This is a guide on how Lucie and I visited Munich during our trip to Bavaria.

After two weeks on the road, Munich was the final stop of our road trip around the southeast part of Germany. And we were super excited to finally explore Bavaria's capital. Well, and also that we safely made it there, which is always the most important part of every journey.

Anyway, we felt a bit tired, but the idea of knowing there was so much to see and do in Munich was a big reason that kept us going. Believe us when we say that we saw tons of places and attractions in 72 hours in Munich and kind of wished to stay longer while reminiscing and driving on the Autobahn back to Czechia.

Anyway, we aimed to make this guide practical for everyone, regardless of the number of days you have (but more about it later). Let's find out what Munich has to offer!

How Many Days in Munich?

So, why did we choose to stay three days in Munich? After pre-trip research and post-trip experience, we came to the conclusion that this amount of time in the Bavarian capital sounds about right, but we need to emphasize that this is hugely dependent on your travel itinerary.

We planned to stay two days in the city and save the third day for Munich's surroundings. It worked for us, but you might feel differently about the time we spent at each place (or the places we visited in the first place).

It took us three days to see Munich's top attractions.

What If I Have Only One Day in Munich?

We're not going to deny that you could see a lot in one day in Munich, but it would be a long and tiring one. However, the main downside we see in this plan is that you wouldn't simply have enough time to explore some of its most iconic places outside the city center (Dachau, BMW Welt, Olympic Park, etc.) and do one of the awesome day trips (Neuschwanstein, Zugspitze, etc.). Try to stretch it to two days, at the very least.

What If I Have a Week in Munich?

It's no surprise that everyone's idea of the best way to spend a week in Munich is different, but if it were us, we would incorporate at least three days trips in the itinerary. At the end of this post, we'll list some of the best ones, so stay tuned (or scroll down if you can't resist).

Other than that, Munich is not New York, and anything between five and seven days (without day trips) is overkill.

Where to Stay in Munich

Well, Munich is pretty big, being the third largest city in Germany, and deciding which part of the city to stay in can be tricky if you're unfamiliar with the city's layout. Don't worry; that's why we're here; in fact, it's very easy. We recommend staying somewhere central with good access to public transport (especially handy if you don't bring a car for this trip).

The most obvious choice is Altstadt-Lehel, which is perfect for first-time visitors. Major attractions like Munich Residence, Marienplatz, and Frauenkirche are all located right here.

Another great neighborhood is Maxvorstadt (museums, culture), Isarvorstadt (about a 10-minute walk from Marienplatz + Munchen Hauptbahnhof), and Au-Haidhausen (between Altstadt and Ost Bahnhof).

The Altstadt is the best area for first-timers to stay in.

Hotels in Altstadt-Lehel

If you're visiting Munich for the first time, just keep things simple and stay in the historic part of the city, Altstadt-Lehel. Hotel MIO is a 3-star hotel with modern decor ideal for couples and budget-conscious travelers. Among 4-star hotels in the Altstadt, the Platzl Hotel really stands out. And for those seeking luxury, the 5-star Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski is the perfect choice. This hotel has everything: stylish decor, an indoor pool, amazing food, etc.

Hotels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt and Maxvorstadt (near Munich Hauptbahnhof)

Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt and Maxvorstadt neighborhoods with the Munich Hauptbahnhof are great alternatives to the Old Town. The area around Munich's main train station is especially packed with hotels for all budgets. No matter if you're a backpacker or luxury seeker, you can be sure to find one that fits your preferences.

The best part is that you can walk from the train station to Marienplatz in about 10-15 minutes.

If budget isn't a concern, the 5-star Sofitel Munich Bayerpost is the perfect pick for a luxurious stay. The 3-star Hotel Metropol offers chic rooms at affordable prices and boasts a perfect location. It's a great value for money. Hotel Excelsior is a wonderful place to stay if you're looking for something in between. Euro Youth Hotel Munich is a clean hostel with a central location, dormitories, and private rooms. It's an ideal choice for budget-conscious travelers.

We stayed in Moxy Munich, a modern hotel near Ostbahnhof.

Hotels in Au-Haidhausen, Werksviertel (near Ost Bahnhof)

We eventually picked the Moxy Hotel on the east side of the city center for three reasons: it had modern decor with affordable rooms at the time, an underground garage, and a convenient location on the Mittlerer Ring (Middle Ring) while still being within walking distance from the Altstadt.

