Marienplatz

The heart of Munich: Marienplatz (St. Mary's Square), the world-famous center of the state capital, is home to the New Town Hall. No matter the time of year, there is always something happening around the Mariensäule (St. Mary's Column) — whether it's people gathering to watch the Glockenspiel (bell located in the Town Hall), the Christmas market, championship celebrations for major sports teams, or simply visitors from all over the world strolling through the city. Marienplatz lies at the very center of Munich, where the east-west axis between the Isartor and Karlstor gates crosses the north-south axis between Schwabing and the Sendlinger Tor gate, making it an ideal starting point for sightseeing in the city. The city center offers some of Munich's most famous attractions, such as the Frauenkirche (cathedral), Marienplatz and the Altes Rathaus (main square and Old Town Hall), the Allianz Arena (football stadium), BMW Welt, and the Olympic Park in the north of the city, as well as the Kunstareal (museum district) with its world-famous museums — to name just a few. Magnificent buildings and architectural sights are no less impressive than the many animals in the city's zoo. If you feel like taking a walk, you can stroll through Nymphenburg Palace Park or the English Garden and watch the surfers on the Eisbach wave.