Weekend in Munich: history, culture and Bavarian flavours

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 8 September 2024

Over the long Easter weekend, we went on a trip to Germany, and more specifically we chose to visit Munich, the capital of Bavaria. This was a big first for me, as I’d never been to Germany (apart from border towns like Constance and Friedrichshafen).

So, before this weekend, when I thought of Munich, I immediately thought of the Oktoberfest beer festival and sauerkraut, but I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of heritage and architecture.

And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised, as Munich is a city rich in history, culture and things to do. So, in this article, I offer you a small selection of things to see and do in Munich for a weekend.

At the end of the article, Kiki, who drank her first mass (liter mug of beer), gives you her opinion on her stay in Munich.

Visit Munich’s Old Town

Munich’s Old Town (Altstadt) is the city’s historic heart. It’s very busy, especially at weekends. Unfortunately, as in many cities, there was a lot of construction work going on when we visited. However, we loved discovering it. Here’s a look back at the must-sees in Munich’s Old Town.

Marienplatz

Our tour of Munich’s old town begins at the famous Marienplatz. This central square is surrounded by historic buildings.

In addition, there are numerous shopping streets around Marienplatz. Don’t miss the Lego store and the Bayern Munich fan stores.

If you’re visiting Munich, Marienplatz is a must. Indeed, its narrow streets and colorful buildings give it a truly picturesque and charming atmosphere.

New town hall

The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) is Munich’s landmark building on Marienplatz. It was built at the end of the 19th century in neo-Gothic style. Today, it is the seat of Munich’s municipal government and houses numerous administrative and political offices.

You have to go at 11am, 12pm and 5pm (March to October). On two floors, you’ll see automata depicting historical figures come to life to the sound of chimes for 15 minutes. A must-see in Munich!

Please note: if you go to Munich over Easter weekend, all the stores are closed on Friday. Even the carillon hasn’t rung yet.

You can also climb to the top of the 80-meter-high clock tower of the new town hall. Take the first elevator to the fourth floor. Then a second to the ninth floor.

You’ll have a magnificent panoramic view of Munich’s Old Town and the Bavarian Alps in the distance. Even on an overcast day, it’s a must-do.

Tickets can be purchased at the tourist office next door. However, if like us, you want to avoid the queue, go to the elevator level, where you’ll find a link to the website where you can buy your tickets online. This will give you a slot to go up the clock tower. Tickets cost €6.50 per person.

St Peter’s Church

You can also climb up to Saint Peter’s Church and admire the view over the rooftops of the old town. You’ll need to climb 299 steps to reach the 91-metre bell tower.

Visit the Munich Residence

The Munich Residence (Residenz) is a Baroque palace in downtown Munich. It was built in the 17th century as the official residence of the first dukes, electors and kings of Bavaria.

Today, the Residence is a museum housing a large collection of art objects, furniture and jewelry, with over 130 rooms to visit. The museum also includes the court chapel, throne room and banqueting hall, all richly decorated with frescoes, sculptures and gilding. What’s more, you can also visit the Residence gardens, which are adorned with fountains and sculptures.

The porcelain collection is truly impressive, as are the bronze statues. Finally, you can visit the Cuvillier Theatre.

Practical tips for visiting the Munich Residence

We recommend you take the audio guide to visit the Munich Residence. And come early, as the queue for the audio guide is very long indeed.

We also recommend a combined ticket with a visit to the palace, the treasury and the theater.

The site is immense. It takes a good 3 hours if you listen to the whole audio guide, otherwise it can be done in 2 hours. It’s a must-see if you’re visiting Munich.

Visit Munich with the English Garden

Munich’s Englischer Garten is a large public park in the center of Munich. At 375 hectares, it is one of Europe’s largest public parks.

Take a stroll through the Jardin Anglais. You’ll come across several attractions, including Lake Kleinhesseloher, where you can go pedal-boating.

You can even go surfing! Or just watch the surfers practicing in the Eisbach, a small artificial canal.

Finally, on the Chinese Tower level, you can stop off at the Biergarten Chinesischer Turm. You can drink beer and eat Bavarian food in the open air. All in a very convivial atmosphere!

What’s more, it’s very well organized to avoid long queues. So you can wander around several stands and choose your beer, or rather your size. Then you pay at the cash desk, collect your deposit tokens, and on your way out you get your two-euro deposit back. The system is very efficient.

The English Garden is an ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax. If you’re visiting Munich, it’s a must-see. However, there are no signs to help you locate the various sites.

Visit Munich: Nymphemburg Castle

Nymphenburg Palace is a magnificent Baroque palace west of Munich. It was built in the ^17th century as a summer residence for the Bavarian royal family. Today, it houses several museums and galleries.

Take a tour of the castle’s interior, taking in several sumptuous rooms such as the marble hall, the beauty gallery, the banqueting hall and the hunting room.

Outside, you can stroll through the gardens of Nymphenburg Palace, with their canals, fountains, statues and pavilions.

You can also take your time strolling through the immense park. You’ll come across swans, ducks and even deer. Be careful, though, as there are no signs in the park to help you locate the various buildings. Keep the map you’ll be given at the entrance.

