Choose from 56 Fun Things to Do in Bavaria
Chiemsee
Practical Info
German National Museum (Germanisches Nationalmuseum)
Practical Info
Hofbrauhaus
Germans' love of beer is unrivaled worldwide, and Munich is home to Bavaria's most celebrated beer hall: Hofbrauhaus. Formerly the royal brewery for the Kingdom, Hofbrauhaus is now owned by the state government and also has the second largest tent at Oktoberfest - "Hofbrau-Festzelt".
Grab a stein of their finest brew and drink with friends in the restaurant, die Schwemme (beer hall), or Biergarten (beer garden) often accompanied by live music . In case there was any doubt about how much Germans value their beer, regulars to Hofbrauhaus keep their valuable steins in a series of safes in the beer hall.
Practical Info
Visitors to Hofbrauhaus come for the socializing and party atmosphere as well as the fantastic beer. Beer plays a central role in the cultural traditions of Bavaria, and no trip to Munich would be complete without a visit to the brewery that started it all. Despite being able to serve up to 5,000 people, Hofbrauhaus' popularity often makes it difficult to get a table. Regardless, the crowds shouldn't stop anyone from grabbing their Liederhosen and singing some traditional drinking tunes!
Hofgarten
Today, the Hofgarten remains one of the city’s most tranquil spots, providing welcome respite from the sightseeing trail and making a popular picnic spot for both locals and tourists. Flanked by 19th century arched arcades, the garden retains much of its Italian Renaissance style, with colorful flowerbeds, manicured lawns and painstakingly restored water features. The gardens also benefit from their strategic location, with the lively Odeonplatz square to the west, the Royal palace to the east and the German Theatre Museum to the north, as well as featuring a café, beer garden and boules pitch.
English Garden (Englischer Garten)
- Wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking, biking, or taking part in outdoor activities.
- Most of the park’s walking trails are wheelchair accessible.
Gasteig
The exterior of the Gasteig hardly reveals the cultural center's dedication to the arts, but inside, the halls host some of the most outstanding performers that come to Munich. Home to the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, the Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Volkshochschule (education), and the municipal library, the Gasteig is a place to delight the senses and enrich the mind.
Gasteig is also the primary site for the Filmfest Munchen with concert halls that can accommodate over 2,000 people like the Philarmonie, or a more intimate setting with the 120 seats in the Black Box hall. The smaller theaters most often host renowned theater and dance troupes. The wide variety of cultural entertainment and performance at the Gasteig truly make it Munich's "Kulturzentrum".
Practical Info
The Philharmonic Hall's wood-paneled shell structure creates great acoustics for instrumental and vocal performance. But if chamber music isn't your style, there are also cafes and shops to explore in Gasteig.
Eisbach Wave (Eisbachwelle)
Practical Info
BMW Museum
- The BMW Museum is a must-see for history buffs and car enthusiasts.
- BMW World (BMW Welt) and all its facilities, including the museum and manufacturing plant, are fully wheelchair accessible.
- BMW World has five restaurants (Restaurant M1, Biker's Lodge, Copper’s, EssZimmer, and Restaurant Bavarie), which serve snacks, coffee, and meals.
Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera)
Practical Info
Hauptmarkt
Practical Info
Deutsches Museum
Famous for its interactive exhibitions, inventive displays and impressive collection of artifacts, the Deutsches Museum succeeds in its quest to make science fun and accessible to all ages and interests. Exhibitions cover topics like transport, communication, energy and natural science, with interactive elements including a series of giant musical instruments to play, model coal and salt mines, glass-blowing and paper-making demonstrations and an authentic space laboratory. There’s even a Kid’s Kingdom, where a child-sized mouse wheel and a real fire engine will keep the kids entertained.
The collection is so big it even spills over into 2 additional buildings – the nearby Verkehrszentrum houses the Transport Museum, where highlights include a series of historic tram and train wagons, and the Flugwerft Schleißheim, located at Oberschleissheim Airfield, displays the museum’s sizable collection of aircraft.
Fraueninsel
Practical Info
Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady (Frauenkirche)
- The Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady is a must-see for history buffs and first-time visitors to Munich.
- Admission to the church is free.
- The main church is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but the tower is not.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
- Visiting the Dachau memorial is an intense experience, and appropriate solemnity and respect are required on the grounds.
- While it is free to visit the memorial, booking an audio guide or a group or private tour allows for added insight and context from a tour guide.
- The site does not offer luggage storage.
- Dachau is generally wheelchair accessible, although some of the grounds are unpaved and some buildings do not have dedicated wheelchair entrances. Wheelchairs can be borrowed upon arrival.
- Some of the exhibits may not be appropriate for kids under 12; it's recommended that kids visit with an adult.
EL-DE Haus
In 1934, a jeweler by the name of Leonard Dahlen rented his shop to the National Socialist Party, better known as the Nazis. Officially, the building was repurposed as the Nazi Documentation Center, but the Nazis soon set up the shop as the headquarters of the Gestapo, the party’s secret police. Its basement made room for cells and torture stations, where a parade of the regime’s victims - Jews, Roma, homosexuals and other political enemies - were imprisoned and treated savagely for the better part of a decade. Miraculously, when most of Cologne was destroyed during the Allies’ bombardment, the EL-DE Haus remained completely intact.
Today, the building is a memorial to the victims of the Nazi’s fascist regime.
In 1981, the government opened the basement to the public and in 1987, the Nazi Documentation Center was also opened, permanently featuring an exhibit detailing life in Cologne under the National Socialist government. Part of the exhibit features the testimony of a Communist sympathizer and resistance fighter named Martha Mense, who was held for five months and interrogated there for the crime of printing anti-Hitler literature.
While the subject matter is certainly grim, the museum is one of two German museums to have won the European Heritage Association’s prestigious Best in Heritage award, a prize given only to select museums.
Practical Info
Should this museum prove to be too sobering or disturbing for some visitors, a good alternative is the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum. Its exhibits include a little bit of everything, provided everything has something to do with Cologne. Documenting Cologne's history, economy and culture over the centuries, the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum houses everything from a working-class kitchen to medieval weaponry.
Herrenchiemsee
Ludwig’s palace is a salute to an era when monarchs were both the pinnacles of power and arbiters of style. But funds ran out before he could complete Herrenchiemsee, and only the central section was completed. As well as lavishly decorated rooms – boasting the world’s largest porcelain chandelier and a replica of the Hall of Mirrors – there are also eerie bare-walled loft-like spaces. The building’s façade makes an impressive centerpiece to the extensive landscaped gardens.
Practical Info
Opening hours are dependent on boat schedules; learn more at http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/tourist/opening.htm
Feldherrnhalle
Practical Info
Bavarian Alps
- It can get cold in the mountains, even in summer, so pack plenty of layers and warm clothing for the evening hours.
- The mountain roads that connect the alpine villages can be steep and winding, so always allow extra travel time. In winter, road closures are common and cars should be equipped for driving in snow.
- Bavarian villages are great destinations for food lovers: Be sure to try dumplings (knödel), white sausages (weisswurst), noodles (spätzle), and, of course, Bavarian beer.
Allianz Arena
The 66,000-seat stadium opened in 2005 and quickly earned itself acclaim within the international football community, hosting events like the 2006 World Cup Opening Ceremony, the 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finals and the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. As well as attending home games and international matches at the stadium, fans can also tour the arena, gaining access to the dressing rooms and Players’ tunnel, as well as shopping for merchandise in the Allianz and FC Bayern shops.