Since it was on the east side of the city (closer to Czechia), we didn't have to worry about being stuck in traffic too much when leaving in the evening. Another good choice is Motel One Munchen-Haidhausen (modern, affordable) or Wombat's City Hostel (great for backpackers and socializing).

3-Day Munich Itinerary

Before we dive into it, we want to share a few thoughts and tips to help you better understand this guide.

72 Hours in Munich

Firstly, when we say three days, we do mean three FULL days. That's really important as Munich is huge, and you need to maximize your time there to get the most out of the trip.

You could theoretically arrive in Munich super early in the morning on the first day and leave in the evening on the third, but that would, once again, depend on your flights/itinerary/etc. That said, staying three nights in Munich will make your overall experience much more relaxed.

Anyway, there's no time to idle, as Munich is packed with things to do, and you really want to take advantage of that. It's okay if you don't want to visit every place on this list or find the itinerary too ambitious.

Get Around

All the places on our Day 1 list are within the historic center, which is surprisingly compact and walkable. We covered all the major attractions here on foot, but if you need to, there's always a bus or tram stop behind every corner (or taxi).

Munich has a reliable and affordable public transport system.

Day 2 is also pretty straightforward, especially as you can use public transport for all your journeys. Munich has an excellent public transport network, and the combination of S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses will get you to all the places on this list. Yes, Dachau KZ, Nymphenburg, or BMW Welt are easily done by public transport.

Our Tip: If the combination of U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses looks too complicated, there's always the good old Munich Hop-On Hop-Off Tour that has all these places on its itinerary.

Now, when it comes to day trips or Day 3 on our itinerary, things get a bit more complicated. We hear you: what about public transport? While you can reach most places by train or bus (and get back to Munich on the same day), you would have a hard time combining multiple attractions while relying on public transport (for instance, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof would be a straight terrible idea in this scenario).

So, you have two choices now: either rent a car in Munich or take a guided tour. Both options have pros and cons, with tours being the more convenient choice, especially as most tours are well organized and have positive reviews, whether it's the Zugspitze Tour or Eagle's Nest Tour.

Day Trips

We already suggested that you could easily spend four or five days in Munich (or even a full week if you have the time), and that's exactly what day trips are for. Munich has a strategic location in this regard, and we're not afraid to say that your options are almost endless.

The first area worth exploring from Munich is Fussen, which we already included in this post. If the fairytale castles and palaces are not your thing, then there's always the Garmisch-Partenkirchen with Eibsee Lake and Zugspitze, at 2,962 meters, the highest mountain in Germany. We particularly liked the Berchtesgaden area, home to fjord-like Konigsee and Eagle's Nest (WW2).

Another great day trip is Nuremberg, which is also easily accessible by train (the journey takes just a little more than an hour). If that's not enough, you could always drive to Austria and explore Salzburg, Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel, etc.

Be on the Lookout for Cultural Events

Oktoberfest, Bayern Munchen home games, NFL in Europe, or Taylor Swift's concert - all these huge events might very well be the reason why you're visiting Munich in the first place. But if you're not, you probably want to avoid these events due to crowds and higher costs.

Don't Be Afraid to Adjust the Itinerary (bad weather, different preferences, etc.)

Remember that you can change your plans and visit different attractions if the weather isn't favorable. Since it was raining on Day 3 when we woke up, we opted for the museum first, but if it hadn't been, we would have probably walked to the English Garden or gone straight to Altstadt to see it without crowds.

You can watch the surfers on the Eisbach in any weather.

Our next tip is that all the days are interchangeable, and you can adjust the itinerary and swap the days as you see fit. The main reason behind it is the weather.

If we checked the weather forecast and saw that it was going to rain the next day and be clear the day after, we wouldn't go to the Bavarian Alps. Instead, we would spend the rainy day in one of Munich's museums or palaces and explore the Alps the next day.

The last example works if Munich was your trip's final stop, just as it was for us. Since we were on a road trip (and started technically in Augsburg), we reversed the itinerary.

We started with the Neuschwanstein area, followed by Dachau, BMW Welt, and Nymphenburg the next day. On the final day, we stayed in Munich's city center, visiting Altstadt, Munich Residence, museums, etc. As you can see, switching the days in our itinerary is quite easy.

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Day 1: The Altstadt, Munich Residence, and Deutsches Museum

The first day serves as the introduction to Munich, but don't expect us to make it easy for you. We got places to see. Start early. Museums are optional, though we encourage you to visit at least one. They are great!

