Things to Do in Munich for a Perfect Mix of Old and New

In Munich, you don’t have to pick between history and modern life. You might start your day exploring a 900-year-old palace, then spend the afternoon watching surfers catch waves in a city park.

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, set at the base of the Alps. It brings together world-class museums, lively beer halls, a great nightlife scene, and some of Europe’s most peaceful parks, all in a city that’s easy to explore on foot. Things to do in Munich range from standing in a medieval square to ziplining over an Olympic stadium. This variety is what makes Munich such a great place to visit, and we have listed it for you.

Top 10 Things to Do in Munich 

1. Watch the Glockenspiel at Marienplatz

Munich's central square has been the city's main meeting spot since 1158. The Glockenspiel on the New Town Hall tower draws crowds every day with its 15-minute show of jousting knights and dancing figures. It is one of the free things to do in Munich, happens three times daily, and never gets old.

• Best For: First-time visitors, history lovers, anyone who wants to get their bearings in the city
• Entry & Timings: Free to watch from the square; Glockenspiel plays at 11 AM and 12 PM daily, 5 PM added March to October
• Don't Miss: The Old and New Town Halls flanking the square on either side, both worth a slow look

2. Catch a River Surfer at the English Garden

This is one of the largest urban parks in the world, even bigger than New York's Central Park, and locals treat it like their backyard. The main attraction is the Eisbach wave, a standing river wave at the park's southern entrance where surfers ride all year, rain or shine, right in the middle of the city. Simply walking here is one of the best things you can do in Munich.

• Best For: Everyone; families, couples, solo travellers, people who just need to slow down
• Entry & Timings: Free entry, open all day; Chinese Tower Beer Garden open from 10 AM on sunny days
• Don't Miss: The Eisbach surfers near the Haus der Kunst entrance; it is one of Munich's most genuinely surprising sights

3. Step Inside a Royal Palace at Nymphenburg

The Bavarian royal family built Nymphenburg as a summer home, and it remains one of Germany's most impressive palace complexes. It sits on 200 acres of Baroque gardens with fountains, canals, and pavilions. Be sure to see the Gallery of Beauties inside, which has 36 portraits of women King Ludwig I considered the most beautiful in Bavaria, regardless of rank or title.

• Best For: History lovers, couples, anyone who wants the full Bavarian royal experience
• Entry & Timings: Approx. €15 for the palace; open 9 AM to 6 PM (April to mid-October), 10 AM to 4 PM (mid-October to March); gardens free in summer
• Don't Miss: The Amalienburg hunting lodge inside the grounds, a smaller Rococo gem most visitors walk straight past

4. Eat Your Way Through Viktualienmarkt

Munich's most famous open-air food market is open six days a week and is a real treat for the senses as soon as you arrive. There's an unwritten rule that Weisswurst should be eaten before noon, and locals take this tradition seriously. This is one of the most favourite thing to do in Munich for many travellers.

• Best For: Food lovers, cultural explorers, anyone wanting a genuine taste of daily Munich life
• Entry & Timings: Free entry; open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM; closed Sundays
• Don't Miss: Obatzda with a fresh Brezn at the beer garden under the chestnut trees; you can bring your own food and just buy drinks on-site

5. Spend a Morning at the Deutsches Museum

This is one of the world's largest science and technology museums, located on its own island in the Isar River. It has over 73,000 exhibits covering topics from mining history to aviation. There's also a 700-metre underground gallery showing the oldest mining technology in Europe, which most visitors miss.

• Best For: Curious travellers, families with older kids, anyone who wants something genuinely different from the palace circuit
• Entry & Timings: Approx. €15 for adults; free for children under 6; open daily 9 AM to 5 PM
• Don't Miss: The underground mining gallery and the planetarium shows; book the latter in advance

6. Explore BMW Welt for Free

This is one of the best free things to do in Munich, and it's much more than just a showroom. The futuristic double-cone building near Olympic Park displays the latest BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models, as well as concept cars. You can sit inside, explore, and watch live handover ceremonies, all for free.

• Best For: Design enthusiasts, car lovers, families looking for a free half-day activity
• Entry & Timings: Free entry; open Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM
• Don't Miss: The BMW Museum next door covers the brand's full history; approx. €10 entry and worth it

7. Zipline and Climb at the Olympic Park

Munich's 1972 Olympic complex has become a beautiful landmark, and the wavy acrylic glass stadium canopy now looks more like public art than a sports venue. You can climb the 291-metre Olympic Tower for city views, swim in the outdoor pool in summer, or try the zipline across the stadium roof if you're feeling adventurous.

