What to see and do in Munich (Germany) in 2 days?
With palaces and castles, beer halls and gardens, Art Nouveau architecture, traditional Bavarian delicacies, history, Oktoberfest and its very popular Christmas markets, Munich has so much to offer its visitors. If you are planning to visit Munich, check out this informative guest post by Mayuri from 'ToSomePlaceNew'. She has put together a 2-day itinerary for Munich which will help you plan your trip to Munich in such a way that you will be able to experience a little bit of everything that this lovely German city has to offer.
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Munich was the first European city that we visited and for that very reason, we will never forget this stunning city of Germany. Munich is actually one of the most visited European cities. It is a great stop for exploring other European countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. During Oktoberfest, the city of Munich explodes in fun and festivities, when tourists from all over the world come to visit Germany. Whether you are visiting the city during festivals or offseason, this 2-day Munich itinerary is perfect to get a glimpse of the city’s history, culture, and nature.
Munich’s heart lies in the Old town square of Marienplatz. Mary’s Square or Marienplatz has witnessed many important pages of Munich and German history. From the ending of the Thirty years war to Hitler’s Putsch – you can explore all of it in the old town.
The old town is well connected via the internal train system in Munich. You can also head directly to the Marienplatz from the Munich station. Use SBahn (S8 towards Herrsching). As soon as you leave the station, you will be welcomed by stunning historical buildings everywhere. The first building that you see here is the Old Town Hall, which now houses a museum. When you continue walking towards the square, you will see the New City Hall in all its glory. The architecture of these buildings is inspired by the Gothic style and yes, they are completely functional and have government administrative offices inside the building. It is the home of the Mayor and the City council, which also has a conference room inside it. The inside halls are very richly decorated and have ornate designs.
Another unique thing about this building is the clock located at the center of the building. The clock, with 43 bells, plays daily at 11 and 12 o’clock and from March to October at 5 o’clock. It is wonderful to watch the motorized figurines dance. The 32 figures that participate in this dance refer to motifs from the history and legend of Munich. One of the popular legends was that when plague was rampant and the citizens avoided the market square, the clock played music to lure citizens back to the street.
In the middle of the square is Mary’s Column. And this square is rightly named after Virgin mother Mary. It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War. The column is topped by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven. This column was one of the first of its kind to be erected in Germany and the neighbouring areas.
There are tons of restaurants and stores on each side of the square. If you are tired and want to grab a schnitzel, now is a good time. Souvenir stores are located here as well.
After lunch, continue exploring the areas in and around Marienplatz and head to Odeonplatz. There is a train station that leads to Odeonplatz as well, if you prefer not to walk.
Some interesting tours in Munich!
Odeonplatz is a large public square that was built in the 19th century. Many historical events took place here including the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 by Hitler and his followers. Located very close to the Odeonplatz is the Munich Residenz. It is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach Kings of Bavaria. It is also one of the largest city palaces in the whole of Germany. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and has around 130 rooms. You can take a guided tour here and easily spend 1-3 hours.
With so much time spent at the Residenz, it’s now time to walk and climb a bit to get an amazing view of Munich’s cityscape. Marienplatz is located at the central point of the city of Munich, making it a photographer’s paradise. Our favourite part of Marienplatz is the Old Pete Church. For 3 Euros, you can get access to stunning views from their tower. Soak in all that Mary’s Square has to offer and then look beyond to see the red roof houses. To access the church tower, you will have to climb up 306 steps. But trust me it is all worth it. This church was built by a monk and many monks have resided here over the centuries. The city’s German name, München, is derived from the word Mönch (Munich in Old High German), which means monk.
After an eventful day at the old (central) part of Munich and exploring its medieval connection, it’s now time for dinner. One of the oldest beer halls in Munich is located near Marienplatz. The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is the royal beer hall in Munich. A must visit during Oktoberfest, it is an amazing place to drop by for a drink or two. The beer hall is lined with local and international cuisine restaurants as well for dinner options.
Munich is a place of historical significance, so do not lose the opportunity to explore the city and learn about its by-gone days. You will notice that Germany as a country is very open about their past. Concentration camps are welcome to visitors. And these sites have been now transformed to memorial sites and Dachau is one of them.
So for your day 2 in Munich, consider exploring a different part of city and learning about its history. Dachau is a great option for a day-trip outside of the Munich city. Although not very far off, you can travel to Dachau in 20 minutes from Munich city centre. There are buses and train services available to take you there. If you prefer, guided tours are an option as well.
