Munich is easily one of my favourite cities in Europe, we always tried to stop off there on our drive from the UK to Croatia when we lived in Croatia and I’ve probably spent over 3 weeks in the city in total.
I just love the architecture, the culture, the variety of outdoor and indoor activities (perfect for when the weather doesn’t play ball!) and of course the German food and Munich beers - home to the world-famous Oktoberfest.
After spending so much time in the city, why not put it to good use and make an itinerary to help you plan what to see in Munich in 2 days?
Read on to plan your trip!
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Munich view from the old townhall
How to get to Munich
Munich does have an international airport with connections not just all over Europe, but all over the world. You can fly directly to Munich from the USA, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Turkey and more.
So it’s kind of funny that I only flew into Munich for the first time this year…
I’ve driven to Munich twice and I’ve also taken the train from Nuremberg to Munich which takes less than 2 hours. Trains in Germany are so efficient and run regularly so you can find connections to Munich from multiple places.
All this to say, there’s lots of ways to get to Munich and you can easily find an option to suit you.
How long to spend in Munich
This depends if you’re visiting Munich during Oktoberfest, for the Christmas markets or as part of a longer Germany road trip itinerary.
I’m giving a Munich itinerary for 2 days in Munich because I think that’s a good time to see the main sights in the city. However if you’re visiting for Oktoberfest, I’d probably allow 3-4 days.
If you’re intending to take some day trips to the charming Bavarian villages or attractions around Munich, you could easily spend a week in Munich to see the sights and surrounding areas - which is what we did on our first trip.
Best time of year to visit Munich
Again this entirely depends on what time of year you’re visiting and what you want to see.
For Oktoberfest, it has to be late September to early October.
For the Christmas markets, I’d recommend visiting during the week sometime in December.
For the beautiful gardens, castles and visiting surrounding villages and countryside, between May - September is best.
Where is the best place to stay in Munich?
For a short trip to Munich, I would recommend staying within walking distance of Marienplatz. This is a great central location with a lot of walkability and you can get the S-bahn to Marienplatz directly to and from the airport.
Most recently we stayed close to Munich Central Station at a hotel called Hotel Cocoon Hauptbahnhof which had a really cute alpine vibe!
Check out Platzl Hotel Superior for a gorgeous property and great location. Hotel Torbräu is also centrally located near the old town and is well-reviewed.
For a more budget friendly option, this family-run Hotel Schlicker is a great choice, or the reliably known Mercure Hotel München Altstadt.
On previous trips because we usually had a car, it meant having to book a hotel with parking which usually means staying further outside the centre when you’re driving in Europe! We’ve stayed at Hotel New Orly twice and always enjoyed it but it is a bit of a walk to the city centre and not ideal if you’ve only got a couple of days in Munich.
2 days in Munich itinerary
Day 1 in Munich
Have a Bavaria Breakfast
This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but a traditional Bavarian breakfast is a white sausage, soft pretzel and a wheat beer!
These white sausages (Weißwurstfrühstück) are the main feature, they’re veal meat with spices and you need to cut and peel the skin off before you eat them.
Any Bavarian beer hall and restaurant will serve this as long as it’s open before midday, Augustiner and Weisses Bräuhaus im Tal are popular spots. But if you search for “Bavarian breakfast” on Google Maps, you’ll find loads of locations including the one closest to wherever you are to suit you!
Residenz Munich
The first time we visited Munich, we didn’t make it to the Munich Residenz and I didn’t think it was a big deal, but the second time we did visit and I’m so pleased we did - it is simply stunning.
The Munich Residence served as the seat of government and home to Bavarian dukes and officials from 1508 until 1918. Much of the building was destroyed in WWII and has since been restored.
The sheer size of the building means you can track the periods in which each section was built because of their design. There are now art collections and galleries throughout the palace.
You can see everything from Renaissance to Neoclassicism as well as collections of jewels and gold in the Treasury.
A ticket to the Munich Residence only costs 10 euros, or you can get combination tickets that include the Treasury and the Theatre.