We recommend budgeting more time for your Munich Residence visit than you might initially anticipate. Keep that in mind (if you want to explore more places in one day).

Deutsches Museum

The first thing we did in the morning was to walk from our hotel to the Deutsches Museum, where we spent the next few hours. The museum is pretty huge. In fact, it's one of the world's largest science and technology museums, so you can be sure that you could easily spend a full day here if you wanted to.

Another cool fact is that the main building is located on a small island on the Isar River.

We picked just the exhibitions that interest us most: Aviation (both modern and old planes were really cool, but the absolute highlights were Messerschmitt Me 262 and V2 ballistic missile) and Space (seeing Apollo 15 Lunar Roving Vehicle was awesome), Photography and Film, and a few more like Bridges and Robotics.

Seeing the Messerschmitt Me 262 at the Deutsches Museum was the highlight for me.

We visited on a weekend, and by noon, the museum was bursting at the seams. Admittedly, it was a cold and rainy day, practically perfect for a museum visit! We mentioned it mainly because it was mostly families with kids, indicating that the Deutsches Museum is one of the best museums in Munich for kids.

Tickets & Opening Times: Deutsches Museum ticket costs €15 for adults. The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Our Tip: If the Deutsches Museum didn't catch your interest, you could alternatively visit Pinakothek der Moderne, NS-Dokumentationszentrum Munchen, or any other museum within the city center. Or just stay longer in Munich Residence.

Viktualienmarkt or Hofbrauhaus Munchen

The next stop was supposed to be Viktualienmarkt, a lively central market with an abundance of German food (pretzels, sausages, beer), veggie and fruit stands, craft stores, and much more. It's supposed to be popular among foodies, but it happened to be closed on Sunday (we knew that, so we made preparations and packed our snacks in the morning).

It's easily explored on your own, or you can take a popular Viktualienmarkt Gourmet Food Tour.

If you want to try traditional schnitzel with Bavarian beer, Hofbrauhaus is the most popular place to go.

We briefly considered Hofbrauhaus, one of the most popular restaurants in Munich's Old Town, which is only a short walk from here. It's a typical tourist restaurant serving traditional Bavarian cuisine and local beer, but we passed on the idea of Weißbier and schnitzel for lunch (not that exciting for Czechs).

If that's not your thing, note that the Old Town is overflowing with places to eat (and not just German cuisine), or there's a REWE just behind the corner (that's usually us).

Marienplatz

From here, it was just a short walk to Marienplatz, the main square in the historic part of Munich. Munich has many attractions, but Marienplatz is at the top of the list. It's a must-see.

We visited Marienplatz during a downpour, so you can imagine it wasn't as enjoyable as it would have been on a sunny day. Anyway, it was still beautiful.

New Town Hall

So what's there to see and do in Marienplatz? The north side of Marienplatz is dominated by the 19th-century New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), which, thanks to its neo-Gothic architecture, looks like a medieval cathedral than the seat of the city's government. It was like looking at St. Vitus Cathedral (or any other similar church).

Glockenspiel

If you look up, you'll notice the 85-meter tower has a large mechanical clock known as Glockenspiel. It depicts two scenes: a jousting tournament with life-sized figures to celebrate Duke Wilhelm V's Marriage and a traditional coopers' dance, Schafflertanz.

Our tip: If you want to catch the Glockenspiel show, be at Marienplatz at 11 AM or 12 noon (every day) and additionally at 5 PM from March to October. And similar to when seeing the 'clock show' Orloj at Prague's Old Town Square, watch out for pickpockets!

Old Town Hall

The east side features the 14th-century Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), which looks almost modest compared to the new one. It has a Gothic design, a white facade, a red roof with green turrets, and coats of arms on its facade.

By the way, the Old Town Hall houses a ballroom and the Toy Museum, which is a great spot for kids (the museum, not the ballroom).

The Old Town Hall is a stunning example of Gothic architecture.

Marian Column

Another cool thing we noticed while walking around Marienplatz was the Marian Column (Mariensaule) erected in 1638 to commemorate the end of the Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years' War.

Fischbrunnen

I couldn't pass on the opportunity to take a photo of Fischbrunnen with almost azure-colored water (it was surprisingly vibrant despite the lack of light and rain). If you can't get enough of German churches, St. Peter is about 30 meters south of the square.

