Munich

Altstadt

$$$Open now

Located directly in the Viktualienmarkt, this bustling fishmonger serves exceptionally fresh seafood at high-top tables right on the market square.

SignaturePan-fried wild Mediterranean sea bass with market vegetables

Pescheria

Glockenbachviertel

$$$Closed

A lively, Mediterranean-style tavern where you select your fish directly from an ice-filled display counter to be grilled with olive oil and herbs.

SignatureWhole grilled sea bream with rosemary potatoes

Steak & grills

Munich's affluent dining scene demands high-quality beef, served in spaces ranging from clubby, wood-paneled dens to sleek, modern grill rooms.

Little London Bar & Grill

Altstadt

$$$$Closed

An upscale, English-style steakhouse featuring a bespoke Montague grill that cooks premium cuts at extremely high temperatures.

SignatureDry-aged prime rib eye cooked on the Montague grill

Rusticana

Haidhausen

$$Closed

A rustic, unpretentious neighborhood steakhouse that has been grilling exceptional steaks and legendary ribs over open charcoal since 1970.

SignatureCharcoal-grilled spare ribs with house-made barbecue sauce

Brenner Grill

Altstadt

$$$Open now

Housed in a grand, columned former royal stable on Maximilianstraße, featuring a dramatic open-fire grill in the center of the dining room.

SignatureTeriyaki-glazed beef fillet from the open flame

Tapas/local

Traditional Bavarian dining is hearty, meat-centric, and designed to accompany the city's famous beers. Expect wood-paneled taverns and communal seating.

Wirtshaus in der Au

$$Closed

A beloved local tavern famous for its lively atmosphere, excellent organic Bavarian ingredients, and specialization in traditional dumplings.

SignatureThe giant Munich dumpling platter with dark beer gravy

Schneider Bräuhaus

Altstadt

$$Open now

A historic brewery tavern specializing in wheat beer and traditional, nose-to-tail Munich dishes that are increasingly hard to find elsewhere.

SignatureKronfleisch (skirt steak simmered in broth) served with fresh horseradish

Augustiner-Keller

Maxvorstadt

$$Closed

One of the city's oldest beer halls, serving classic Bavarian comfort food alongside fresh lager tapped directly from wooden barrels.

SignatureCrispy Bavarian pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe) with potato dumplings

Fine dining

Munich boasts a highly sophisticated fine dining scene, led by visionary chefs who blend classic French techniques with modern, global influences.

Tantris

Schwabing

$$$$Closed

A legendary temple of gastronomy operating since 1971, famous for its iconic, preserved orange-and-black 1970s design and flawless French haute cuisine.

SignatureThe multi-course seasonal tasting menu

Alois - Dallmayr Fine Dining

Altstadt

$$$Closed

Located inside the historic Dallmayr delicatessen, this elegant restaurant offers contemporary, light, and creative fine dining.

SignatureThe chef's signature seafood-forward tasting menu

Tohru in der Schreiberei

Altstadt

$$$$Closed

Chef Tohru Nakamura serves exceptional, artful dishes that seamlessly fuse classic European techniques with Japanese flavors in a historic building.

SignatureSaddle of venison with Japanese plum and shiso

Budget eats

Affordable dining in Munich is found in historic markets, traditional bakeries, and the city's diverse immigrant-run eateries.

Schmalznudel - Cafe Frischhut

€

Altstadt

$$Open now

A legendary, no-nonsense cafe near the Viktualienmarkt serving traditional fried Bavarian pastries made fresh throughout the morning.

SignatureThe Schmalznudel (a flat, circular fried pastry served warm)

Türkitch

€

Bahnhofsviertel

Closed

A cult-favorite spot that elevated the humble kebab with high-quality meats, fresh herbs, and creative sauces.

SignatureThe special beef Dürüm with grilled vegetables and goat cheese

Münchner Suppenküche

€

Altstadt

$Closed

An outdoor soup stall in the heart of the Viktualienmarkt, perfect for a quick, warming, and highly affordable lunch.

SignatureHearty potato soup with sliced Bavarian sausage

Vegetarian/vegan

Once a challenging city for non-meat eaters, Munich now features a creative, rapidly expanding plant-based scene ranging from casual cafes to Michelin-starred dining.

Doctor Drooly

Maxvorstadt

$$Closed

A wildly popular, cult-status vegan pizzeria serving creative sourdough pizzas with innovative house-made vegan cheeses.

