72 Best Sights in Munich, Germany

With numerous Old Master paintings from the Netherlands, Italy, France, and Germany, the Alte Pinakothek holds one of the most significant art collections in the world. It was originally constructed by Leo von Klenze between 1826 and 1836 to exhibit the collection of 14th- to 18th-century works (started by Duke Wilhelm IV in the 16th century). The collection comprises more than 700 pieces, including masterpieces by Dürer, Titian, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Rubens (the museum has one of the world's largest Rubens collections), and two celebrated Murillos. While the neighboring Neue Pinakothek is closed for renovations until 2029, a rotating selection from its fine collection of 19th-century art is on view in the lower gallery.

One of southern Bavaria's most famous pilgrimage sites, this Benedictine monastery is 5 km (3 miles) south of Herrsching. You can reach it on Bus 951 from the S-bahn station, but you can easily walk there too, as most people do. Surmounted by an octagonal tower and onion dome with a pointed helmet, Andechs has a history going back more than 1,000 years. The church, originally built in the 15th century, was entirely redone in baroque style in the early 18th century. The Heilige Kapelle contains the remains of the old treasure of the Benedictines in Andechs, including Charlemagne's "Victory Cross." One of the chapels contains the remains of composer Carl Orff, whose works are performed on the grounds. The monastery also brews rich, almost black beer and makes its own cheese as well.

Perhaps Munich's most ostentatious church, it has a suitably extraordinary entrance, framed by raw rock foundations. The insignificant door, crammed between its craggy shoulders, gives little idea of the opulence and lavish detailing within the small 18th-century church (there are only 12 rows of pews). Above the doorway St. Nepomuk, the 14th-century Bohemian monk and patron saint of Bavaria who drowned in the Danube, is being led by angels from a rocky riverbank to heaven. The church's official name is Church of St. Johann Nepomuk, but it's more popularly known as the Asamkirche for its architects, the brothers Cosmas Damian and Egid Quirin Asam. The interior of the church is a prime example of true southern German late-Baroque architecture. Frescoes by Cosmas Damian Asam and rosy marble cover the walls. The sheer wealth of statues and gilding is stunning—there's even a gilt skeleton at the sanctuary's portal.

The site of the infamous camp, now the KZ–Gedenkstätte Dachau, is just outside town. Photographs, contemporary documents, the few cell blocks, and the grim crematorium create a somber and moving picture of the camp, where more than 41,000 of the 200,000-plus prisoners lost their lives. A documentary film in English is shown five times daily. The former camp has become more than just a grisly memorial: it's now a place where people of all nations meet to reflect upon the past and on the present.

Aircraft, vehicles, cutting-edge technology, and historic machinery fill the seven levels of this monumental building on an island in the Isar River, home to one of the biggest science and technology museums in the world. There are some 215,000 square feet and 20 exhibits to explore (the other half of the museum is closed until 2028 for modernization). Highlights include exhibitions on nanotechnology, biotechnology, and robotics. Children have their own “kingdom,” the Kinderreich, where they can learn about modern technology and science through numerous interactive displays (parents must accompany their children). One of the most technically advanced planetariums in Europe has two to four shows daily, depending on the day, albeit in German only. Two affiliated off-site museums are the Verkehrszentrum (Center for Transportation), on the former trade fair grounds at the Theresienhöhe, and the Flugwerft Schleissheim, an airfield and hangar packed with historical aircraft in Oberschleissheim, north of Munich.

This seemingly endless green space blends into the open countryside at the north of the city. Today's park covers nearly 1,000 acres and has 78 km (48 miles) of paths and more than 100 bridges. The open, informal landscaping—reminiscent of the English-style rolling parklands of the 18th century—gave the park its name. It has a boating lake, four beer gardens (open seasonally), and a series of curious decorative and monumental constructions. In the center of the park's most popular beer garden is a Chinese pagoda, erected in 1790 (reconstructed after World War II). The Englischer Garten is a paradise for joggers, cyclists, musicians, soccer players, sunbathers, and, in winter, cross-country skiers. There's even surfing year-round, at two continuous man-made waves; the larger, Eisbachwelle, below the Eisbach bridge, draws crowds of onlookers. The park has semi-official areas for nude sunbathing—the Germans have a positively pagan attitude toward the sun—so in some areas don't be surprised to see naked bodies bordering the flower beds and paths.

