Things to Do in Munich

Choose from 45 Fun Things to Do in Munich

Munich Residence (Residenz München)

The former royal palace of the Bavarian monarch, the Munich Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is open to visitors to see its spectacularly adorned rooms and royal collections. The complex of buildings in the Munich Residenz contains 10 courtyards and the museum displays 130 rooms. The three main parts of the Residenz are the Königsbau, the Alte Residenz, and the Festsaalbau, which is also home to the Cuvillies Theatre.

Get a feel for palace life in the Residenz museum which features the collections of porcelain, silver, paintings, and classical antiquities amassed by the Wittelsbach monarchs. The Antiquarium's Renaissance collections is especially breath-taking. Step outside the elaborately decorated rooms to the beautiful Court Garden or check out the Treasury (Schatzkammer) for a display of the royal jewels, gold objects, and ivory.

Practical Info

Rub the noses of the giant bronze lions guarding the entrance to the palace on Residenzstrasse for wealth and good luck, like many of the other visitors to the Munich Residenz. The growth and luxury of the Residenz complex really shows off the power of the Wittelsbach dynasty as well as the cultural centrality of Munich for the Bavarian state.

ResidenzstraÃƒÂŸe 1a, Munich 80333, Germany

Open daily Apr - Oct 17: 9am - 6pm, Oct 18 - Mar: 10am - 5pm

Adults: € 9 combo ticket to Munich Residenz and Treasury

From $ 17

Bavaria Filmstadt (Bavarian Film Studio)

Movie buffs and film fanatics will be in their element at Bavaria Filmstadt, a theme park set within one of Europe's largest and most renowned film studios. Founded in 1919, the Bavarian film studio has provided the backdrop to films like The Never Ending Story and Asterix and Obelix vs. Cesar, and remains a working studio today.

With parts of the studio open to visitors, movie fans can go behind-the-scenes and discover the original sets and props from hit films and TV shows like Wolfgang Petersen's Das Boot, the highest grossing German film of all time, or beloved German soap opera Marienhof. Touring the studio offers fans the chance to unveil the secrets of movie making, learning about the film production process while wandering through the famous sets. Take a ride on the dragon Falkor from the Never Ending Story; explore the submarine from Das Boot; or check out the Viking Ship from the film "˜Vicky the Viking'. There's even the opportunity to make your own mini-film, enjoy a thrilling 4D cinema experience and watch a hair-raising live stunt show performed by the studio's top stuntmen.

Practical Info

Guided tours are about two times the price of non-guided tours. Travelers that have tight budgets should look into the self-guided tour.

Bavariafilmplatz 7, GrÃƒÂ¼nwald 82031, Germany

Mar 31 - Nov 4: 9am - 6pm. Nov 5 - Mar 23: 10am - 5pm.

Guided Tour: Adult: 27.50 EUR, Child: 21.50 EUR

From $ 34

Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)

Enclosing Munich's central square Marienplatz, the Old Town Hall, Altes Rathaus in German, serves as the center for city council activity for the historic city. The Old Town Hall is also known for its architechture style change from Baroque to Gothic after the structure was bombed during World War II.

The interior is a masterpiece of medieval design with golden stairs, decorated beams, and a frieze of Munich's multiple coats of arms. The Grand Hall is decorated with the figures of Erasmus Grasser's Marisco Dancers. The tower of the Old Town Hall is now home to the Toy museum, a childhood collection by Ivan Steiger.

Practical Info

The subway stop at Marienplatz makes it a center of pedestrian traffic, and markets often surround the area near Altes Rathaus.

Marienplatz 15, Munich 80331, Germany

Mon - Sat 10am - 5:30pm, Sun 10am - 6pm

Adults: € 2.60, Children: € .50

From $ 35

Hard Rock Cafe Munich

Munich's Hard Rock Cafe was the second to open in Germany, and the 3,000-square-foot space has hosting late night parties and live concerts with enough seating for hundreds of guests, plus plenty of standing room, since 2002.

The cafe mixes typical Bavarian elements with its modern decor and light installations. The Munich location has more than 150 exhibits on music history in its memorabilia collection, which features local artists, as well as international celebrities like Madonna and Freddie Mercury.

Along with classic American dishes like spare ribs and the famous Legendary Burgers, guests can also order dishes like the Hard Rock Pizza. Bavarian variations on certain dishes can also be found on the menu, such as in the Obatzda Burger, which is topped with Bavarian cream cheese. In addition to food, guests can enjoy a wide variety of cocktails.

Practical Info

The Hard Rock Cafe Munich is located at Platzl 1 directly across from the HofbrÃƒÂ¤uhaus. The merchandise shop is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until midnight, and the restaurant is open from noon to midnight Sunday through Thursday. It is open from noon to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Platzl 1 80331 MÃƒÂ¼nchen, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Sun-Thurs noon-midnight;Fri-Sat noon-2 a.m.

From $ 22

Jewish Museum (Jüdisches Museum)

The Jewish Museum in Munich, inaugurated in 2007, is dedicated to the city's long Jewish history and is part of the massive Jewish Center on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz. This includes a synagogue, a community center, an elementary school, an auditorium, and a kosher restaurant. The center's first stone was laid on November 9th 2003, exactly 65 years after the somber November devastation that had Munich's synagogues systematically torn down during the Holocaust "“ in fact, the actual synagogue stands over the remains of a previous synagogue. The current architecture of the center is governed by two famous forms in Judaism, namely the temple and the tent; all buildings are connected to each other through a network of inviting public passageways.

The museum itself houses temporary and permanent exhibitions across three floors and aims to provide an overview of the local Jewish history and the diversity of the Jewish identity. It explores religion, rites of passage, traditions, and annual festivals through a variety of themes and tones. The exhibits are not Holocaust-centric (although they do, inevitably, mention it) and aim to provide an in-depth look into the unfamiliar aspects of the Jewish faith through interactive and modern methods. The learning center on the top floor features extensive archives of Jewish books, music, and movies.

Practical Info

The Jewish Museum is located on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz in central Munich. It can be reached by foot from many local attractions like Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt, by S-bahn (stop Marienplatz on lines U3 and U6) as well as by tram (stop Sendlinger Tor via lines 16, 17, 18, and 27). The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm. Entry costs €6 per adult and €3 per child.

Sankt-Jakobs-Platz 16, Munich, Bavaria 80331, Germany

Open Tuesday through Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

Adults: €6; Children (6-18): €3; Children (0-6): free of charge

From $ 521