Food

And if you're hungry, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants around Marienplatz (though don't forget that some are very touristy, aka pricey, poor service, etc.).

Christmas Markets

Lastly, Marienplatz is also a must-visit during December, when it hosts Munich's Christmas Markets annually. We usually try to stay away from this' event,' but that's mostly because of Prague Christmas Markets which we are lucky to enjoy every year (and not just them; they're everywhere in Europe).

How to Get to Marienplatz: If you stay in the city center, Marienplatz is pretty much within walking distance from all of Munich's attractions. If not, Marienplatz is directly connected by U-Bahn and S-Bahn, with bus and tram stops only a stone's throw from here.

Munich Residence

It was time to head to Munich Residence (Residenz Munchen), one of the largest palaces you can visit in Europe. We're not exaggerating - the whole complex consists of the Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvillies Theater, Court Church of All Saints, Bronze Halls, 10 Courtyards, Court Gardens, and more. Today, around 130 rooms (yeah, you've read right) are open to the public.

Take our beloved Prague Castle, for example. It's one of the world's biggest castle complexes, yet the number of rooms you can see in the royal palace is pretty standard (unlike the interiors you see inside, these are fabulous).

So our initial thoughts were that it has to be quantity over quality, right? Well, this wasn't the case. The only thing that we felt after a couple of hours of walking through richly decorated rooms was some sort of 'beauty fatigue,' which only meant that all the opulence around us dulled our senses. But that's probably our thing, not the residence.

Our Tip: We completely missed the entry gate on our first attempt to find 'Munich Residence.' It's on Residenzstraße, and when walking from Max-Joseph-Platz, the large wooden doors are about no more than 30 meters on your right-hand side (there was a red and golden Residence Munchen sign above it).

The next surprise was that we had to actually wait in line for 30 minutes to get in, which was not much fun due to almost freezing temperatures and rain.

History

The castle complex served as the royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs from the first castle's construction in 1385 until the monarchy ended in 1918. The last tidbit of history we share is that much of Munich Residence was destroyed during WW2, so many things you can see today were meticulously restored.

Self-Guided Tour at Munich Residence

Once inside, we got the tickets, left my backpack at the locker, and started the self-guided tour. We toured Munich Residence without a guide as no regular guided tours were available when we were there (you can rent a free audio guide, though).

Out of the 130 rooms, the 16th-century Antiquarium gallery and the Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal) truly stood out to us. By the way, we did the Long Tour, which features all rooms. If you find the experience overwhelming (or too long), you can exit the palace via a Short Tour route.

If you still want to see more, you can visit the Court Garden and the Treasury afterward.

Guided Tours at Munich Residence

Although the Munich Residence doesn’t offer guided tours, you can hire a licensed guide if exploring over 100 rooms on your own seems overwhelming. Check out this Munich Residenz Guided Tour, which takes about two and a half hours and includes tickets.

Opening Times: Munich Residence is open from 9 AM to 6 PM between 1 April and 19 October. From 20 October to 31 March, it's open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. The last entry is an hour before closing.

Tickets: The entry fee to Munich Residence (sometimes referred to as Residence Museum) is €10 for adults. The Residence Museum + Treasury + Cuvillies Theatre combo ticket was €20 for adults.

Cuvillies Theatre

The ticket clerk at Munich Residence offered us a combo ticket that also included nearby Cuvillies Theatre, one of Europe's most important rococo theaters. She mentioned that Cuvillies Theatre is only a short walk from the main entrance to Munich Residence (about 150 meters), and the visit doesn't take long. So we said, why not?

Cuvillies Theatre was commissioned by Maximilian Joseph III, who wanted a new opera house for himself. It was built between 1751 and 1755 (though it was moved and rebuilt since then) and was named after Francois Cuvillies, who was appointed the main architect.

Cuvillies Theatre has a stunning rococo interior.

When it comes to opera, the most interesting bit we learned was that the theater hosted the first performance of Mozart's Idomeneo (1781). The interiors of this rococo jewel were beautiful and offered an interesting glimpse into Wittelsbach's family.

That said, we've been to the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, and that's on a completely different level. Don't get us wrong. Cuvillies Theatre is worth seeing, but probably only if you get the combo ticket.

Oh, and unlike the opera house in Bayreuth, there's no museum, so we didn't spend more than 10 or 15 minutes inside.

