Visiting Munich in 3 Days: The Complete Itinerary

Three days in Munich split cleanly into a rhythm: the Old Town and a first evening in a beer hall, the picture galleries followed by the English Garden the next day, and a finish that’s either Nymphenburg Palace and the Olympic Park or a day trip to Neuschwanstein. Day one strings together Marienplatz, the Alter Peter tower, the Frauenkirche and the Viktualienmarkt before moving on to the Residenz. Day two starts with old masters in the morning and ends with the surfers of the English Garden in the afternoon. Budget 100 to 140 euros per person per day, excluding flights; book Neuschwanstein several weeks out, and grab a day travel ticket straight away, around 9.50 euros: the MVV network covers everywhere that matters.

Munich plays in a different league to the postcard image of Bavaria it’s often reduced to: it’s a major art city (the picture galleries rival the Louvre on old master painting), a green capital crossed by the River Isar, and yes, also the home of beer halls with an atmosphere all their own. You can get there in around 1 hour 30 minutes by air from Paris, Lyon or Nantes, or by direct train from Paris in roughly 5 hours 45 minutes. Here’s a three day itinerary built district by district, so you can move from one stop to the next without zigzagging across town.

Day 1: the Old Town, from Marienplatz to the Residenz

Morning: Marienplatz, the Alter Peter and the Frauenkirche

Start at Marienplatz, the beating heart of the city, overlooked by the neo-Gothic facade of the New Town Hall. At 11am and noon (plus 5pm from March to October), its Glockenspiel brings the square to life with life-size mechanical figures: the show lasts around ten minutes, so stand on the Marienhof side to avoid the crush. Just behind it, climb the 306 steps of the Alter Peter, the tower of St Peter’s Church (5 euros): it’s the best view over the red rooftops, the domes of the Frauenkirche and, on a clear foehn day, the Alps.

Carry on to the Cathedral of Our Lady, the famous Frauenkirche: entry is free, and the legend of the devil’s footprint in the entrance hall is worth the two minute detour. Heading back down towards Sendlinger Strasse, push open the door of the Asamkirche, a tiny Baroque church with wonderfully over-the-top decoration, also free to visit. For lunch, head to the Viktualienmarkt (closed on Sundays): a historic food market with speciality stalls and a central beer garden where you can sit down to a Weisswurst, a pretzel and a beer straight from the barrel.

Afternoon: the Residenz, Odeonsplatz and an evening in a beer hall

In the afternoon, visit the Munich Residenz, the Wittelsbachs’ city palace: 130 rooms, including the Antiquarium, a 66 metre vaulted Renaissance hall that leaves you speechless. Entry costs around 10 euros, or about 17 euros for a combined ticket with the treasury and its crowns. Don’t try to see everything: two well-spent hours are enough. Once outside, Odeonsplatz lines up the saffron-yellow Theatinerkirche and the Feldherrnhalle loggia, before the tree-lined paths of the Hofgarten.

In the evening, a beer hall is compulsory. The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is touristy, but the Bavarian band, the communal tables and the Maß (the litre stein, around 10.50 euros) make it a rite of passage worth embracing. For a more local spot, the Augustiner am Dom serves the best beer in town, just steps from the cathedral.

Day 2: masterpieces in the morning, the English Garden in the afternoon

Morning: the Kunstareal and the picture galleries

Head to Maxvorstadt, the museum district. The Alte Pinakothek brings together Dürer (his mesmerising 1500 self-portrait), Rubens, Rembrandt and the Flemish primitives: 9 euros entry, just 1 euro on Sundays like most museums in the area. If you prefer the twentieth century, the Pinakothek der Moderne (10 euros) brings modern art, design and architecture together under one roof. Pick just one and take your time: trying to fit in two picture galleries in one morning is a recipe for indigestion.

Afternoon: the English Garden, from surfers to the Chinese Tower

Next, head to the Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world: 375 hectares, bigger than Central Park. Go in from the south, behind the Haus der Kunst: that’s where surfers pull off tricks on the Eisbach wave, all year round, even in the depths of winter. It’s free to watch and surprisingly addictive. Then walk up to the Monopteros for the skyline view, before taking a break at the Chinese Tower beer garden, with room for 7,000 people under the chestnut trees.

In the evening, two moods to choose from: Schwabing, the former bohemian quarter with its smart cafes north of the park, or the Glockenbachviertel, more alternative, for bars and creative small plates south of the Old Town.

Day 3: Nymphenburg and the Olympic Park, or a day trip to Neuschwanstein

Option A: Nymphenburg Palace, then the Olympic Park

Tram 17 links the city centre to Nymphenburg Palace in around twenty minutes. The Wittelsbachs’ summer residence, it houses the Steinerner Saal (a frescoed Rococo ballroom) and the Gallery of Beauties commissioned by Ludwig I. Entry costs around 10 euros for the palace, about 15 euros for the full ticket including the park pavilions, among them the Amalienburg and its extraordinary Hall of Mirrors. The park itself is free and is almost worth the trip on its own.

In the afternoon, head to the Olympic Park, built for the 1972 Games: the tensile plexiglass roofs are still a statement of architecture, and the Olympiaberg mound offers a free view over the city and the Alps. Right opposite, BMW Welt is free to walk around (the neighbouring BMW Museum costs 10 euros): even if you’re not a car enthusiast, the building alone is worth the detour.

Option B: a full day at Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle, the one that inspired Disney, takes some effort to reach: around 2 hours by train to Füssen, then a 10 minute bus ride to Hohenschwangau. Tickets (around 23.50 euros) must be booked online for a fixed time slot, several weeks ahead in high season; without one, you’ll only see the outside. The view from the Marienbrücke bridge justifies the trip on its own. Good tip: the Bayern-Ticket (around 30 euros a day, cheaper per person in a group) covers the whole journey by regional train plus the bus.

Practical tips for a great city break in Munich

Fancy a full rundown of what Munich has to offer beyond these three days? Our overview of what to do in Munich ranks the best of the city by theme. To plan your trip hour by hour, take a look at our guide to organising a city break with AI, and get your spending under control before you leave with our tips on estimating and tracking your travel budget.