Munich in detail

Itineraries

Day One

  • Altstadt

After breakfast at your hotel or at one of the many early-opening bakery cafes around the Marienplatz, you can easily spend the entire morning exploring Munich's top attraction, the Residenz, including the Cuvilliés-Theater and the amazing Schatzkammer (Treasury). Get there early to make sure you see everything without rushing and without the later crush.

Lunch At Weisses Brauhaus.

  • Altstadt

Take the time to peruse the Altstadt starting at the Marienplatz. Climb the St Peterskirche tower, peruse the colourful bounty at the Viktualienmarkt, then keep a tab on the city's evolution at the Münchner Stadtmuseum, where the Third Reich exhibit makes a poignant transition to the nearby Jüdisches Museum.

Dinner At Prinz Myshkin.

  • Schwabing & the Englischer Garten

End the day at one of Munich's characterful beer gardens. You can gather around a Chinese pagoda folly at the Chinesischer Turm or watch the kids frolic in a playground at the large and leafy Hirschau – both are a pleasant walk through the evening English Garden.

Day Two

  • Schwabing & the Englischer Garten

Start the day, if you dare, with a Weisswurst and Weissbier breakfast at Weisses Brauhaus, which specialises in both. Suitably fortified, head east to the Englischer Garten where a long stroll through the park should burn off all those calories. Along the way stop off to admire the park's attractions such as Monopteros, a faux Greek temple; the Chinesischer Turm; and the Kleinhesseloher See, a lake in the middle of the park.

  • Lunch At Seehaus.
  • Schwabing & the Englischer Garten

Spend the afternoon exploring Schwabing and the university area. The north of the neighbourhood is resplendent in Jugendstil villas, once the haunt of artists and writers. The south, in what is officially Maxvorstadt, buzzes with studenty life, bars, ethnic eateries, vintage-clothes shops and bookstores lining its busy streets.

Finish the night with a bar hop around the Gärtnerplatzviertel, where streets such as Klenzestrasse and Baaderstrasse flaunt some of the most happening cafes and venues in the city.

Day Three

  • Maxvorstadt

You've had the beer, now it's time to experience Munich's art with a day in the Kunstareal, the city's arts quarter, which boasts four major art galleries that could each take up half a day of your time. If you are a morning person, use your energy on the Alte Pinakothek.

After lunch its back to the curated offerings of the Kunstareal and one more artsy push. If you've done the Alte Pinakothek in the morning, we suggest you spend the lazier afternoon in the Pinakothek der Moderne or the Museum Brandhorst. Alternatively, head to the nearby Könisgplatz to admire the Greek revivalist architecture from the reign of Ludwig I.

Well, that's the art done, so back to the beer and that quintessential Munich experience, the Hofbräuhaus, the beer hall with royal connections and an industrial catering operation. It provides a hilarious night out as you watch the hordes of tourists and the house band become ever more red faced and loud.

Day Four

  • Nymphenburg, Neuhausen & Olympiapark

Leave the confines of the old Munich for more modern attractions and the city's finest palace. Start the day at the Olympiapark, where you can easily fill the time between breakfast and lunch exploring the somewhat modest venue (by today's standards) of the 1972 summer games. The Olympiaturm should be high on your agenda, as should the Olympiastadion.

  • Lunch At BMW Welt cafe.
  • Nymphenburg, Neuhausen & Olympiapark

After a quick lunch, it's time to quicken the pace with a dash around BMW Welt with all the latest models on show, heaps of information about BMW's cars and various tours and demonstrations. The BMW plant tour and BMW Museum will have to wait for another time if you are to make it round Schloss Nymphenburg before the day is out.

After a strenous day, you can just kick back at the Hirschgarten, Bavaria's biggest beer garden, along with 7999 other drinkers.