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1 Day in Munich; How To Spend the PERFECT 24 hours in Munich

Munich was one of my favourite cities in all of Europe. If you want a simple way to spend 1 day in Munich, then check out my blog post. Munich is the 3rd biggest city in Germany and this economic powerhouse is the capital of Bavaria. The city is a beautiful place to walk around, but it offers a wide array of cultural areas to explore while you’re there. You may know that Munich is famous for beer, but it’s also home to some of the region’s best museums, palaces, gardens and more. If you only have 24 hours in Munich, you can see pretty much all the main sites, check out my 1 day Munich Itinerary at the bottom.

**DID YOU KNOW: YOU CAN DAY TRIP TO Neuschwanstein Castle FROM MUNICH HERE

Before we look at the 24 hour Munich itinerary though, here are the 10 things to do in Munich during your time here. If you have longer than 24 hours in Munich, feel free to tweak the itinerary at the bottom.

TOP 10 Things to Do in Munich:

Schloss Nymphenburg

The Bavarian Palace and palace grounds

Munich Residenz

The former ruling family’s house

Marienplatz

Munich’s old town with bars, churches and restaurants

Glockenspiel

Munich’s iconic cuckoo clock

Cathedrals

Don’t miss Asamkirche or St Peter’s Chapel; While in Munich, Germany, be sure to ascend the 306 stairs (for free!) and earn yourself one of the most picturesque views of the city. It’s Munich’s oldest church as well, dating back to the year 1180. If you’re someone who loves to get a birds-eye view of the city you’re visiting, this is definitely something to put on your list.

Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall

You can’t call a trip to Munich complete without enjoying a litre of beer at the world-famous Hofbrauhaus, a real Bavarian beer hall. The atmosphere is always lively, with traditional Bavarian bands and long rows of tables that are shared, for a communal vibe. The food is great here too; you can sample the local specialities of bratwurst and sauerkraut, along with many other items.

Walk through English Garden

If you’re a fan of free things to do, you’ll love Munich’s English Garden. It’s a vast and beautiful park in the city’s centre, with acres and acres of grassy expanses, flower gardens, a Chinese pagoda and rivers flowing through. There’s even a large beer garden at the bottom of the park that’s a perfect place to reward yourself for all that exercise!

Check out Museum Brandhorst

This is another great pick for travellers on a budget. It’s only one Euro to get in on Sundays! Here you’ll find works by Andy Worhol, Gerhard Richter and many other artists. It’s an interesting museum to visit off the beaten path if you don’t feel like waiting in endless lines for the other museums while you’re here.

Ritter Chocolate Headquarters

Chocolate fan? Don’t waste a minute in getting to the headquarters of Ritter Chocolate (you know, those delicious chocolates that come in the colourful square wrappers!) It’s a real chocolate factory so you can see how your favourite flavours are made. Don’t leave before picking up some of the unique flavours you can’t find in stores.

Stock up for a Picnic at Viktualienmarkt

This food market is the perfect place to explore and stock up on Bavarian food specialities. You can get a pretzel the size of your head or bratwurst with mustard! Speck (black forest ham) and local cheeses along with fruits and vegetables of all kinds are on display here. Get a feel for the local crowd and immerse in Munich’s diverse culture.

Bayern Munich’s Alliance Arena Tour

For the football fans, tag a tour in one of Europe’s best football teams (obviously Liverpool are THE best, but Bayern Munich are arguably second!)

BOOK YOUR FOOTBALL TOUR HERE

1 Day in Munich Itinerary

So now you’re armed with the top 10 things to do in Munich, how do you put that into a 1 day in Munich Itinerary? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Here we go, 24 hours in Munich:

Morning:

If your accommodation is in the city centre, wander to Marienplatz. If your hotel is further afield, hop on the user-friendly tram. The Old Town here is ‘real’ Munich. Ancient buildings, beautiful architecture, and lots of places to get your morning coffee and watch life in Munich pass by. If you time it right, at 11m, the glockenspiel will go off. 2/10 things to do in Munich done by 11.15am!

Walk to St. Peter’s Church and climb to the top for epic views of old Munich.  After the 306 steps up (and down), slowly head to Viktualienmarkt. An open-air market to buy your trinkets and grab some snacks for lunch.

Afternoon:

If you’re an art affeciendo, after lunch walk to Museum Brandhorst to see some of Andy Warhol’s original pieces. But stop at the beautiful ‘Munich Residence’ en route, it marks the half-way point between the two.

If shopping is more your thing, skip the gallery and pound the streets of Munich’s answer to Oxford Street, Maximilianstrasse (where you’ll also find even more art galleries too). If that’s not enough high-brow tourist stuff, then the Alte Pinakothek (arguably Europe’s greatest art galleries) is nearby. Personally, that’s not my thing though. So instead, I hopped on the tram to check out Nymphenburg Palace. Munich’s most famous building. That’s enough culture, isn’t Bavaria supposed to be about the beer?!

Late Afternoon/Evening:

Finally! Off to English Garden. First, don’t be shocked when you see a lot of nudity. It’s a spot for nudist sunbathers. But it’s also a spot for non-nudists, so feel free to wander around. More importantly, there is a gorgeous beer garden, so time it right for a sundowner or three.

If you can peel yourself away from the naked people and tasty beer, move back to the town centre to visit Hofbrauhaus. Munich’s most famous, Bavarian beer hall. This marks the end of the day. But you could easily find yourself in Hofbrauhaus for a considerable amount of time. It’s great craic, and the beer is mighty!

And that marks 1 day in Munich. Busy, eventful, culture, and plenty of beer. Just make sure you’ve got your SafetyWing insurance turned on if you’re enjoying the beer a little too much! Enjoy!