Our tip: Cuvillies Theatre has seasonal opening hours and is mostly open from 2 PM to 5 or 6 PM, though there are some exceptions. The last admission is an hour before closing.

Frauenkirche

We still had some tank in the gas, so we headed to nearby Frauenkirche. This structure, also known as Munchner Dom (Munich Cathedral), is one of the main city's landmarks. The cathedral is easily distinguished by its twin towers with characteristic 'onion' domes and Gothic architecture.

The interior had typical old features like vaults, columns, stained glass windows, and frescoes, but it looked relatively new. We learned it's mostly post-war restoration since it was heavily bombed during WW2.

Here, we discovered that the viewing area in one of its platforms is only accessible by elevator. After climbing about 90 steps, a quick elevator ride brought us to the main viewing platform at one of the two towers (the south one is accessible if you're curious about which one you will visit).

Since the weather was under the dog, we knew the views would be limited and not great. The views were fine, but Munich is pretty flat, so it was nothing extraordinary.

The views from Frauenkirche were not that spectacular on a rainy day.

Remember that the church is free to enter, but the tower has an entry fee. By the way, 'Frauenkirche' can also be found in Nuremberg and Dresden (this one is truly beautiful).

Tickets: The entry fee to Frauenkirche Tower is €7.50 for adults. It's open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM (from 11:30 AM on Sundays and holidays.)

Day 2: Dachau, BMW Museum, and Nymphenburg

Start early. The second day is going to be a long one. After spending a whole day in and around the Altstadt area, it's time to see some unique places a bit further from Munich's city center.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

We started the morning by visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, which can be reached by train from the city center (S2 or RB16). Dachau was basically the blueprint for other concentration camps Nazis built before, but mostly during WW2.

During its operation from 1933 to 1945, it held about 200.000 prisoners, of whom 40.000 were murdered. It's a somber and unsettling experience but a 'must-do,' well, for every human (like Auschwitz-Birkenau, Mauthausen, or Terezin).

Dachau was the first concentration camp in Nazi Germany.

We parked at the KZ-Gedenkstatte Dachau Parkplatz, which is right next to the entrance. If you arrive by train, the station is about three kilometers from the memorial. You can take a bus or follow in the footsteps of Dachau prisoners and walk the Path of Remembrance, a march they had to endure to reach the concentration camp.

How to Get to Dachau: Both S2 and RB16 trains go from Munich's Hauptbahnhof to Dachau Bahnhof. S2 runs more frequently (like every 10 minutes), but the journey takes slightly over 20 minutes instead of an 11-12 minute ride by RB16.

Tickets: Admission to Dachau Concentration Camp is free, only parking is paid.

BMW Welt

The next stop for us was the BMW Welt and BMW Museum, followed by a lovely walk in the nearby Olympic Park. After a somber morning in Dachau, it felt like stepping into another world.

Note that the BMW Welt and BMW Museum are separate attractions, though both are worth seeing, at least if you're a car person.

If you like BMWs, BMW Welt is a great place to visit.

We first headed to the former because we parked in its underground garage. BMW Welt (BMW World in English) is basically a giant showroom with cars (not just BMWs but also Minis and Rolls Royce), restaurants, bistros, shops, and futuristic architecture. It's really cool and much bigger than the Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg.

The best part is that it's free to enter, so there's no reason to skip this attraction, even if you don't have BMW (or Rolls) in your garage.

How to Get to BMW Welt: To get from Dachau to the BMW Museum, you have several options (including our suggested stop at Nymphenburg first - see more information below). We would probably take the S-Bahn S2 Erding to Marienplatz and then transfer to U-Bahn U3 Moosach, which goes all the way to Olympiazentrum.

To return back to the historic center, take U-Bahn U3 Moosach from Olympiazentrum to Marienplatz.

BMW Museum

Even though we're not exactly BMW enthusiasts, we couldn't miss the opportunity to see the nearby museum of this iconic Bavarian automobile maker. So our next steps took us to the museum that's just across the busy road.

True to its name, the BMW Museum offers a comprehensive overview of BMW's roughly 110-year history: it's filled with the most iconic cars, motorcycles, and engines. If you ever wanted to see James Bond's BMW 7 Series, BMW M1, BMW 8 Series (E31), BMW 3.0 CSL, BMW 328, or the strange BMW Isetta, it's all there.

The only negative about the museum was the overcrowding, though, to be fair, it was the weekend.