SignatureThe 'White Trash' pizza with vegan mozzarella, potatoes, and truffle oil

Bodhi

Westend

$$Closed

Purist electronic music, dark dancefloors, and a strict no-photos policy.

A cozy, traditional-style pub that does the impossible: serving entirely vegan versions of heavy Bavarian comfort food classics.

SignatureVegan lupine-based schnitzel with potato-cucumber salad

After dark

Nightlife

Where the night goes — clubs, rooftop cocktails and the rooms with the best live music.

Nightclubs

Munich's club scene is highly professional, featuring world-class sound systems, strict door policies, and a focus on high-quality electronic music.

Blitz Club

Deutsches Museum Island

$$$Closed

Bohemian, inclusive, playing a mix of deep house, techno, and live experimental acts.

Housed in a former steam turbine hall, this club features a custom-designed, acoustic-optimized sound system that is widely considered one of the best in Europe.

Bahnwärter Thiel

Sendling

Intimate, dark, gritty, and intensely focused on the music.

An alternative, creative cultural space built from repurposed shipping containers, old subway cars, and a crane, offering a gritty, artistic escape.

Rote Sonne

Altstadt

$$Closed

Formal, elegant, and filled with the city's media, business, and cultural elite.

A long-running underground institution located in the city center, known for booking cutting-edge techno, house, and electro DJs.

Cocktail & rooftop bars

The city's affluent crowd supports a highly sophisticated bar culture, ranging from legendary institutions of classic mixology to trendy rooftop terraces.

Schumann's Bar

Altstadt

$$$Closed

Relaxed, creative, and highly focused on flavor innovation.

Founded by Charles Schumann, this is the undisputed temple of German bar culture, where classic cocktails are served with absolute precision.

Zephyr Bar

Glockenbachviertel

$$$Closed

Hip, design-conscious, and lively, especially during sunset.

An intimate, experimental cocktail den where bartenders use unusual ingredients, infusions, and elaborate garnishes to create liquid art.

The Flushing Meadows Rooftop Bar

Glockenbachviertel

$$$Closed

Respectful, listening-focused, and deeply atmospheric.

Located atop a boutique hotel, this bar offers excellent views over the rooftops of the Glockenbachviertel toward the Alps on a clear day.

Live music

From intimate basement jazz clubs to repurposed industrial complexes, Munich offers a diverse array of venues for live performances.

Unterfahrt

Haidhausen

$$Closed

Energetic, spacious, and culturally diverse.

A world-renowned jazz club located in a vaulted brick cellar, hosting international jazz legends and emerging talents almost every night of the year.

Muffatwerk

Haidhausen

Indie, artistic, and welcoming.

A former art nouveau power station turned cultural center, hosting a diverse lineup of touring indie bands, electronic artists, and world music.

Milla Club

Glockenbachviertel

Closed

An intimate, subterranean venue that champions indie bands, experimental artists, and local singer-songwriters before turning into a dance club late at night.

See & do

Culture

Museums, landmarks and galleries worth structuring a day around.

Museums

Munich is home to some of the world's most prestigious museum collections, largely concentrated in the purpose-built Kunstareal museum district.

Alte Pinakothek

Maxvorstadt

Closed

One of the oldest galleries in the world, housing an unparalleled collection of European masterpieces from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including works by Dürer, Rembrandt, and Rubens.

NoteAllow at least 2-3 hours. Admission is highly discounted on Sundays.

Deutsches Museum

Isar Island

Open now

The world's largest museum of science and technology, featuring interactive exhibits spanning aviation, astronomy, and marine navigation on an island in the Isar River.

NoteMassive scale; pick a few specific wings to visit rather than trying to see it all.

Lenbachhaus

Maxvorstadt

Closed

A stunning Italianate villa housing the world's largest collection of the 'Blue Rider' (Der Blaue Reiter) expressionist movement, including works by Kandinsky and Klee.

NoteFeatures a beautiful garden and a modern wing designed by Norman Foster.

Landmarks & architecture

The city's architectural landscape is a grand mix of Gothic brick, opulent Italian-style Baroque, and the bold, light-filled structures of the late 20th century.

The Residenz

Altstadt

The vast former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs, featuring spectacular Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical rooms, including the breathtaking Antiquarium hall.

NoteThe Treasury (Schatzkammer) requires a separate ticket but is highly worth the extra cost.

Nymphenburg Palace

Neuhausen-Nymphenburg

Open now

A grand Baroque summer palace surrounded by an expansive English-style park, canals, and smaller, ornate pavilions.

