Munich City Trip - Tips for 48 Hours in Munich

The Bavarian capital Munich is known all over the world for the Oktoberfest. Many visitors only come to Munich for this reason, which is a shame because the city has a lot more to offer! You can do a city trip over the weekend and discover many of Munich’s stunning sights. That’s how we did it this summer.

Munich travel tips – city break for 48 hours

If you want to get to know the city better, 48 hours in Munich are obviously not enough. But it’s a good start and in our opinion even a short city trip to Munich is absolutely worth it. In the following article we show you many sights and tips for Munich that you can discover in only one weekend.

How to get to Munich

There are many ways to get to Munich: by airplane, train, bus or car. Depending on where you are coming from, other modes of transport are suitable. The plane can be the fastest, however not necessarily if you stay in southern Germany or Austria.

We drove to Munich on this trip because we visited Neuschwanstein Castle, Hallstatt and Vienna in Austria all together. Munich was the first stop on this road trip.

Cheap ways to get to Munich are e.g. the long-distance buses from Flixbus, but the train from Deutsche Bahn can also be an alternative. If you choose the airplane, it’s best to take a look at Skyscanner. You can often find bargains there, depending on the day of the week. The website Omio site also offers a good overview and a great booking system for public transportation.

The main train station is right in the center of Munich, but you can also take the S-Bahn to the city center from the airport. You can buy tickets on site at the machines.

Tip: With the Munich City Card you get many discounts on admission prices and you can use all public transports – at a much cheaper price.

Accommodations in Munich – our hotel tip

The choice of accommodation in Munich is huge, so it can be difficult to find the right one. The prices are usually very high in the city, which is why it can be worthwhile to take a look at the parts outside the city center. You can find a good overview of the hotels here.

A good option for an overnight stay is the Lizz Hotel Munich. A few minutes from the Goetheplatz underground station, it is a great starting point for exploring Munich. You can also visit the old town on foot. The rooms are modern and equipped with a bathroom, minibar, TV, etc. The great breakfast buffet makes the stay complete. Parking spaces are also available.

1. Olympic Park

The Olympic Park was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics and is now a popular recreational area in Munich. The Olympic Hall, the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Tower are also located here, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view over Munich.

Even today, many events take place regularly in the Olympic Park. Otherwise, it is used by the residents of Munich for walking, jogging or simply relaxing. You can also go pedal boating or rowing on the Olympic Lake or use the indoor swimming pool in the 850,000 m² huge park.

Tip: You will have a great view of the entire park from the Olympic Hill. Incidentally, there is no entry fee to visit the park, unless you want to use the swimming pool etc. or visit the Olympic tower. You can find prices and events here.

2. BMW Welt

The BMW Welt in Munich has existed since October 2007 and is one of the highlights for many tourists every year. The BMW Welt is not just a normal museum, but also a delivery location and regularly organizes events and exhibitions.

Admission to BMW Welt is free, only the BMW Museum costs € 10 per person. It is open daily from 7.30 A.M. to midnight, except Sundays from 9.00 A.M. to midnight. However, the museum is only open from 10.00 A.M. to 6.00 P.M.

3. Old Pete (Alter Peter)

The St. Peter’s Church, also known as the “Old Pete” among the residents, was inaugurated in 1954 and is therefore the oldest church in Munich. It is one of the landmarks of the city and attracts many visitors every day who either look at the church from the inside or climb to the top of the tower.

You can visit the interior of the church for free, which is built in baroque style. There is an entrance fee of € 3 per person to climb the tower, but it’s worth it. Over 306 steps through partly very narrow corridors, you’ll get to the 51 meter high platform.

Once at the top, it can get very crowded and a tour along the viewing platform can take some time. In return, you have great views of Marienplatz, the city hall, the Viktualienmarkt, the Frauenkirche or the English Garden. It is open daily from 10.00 A.M. to 6.00 P.M.

4. Viktualienmarkt

The Viktualienmarkt has been taking place in Munich’s old town every day since 1807. There are over 100 stands and it is only closed on public holidays and Sundays. The market extends over 22,000 m² and offers fresh food such as fruits, vegetables or cheese as well as some stalls where you can have lunch, for example.

You will of course also find a beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt, where you can consume your dishes that you have bought at the stands. It is open from Monday to Saturday between 8.00 A.M. and 8.00 P.M. Only a few minutes away from Marienplatz or the Old Pete, a visit here is definitely worthwhile.

If you want to find out more about the Viktualienmarkt and try the various delicacies, then a gourmet tour is ideal. You will get a lot of information about the people working on the market and will stop at some stalls to try the different goods.

5. Marienplatz and city hall

The center of Munich extends around Marienplatz, where the pedestrian zone in the city center begins. Between Isartor and Karlstor, Marienplatz is a popular destination. Also because of the old and new city hall.

The heart of the city is visited by many visitors, especially at noon, as the carillon takes place here in the new city hall at 11.00 A.M. and 12.00 P.M. In addition, anecdotes from Munich’s history are represented with characters.

The annual Christmas market also takes place here. You will certainly come across it more often when you stay in Munich, because Marienplatz is located directly between the Old Pete, the Frauenkirche and the Viktualienmarkt.

