- Munich is officially recognized as the most expensive city in Germany regarding cost of living and real estate.
- The city's name derives from the Old High German 'Munichen', meaning 'by the monks', referencing the monastery that founded the settlement in the 8th century.
- Munich holds the legal status of a 'Millionendorf' or 'village of a million people', reflecting its surprisingly relaxed, small-town atmosphere despite its size.
- Bavarian law requires that traditional beer gardens must permit patrons to bring their own food, provided they purchase their drinks on-site.
- The city has a strict building height regulation that prohibits any new construction from exceeding the height of the Frauenkirche's onion domes (99 meters).
About Munich
Munich is the Bavarian state capital, defined by its blend of Alpine traditions and modern industrial engineering. Visitors can explore the extensive royal history at the Munich Residence or admire the ornate architecture of the Frauenkirche. The city uniquely integrates vast green spaces into its urban fabric, most notably through the English Garden and the sprawling Olympiapark München. Its cultural landscape is further shaped by specialized institutions like the BMW Museum and the world-class technological displays at the Deutsches Museum.
Highlights of Munich
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Parks
Explore the expansive, rolling terrain of the 1972 Olympic site that defines modern Munich's skyline.
Parks
Relax in one of the world's largest urban parks, which spans over 900 acres in the heart of the city.
Museums
View a comprehensive collection of historic automotive and aviation engineering from the iconic BMW brand.
Museums
Visit one of the world's oldest and largest museums of science and technology, featuring massive interactive exhibits.
Historical places
Tour the lavish, baroque summer residence of the former Bavarian monarchs.
Places of interest
Observe expert surfers tackling the constant, standing river wave on the Eisbach stream all year round.
Historical places
Walk through the largest urban palace in Germany to see the ornate treasury and Rococo-style theatre.
Temples
Climb the towers of this landmark cathedral for panoramic views of the city stretching toward the Alps.
Top things to do in Munich
The 571 highest-rated places in Munich, ranked by travellers.
1
Venues
The Allianz Arena is a purpose-built football stadium famous for being the first arena in the world with a full-color, i...
2
Parks
Olympiapark München is a vast recreational complex built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, characterized by its distinctive...
3
Parks
The Englischer Garten is one of the world's largest urban parks, spanning approximately 3.7 square kilometers through th...
4
Museums
The BMW Museum is a modernist architectural landmark located near the Munich Olympic Park, housed in a distinctive 'bowl...
5
Museums
The Deutsches Museum is the world's largest museum of science and technology, housing approximately 28,000 exhibited obj...
6
Historical places
Nymphenburg Palace, located in western Munich, serves as the primary Baroque summer residence for the former Bavarian mo...
7
Zoos
Hellabrunn Zoo is a geo-zoo located in a nature reserve on the Isar River, organized by geographic origin rather than ta...
8
Places of interest
The Eisbachwelle is a permanent river wave located on a man-made diversion of the Isar River, created by water flowing t...
9
Parks
Schlosspark Nymphenburg is a 200-hectare landscape park in Munich, originally designed as a formal Baroque garden by Dom...
10
Historical places
The Munich Residence served as the seat of government and primary residence for Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings from...
11
Places of interest
Odeonsplatz serves as the northern terminus of the Ludwigstraße and a central hub for Munich's neoclassical architecture...
12
Temples
The Frauenkirche, formally the Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau, serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Frei...
13
Venues
The Munich Olympic Stadium is an iconic architectural landmark defined by its sweeping, tent-like transparent canopy str...
14
Parks
Westpark is a 72-hectare landscape park in Munich, originally designed for the 1983 International Garden Exhibition (IGA...
15
Parks
Königlicher Hirschgarten is the largest beer garden in the world, capable of seating 8,000 guests simultaneously. The 40...
16
Historical places
The Olympiaturm is a 291-meter-high telecommunications tower serving as the centerpiece of the Munich Olympic Park. Cons...
17
Venues
Mathäser Filmpalast is Munich's largest multiplex cinema, featuring 14 auditoriums with a total seating capacity of appr...
18
Museums
The FC Bayern Museum is the largest club-owned museum in Germany, located inside the Allianz Arena. The exhibition cover...
19
Parks
The Hofgarten is a formal 17th-century Italian Renaissance-style garden situated in the heart of Munich, commissioned by...
20
Parks
The Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg is a 21-hectare facility housing approximately 19,600 species and subspecies of...
21
Historical places
Königsplatz is a neoclassical public square in Munich designed by Karl von Fischer and Leo von Klenze in the early 19th...
22
Historical places
The Isar Gate, or Isartor, is the eastern entrance to Munich's medieval Old Town, constructed in the early 14th century...
23
Parks
The Flaucher is a popular gravel-banked section of the Isar River in Munich, known as a primary urban recreation area. I...
24
Museums
The Pinakothek der Moderne is one of the world's largest museums for 19th- to 21st-century art, housing four independent...
25
Temples
Asamkirche, formally the St. Johann Nepomuk church, is a masterpiece of late Baroque architecture built between 1733 and...
26
Historical places
Sendlinger Tor is one of the three remaining medieval city gates that once defined the fortification perimeter of Munich...
27
Zoos
Sea Life Munich is a specialized aquarium located within the Olympiapark grounds, focusing on diverse marine and freshwa...
28
Temples
St. Michael is a Renaissance church in Munich featuring the second-largest barrel-vaulted ceiling in the world after St....
29
Amusement parks
Bavaria Filmstadt is one of the largest film studios in Europe, located in the Geiselgasteig district of Grünwald near M...
30
Temples
St. Peter's Church, known locally as Alter Peter, is Munich's oldest parish church, dating its origins to the 12th centu...
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Munich on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Munich
May through September, as the mild weather maximizes the utility of the city's vast park systems and outdoor beer garden culture.
3-4 days to balance museum visits, historical sightseeing, and outdoor leisure time.
The city features a highly efficient integrated public transit network (MVV) consisting of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses, supplemented by high walkability in the Altstadt.
Stay in the Altstadt or Lehel for immediate proximity to historic landmarks, or the Maxvorstadt area for a central location near major museums and university life.
Munich is considered an expensive city compared to the rest of Germany, particularly regarding accommodation and dining.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 571 curated attractions in and around Munich, ranked by traveller ratings.
Allianz Arena is the highest-rated place to visit in Munich right now.
The largest category is temples, with 148 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne.
Explore more of Germany
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
