A 3-Day Guide to Munich: Beer, Castles, and Culture

🌟 Day 1: Discover Munich’s Historic Heart

Morning – Marienplatz & Old Town Walk

Start your trip right in the middle of it all: Marienplatz, Munich’s central square since 1158. The highlight here is the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), a Gothic masterpiece famous for its Glockenspiel clock tower. At 11 AM (and also at noon), figures inside the tower perform a mechanical dance, reenacting historical Bavarian stories — jousting knights, spinning dancers, and ringing bells.

Just a few steps away stands the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), a reminder of Munich’s medieval past. Wander along the narrow side streets, where traditional Bavarian shops sit alongside modern boutiques.

• Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady): The city’s most iconic church with twin onion-shaped domes. Climb to the top for panoramic views of Munich and, on a clear day, even the Alps.

• St. Peter’s Church (Alter Peter): The oldest church in Munich. Its tower offers another fantastic viewpoint.

Lunch – Viktualienmarkt

By midday, head to Viktualienmarkt, a bustling open-air food market just a few minutes’ walk from Marienplatz. Originally a farmers’ market, it now offers over 140 stalls selling fresh produce, flowers, local delicacies, and snacks.

Try:

• Weißwurst (white sausage) served with sweet mustard and pretzels — a Munich classic, usually eaten before noon.

• Obatzda (cheese spread with paprika and onions) with a fresh pretzel.

• Grab a beer at the market’s central beer garden, where breweries rotate weekly.

Afternoon – Art or Nature

Depending on your interests, choose between Munich’s world-class museums or its famous green oasis.

• Art Route: Head to the Pinakotheken museums — Alte Pinakothek (European masters like Dürer and Rubens), Neue Pinakothek (19th-century art, from Van Gogh to Monet), and Pinakothek der Moderne (modern and contemporary works). Art lovers could spend days here.

• Nature Route: Walk or cycle through the English Garden (Englischer Garten), one of the largest urban parks in the world, even bigger than Central Park in New York. Watch surfers tackle the Eisbach River wave, a Munich tradition, and grab a beer at the Chinese Tower beer garden inside the park.

Evening – Hofbräuhaus Beer Hall

Wrap up your first day in Munich at the legendary Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V. This three-floor beer hall is always buzzing with locals and tourists, complete with oompah bands, long wooden tables, and servers in dirndls and lederhosen.

Food to order:

• Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) — crispy on the outside, juicy inside.

• Sauerbraten (pot roast) with red cabbage.

• Wash it down with a Maß (1-liter mug) of Hofbräu beer.