Dachau concentration camp had a great significance in shaping Hitler’s political career and also shaping Germany’s modern history. It is actually one of the first Nazi concentration camps to hold political prisoners. Because of its close proximity to Munich, this concentration camp was soon busy and overflowing with political prisoners.
The Dachau camp system grew to include nearly 100 sub-camps, which were mostly work camps and were located throughout southern Germany and Austria. The camps were liberated by U.S. forces in1945 during the Second World War.
Visitors can explore the memorial site on their own, without a guide. But only state-certified guides are allowed to take visitors for a tour. If you are considering exploring the memorial site on your own, you can use an audio guide for free. You can easily spend 4-5 hours at the memorial site. This place might wear you down, as there is a lot of history attached to it along with some brutal stories. You will see how and where the prisoners were kept, their beds, shower rooms, and death chambers and crematorium. But I think it is a must-visit place to appreciate what we have got in life and a realisation that war never results in anything good for anybody.
After your tour of the Dachau Memorial site, take a train back to the city center. There are 2 more interesting things to do in the city today. To transition your day back to normalcy, explore the pretty market of Viktualienmarkt. This is one of the oldest markets in Germany and also looks stunning in the evening with all the lights on.
If you are an opera person, visit Munich’s Opera house. I would highly recommend that tickets are purchased ahead of time, to avoid disappointment. If you feel that the City center, was enough for a day, then head to the English Gardens. The English Gardens are one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a very changing dynamic. It is a perfect place for a calming and a beautiful afternoon. Take a stroll or come for a picnic. You can also access epic city views from here by the Monopteros. There are beer gardens located nearby as well; ideal for dinner options.
Munich’s Opera House
Munich deserves a place in your European continent exploration - a city so culturally rich, with great infrastructure, a history nerd’s paradise and so much more. If you are planning an extended stay in Munich, consider taking some day trips to places like Fussen (to explore the Neuschwanstein castle), Nuremberg or Salzburg in Austria.
A 2-day itinerary for Munich
Munich was the first European city that we visited and for that very reason, we will never forget this stunning city of Germany. Munich is actually one of the most visited European cities. It is a great stop for exploring other European countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. During Oktoberfest, the city of Munich explodes in fun and festivities, when tourists from all over the world come to visit Germany. Whether you are visiting the city during festivals or offseason, this 2-day Munich itinerary is perfect to get a glimpse of the city’s history, culture, and nature.
Related - Salzburg Itinerary – Visit Salzburg in 2 days
Day 1 in Munich
Munich’s heart lies in the Old town square of Marienplatz. Mary’s Square or Marienplatz has witnessed many important pages of Munich and German history. From the ending of the Thirty years war to Hitler’s Putsch – you can explore all of it in the old town.
The old town is well connected via the internal train system in Munich. You can also head directly to the Marienplatz from the Munich station. Use SBahn (S8 towards Herrsching). As soon as you leave the station, you will be welcomed by stunning historical buildings everywhere. The first building that you see here is the Old Town Hall, which now houses a museum. When you continue walking towards the square, you will see the New City Hall in all its glory. The architecture of these buildings is inspired by the Gothic style and yes, they are completely functional and have government administrative offices inside the building. It is the home of the Mayor and the City council, which also has a conference room inside it. The inside halls are very richly decorated and have ornate designs.
Another unique thing about this building is the clock located at the center of the building. The clock, with 43 bells, plays daily at 11 and 12 o’clock and from March to October at 5 o’clock. It is wonderful to watch the motorized figurines dance. The 32 figures that participate in this dance refer to motifs from the history and legend of Munich. One of the popular legends was that when plague was rampant and the citizens avoided the market square, the clock played music to lure citizens back to the street.
In the middle of the square is Mary’s Column. And this square is rightly named after Virgin mother Mary. It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War. The column is topped by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven. This column was one of the first of its kind to be erected in Germany and the neighbouring areas.
There are tons of restaurants and stores on each side of the square. If you are tired and want to grab a schnitzel, now is a good time. Souvenir stores are located here as well.
After lunch, continue exploring the areas in and around Marienplatz and head to Odeonplatz. There is a train station that leads to Odeonplatz as well, if you prefer not to walk.
Some interesting tours in Munich!
