MunichTravel Guide

Munich's central square, where the Neo-Gothic Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall tower performs its clockwork show at 11am and noon (plus 5pm in summer) — the natural starting point for any first visit.

The Wittelsbach dynasty's baroque summer palace, with a canal-lined park, the Gallery of Beauties portrait collection, and porcelain workshops still operating on the grounds today.

One of the world's largest urban parks — bigger than New York's Central Park — famous for the surfers who ride a standing wave on the Eisbach stream and the beer garden at the Chinese Tower.

A striking bowl-shaped museum beside BMW's four-cylinder headquarters tower, tracing a century of design and motorsport — the adjacent BMW Welt showroom is free and worth combining with it.

A daily food market just south of Marienplatz since 1807 — Bavarian sausages, cheeses, and produce stalls surround the market's own beer garden, a favourite lunch stop for locals.

Ludwig II's fairytale castle in the foothills of the Alps, about 2 hours from Munich by train and bus — the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle, best booked with a timed-entry ticket in advance.

The most famous beer hall in the world, in continuous operation since 1589 — oompah bands, litre steins, and long communal tables make it touristy but genuinely fun for at least one visit.

The world's largest science and technology museum, with full-size aircraft, submarines, and mine tunnels across 50 fields of science — plan at least half a day even for a partial visit.

The tent-roofed stadium complex built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, now a park with a climbable Olympic Tower, lake, and the BMW Welt within walking distance.

Munich's twin-domed cathedral and skyline landmark since the 15th century — by local ordinance no building in the city centre may stand taller than its towers.