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Munich Maps & Attractions Guide
Munich maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Munich
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Munich
Attractions - Things to do
1. Hofbrauhaus
Am Platzl 9
www.hofbraeuhaus.de |
What is it? Beer has been swilled at this world-famous
tavern site in the centre of Munich since it became a royal brewery
in 1605. Equally famous is the Bavarian jollity and conviviality,
known as 'gemuchtlikheid', which has emanated directly from the
Hofbrauhaus in Munich along with the beer which flows freely there
each day, served by robust rosy-cheeked young women clad in
Bavarian dress in litre-sized beer steins. The cheerful atmosphere
that reigns constantly in the establishment's different halls is
helped along by the foot-tapping strains of traditional Bavarian
'oom-pah' bands and drinking songs. When the beer becomes too much,
soak it up with a delicious salty pretzel or a German speciality
from the menu, such as liver dumplings, potato soup or a variety of
delicious sausages.
Hours of Operation:
Phone:(089) 2901360 |
2. Marienplatz
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What is it? The Marienplatz is the heart of Munich and
the site of its most important historic buildings. The square is
dominated by the Neo-Gothic Town Hall featuring its famous
Glockenspiel, both built in the 19th century. The Glockenspiel
delights visitors when it chimes the hours every day at 11am, 12pm,
5pm and 9pm with its 43 bells, accompanied by moving clockwork
figures that display vingnettes from Munich's history. The Town
Hall has a tower that can be accessed by a lift. The centre of the
square - which was once a vibrant farmer's market - features a
statue of the Virgin Mary after which Marienplatz was named.
Visitors can also explore a toy museum in the Old Town Hall on the
square, and the Frauenkirche, Munich's cathedral, dating from the
15th century.
Hours of Operation: Town Hall: Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Friday 9am
to 1pm, and weekends 10am to 7pm. Toy Museum: daily 10am to 5.30pm.
Cathedral: daily 10am to 5pm
Phone:New Town Hall: (089) 2331; Toy Museum: 294 001;
Frauenkirche: 290 0820 |
3. Olympia Park
Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21
www.olympiapark-muenchen.de |
What is it? Munich's massive Olympic park complex was
constructed for the 20th Olympic Games in 1972, but remains a
marvel of modern engineering. Its main stadium is a like a massive
tent, which can seat close on 70,000 spectators, topped by the
largest roof in the world, extending for 720,000 square feet
(66,890 sq metres) and made of tinted acrylic glass. The roof
collects rainwater which is used to fill the adjacent Olympic lake.
Tent roof tours (with or without an abseiling option) are on offer.
Visitors to the site can enjoy a spectacular view from the
revolving restaurant and observation terrace which tops the 950ft
(290m) high Olympic Tower. Near the tower is the BMW Museum, which
displays the history of Germany's famous automobile manufacturer.
Far from being a remarkable "white elephant", the park is still in
constant use as a lively leisure and recreational centre for the
city; on more than 200 days of the year it is the venue for rock
and pop concerts, sports events, exhibitions and trade
fairs.
Hours of Operation: The tower is open daily 9am to
midnight
Phone:(089) 30670 |
4. Nymphenburg Palace
Eingang 19
www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/index.htm |
What is it? About five miles (eight km) from the city
centre, accessible by tram and bus, is the interesting Schloss
Nymphenburg, originally a summer home for the Munich aristocracy.
The palace has been expanded, altered and fitted with various
eccentricities by succeeding owners over the centuries since
building began on it in 1664. Today it is a delight for tourists
who revel in exploring the villa and grounds. Inside there are some
interesting frescoes in the main hall. An arcaded gallery features
a collection of 36 provocative paintings ordered by King Ludwig I
showing the most beautiful women of his day. The surrounding park
has some surprises too, with some interesting pavilions hidden
among the English-style gardens. There are also collections of
Ludwig's elaborate coaches on display, and a porcelain
museum.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 4pm (November to March), and 9am to 6pm
(April to October)
Phone: |
5. Alte Pinakothek
Barerstrasse 27
www.pinakothek.de |
What is it? Munich's art museum houses one of the most
important collections in Europe on two floors of a large
neo-classical building. Nearly 1,000 paintings are on display
featuring the work of the greatest European artists from the 14th
to the 18th centuries. Highlights include works by Dutch and
Flemish masters, as well as the Italian masters such as Botticelli
and Titian. The gallery is massive, consisting of dozens of rooms,
and requires a great deal of time to explore
thoroughly.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (Tuesday to
8pm)
Phone:(089) 23 80 52 16 |
6. Neuschwanstein
Neuschwanstein Castle is near the Forggensee in the
Allgäu, very close to Schwangau. Ticket Centre: Alpseestrasse 12,
Hohenschwangau
www.neuschwanstein.de/english |
What is it? The fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II
(known as 'Mad King Ludwig' until his death in 1886) has become the
trademark of the German state of Bavaria, with its Gothic
wedding-cake tiers and towers. Day tours to the castle are
available from Munich, or self drive via Garmisch. From the parking
lot there is a steep half-mile (one km) climb to the castle, but
one can ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The interior of the castle
is as extravagant as its outer aspect, particularly the King's
apartments, which are decorated entirely with hand-embroidered
silk, elaborate wall and ceiling paintings, and
carvings.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 6pm (April to September), 10am to 4pm
(October to March)
Phone:083 628 1035 |
7. Berchtesgarten
www.kehlsteinhaus.com |
What is it? The name Berchtesgarten is most closely
associated with Adolf Hitler's country house, but it is in fact a
delightful Bavarian alpine village with ancient winding streets and
a medieval marketplace, popular as a side trip from Munich.