6. Frauenkirche

The Frauenkirche, with its full name “Cathedral of Our Dear Lady”, is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Munich and one of the city’s landmarks. The 37 meter high and approximately 109 meter long church is located in the old town of Munich.

However, since the Frauenkirche is mostly covered by buildings, at least from the street, it is worth visiting Old Pete to marvel at the full splendor of the church. The interior of the Frauenkirche is also freely accessible and can be viewed free of charge during the opening times of the church.

If you want to climb the dome of the south tower to enjoy the view of Munich, there is an entrance fee of € 8. It is open daily from 10.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. or 6.00 P.M. (winter and summer months). Furthermore, on Sundays it is only open from 12.30 P.M.

The Munich Frauenkirche is also part of the very popular tour Munich: Old Town & Viktualienmarkt City Walk. It’s all about the history of the Bavarian capital, which leads you through the old town of Munich.

7. English Garden

With 375 hectares, the English Garden in Munich is one of the largest parks in the world. The name comes from the fact that the garden designer built this park based on an English landscape garden.

Several million visitors come to the English Garden every year and you can see it straight away, especially in summer. It is not only tourists, but also many Munich residents who enjoy the sun, swim in the Schwabinger Bach or Eisbach and have fun in the beer garden.

With the Monopteros, the Chinese tower and the Japanese tea house, you can discover some interesting things in the English Garden on a walk. The area is really huge and you should take enough time to relax a little from sightseeing in Munich.

8. Eisbachwelle

The Eisbach leads from the Isar through the English Garden of Munich. It flows almost two kilometers through the English Garden and is used by many visitors as a refreshment for swimming, especially in summer.

The Eisbachwelle occurs on Prinzregentenstrasse. This is where the rapids begin and at the beginning piles up into waves about half a meter high, which are used by surfers. A spectacle that always attracts a lot of bystanders when the surfers plunge into the waves. If you are visiting the English Garden, you should stop by.

9. Victory Gate

If you are walking from the English Garden to Munich’s old town, you can make a short stop at the Victory Gate. It is a bit reminiscent of the triumphal arch of Paris, but is based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Ludwig I. commissioned the triumphal arch to end his boulevard with it. The colossal structure is dedicated to the Bavarian Army and is a great photo opportunity.

10. Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest is known worldwide and takes place every year from the end of September to the beginning of October on the Theresienwiese. The people of Munich simply call their festival Wiesn and it is one of the largest folk festivals in the world. After all, the Oktoberfest has been around since 1810.

Many breweries brew a beer with a special flavor and higher alcohol content especially for the Oktoberfest. In addition to various attractions such as the Ferris wheel or the Devil’s wheel (Teufelsrad), the beer tents are of course the biggest draw.

Inside the large tents, the Oktoberfest is celebrated with large Mass of beer (a mug that fits 1 liter of beer). Often to traditional Bavarian music, sometimes to folk songs. On site you will not only meet many Bavarians, but visitors from all over the world to experience the Oktoberfest.

All further information can be found on the official Munich Oktoberfest website.

11. Bavarian cuisine

When you are in Munich, you should definitely try some dishes from the Bavarian cuisine. Yes, many of them are hearty, but also damn tasty! You can start with the popular sausage rolls in the morning. Then continue with white sausage and pretzels.

For example, there is often Wammerl for lunch. This is belly meat and usually coleslaw as a side dish. In the evening there is pork knuckles or Sauerbraten and much more. Bavarian cuisine is really diverse.

Of course, you can’t try everything on a weekend in Munich. You can find more inspiration for Bavarian cuisine here.

Tip: The Augustiner Bräustuben is a delicious brewery. It is located outside the city center, but can be easily reached with the S-Bahn via the Donnersbergerbrücke. Great food at reasonable prices.

12. German Museum

The largest science and technology museum is in Munich, better known as the German Museum. The full and correct name is German Museum of Masterpieces in Science and Technology, however.

The museum is located directly on the Isar and welcomes over a million visitors annually to view the approximately 28,000 exhibits. The German Museum also wants to bring technology and science closer to the unknowing visitors and is therefore interesting for everybody, even without all the prior knowledge.

It is open daily from 9.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. and the entrance fee is € 12 for adults and € 4 for children. Tickets are sold until 4.00 P.M.

13. Nymphenburg Palace

In the west of Munich you can find the Nymphenburg Palace with the associated palace gardens. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and one of the sights of Munich that many tourists visit. It is especially famous as it is the birthplace of Ludwig II. The entrance fee is € 6,50.

The Nymphenburg Palace Park is even under monumental protection and viewed as a garden work of art. So while you can take a look at the castle from the outside, a walk through the park is worthwhile. The inside of the castle is also beautifully kept in baroque style and partly classicism. Several epochs were united in this castle.

The concerts that take place in the Hubertussaal are also very popular with many visitors. Anyone who likes classical music is at the right place on an evening like this. You can find tickets for the concerts here.

Munich Sightseeing: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Munich in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Munich.

Do you like Munich or is the city not really your thing? What insider tips do you have for Munich? Give us your feedback in the comments below!