Attractions in Munich

Nymphenburg Palace is a Baroque summer residence begun in 1664 as a gift from Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife Henriette Adelaide after the birth of their heir. The 200-hectare park behind includes four garden pavilions, a canal, and the famous Porcelain Manufactory.

The twin onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche define Munich's skyline—by local decree, no building in the city centre may exceed their 99-metre height. This late-Gothic brick cathedral, completed in just 20 years (1468–1488), seats 20,000.

Marienplatz has been Munich's central square since 1158, when Henry the Lion founded the city. The square serves as the crossroads of the pedestrian zone and the heart of public life—markets, festivals, and celebrations all converge here beneath the towering Mariensäule (Column of the Virgin).

Founded in 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V to brew beer for the Bavarian court, the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is the world's most famous beer hall. The ground-floor Schwemme seats 1,300 beneath painted vaults, with oompah bands playing nightly.

Odeonsplatz is Munich's most Italianate square, framed by the Theatinerkirche, the Feldherrnhalle (a copy of Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi), and the entrance to the Hofgarten. It's both a grand civic stage and a key waypoint connecting the Residenz to Schwabing.

Königsplatz is Munich's neoclassical showpiece—three Greek-temple-style buildings arranged around a vast open square, designed by Leo von Klenze under Ludwig I to create an 'Athens on the Isar'. Today it hosts the Glyptothek and the Antikensammlungen.

Munich's New Town Hall is a neo-Gothic masterpiece stretching 100 metres along the north side of Marienplatz. Built between 1867 and 1909 by Georg von Hauberrisser, it houses the city council chambers and a tower with a viewing platform at 85 metres.

Sendlinger Tor is one of three surviving medieval gates of Munich's city fortifications, standing at the southern entrance to the pedestrian zone. The neo-Gothic triple-arched gate from 1318 anchors a busy intersection and the southern end of Sendlinger Straße.

Karlsplatz—universally called Stachus by locals—is the gateway to Munich's pedestrian zone, marked by the arched Karlstor gate and a large circular fountain. The square is a transit hub and a lively meeting point for shoppers and commuters.

The Asamkirche is a tiny Late Baroque jewel box on Sendlinger Straße, privately built by the Asam brothers next to their own home. Barely 8 metres wide, its interior explodes with gilded stucco, ceiling frescoes, and theatrical lighting—an immersive religious experience on a miniature scale.

The Theatinerkirche (St. Cajetan's) dominates Odeonsplatz with its mustard-yellow Italian Baroque facade and twin towers. Inside, the white stucco interior is a masterclass in restrained High Baroque elegance—no gilding, just pure sculptural plasterwork.

The Chinese Tower is a 25-metre wooden pagoda in the English Garden surrounded by Munich's second-largest beer garden (7,000 seats). Built in 1790, it serves as the park's social anchor—brass bands play from its balconies on summer Sundays.