Residenz Munich
Take a walk through the English Garden and stop at Biergarten am Chinesischen Turn for lunch and drink
If the weather is good, there is a beautiful parkland area behind the Residenz with waterways, lakes, paths and landscaped gardens.
There’s even a surfing spot! There is a continuous wave where you’ll frequently see surfers practicing on the Eisbach river - search for “Eisbachwelle” on Google Maps - in the summer this is an especially fun activity to go and watch!
In the centre of the garden there’s a Chinese Tower and here you can find a restaurant and beer garden if you’re looking for some refreshment. This is an especially lively area in the summer with events, music and cultural shows.
Climb the Clock Tower of the Town Hall for views over Marienplatz
After your walk and lunch, head to the centre of Munich old town where you’ll find the Town Hall overlooking Marienplatz.
There is a glockenspiel in the clocktower with small figurines which activates daily at 11am and midday, although I found it slightly underwhelming to see…
But what I do recommend is going to the observation deck of Munich Town Hall to see views of the city. There is an elevator to the top and tickets are only 7 euros.
From the top you can see famous sights in every direction including Frauenkirche, the Old Town Hall and St Peter’s Church.
There is also a guided tour of the Town Hall where you can see the famous library but this is only available on weekends.
There is another tower nearby that you can climb in St Peter’s Church which is opposite the Town Hall and I actually preferred this viewpoint at Christmas time because you can see the Town Hall building (which you can’t really see when you’re up the Town Hall tower) and the whole of Marienplatz with the Christmas markets and Christmas tree below - magical!
If you want to go up the St Peter’s Church Tower, it’s 306 steps (no elevator on this one) and costs 5 euros. The entrance to the tower is on the side of the church - not inside the church.
Marienplatz View
Seasonal - enjoy the Christmas markets in Marienplatz and Rindermarkt
If you’re visiting Munich at Christmas, this is of course a must do!
I love Munich Christmas Market, I think it’s underrated and I found it a lot less chaotic and also a bit cheaper than Nuremberg (I did them both on the same trip as they’re only 1 hour apart by train).
Munich is also where I finally got a Christmas mug shaped like a red boot - don’t know why I’m obsessed with those but I am.
Christmas markets are dotted all around the city centre in Munich with lots of food stalls, beer tents and market stands, but the main one is in Marienplatz.
Munich Christmas Market
Munich Christmas Market mug
Dinner and drinks at Augustiner Keller
I love Munich breweries but Augustiner Keller is undoubtedly my favourite.
There are lots of Augustiner locations in Munich but you want to go to the main Augustiner Keller which is a bit past the main station - this is the Google Maps location.
Augustiner Keller is more than just a brewery or a restaurant, it’s the only one of the Munich 6 breweries which is still independently owned (which I love). It has huge grounds which are more than just a beer garden, they have log cabins and wooden tiny houses for private parties, they have fire pits, they have games areas, they have a huge Ice Stock rink (a game that’s often called Bavarian Curling).
The interior is made up of multiple halls including the main hall with huge wooden vaulted ceiling and iron chandeliers with a stage at one end, this is where events are held. There’s also dining upstairs and the regular bar rooms either side of the entrance.
I have been to Augustiner Keller countless times and have had some of the best nights ever.
In 2021, we turned up and discovered the Starkbier Fest (strong beer festival) was happening, we went to leave but the staff on the door gave us free tickets, we ended up in this huge event in the main hall with locals all wearing lederhosen and dirndl, dancing on tables to a German band, learning German songs and doing the conga line with strangers while drinking beers that were all over 7% - it was a wild night.Then again in 2026, we went with some friends and got tickets to a Bavarian Carnival event happening at Augustiner. We had no idea what we were in for but there were marching bands, gymnasts, German techno, marching guards, the prince and princess of the carnival and music until 1am.
Augustiner Brewery Carnival
I’ve also been to Augustiner and just had lovely chill evenings with great beer and food in a stunning setting - they don’t always have big events!
But my point is that you don’t need to go to Oktoberfest and spend loads of money on what has become a very commercial festival. Munich breweries have festivals and events throughout the year which are so much fun (Strong beer festival happens every February) and you can buy tickets on their website, hotels will be cheaper than during Oktoberfest and the experience feels a lot more local and authentic.