Odeonplatz is a large public square that was built in the 19th century. Many historical events took place here including the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 by Hitler and his followers. Located very close to the Odeonplatz is the Munich Residenz. It is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach Kings of Bavaria. It is also one of the largest city palaces in the whole of Germany. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and has around 130 rooms. You can take a guided tour here and easily spend 1-3 hours.
With so much time spent at the Residenz, it’s now time to walk and climb a bit to get an amazing view of Munich’s cityscape. Marienplatz is located at the central point of the city of Munich, making it a photographer’s paradise. Our favourite part of Marienplatz is the Old Pete Church. For 3 Euros, you can get access to stunning views from their tower. Soak in all that Mary’s Square has to offer and then look beyond to see the red roof houses. To access the church tower, you will have to climb up 306 steps. But trust me it is all worth it. This church was built by a monk and many monks have resided here over the centuries. The city’s German name, München, is derived from the word Mönch (Munich in Old High German), which means monk.
After an eventful day at the old (central) part of Munich and exploring its medieval connection, it’s now time for dinner. One of the oldest beer halls in Munich is located near Marienplatz. The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is the royal beer hall in Munich. A must visit during Oktoberfest, it is an amazing place to drop by for a drink or two. The beer hall is lined with local and international cuisine restaurants as well for dinner options.
Related - Three days in Berlin.
Day 2 in Munich
Munich is a place of historical significance, so do not lose the opportunity to explore the city and learn about its by-gone days. You will notice that Germany as a country is very open about their past. Concentration camps are welcome to visitors. And these sites have been now transformed to memorial sites and Dachau is one of them.
So for your day 2 in Munich, consider exploring a different part of city and learning about its history. Dachau is a great option for a day-trip outside of the Munich city. Although not very far off, you can travel to Dachau in 20 minutes from Munich city centre. There are buses and train services available to take you there. If you prefer, guided tours are an option as well.
Dachau concentration camp had a great significance in shaping Hitler’s political career and also shaping Germany’s modern history. It is actually one of the first Nazi concentration camps to hold political prisoners. Because of its close proximity to Munich, this concentration camp was soon busy and overflowing with political prisoners.
The Dachau camp system grew to include nearly 100 sub-camps, which were mostly work camps and were located throughout southern Germany and Austria. The camps were liberated by U.S. forces in1945 during the Second World War.
Visitors can explore the memorial site on their own, without a guide. But only state-certified guides are allowed to take visitors for a tour. If you are considering exploring the memorial site on your own, you can use an audio guide for free. You can easily spend 4-5 hours at the memorial site. This place might wear you down, as there is a lot of history attached to it along with some brutal stories. You will see how and where the prisoners were kept, their beds, shower rooms, and death chambers and crematorium. But I think it is a must-visit place to appreciate what we have got in life and a realisation that war never results in anything good for anybody.
Related - The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (concentration camps) in Poland.
After your tour of the Dachau Memorial site, take a train back to the city center. There are 2 more interesting things to do in the city today. To transition your day back to normalcy, explore the pretty market of Viktualienmarkt. This is one of the oldest markets in Germany and also looks stunning in the evening with all the lights on.
If you are an opera person, visit Munich’s Opera house. I would highly recommend that tickets are purchased ahead of time, to avoid disappointment. If you feel that the City center, was enough for a day, then head to the English Gardens. The English Gardens are one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a very changing dynamic. It is a perfect place for a calming and a beautiful afternoon. Take a stroll or come for a picnic. You can also access epic city views from here by the Monopteros. There are beer gardens located nearby as well; ideal for dinner options.
Munich’s Opera House
Munich deserves a place in your European continent exploration - a city so culturally rich, with great infrastructure, a history nerd’s paradise and so much more. If you are planning an extended stay in Munich, consider taking some day trips to places like Fussen (to explore the Neuschwanstein castle), Nuremberg or Salzburg in Austria.
I really enjoyed your post and it brought back great memories from our trip to Munich last summer. I loved the Viktualienmarkt, but sadly we weren't there at night. Will have to make sure to check it out at night the next time we are in the area. We did visit Dachau and it was very sad, so you may want to add a visit to Hofbrauhaus for a beer or two afterwards. :) That's what we did and met some of the nicest people. Thanks again for sharing and for the memories. :)
ReplyDeleteA visit to Hofbrauhaus sounds like a good idea! It's said to be the world`s most famous tavern, isn't it? Also heard that they serve beer only in stein glass!
ReplyDelete