Our Tip: We suggest using the pedestrian bridge to get from one building to another rather than crossing the busy road below.

Olympic Park

Since both BMW buildings are on the Olympic Park's east side, we headed straight there after the museum.

Olympic Park (or Olympiapark in German) was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics and today is home to a super-long list of places you can visit: 291-meter Olympic Tower (great views, revolving restaurant), Olympic Hall, Olympic Swimming Hall, Olympic Lake, Sea Life Munich (aquarium with sad fish), or Olympic Stadium (used mostly for concerts: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Rammstein, etc.).

One thing is certain: the park is HUGE! The weather cleared up by the time we reached the park, so we just enjoyed the lovely walking trails, climbed the Olympic Mountain (just a green rolling hill) for the views, and marveled at the stunning tent-like architecture of the Olympic Stadium.

If you're a sports fan, Olympic Park Munich is a must-see.

It seemed like we could spend a whole day here, but we still had one more place on our itinerary, so we picked up our car and drove to Nymphenburg.

Our Tip: Note that if you rely on public transport, it seems logical to visit Nymphenburg before heading to BMW Welt and Olympic Park. Interestingly enough, the actual time saved isn't as great as you'd expect from looking at the map.

Nymphenburg Palace

In the evening, we finally made it to Nymphenburg Palace. When we arrived, the sun was gone, the wind was picking up, and it was starting to turn really cold. Pressed for time, we hurried straight to the palace as it was near closing hours.

Nymphenburg was built in the 17th century by a Bavarian Elector, Ferdinand Maria, and his wife, Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, to celebrate the birth of their son, Max Emanuel.

The interiors were beautiful, but we could only spend about an hour exploring about 20 rooms Nymphenburg has to offer on a self-guided tour. The Great Hall, with amazing frescoes, rococo stucco work, and paintings by Johann Baptist Zimmermann (and Francois Cuvillis), was pretty impressive, as well as the smaller rooms like the Queen's Audience Room (mahogany furniture) or Chinese Lacquer Cabinet (lacquer panels).

The ceiling fresco at Nymphenburg's Great Hall was made by Johann Baptist Zimmermann.

One of the coolest things we saw inside was an 'aerial' painting of Nymphenburg with practically no Munich around. Mind you, Maximilian de Geer painted it around 1730. It's just mind-boggling how much has changed since then.

Opening Times: Nymphenburg is open from 1.4. to 15.10 daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. From 16.10. to 31.3. daily from 10 AM to 4 PM (park castles are closed during this period).

We then headed out to the extensive park, which is home to an Amalienburg (charming Rococo hunting lodge), Pagodenburg (tiny exotic palace, Brandenburg (Baroque building used for bathing), Magdalenenklause (hermitage 'ruin'), and lovely walking trails.

By this point, we were pretty tired, but we still managed to see a good chunk of the park. After a long day of exploring, we were able to unwind with a stroll through the quiet, empty park.

By the way, if you arrive in Nymphenburg during summer (and the weather permits), Gondola rides are available on the central canal.

Botanical Garden Munich

Only a short walk from Nymphenburg is Munich's Botanical Garden, where you can explore Africa and Madagascar House, orchid and cactus houses, and much more. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see it.

The absolute highlight is Palmenhaus, a Victorian-style greenhouse with a beautiful collection of tropical plants. There's a small admission fee to the Botanical Garden.

How to Get to Nymphenburg: To travel between Nymphenburg and BMW Welt (and Olympic Park), take Bus 180 Kieferngarten U via Westfriedhof U.

If you're following our previous advice about visiting the palace first, you will need to take the S2 train from Dachau Bahnhof to Laim Bahnhof, and from here bus 151 to Nymphenburg. Otherwise, take tram 17 to Karlsplatz to get back from Nymphenburg to Munich's Altstadt.

Neues Schloss Schleißheim

Another place you could visit is the Neues Schloss Schleißheim, but we have a feeling you won't have extra time for this, nor the mood to go there if you've followed in our footsteps so far.

However, the 18th-century Baroque palace is a great alternative for history buffs or people who don't care about cars.

We saw very few tourists during our visit to Neues Schloss Schleißheim.

Day 3: Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace

Unless you plan to visit more museums or don't have enough time to see all the places we've mentioned above, it's time to hit the road and see some of the most beautiful places around Munich. Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace definitely fit this category.

