Things to do in Munich

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the foothills of the Alps in Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border and not far from the small town of Füssen. Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Wagner and inspired by the legend of the "Swan Knight" Lohengrin, construction began in 1869. Its fairy-tale appearance—white walls, blue domes, and scattered spires—served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is perennially regarded as Germany's tourism icon. The castle interior was originally planned to have over 200 rooms, but by the time of the king's death in 1886, only a dozen had been completed, each exquisitely crafted. The throne hall's dome is painted with a star-studded blue night sky, while the floor features mosaic patterns of flora and fauna, with a chandelier modeled after a Byzantine crown hanging high above. The Gothic double bed in the king's bedroom took over four years to carve by more than a dozen sculptors. The relatively large singers' hall in the castle, adorned with murals of "Lohengrin" and "Parsifal," was modeled after the Wartburg singers' hall and still hosts concerts every September. Swan motifs are nearly omnipresent, appearing in murals, door handles, and washstands. Interestingly, this medieval-inspired castle was already equipped with telephones, central heating, hot water, and automatic flushing toilets at the time, making it remarkably advanced for its era. To capture the classic postcard-perfect shot, head to Marienbrücke. This pedestrian bridge, suspended over the Pöllat Gorge, faces the southern facade of the castle and is not far from the bus drop-off point. It gets crowded in the afternoon, so an early visit is recommended. You can take the shuttle bus, a horse-drawn carriage, or hike up the mountain. The hiking route offers a bird's-eye view of the castle, and along the way, you can also see the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle, the old royal palace on the opposite hill. The castle's ending carries a touch of tragedy: Ludwig II built it with his private funds and loans, facing strong opposition from his ministers. On a late night in June 1886, he was arrested in his castle bedroom and mysteriously died days later by Lake Starnberg. Seven weeks later, the castle opened to the public. Today, visiting the interior requires following a guide, and photography is prohibited inside. Live guides provide commentary in English or German, while an audio guide is available for Chinese. Visitor guide To the castle There are three ways to reach the castle: taking the shuttle bus, riding a carriage, or going on foot. Most people choose to take the shuttle bus, then walk a short distance to Neuschwanstein Castle, where there is a viewing platform to overlook another castle—Hohenschwangau. You can also reach the castle by carriage, where you can enjoy picturesque scenery along the way, and the witty carriage driver will share legendary stories that happened here. After disembarking, it's just a short walk to the castle entrance. If you don't want to wait in line for the shuttle bus or prefer outdoor activities, you can also hike to Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, you can capture an aerial view of the castle, and there are relatively fewer travelers. Take a postcard-perfect photo of the castle Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) is located near the terminal stop of the uphill bus. This 100 m-high bridge spans between two cliffs, with its floor made of wooden planks that slightly bounce when stepped on. Here, you can capture the famous postcard-perfect shot of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you arrive early before your scheduled visit time, you can first head to Marienbrücke to photograph the beautiful view of Neuschwanstein Castle, as the bridge gets overcrowded after noon. Guided tour To visit the castle interior, you must follow the official guide. The guide provides services in English and German. You can also choose to use an audio guide (available in Chinese). After the visit, you can take a short break at the café inside the castle.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Germany

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is located at the BMW brand experience center in Munich, the global headquarters of BMW, and is the core venue showcasing the century-old history of the BMW brand. The museum covers a total area of approximately 5,000 m² and features a "bowl-shaped" design, adjacent to the iconic BMW "four-cylinder building" headquarters. The exhibition halls of the BMW Museum are designed as an encircling space, divided into seven themed exhibition areas, presenting the entire process from the spark of inspiration to the realization of products. It displays various BMW automobiles, BMW motorcycles, and some special-purpose vehicle samples produced over the years, and employs modern high-tech means such as sound, light, electricity, and multimedia, as well as photographic and audiovisual materials, to enhance the artistic space of product display, comprehensively interpreting the history of the growth and development of the BMW automobile company. The halls are connected by ramps and platforms, with a visiting route stretching approximately one km, and walking through it feels like shuttling through a three-dimensional city of automobile culture.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Germany