Munich's dom (cathedral) is a distinctive late-Gothic brick structure with two huge towers, each 99 meters (325 feet) high; you can climb 88 steps up the South Tower and then take an elevator up another 80 meters (263 feet) to reach the city center's highest point. The main body of the cathedral was completed in 20 years (1468–88)—a record time in those days—and the distinctive onion-dome-like cupolas were added by 1525. Shortly after the original work was completed in 1488, Jörg von Halspach, the Frauenkirche's architect, died, but he managed to see the project through. In 1944–45, the building suffered severe damage during Allied bombing raids and was restored between 1947 and 1957. Inside, the church combines most of von Halspach's plans with stark, clean modernity and simplicity of line. As you enter the church, look on the stone floor for the dark imprint of a large foot—the so-called Teufelstritt (Devil's Footprint). The cathedral houses the elaborate marble tomb of Duke Ludwig IV (1282–1347), who became Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1328. One of the Frauenkirche's great treasures is the collection of wooden busts by Erasmus Grasser.

This colonnaded, classical-style building is one of Munich's most significant examples of Hitler-era architecture, and was officially opened as House of German Art by the Führer himself. During the Third Reich it only showed work deemed to reflect the Nazi aesthetic. One of its most successful postwar exhibitions was devoted to works banned by the Nazis. It now hosts cutting-edge exhibitions of art, photography, sculpture, and video installations, as well as theatrical and musical happenings. The adjacent P1 is one of the hottest clubs in town.

This striking example of the two Asam brothers' work in the Lehel district impresses visitors with its sense of movement and heroic scale. The ceiling fresco from 1729 by Cosmas Damian Asam glows in all its original glory. The ornate altar was also designed by the Asam brothers. Towering over the delicate little church, on the opposite side of the street, is the neo-Romanesque bulk of the 19th-century Parish Church of St. Anne. Stop at one of the stylish cafés, restaurants, and patisseries gathered at the junction of St.-Anna-Strasse and Gewürzmühlstrasse, about 250 feet from the churches.

Chagall, Magritte, and Rothko, as well as contemporary artists like Peter Lindbergh and Robert Mapplethorpe have been featured at this exhibition space in the middle of the shopping pedestrian zone. It is set within the upscale Fünf Höfe shopping mall, designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, who also designed London's Tate Modern. Exhibitions at the Kunsthalle rarely disappoint, making it one of Germany's most interesting art venues.

This exquisite late-19th-century Florentine-style villa is the former home and studio of Franz von Lenbach (1836–1904), one of the most famous artists in Germany in the 1880s. He painted Germany's Chancellor Bismarck around 80 times. A renovation and new extension designed by renowned British architecture firm Foster+Partners was unveiled in 2013. Lenbachhaus is home to a stunning assemblage of art from the early-20th-century Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) group: Kandinsky, Klee, Jawlensky, Macke, Marc, and Münter. Indeed, only New York's Guggenheim comes close to holding as many works from a group that was at the forefront in the development of abstract art. There are also vivid pieces from the New Objectivity movement, as well as a significant Joseph Beuys collection. Its growing contemporary art holdings include works by Olafur Eliasson, Dan Flavin, and Gerhard Richter.

Bordered by the Neues Rathaus, shops, and cafés, this square is named after the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary that has watched over it for more than three centuries. It was erected in 1638 at the behest of Elector Maximilian I as an act of thanksgiving for the city's survival of the Thirty Years' War, the cataclysmic, partly religious struggle that devastated vast regions of Germany. When the statue was taken down from its marble column for cleaning in 1960, workmen found a small casket in the base containing a splinter of wood said to be from the cross of Christ. On the fifth floor of a building facing the Neues Rathaus is Café Glockenspiel. It overlooks the entire square and provides a perfect view of the glockenspiel. Entrance is around the back.

This popular museum in the north wing of Schloss Nymphenburg has nothing to do with the Wittelsbachs but is one of the palace's major attractions. Through interactive exhibits, the Museum Mensch und Natur looks at the variety of life on Earth, the history of humankind, and our place in the environment, as well as genetics and nature conservation. Main exhibits include a huge representation of the human brain and a chunk of Alpine crystal weighing half a ton.

This dramatic neoclassical villa is the former home of one of Germany's leading avant-garde artists from the turn of the 20th century, Franz von Stuck (1863–1928). His work, at times haunting, frequently erotic, and occasionally humorous, covers the walls in many rooms. Stuck was prominent in the Munich art Secession (1892), though today the museum is famous for its fabulous art nouveau collections. The museum also features special exhibits of international modern and contemporary art.