NoteTake the tram from the center; the palace gardens are free to enter and perfect for walking.

Olympiapark

Milbertshofen

Open now

Built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, this architectural masterpiece is famous for its revolutionary, tent-like tensile canopy roofs that mimic the Alps.

NoteYou can book a guided tour to walk directly on the roof of the Olympic Stadium.

Galleries

Beyond the historic masters, Munich has a vibrant contemporary art scene housed in striking modern architectural landmarks.

Pinakothek der Moderne

Maxvorstadt

Closed

One of Europe's largest museums for modern and contemporary art, design, architecture, and graphic works, housed in a soaring, light-filled concrete building.

NoteExcellent museum shop and a great cafe on the ground floor.

Museum Brandhorst

Maxvorstadt

Closed

An eye-catching building clad in thousands of multi-colored ceramic rods, housing a premier collection of modern art, including extensive works by Cy Twombly and Andy Warhol.

NoteLocated directly adjacent to the Pinakothek museums.

Haus der Kunst

Lehel

Closed

A non-collecting contemporary art museum housed in a monumental, austere building from the National Socialist era, now used to showcase provocative global contemporary art.

NoteThe rear of the building borders the famous Eisbach surfing wave.

Don’t-miss

Signature experiences

Surfing the Eisbachwelle

Lehel / English Garden1 hour

Watch skilled local surfers ride a continuous, cold standing wave at the southern tip of the English Garden, a unique urban spectacle that draws crowds year-round.

via Google

Traditional Brotzeit at Hirschgarten

Nymphenburg3 hours

Buy a mass of fresh draft beer and enjoy a traditional picnic under the ancient chestnut trees of Europe's largest beer garden, which seats over 8,000 people.

via Google

Climbing the Tower of St. Peter's Church

Altstadt1 hour

Climb the steep wooden steps of 'Alter Peter' for the absolute best panoramic view of Munich's red-tiled roofs, the Marienplatz, and the distant Bavarian Alps.

via Google

Beyond the city

Day trips

Neuschwanstein Castle

The ultimate fairytale castle commission by King Ludwig II, set dramatically against the rugged peaks of the Bavarian Alps.

Getting thereTake the regional train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Füssen, then transfer to local bus 73 or 78 directly to the castle ticket center.

via Google

Lake Starnberg (Starnberger See)

A vast, beautiful alpine lake beloved by locals for sailing, swimming, and lakeside dining, with views stretching to the Zugspitze mountain.

Getting thereTake the S-Bahn S6 line directly from Munich's central stations to Starnberg, taking approximately 30 minutes.

via Google

Herrenchiemsee Palace

Ludwig II's grand, unfinished tribute to Versailles, located on a peaceful island in the middle of Bavaria's largest lake, Chiemsee.

Getting thereTake the regional train to Prien am Chiemsee, walk or take the historic steam tram to the harbor, and board the regular passenger ferry to Herreninsel.

via Google

Book ahead

Things to do in Munich

Top-rated tours, tickets and experiences — book in seconds, skip the line.

from $76 approx.

Bodyflying & Indoor Skydiving at FlyStation Munich

5.0 (81)1 hour 30 min

from $275 approx.

Andechs Monastery Beer Hike Food Experience Private Tour

5.0 (43)5 hours

from $117 approx.

Half Price Fantastic Munich City Tour

5.0 (41)2 hours

from $57 approx.

Death and Chocolate: Walking Tour of Munich's Old South Cemetery

5.0 (39)1 hour 30 min

from $6500 approx.

Wright Europe Vacations - Private Escorted Auto Tours

5.0 (36)192 hours

from $35 approx.

Munich Third Reich Walking Tour: The Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

5.0 (34)2 hours 30 min

from $333 approx.

Salzburg Semi-Private Guided Day Tour from Munich with Lunch

5.0 (32)12 hours

from $176 approx.

Inside the Third Reich (Private Tour)

5.0 (29)2 hours

from $468 approx.

All-inclusive Small Group Beer, Brewery & Oktoberfest Experience!

5.0 (28)8 hours

from $176 approx.

Behind The Screen Discover Authentic Munich with a Private Host

5.0 (28)3 hours

from $799 approx.

Private Tour to Zugspitze with Cable Car-Tix, Lake Eibsee & Lunch

5.0 (27)6 hours

from $111 approx.

Arrival Transfer from Munich Airport to Munich City by Sedan

5.0 (27)30 minutes