Neuschwanstein Castle

We kicked off the day by arriving in Schwangau, a small village in the Bavarian foothills, which is a starting point for Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. The Neuschwanstein Castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria during the 19th century. Today, the 'Disney' castle is one of the most famous in the world.

The combination of extravagant rooms, fairytale architecture, and the Bavarian Alps was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, Mary's Bridge, aka the most iconic Neuschwanstein photo spot, was closed due to snow and ice when we were there. If the weather is on your side, make sure to go there.

Our tip: Neuschwanstein, Hohenshwangau, and Linderhof (and Herrenchiemsee) can only be visited by guided tour. Booking ahead is practically necessary, especially for Neuschwanstein, which is the most popular of them all.

Hohenschwangau Castle

After we were done with the Neuschwanstein tour, we headed over to nearby Hohenschwangau Castle. It was rebuilt by Maximilian II of Bavaria, the father of Ludwig II, who spent a big part of his childhood here (dreaming about medieval knights, legends, and chivalric ideas).

We liked Hohenschwangau and think it's worth a visit, but there are more places to see in the area, so it's totally up to you which ones you want to see.

If you have a car, you can then drive to the medieval town of Fussen (picturesque Old Town and yet another castle), make a stop at the UNESCO-listed Pilgrimage Church of Wies, or just continue to Linderhof Palace (about an hour's drive from Neuschwanstein).

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof was also built by Ludwig II, who took the interior decorations to another step here. Like Versaille-style level. No wonder Ludwig was a big admirer of Louis XIV, who is more familiarly known as the Sun King (and who built the actual Palace of Versailles).

We expected opulence from Linderhof Palace, but the rooms were just beyond all words. It's one of the places you have to see with your own eyes. The palace is surprisingly small and modest from the outside, and the only way to really see it in full glory is by taking a guided tour. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed during the tour.

Linderhof also has beautiful gardens and a park, which we didn't enjoy that much thanks to the bad weather.

Herrenchiemsee Palace

By the way, the third palace to the party is Herrenchiemsee, about a 2-hour drive from Linderhof. If you want to see only Ludwig's castles, you can visit Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee in one day, but you will need a car.

Note that the palace is technically located on Chiemsee Island, and it's only accessible by boat, for instance, from Prien to Herreninsel.

How to Get to Neuschwanstein: A direct train, BRB RB68, goes from Munich to Fussen a few times a day, and the journey takes about two hours. From Fussen, you can take a bus/rent a bike/or simply walk to Hohenshwangau.

If driving, exit Munich via A95 and drive to Sindelsdorf. Here, turn onto B472, and once you pass Paiting, turn left onto B17, which will take you all the way to Schwangau.

5 Amazing Day Trips from Munich

If you have extra time to explore beyond Munich, these are our favorite places. The best part is that a single day is enough to visit each place on this list.

Zugspitze

Located south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Zugspitze is at 2962 meters the highest mountain of Germany. The whole area is popular for hiking, climbing, and skiing. Zugspitze can also be reached by cable car if you want just to enjoy the views.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is about an hour's drive from Munich via A95. You can also take the Zugspitze Tour for convenience.

Nuremberg

There are so many things to see and do in Nuremberg, so it's easily one of our favorite cities in Germany. We loved the gorgeous Altstadt with the imposing Nuremberg Castle.

And then there were the museums: Memorium Nuremberg Trials, Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds, and Germanisches National Museum.

It takes under two hours to drive from Munich to Nuremberg.

Berchtesgaden Alps

Another must-see place you should visit from Munich is the Berchtesgaden Alps (especially great for nature and WW2 history lovers). Here, you'll find the stunning Watzmann massif, Konigssee, Obersee, salt mines, and Eagle's Nest.

It takes less than two hours to get to Berchtesgaden from Munich. Or consider taking a Konigsee Day Tour.

The scenery during our Konigsee cruise was breathtaking.

Legoland

If you're looking for a family-friendly day trip from Munich or just love Lego bricks, Legoland Germany, should be on the top of the list. Legoland is just a 75-minute drive west of Munich.

Salzburg

What if we told you you can visit another country on a day trip from Munich? Yes, Austria is closer to Munich than you would have thought. If we had to pick, Salzburg would be an obvious choice (Mozart, salt mines, mountains, etc.).

Salzburg is about one hour and 45 minutes from Munich via A8. Not in the mood to drive? Opt for a Salzburg Day Tour.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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How to Spend Three Amazing Days in Munich