Munich's present neo-Gothic town hall was built in three sections and two phases between 1867 and 1905. It was a necessary enlargement on the nearby Old Town Hall, but city fathers also saw it as presenting Munich as a modern city, independent from the waning powers of the Bavarian Wittelsbach royal house. Architectural historians are divided over its merits, although its dramatic scale and lavish detailing are impressive. The main tower's 1908 glockenspiel (a chiming clock with mechanical figures), the largest in Germany, plays daily at 11 am and noon, with an additional performance at 5 pm March–October. As chimes peal out over the square, the clock's doors flip open and brightly colored dancers and jousting knights act out two events from Munich's past: a tournament held in Marienplatz in 1568 and the Schäfflertanz (Dance of the Coopers), which commemorated the end of the plague of 1515–17. You, too, can travel up there, by elevator, to an observation point near the top of one of the towers. On a clear day the view across the city with the Alps beyond is spectacular.

The Altstadt's oldest parish church (called locally Alter Peter, or Old Peter) traces its origins to the 11th century, and has been restored in various architectural styles, including Gothic, baroque, and rococo. The rich baroque interior has a magnificent high altar and aisle pillars decorated with exquisite 18th-century figures of the apostles. In clear weather it's well worth the long climb up the approximately 300-foot-high tower, with a panoramic view of the Alps.

This striking 130,000-square-foot glass-and-concrete complex by Stefan Braunfels is home to four outstanding museums under one cupola-topped roof: art, graphic art, architecture, and design, all from the 20th and 21st centuries. There's an outstanding collection of important modern and contemporary artwork, including an entire room devoted to the massive paintings of German postwar artist Georg Baselitz. The design museum is particularly popular, with permanent exhibitions in vehicle design, computer culture, and other design ideas.

One of Germany's true treasures, Munich's royal Residenz (Residence) began in 1385 as the modest Neuveste (New Fortress) on the northeastern city boundary. By the time the Bavarian monarchy fell in 1918, the palace could compare favorably with the best in Europe. With the Residenz's central location, it was pretty much inevitable that the Allied bombing of 1944–45 would cause immense damage, and subsequent reconstruction took decades. For tourists today, however, it really is a treasure chamber of delights. A wander around the Residenz can last anywhere from three hours to all day. The 16th-century, 216-foot-long arched Antiquarium, built for Duke Albrecht V's collection of antiques, is recognized as one of the most impressive Renaissance creations outside Italy (today it's used chiefly for state receptions). There are a number of halls and courtyards that show concerts, from the postwar Neuer Herkulessaal to the outdoor Brunnenhof. And particular favorites for visitors are the re-creations of many private royal chambers and apartments. The accumulated Wittelsbach treasures are on view in several museums that comprise the Residenz. At a corner of the Residenz's Apothekenhof (courtyard) is the incomparable Rococo Cuvilliés-Theater where Mozart's opera Idomeneo premiered in 1781. The Schatzkammer (Treasury) and Staatliche Münzsammlung (State Coin Museum) are also here.

The Residenzmuseum comprises everything in the Residenz apart from the Schatzkammer (Treasury), Staatliche Münzsammlung, and the Cuvilliés-Theater, which have separate admission charges.

The Schatzkammer comprises many hundreds of masterworks, including a host of treasures from the Wittelsbach royal crown jewels. A highlight is the crown belonging to Bavaria's first king, Maximilian I Joseph, created in Paris in 1806–07. The Schatzkammer collection has a staggering centerpiece—a renowned 50-cm-high (20-inch-high) Renaissance statue of St. George studded with diamonds, pearls, and rubies.

This glorious Baroque and Rococo palace, the largest in Germany, grew in size and scope over more than 200 years. Begun in 1662 by the Italian architect Agostino Barelli, it was completed by his successor, Enrico Zuccalli. It represents a tremendous high point of Italian cultural influence, in what is undoubtedly Germany's most Italian city. Within the original building, now the central axis of the palace complex, is the magnificent Steinerner Saal (Great hall), extending over two floors and richly decorated with stucco and grandiose frescoes by masters such as François Cuvilliés the Elder and Johann Baptist Zimmermann. One of the surrounding royal chambers houses Ludwig I's famous Schönheitsgalerie (Gallery of Beauties), portraits of women who caught his roving eye. The palace park is laid out in formal French style, with low hedges and gravel walks extending into woodland. Among the ancient trees are three fascinating pavilions, including the Amalienburg hunting lodge by François Cuvilliés. It's also worth visiting the former royal stables, now the Marstallmuseum, which houses a fleet of carriages, coaches, and sleighs. In its upper rooms are examples of the world-renowned Nymphenburg porcelain, the electoral porcelain factory founded by Max III Joseph in 1747.

