisstrasse 21, 80333, Munich, Germany.
Highly recommended comes the flammkuchen accompanied with afternoon drinks at the Cafe im Vorhoelzer Forum. This is a laidback, simple cafe but the piece de resistance is the sweeping view from the rooftop of Munich’s architecture faculty at the Technical University. The interiors are minimalistic and the food prices reasonable.
9. Englischer Garten
Address: Englischer Garten 2, 80538, Munich, Germany.
Munich has one of the most beautiful, green parks in the whole world. The Englischer Garten is larger that New York’s Central Park and has many aspects to enjoy. It has the charm of rides on horse drawn carriages, beautiful free-flowing waterfalls, Japanese tea houses and even surfers riding a man-made ‘standing wave’. The park has greenery, beauty, relaxation and a place to escape Munich’s cityscapes. It’s the perfect place to sit and appreciate the sunset at the end of a long day.
Top tip: Grab a coffee at the Lost Weekend
10. Dinner at Augustiner Keller
Address: Arnulfstrasse 52, 80335, Munich, Germany.
Augustiner Keller is the third largest beer garden in Munich and has opened its doors to enthusiastic beer drinkers since 1812. The beer garden, like many others, has a self-serviced and serviced area. Beers are served directly from the barrel and each opening of a new barrel is greeted with a bell and much fanfare. There is no better way to appreciate the long summer evenings in Munich than by enjoying a bite to eat, along with good beer in this beer house that stays open till midnight. Plus, the option of bringing your own meal is a tremendous budget-saving option.
Where to Stay in Munich
Wombats Munich
Address: Senefelderstrasse 1, Munich, Germany.
Like its sister hostels in London, Vienna and Budapest, Wombats Munich is a fantastic place to base your Munich exploration. The hostel is conveniently located, just a stone’s throw away from the Munich main train station. The staff are congenial and welcoming and the hostel interiors are clean and bright. There is a splendid glass-roofed courtyard with real trees to relax in. There are private showers and toilets in every room. Best thing about this hostel is that it is walking distance from the Oktoberfest fair grounds. You can’t get any better than that!
Address: Senefelderstrasse 1, Munich, Germany.