However, the waterfall was being cleaned and the Amalienburg was closed. We were a little frustrated, as this had not been indicated at the castle entrance. We’d gone to the end of the park for nothing.

On the way, we visited the Badenburg and Pagodenburg pavilions.

You’ll also find the Nymphenburg Porcelain Museum, with its collection of finely painted, hand-crafted porcelain.

Finally, the Musée des Carrosses Royaux, which displays antique carriages and riding equipment used by the royal family. The museum boasts an exceptional historical collection of carriages and sleighs, the centerpieces of which are the carriages of King Ludwig II.

Practical information:

Price: 15 euros per person to visit the entire site (including the pavilions in the park). Incidentally, there’s a magnificent boutique at the entrance.

Open: April to October 15: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and October 16 to March: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During our stay in Germany, after visiting Munich, we visited Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for many a fairy tale.

Visit Munich and the BMW Museum

Munich is the home of BMW. In fact, there seem to be more BMWs than Audis and Mercedes on the road in Munich. So we went to BMW World to see the new BMW cars for ourselves. That was Kiki’s wish!

Then we visited the BMW Museum. You have to wait to get in. Then, if you want to keep your strength up before visiting the museum, there’s a little bistro where you can have a light (and not very good) meal.

We spent over two hours at the BMW Museum and BMW World. It’s pretty interesting even if you’re not into BMWs. But if you are, it’s definitely a must-see if you’re in Munich.

And if you’re staying longer, there are plenty of museums to visit in Munich, such as the Bavarian National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Where to eat in Munich

Munich is famous for its warm and friendly atmosphere, with traditional Bavarian breweries and biergartens (open-air beer gardens). Enjoy traditional dishes such as Schweinshaxe (pork shank), Weisswurst (white sausage), Brezen (pretzel), Kaiserschmarrn or apple strudel with vanilla sauce.

Augustiner Klosterwirt Brewery

The best food in Munich! This was our first brasserie in Munich and we loved it!

Augustiner Brewery

We dined at the Augustiner Brewery, considered one of Munich’s finest. Founded in 1328, it’s huge, with two rooms that were filled to capacity. You have to get there before six o’clock to be sure of getting a seat. Otherwise, reservations are required. For the record, there are vegetarian dishes. It wasn’t the best food, but the Augustiner beer is the best for us!

For your information, in Munich, when you order a large beer, you’ll be served a mass, i.e. 1 liter of beer. If you ask for a small beer, you’ll be served a 500 ml beer.

Food market

The Viktualienmarkt is an open-air market in the center of Munich, founded in 1807.

Covering an area of 22,000 square meters, you’ll find a wide variety of local and international food products, including fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish, spices and flowers. Take the opportunity to buy traditional Bavarian sausages and breads.

There are also several restaurants and food stalls on the market, where you can enjoy traditional Bavarian dishes and international specialties.

The victuals market is open every day of the week, except Sunday. It is also closed on Easter Friday.

Hofbräuhaus

The Hofbräuhaus is a historic brewery in Munich’s city center, founded in 1589 by Duke William V of Bavaria. It is one of Germany’s most famous and oldest breweries.

It’s a really noisy place, with everyone drinking impressive quantities of beer. It’s very hard to find a seat, especially at the end of the day.

The atmosphere is friendly and festive, with wooden benches and tables, waiters in traditional Bavarian dress, and a lively atmosphere throughout the day.

Restaurant Schlosswirtschaft Schwaige Nymphenburg

This restaurant is located next to Nymphemburg Castle. We had a delicious flammenkuche.

How to get to Munich

There are direct flights from Lyon, Paris to Munich. You can compare airline offers here.

Getting around Munich

You can get around Munich by bus, streetcar and subway.

A day ticket is required. There are also tickets for groups of two to five people for €17. Given that a trip costs €3.70, it’s cheaper to buy a day ticket for a group of two or more.

Where to sleep in Munich?

We stayed at the Hotel Erzgiesserei Europe, which is a 5-minute walk from a streetcar station that took us into Munich city center.

The breakfast was also good. We recommend you book this hotel when visiting Munich!

For more information on Munich, visit the Munich Tourist Office website.

Kiki’s opinion

When Kiki heard that he could finally go to Munich, he of course immediately thought of Oktoberfest, the party, and… No, we didn’t go to the Oktoberfest, but he still had a great time. After all, Munich has so much to offer: a historic city center, the incomparable Marienplatz, not to mention the local specialties and the great beer. And he now knows one thing: when he’s in a Hofbräu restaurant, he’s not served Augustiner beer. He did, however, see a beer glass taller than himself for the first time!

As you know, Kiki loves to discover new things, but he can also be very critical. To see the world-famous carillon, he waited over half an hour in the cold rain. And the performance really wasn’t all that impressive. It’s even likely that he caught a cold and stayed ill for over a week. A high price to pay for a few minutes’ ringing.

Despite everything, he really liked Munich. He will certainly be discovering other cities in Germany.