Hitler's holiday house, the Berghof, is actually at Obersalzberg
about half a mile (2 kms) up the Kehlstein mountain. Afternoon bus
tours to the Fuhrer's playground can be undertaken from the tourist
office in the village, but there is little to see besides some
underground bunkers which are open to the public. Most tourists,
however, do delight in visiting the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest,
a remarkable building perched precariously atop the mountain, which
was originally commissioned by Martin Bormann as a 50th birthday
present for Hitler. The notorious Nazi leader seldom visited it
because of his fear of heights. Today it is the site of an
excellent Bavarian restaurant and provides breathtaking views at
the end of a stunning winding mountain road. The
town of Berchtesgarten itself has some interesting attractions,
besides its 16th-century architecture and enticing inns. There is a
small wood-carving museum at Schloss Aldelsheim which can be viewed
on a guided tour offered on weekdays at 10am and 3pm. Wood
sculptures, Renaissance furniture and some art works are worth
seeing at the Konigliches Schloss, which was originally an
Augustinian monastery. The most fun to be had, however, is in the
salt mines to the east of the town, which offers guided tours.
Visitors wear protective clothing and ride on wagons to the mine,
then explore the mine on foot and ride miner's slides, finishing
with a trip on the salt lake ferry. The tours run daily, all year
round. The mine has been in operation since 1517. Berchtesgarten
also boasts a world-class ice-skating rink, the Eisstadion, which
is sought after by winter sports enthusiasts in the winter months,
along with the skiing opportunities in the surrounding
area.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
8. Dachau Memorial Site
Alte Römerstraße 75, Dachau
www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de |
What is it? About 10 miles (16km) to the northwest of
Munich on the Stuttgart Autobahn is the town of Dachau, once a
quiet artists' community that became the site of the first
notorious Nazi 'death camp', where thousands of perceived enemies
of the Third Reich were imprisoned, starved, and killed between
1933 and 1945. The camp has now been turned into a memorial museum
to the prisoners (67,000 were liberated alive by the US Army on
April 28, 1945). The museum contains three memorial chapels. The
Lagerstrasse, the main camp road, still exists lined with poplar
trees but only two of the original 32 barracks that lined it
remain, having been rebuilt to illustrate the conditions endured by
the prisoners. The original kitchen, laundry and shower block is
now a museum containing exhibits, photographs and documents
depicting the persecution of Jews and other
prisoners.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. An English version of a
documentary film, 'KZ-Dachau' is screened at 11.30am and
3.30pm
Phone:8131 669970 |
9. Garmisch-Partenkirchen
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What is it? Germany's top winter sports destination,
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a busy centre that has retained the charm
of the older town of the twins, Partenkirchen. About 20 trains a
day arrive at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof from Munich, and
many more visitors come by bus or self-drive via the A95 Autobahn
to enjoy the delights of the Bavarian Alps. Pride of the city is
the Olympic Ice Stadium and the larger Ski Stadium which were built
for the 1936 Winter Olympics and are still put to good use by
winter sports enthusiasts. The area is picturesque and scenic, both
in winter and summer. In summertime it is a popular spot for hiking
and mountain climbing expeditions. A tourist office assists
visitors in making the most of their visit and seeing the local
attractions. Contact Verkehrsamt der Kurverwaltung, on Dr.
Richard-Strauss-Platz (tel: 08821 1806), open Monday to Saturday
from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to
noon.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
10. Chiemsee
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What is it? One of the most beautiful lakes in the
Bavarian Alps, Chiemsee boasts two islands and is lined with
resorts. It can be reached by train from Munich in an hour, or by
road via the A8 Autobahn. Visitors can take a steamer cruise around
the lake from Prien on the west shore to explore the islands in the
lake. Frauenchiemsee is the smaller island, site of a quaint
fishing village with some colourful traditional customs, and a
Benedictine nunnery known for its liqueur. The larger island,
Herrenchiemsee, bears one of King Ludwig's famous fairytale
castles. This one was never completed, but was intended to be a
replica of the palace of Versailles. The centre of the palace still
stands, complete with a splendid hall of mirrors and surrounded by
gardens and woodland. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction
with its gaudy splendour.
Hours of Operation: The 'Neues Schloss' is open daily 9am to 5pm (April
to September); 10am to 4pm (off-season)
Phone: |
11. Romantic Road
Tourist Information: Waaggässlein 1, Dinkelsbühl
www.romantischestrasse.de |
What is it? To experience the best of medieval Germany
hundreds of visitors drive, bus or cycle their way along the
Romantic Road, a 180-mile (290km) route between Munich and
Frankfurt that links together a string of quaint, well-preserved
walled towns dating back a thousand years or more. The towns en
route have banded together to market their attractions and ensure
Romantic Road travellers are well informed and accommodated.
Bicycles can be rented at any train station along the road, and
tourist offices along the route provide maps and information. Best
known of the towns on the Romantic Road is Rothenburg in the Tauber
River Valley. Other favourites among the cute towns are Dinkelsbuhl
and Nordlingen.
Hours of Operation:
Phone:9851 551387 (Tourist office) |
Munich Holidays guide
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Transport -Munich's city centre is a pedestrian zone,
so many of its attractions can be reached on foot.
More information at the |
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