The itinerary to discover the famous Bavarian city
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a European city to discover, not only for its beer and the famous Oktoberfest event, but also for its culture and architecture. It is amazing for its royal residences, immense parks, baroque churches and Bavarian folklore.
Munich has a beautiful old town that can be visited on foot if you are a good walker, otherwise the public service network is well structured. A little outside the center, there are several areas worth visiting.
Starting from the old town, the heart of Munich, we suggest an itinerary of about 8km on foot.
What to see in Munich
Maximilianeum, Isartor and Asam Church
There are many monuments to visit. To the east of the river Isar, there is the Maximilianeum, seat of the Bavarian Parliament. From there, crossing the river, you arrive at the Isartor, one of the ancient gates to the City.
It can be interesting to cross the Viktualienmarkt and appreciate its scents and flavors before arriving at the spectacular Asam Church, in rococò style. It is a true artistic jewel of the Bavarian city and an unmissable point of the itinerary.
Marienplatz and its buildings
On the way to the central square, you will see the Ruffinihaus and the Peterskirche, before arriving at the famous Marienplatz, where the Altes Rathaus and the Neus Rathaus stand. At 11:00, 12:00 and 21:00, the Glockenspiel, the carillon on the palace, offers its show to the square.
Fassade des Hirmer Stammhauses and Frauenkirche Cathedral
Moving from Marienplatz to Munich Cathedral, you will encounter the colorful and floral Fassade des Hirmer Stammhauses.
The Frauenkirche is characterized by twin towers and has a curious legend. The architec challenged the devil on the possibility of building a Cathedral without windows. The devil observed the Cathedral from the back and saw no windows until he stepped forward and discovered he had been tricked.
On windy days you can hear as a verse that seems to remind you of the devil’s anger for the deception he suffered. You can try to stand on the devil’s footprint at the bottom of the Cathedral: you won’t see any windows because they are covered by the columns.
Munich Residence
Continuing with the itinerary, we arrive at Odeonsplatz passing by the Bayerische Staatsoper Opera House.
Nearby is the entrance to the Munich Residence, which I recommend spending time in for its extraordinary and amazing rooms. It is an immensely rich palace, very decorated and influenced by different artistic currents that make it truly unique. It is an unmissable stop on your Munich itinerary.
After the visit, you can relax in the English Garden, putting your feet in the river and taking a walk or a bike ride in the immense park. Inside the park there are also those who practice surfing on the river.
Königsplatz and the museums
Moving towards Königsplatz, you will encounter the city’s various museums, such as the New and Old Munich Art Gallery, the Municipal Gallery in Lenbach House and the NS-Dokumentationszentrum München.
Schloss Nymphenburg
Outside the historical center of Munich, there is an unmissable palace: Schloss Nymphenburg. Absolutely to visit the Palace, but also the different buildings in the park are special. Also here you can take a nice walk in the green.
BMW museum, Olympic Park, Dachau
There are two other interesting areas outside of the historic center. The first is the area of the BMW building and the Olympic Park. Nearby a few kilometers away is the Dachau concentration camp.
The second is the area with Theresienwiese, Ruhmeshalle und Bavaria and St. Paul’s Church.
Also worth a visit is the Munich Zoo, Tierpark Hellabrunn.
Neuschwanstein Castle
South of Munich, about 1 hour’s drive away, is the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which became famous as the castle that inspired Disney.
Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner Brewery and typical Bavarian cuisine
While you are in the historical center of Munich, a lunch at the famous Hofbräuhaus is a must. It is one of the centers of the city’s social life, where you can enjoy traditional Bavarian cuisine and drink a beer or more. We also suggest you to go and eat in the garden of the Paulaner Brewery: the 0 km beer is exceptional!
The typical dishes of the Bavarian tradition have the central role. Among them, endless types of Wurst, Bretzel, soups, Schnitzel, pork knuckle and Knodel, bread dumplings, are must try. Munich is a City full of beauties to discover, both artistically and for the fantastic beer and the tasty Bavarian food.