The city's open-air market really is the beating heart of downtown Munich. Around 140 stalls and shops sell everything from produce to meat to coffee to baked goods, as well as German and international specialties. All kinds of people come here for a quick bite, from well-heeled businesspeople and casual tourists to local workers. It's also the realm of the garrulous, sturdy market women who run the stalls with dictatorial authority; do not try to select your pickings by hand: ask, and let it be served to you. There's a great beer garden (open pretty much whenever the sun is shining), where you can enjoy your snacks with cold local beer. A sign above the counter tells you what's on tap. The choice rotates throughout the year among the six major Munich breweries, which are displayed on the maypole. These are also the only six breweries officially allowed to serve their wares at the Oktoberfest.

Alter Hof was the original home of the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria (not to be confused with the adjacent Residenz). Established in 1180, the Münchner Kaiserburg (Imperial Palace) at Alter Hof now serves various functions. Its Infopoint is a tourist-information center for Bavaria's castles and museums. In the vaulted hall beneath is a multimedia presentation about the palace's history. 

Much of the work on Munich's first town hall was done in the 15th century, though various alterations were made through the centuries. Its great hall—destroyed in 1943–45 but now fully restored—was the work of the renowned architect Jörg von Halspach. Postwar, the tower was rebuilt as it looked in the 15th century and now it's used for official receptions and is not usually open to the public. The tower provides a fairy-tale-like setting for the Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum), accessible via a winding staircase. Its toys, dolls, and teddy bears are on display, together with a collection of Barbies from the United States.

For movie buffs, Munich has its own Hollywood-like neighborhood, the Geiselgasteig, in the affluent Grünwald district, on the southern outskirts of the city. A number of notable films, such as Die Unendliche Geschichte (The Neverending Story), were made here. Visitors can peek into the submarine used in the filming of Das Boot (The Boat) and see the space station set from the recent sci-fi thriller Stowaway. Admission price includes a 90-minute guided tour and entry to the cinema, which screens a 10-minute family-friendly film complete with motion simulator and 4D effects.

Overlooking the Theresienwiese, home of the Oktoberfest, is a 19th-century hall of fame (Ruhmeshalle) featuring busts of famous Bavarian scientists, artists, engineers, generals, and philosophers, and a monumental bronze statue of the maiden Bavaria. Unsurprisingly, it was commissioned by the art- and architecture-obsessed King Ludwig I, though not finished before his abdication in 1848. The Bavaria is more than 60 feet high and at the time was the largest bronze figure since antiquity. The statue is hollow, and an initial 48 steps take you up to its base. Once inside, there are 66 steps to her knee, and a further 52 all the way into the braided head, where the reward is a view of Munich through Bavaria's eyes.

Although the museum places emphasis on Bavarian cultural history, it has art and artifacts of international importance and regular exhibitions that attract worldwide attention. The museum is a journey through time, principally from the early Middle Ages to the 20th century, with medieval and Renaissance wood carvings, works by the great Renaissance sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, tapestries, arms and armor, a unique collection of Christmas crèches (the Krippenschau), Bavarian and German folk art, and a significant Jugendstil (art nouveau) collection.

To get a sense of the town's history, visit the Bezirksmuseum (district museum), which displays historical artifacts, furniture, and traditional costumes from Dachau and its surroundings.

Munich serves as the headquarters for the famous BMW car company. The circular tower of its museum in the Olympiapark is one of the defining icons of Munich's modern cityscape. It contains not only a dazzling collection of BMWs old and new but also items and exhibitions relating to the company's social history and its technical developments. 

Opened in 2007, the cutting-edge design of BMW Welt, with its sweeping, futuristic facade, is one structure helping to overcome the conservative image Munich has had in the realm of architecture since 1945. Even if you have just a passing interest in cars and engines, this showroom is a must—it has averaged 2 million visitors a year since its opening. In addition to tours of the building, there are readings, concerts, and exhibitions. Tours are in high demand, so it's best to book ahead via telephone or email. You can also visit the BMW Plant to see how a BMW car is made. It can be toured on weekdays (minimum age to participate is six, with an adult). Registration for plant tours, which last for two hours, is only possible with a reservation. The tours start and finish at the north information counter at BMW Welt. Reserve at least two weeks in advance via phone or email; see the website for details.