Munich Residence

The Munich Residence is located in the heart of Munich's old town, serving as the residence and power center for the dukes, electors, and kings of the Wittelsbach family from the early 16th century until 1918. After centuries of continuous expansion, it evolved from a castle into a large palace complex with ten courtyards and hundreds of halls. The king's building, the old palace, and the banquet hall face different directions, showcasing overlapping styles of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism. Today, it is open to the public primarily as the Residence Museum, the Treasury, and the Cuvilliés Theatre. The palace offers a dense concentration of highlights: the antiquities gallery, built in the late 16th century, is the oldest hall here. Stretching over 60 m long with its vaulted ceiling covered in frescoes, it initially displayed the duke's collection of ancient Roman statues and later served as a royal banquet hall for centuries, standing as a representative Renaissance hall north of the Alps. The treasury houses over a thousand royal treasures of the Wittelsbach dynasty, including crowns and scepters. The Cuvilliés Theatre is one of Europe's best-preserved Rococo court theaters, with its ornate tiered loggias. Mozart's opera "Idomeneo" premiered here in 1781, and concerts are still frequently held. During the visit, also watch for the shell-decorated grotto courtyard and the ancestral gallery lined with family portraits—both located along the route to the antiquities gallery and easy to miss if not paying attention. The noses of the bronze lions in front of the gate have been polished shiny by travelers, as local legend says rubbing them brings good luck—worth a try when passing by. The palace was severely damaged in World War II, and most of the exquisite halls seen today were meticulously restored to their original postwar state. The entire tour route is quite long, so allocating most of a day is recommended for a thorough visit. After exploring, you can take a leisurely stroll in the adjacent court garden.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Germany

Allianz Arena

The Allianz Arena, the home stadium of the Bundesliga Bayern Munich, was built and put into use on May 31, 2005. The opening ceremony of the 2006 World Cup in Germany was held here. The Allianz Arena is the most modern stadium in Europe. When Bayern Munich play at home, the stadium, which can seat 66,000 spectators, will be mapped by a lighting system into a red glow that can be seen from miles away. The inside of the stadium provides a variety of recreational facilities for fans. Facilities such as catering services, nursery, hall of fame, fan store are all available, and all areas serving fans total about 6,500 square meters. There are also some offices and meeting rooms. The Allianz Stadium is conveniently located near the A9 highway and has the largest underground car park in Europe - providing 10,000 parking spaces. Its unusual surface consists of 2874 diamond-shaped membrane structures, which are self-cleaning, fireproof, waterproof and thermally insulating. Each membrane structure can be illuminated at night in red, blue and white, corresponding to Bayern, 1860 And the colours of the German national team's jersey.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Germany

Marienplatz

The square was built in 1158 and is one of the larger and more important squares in Munich. Because both the New Town Hall and the Toy Museum Munich are located around the square, Marienplatz is known as Munich's city living room. It is now a transportation hub in Munich, as well as a place for cultural activities and leisure for citizens. The FC Bayern Munich football team also celebrates their victories here. Square architecture No matter the time, Marienplatz is always bustling. If you want to explore Munich properly, Marienplatz is a great starting point. Marienplatz is not large, but you can see Munich's historical heritage and cultural accumulation everywhere. The architectural complex on the square is well worth seeing: in the center of the square stands the Column of St. Mary, topped with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary. She holds a scepter in her left hand and cradles the Holy Child in her right, looking holy and dignified. The magnificent Gothic building on the north side of the square is the New Town Hall. At 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, you can enjoy the interesting puppet dance at the Town Hall Tower. The bronze statue fountain on Marienplatz is the Fish Fountain, which faces the entrance of the New Town Hall. The eye-catching onion-domed building to the northwest of the square is the Church of Our Lady. You can climb the tower to overlook the entire city of Munich, and it is also a great place to photograph Marienplatz. The pointed building to the northeast is the Toy Museum Munich.