• Best For: Architecture lovers, adventure seekers, families, anyone chasing a good view
• Entry & Timings: Park grounds free; Olympic Tower approx. €9; Flying Fox zipline approx. €25, book ahead
• Don't Miss: Sunset from the Olympiaberg hill inside the park, one of the best free views in the city

8. Walk Through 130 Rooms at the Munich Residenz

The Residenz is Germany's largest city palace and was the seat of Bavarian royal power for centuries. It has 130 rooms spread across ten courtyards. The Treasury holds crown jewels, ceremonial swords, and royal objects dating back to the 9th century and is worth visiting on its own.

• Best For: History buffs, architecture lovers, travellers who want to understand Munich beyond the beer halls
• Entry & Timings: Approx. €9 for palace and treasury combined; open 9 AM to 6 PM (April to October), 10 AM to 5 PM (November to March)
• Don't Miss: The Antiquarium, a 69-metre Renaissance hall covered floor-to-ceiling in frescoes and one of the oldest secular interiors in Munich

9. Drink a Maß at Hofbräuhaus

This 16th-century beer hall serves litre steins to the sound of an Oompah band in a vaulted hall, creating an experience you won't find anywhere else. Every tourist visits, and you should go at least once. For a similar atmosphere with more locals, try Augustiner Bräustuben on Landsberger Strasse.

• Best For: First-time visitors wanting the classic Munich beer hall experience
• Entry & Timings: No entry fee; open daily 9 AM to 11:30 PM; cash preferred
• Don't Miss: Ordering a Maß (full litre stein) and a plate of Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) for the full experience

10. Find the Hidden Baroque Gem on Sendlinger Strasse

Built between 1733 and 1746 as the Asam brothers' private chapel, this small church on Sendlinger Strasse was never intended for the public. Inside, you'll find floor-to-ceiling gilded Baroque decoration in a space just 9 metres wide, making it one of Munich's most extraordinary interiors.

• Best For: Art lovers, architecture enthusiasts, anyone who appreciates the unexpected
• Entry & Timings: Free entry; open daily, hours vary so check before visiting
• Don't Miss: The ceiling fresco and the reliquary of Saint Munditia, a decorated skeleton in a glass case inside the church that stops most visitors cold

Free Things to Do in Munich 

Munich is often seen as an expensive city, especially when it comes to hotels. However, many of the best things to do in Munich are completely free.

Adventurous Things to Do in Munich 

Munich has more to offer than you might expect. There are plenty of adventurous things to do in Munich that go far beyond just exploring old streets.

Surfers have been riding the Eisbach river wave in the English Garden since the 1970s, and Munich is even known as the birthplace of river surfing. If you want to try it yourself, the Jochen Schweizer Arena near Ostbahnhof has indoor wave pools with different difficulty levels for beginners.

Tribe Travel Tip: The Flying Fox zipline books out fast on summer weekends. Lock in a slot at least a day ahead. 

Things to Do in Munich at Night 

When Munich legalised all-night clubbing in 2023, the nightlife in the city has only improved since then. There are all sorts of fun things to do in Munich at night to suit every kind of mood, ranging from quiet jazz bars to industrial techno clubs which go on until sunrise.

Glockenbachviertel comes alive at night, offering cocktail bars, wine bars, and a lively, diverse crowd. Werksviertel-Mitte, set among old factories and shipping containers, is the heart of Munich’s music and arts scene.

Non-Touristy Things to Do in Munich 

After you’ve seen the main sights, there’s a whole other side of Munich to explore. These are the non-touristy things to do in Munich that locals actually spend their time on.

• Elisabethmarkt in Schwabing: This is Munich’s most peaceful and local food market. It’s much less crowded than Viktualienmarkt, but you’ll find the same high-quality produce and longtime vendors.
• Isar River banks near Flauchersteg: When the weather is warm, locals come here to sunbathe, swim in the chilly river, and barbecue. There’s no entrance fee or lines, just everyday city life.
• Werksviertel-Mitte: You’ll find art, pop-up shops, colourful street murals, and a nightlife scene that feels fresh and relaxed.
• Bahnwärter Thiel: This old railway carriage has been turned into a creative cultural space. It hosts exhibitions, events, and has a vibe that’s completely different from the busy Marienplatz.
• Michael Jackson memorial: Behind the Bayerischer Hof hotel, a statue of the 16th-century composer Orlande de Lassus has become an unexpected shrine to Michael Jackson since 2009. Fans still bring fresh flowers every day. It’s strangely touching and happened by chance.

Plan Your Munich Getaway with Holiday Tribe 

Spending five to seven days in Munich is a great choice, even before you add in easy day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle, Salzburg, or the Zugspitze, each less than 90 minutes away. Munich is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. If you rush, you might miss the things that make the city special.

Holiday Tribe’s Europe packages include your accommodation, local transfers, sightseeing plans, and help with destination planning. This way, you know what to expect when you arrive. If you want a ready-made itinerary or something tailored to your interests, our holiday advisors can help. Flights are not included by default, so you have more control over your travel budget.

Visit holidaytribe.ai to browse Europe packages or talk to a holiday advisor about creating a custom plan for Munich.