Munich itinerary — 2 days
Day 1 — Munich
4 stops · ≈ 7 h 13 minThe legendary beer hall on Platzl, founded in 1589 as the ducal court brewery; the current building rose here at the end of the 19th century. Under the vaulted Schwemme hall a Bavarian brass band plays, waiters carry one-litre Maß mugs, and pork knuckle, weisswurst and giant pretzels come with them. Very touristy but loved by Munich locals too; booking a table ahead is wise.
The world's largest museum of science and technology, occupying its own island in Munich's River Isar. Founded in 1903, it displays some 28,000 historic objects across 50 exhibition areas, spanning pioneering Wright brothers' aircraft, the earliest diesel engines, and space exploration. Key highlights include the walk-through underground mining replica and electrifying high-voltage demonstrations.
A world-renowned continuous standing river wave on the Eisbach river at the southern edge of Munich's English Garden. Formed where the surging river emerges forcefully from an underground conduit over a stone sill, the one-meter wave attracts skilled river surfers year-round. Donning wetsuits in all seasons, surfers take turns carving and performing tricks while curious spectators crowd the bridge and embankments above.
One of the world largest urban public parks covering 375 hectares, stretching along the Isar River through central Munich. Commissioned in 1789 by Benjamin Thompson, it is larger than London Hyde Park or New York Central Park. Highlights include the famous continuous standing wave on the Eisbach brook ridden by surfers year-round, the Chinese Tower beer garden, and the Monopteros temple.
Reserve
8If you have time left — worth it too.
The Feldherrnhalle is a monumental open-air loggia anchoring the southern end of Munich's Odeonsplatz. Commissioned in 1841 by King Ludwig I and designed by Friedrich von Gärtner, it was modeled after Florence's Loggia dei Lanzi. The arcade houses monumental bronze statues of Bavarian generals Tilly and Wrede alongside sculpted lions, and stands historically as the site where the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch was halted.
Standing proudly on the banks of the Isar River, the Müllersches Volksbad is an Art Nouveau and Neo-Baroque public bathhouse completed in 1901 by architect Karl Hocheder. Renowned as one of Europe's most opulent indoor pools, it features intricate Jugendstil stucco work, bronze statues, and ornate wall fountains. Visitors can swim beneath grand vaulted ceilings in two historic pools, relax in Roman-Irish steam baths, or enjoy Finnish saunas.
Munich's Renaissance court garden, laid out in the 1610s under Maximilian I right beside the Residence. At its centre stands the octagonal Diana pavilion of 1615 with a copy of the goddess statue, ringed by arcade galleries where musicians often play and by straight green avenues. The garden is freely open and makes a breather between the centre and the adjacent English Garden. Mornings are quiet; by midday locals fill the benches.
Originating in the Alps, the Isar River flows through central Munich like a ribbon of clear alpine water. Thanks to the ambitious 'Isar-Plan' project, its banks were restored to natural gravel beds, islands, and lush floodplains. Areas like the Flaucher and Reichenbachbrücke serve as Munich's open-air living room in summer, where locals swim in the cool river, sunbathe on pebble beaches, and picnic under the riverside willows.
The Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg is one of Germany's largest: 21 hectares beside Nymphenburg Palace holding around 16,000 plant species. It moved here in 1914 from its old site near Karlsplatz and is run by Ludwig Maximilian University. Greenhouses hide a tropical rainforest, a cactus desert and giant water lilies, while outdoors there are an alpine rock garden, rose beds and the baroque Schmuckhof courtyard facing the palace.
Munich's scenic zoological garden, established in 1911 in the protected riverside meadows along the River Isar. Hellabrunn made history as the world's very first "Geo-zoo", where species are grouped strictly according to their geographical continents in expansive, moat-divided natural habitats. Standout areas include the historic 1914 domed elephant house, the African savannah, and the modern Polar World.
The lavish summer residence of Bavaria's Wittelsbach monarchs, founded in 1664 to celebrate a royal birth. This grand baroque palace was the birthplace of 'fairytale king' Ludwig II. Inside, highlights include the monumental Stone Hall with rococo ceiling frescoes and King Ludwig I's famed Gallery of Beauties. The palace is surrounded by an expansive 200-hectare park with canals, classical statues, and ornate pavilions like the Amalienburg.
The brand museum of the Bavarian automaker located beside Munich's Olympiapark, opened in 1973 in Karl Schwanzer's futuristic silver bowl-shaped building. Spanning 5,000 square metres across interconnected spiral ramps, the exhibition showcases over a century of engineering: from historic aircraft engines and pioneering motorcycles to the microcar Isetta, the sleek BMW 507 roadster, and Formula 1 racers. Across the footbridge lies BMW Welt.
- Purchase tickets before boarding public transport to avoid fines.
- Take advantage of the S-Bahn to reach the airport quickly.
- Explore the English Garden and local beer gardens for a true Munich experience.