Augustiner Hall Munich
Day 2 in Munich
Visit Nymphenburg Palace
Schloss Nymphenburg is on the outskirts of Munich and is a vast palace on 200 hectares of land and gardens.
Tickets are 10 euros or the combination ticket including the park palaces and museum is 20 euros, although some of these palaces are closed during the winter so the ticket might not be worth it.
The palace dates back to 1662 and has a long history with stunning interiors and decor. The gardens are also beautiful to explore in the summer.
To get here, it’s only 15 minutes to drive to Nymphenburg Palace from Munich Central Station, or from the station you can take tram 17 which takes 30 minutes.
Explore Munich old town
Spend the afternoon exploring Munich’s old town, while it’s not as traditional as some old towns in Europe, there's plenty to see and enjoy and a big draw for me is often the interiors which are stunning - from vaulted dark wood beer halls to baroque churches.
Some of my top spots include:
Asamkirche - an absolutely spectacular church, pictures cannot do justice to this interior. The ceiling looks like you’re staring into an infinite painting, the baroque architecture and gold embellishments are incredible. The church was built in the 1700s and you can see a representation in gold of death cutting the life thread.
Asamkirche Munich
St. Peter’s Church - I’ve already mentioned that you can climb the church tower here, but in the church itself, you can find the jewelled skeleton of Saint Munditia who is clasping a vial of dried blood. The church itself is the oldest in Munich, dating from 1158.
Frauenkirche - this vast gothic church is home to the devils footprint - a footprint in the stone, just inside the entrance of the church which is said to be where the devil stamped his foot after being cheated by the church builder about whether the church would have windows. He’s said to have transformed himself into a fierce wind which you can feel when you stand here.
Frauenkirche Interior
Frauenkirche
Hofbräuhaus München - probably the most famous Munich brewery name and this is the Munich brewery owned and regulated by the Bavarian government. Their brewery in the city centre is gorgeous inside, absolutely huge and so much fun. There’s often live Bavarian music playing, the atmosphere is always so fun and the food and drink are of course great. I highly recommend trying a Dunkel beer while you’re in Munich, everyone assumes they’re a dark and heavy beer but it’s actually like a dark lager, I love it!
Hofbräuhaus Brewery Munich
Juristische Bibliothek - if you visit on a weekend, I highly recommend trying to do a tour of the Town Hall to see this library if you’re a library/book fan. It’s only open to the public on weekends and you can only visit as part of a tour, I’ve still never managed to visit after all this time but hopefully you can! (look up pictures of it online, it’s beautiful)
Viktualienmarkt - this is a 200 year old market in the city with countless stalls, deli food, beer tents, flowers and trinkets to buy.
Dinner at one of the Munich Beer Halls
As I mentioned above, you could go to Hofbrau for food and drinks on your last evening, or you could try one of the other Munich breweries.
Der Pschorr is located in the city centre next to the Viktualienmarkt. Hacker-Pschorr brewery was formed by the merger of two breweries: Hacker and Pschorr and this is the Pschorr location. This is more of a modern beer hall but the food here was fantastic and so was the Weissbier.
Pschorr Brewery Munich
Hackerhaus is the Hacker part of the brewery and a much more traditional restaurant and beer hall a bit of a walk from the city centre.
Lowenbrau is probably my third favourite after Augustiner and Hofbrau, although it’s a short walk out of the city centre but my husband got serenaded by the brass band here once which was hilarious.
Lowenbrau Brewery
I also love Paulaner Bräuhaus but you need to take a taxi to get there from the city centre.
Paulaner Munich
Summary: two days in Munich, Germany
I hope this 2 days in Munich itinerary gives you the perfect mix of history, culture, great city views, tasty food and of course German beer.
I think Munich has a lot to offer in a very easy, walkable area and while it’s famous for Oktoberfest, there is so much more to the city and you can have great beer experiences in Munich without Oktoberfest prices and crowds!
Enjoy your Munich trip!