No. 12 of Best Things to Do in Germany

Nymphenburg Palace

Nymphenburg Palace is located in the western suburbs of Munich, serving as the summer residence for successive rulers of the Wittelsbach dynasty and an important representative of German Baroque palace and garden art. The palace's broad facade stretches gracefully, with a straight canal extending in front where swans glide year-round—a scene often regarded as one of Munich's classic images. Highlights inside the palace include the lavishly decorated Stone Hall, once the grand venue for royal celebrations, where ceiling frescoes and chandeliers complement each other; the "Gallery of Beauties," commissioned by Ludwig I and lined with over thirty portraits of 19th-century Munich beauties; and the queen's bedchamber where the "Fairy Tale King" Ludwig II was born. The museum in the converted former stables displays royal carriages and sledges, with Ludwig II's gilded carriage being particularly striking, alongside porcelain from the Nymphenburg royal manufactory. The palace gardens transition from French geometric flower beds to English landscape woodlands, dotted with pavilions like the Amalienburg, Badenburg, and Pagodenburg: the pink-walled Amalienburg is a delicate Rococo hunting lodge, with its Mirror Hall being especially notable, while the Pagodenburg was a retreat for the royal family's tea parties and summer relaxation. These garden pavilions are spaced far apart, requiring ample time for walking tours; many travelers enjoy ending their visit by strolling back along the canal to watch the swans.

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Germany

Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum is located on the Museumsinsel in the Isar River in Munich. Founded in 1903, it is one of the world's leading comprehensive museums of science and technology. Its permanent exhibition areas are spread across five floors and cover dozens of themes, including chemistry, optics, atomic physics, energy and power, aerospace, robotics, mathematics, photography, and musical instruments. The exhibits are particularly strong in physical objects; from steam engines and diesel engines to aircraft and spacecraft, more than two centuries of technological evolution are laid out as a visible thread. The building itself is also worth noting: when the main building was completed, it was one of Munich's earlier large buildings constructed with reinforced concrete, deliberately used at the time to showcase the engineering standards of the era, making the architecture itself an exhibit. Every star exhibit in the museum has a story. In the chemistry exhibition area stands the experiment table that witnessed the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, an experiment that brought physics into the atomic age; in the energy and power exhibition area sits an early diesel engine prototype made in 1897; in the aerospace section, visitors can see the huge cross-section of an Airbus A300 fuselage and try out a flight simulator; and the Foucault pendulum hanging in the museum tower turns the Earth's rotation into a phenomenon visible to the naked eye through the slow deflection of its swing direction. Since its establishment, this museum has upheld the philosophy of "seeing and touching," with button-operated experiment stations and interactive installations in every exhibition area: the humanoid robots in the robotics section will mimic your movements, the musical instruments section features automated instruments that can play the trumpet on their own, the railway model diorama brings together train models from various European countries, and the microscope theater puts the microscopic world—invisible to the naked eye—on stage; the chemistry and other sections also maintain the tradition of live experiment demonstrations, so if you come across one, be sure to stop and watch. The museum complex is enormous, and seeing it all in one visit is nearly impossible. It is recommended to pick two or three key exhibition areas in advance and head straight for them, then leave some time for interactive exhibits you discover along the way. Most exhibit descriptions are in both German and English, and families with children aged three to eight can head straight to the dedicated children's interactive exhibition area. After your visit, take a stroll along the banks of the Isar River. The Museum Island area is a favorite spot for Munich residents to walk and jog, and the old town skyline is just across the river.

No. 20 of Best Things to Do in Germany

Alte Pinakothek

The Alte Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek) is an art gallery in Munich, Germany that forms part of the city's arts district. This is one of the oldest art galleries in the world and one of the well-known art galleries for the collection of early "painting masters". It houses the works of painters from the Middle Ages to the mid-18th century and is part of the Bavarian State Museum of Painting.

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Munich

BMW Welt

BMW Welt is the BMW Group's brand exhibition and customer experience center in Munich, combining vehicle displays, new car handovers, conferences, and cultural performances, and it is adjacent to Olympiapark München, the BMW Museum, and the BMW Headquarters. The building itself was designed by the Austrian Blue Sky architecture firm, with a wavy roof covering the entire transparent glass atrium and the iconic double-cone glass tower twisting upward through the roof. The roof is fitted with approx. 8,000 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels, with an output of approx. 810 kW. Inside, the space is divided by brand, with dedicated areas for BMW, MINI, Rolls‑Royce, and BMW Motorrad where new models on sale can be viewed up close; a roughly 100-meter-long exhibition belt runs through the atrium to showcase the BMW brand's current models. The central atrium also serves as the delivery area: customers who book a new car complete the handover here, and the new vehicle is slowly raised from the lower level to the display platform via a circular lift. The venue hosts themed exhibitions and events year-round, and jazz performances have been held here for many years. Opposite the street is the BMW Museum, which tells the story of the century-old brand.

No. 2 of Activities in Germany

Museums in Munich