Luxury hotels in Munich

Munich guide

Munich: Marienplatz, the beer gardens and the Alps

The Glockenspiel, Bavarian palaces, Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein on a day trip.

Marienplatz, with the New Town Hall's Glockenspiel performing in the tower, is the heart of Munich and its most cited sight. The Residenz, the Bavarian royal palace, the Viktualienmarkt and the English Garden, with its beer garden and river surfers, are close by.

Oktoberfest, from late September to early October, is the world's largest folk festival, and the city's art museums, the Pinakotheken, are outstanding. The most cited day trip is Neuschwanstein Castle, about two hours away, which needs timed tickets booked ahead.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale castle built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the Alpine foothills, is the most cited excursion from Munich, about two hours away. Visits are by timed guided tour only, and tickets sell out, so we book them in advance.

The Marienbrücke, a footbridge over a gorge, gives the classic view of the castle, and Hohenschwangau, Ludwig's childhood home, is just below. Linderhof Palace and the painted village of Oberammergau make a fine combination on the way back.

The Residenz and the Pinakotheken

The Munich Residenz, the palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty with its Antiquarium and Treasury, is one of the city's most cited sights. A short walk away, the Alte Pinakothek holds one of the world's great collections of old masters, from Dürer to Rubens, and the Neue and Moderne Pinakotheken continue to the present day.

Nymphenburg Palace, the summer residence, with its gardens, pavilions and the Marstall museum of royal carriages, is a short tram ride west of the centre.