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48 Hours in Munich: Experience the Bavarian Capital
The Southern German city of Munich is the third largest city in Germany and the capital of the state of Bavaria.
Munich is a hub for arts and culture, and as well as it’s beer, is famous for it’s traditional Bavarian cuisine. With over 50% of the city destroyed from bombing during World War II, there is an amazing range of architecture, cobbled streets and historical sights combined with more modern buildings and infrastructure. It was here that Adolf Hitler rose to power and became the leader of the Nazi party.
Fun Fact: The name ‘Munich’ comes from the old word of Munichen, meaning ‘Home of the Monks’. This refers to the city’s origins as a Benedictine Monastery, founded in 750AD.
Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebrations bring visitors from all over the world, looking to taste some of the world famous beers. With over 60 beer gardens and 6 breweries within the city, you will be spoilt for choice!
Fun Fact: Bavaria is famous for its beer, but did you know they have a law on its ingredients? The Beer Purity Law from 1516 stipulates how Bavarian beer is made. Using only water, barley and hops as key ingredients and regulating the beer from contaminants, chemicals and additives. It’s still in affect today and is therefor the oldest food and drink regulation in the world.
There’s such a variety of things to do in Munich from beer halls, museums and parks to farther stops such as Dachau Concentration Camp or Disney’s inspiration, Neuschwanstein Castle. You could spend 1 day or 10 days exploring the city and it’s surrounding area, and still want to come back for more!
Our 48 hours in Munich guide includes; an itinerary, top tips, food recommendations and more to plan your Bavarian adventure.
Navigation Menu
- FAQ’s
- Is Munich very expensive?
- What is the best month to go to Munich?
- Is Munich a walkable city?
- How do I get from Munich airport to city Centre?
How many days do you need in Munich?
48 hours in Munich is enough time to immerse yourself in it’s culture and delicious cuisine without breaking the bank. Like most European cities it can be expensive so make every night count.
Unless you plan on exploring further afield such as Neuschwanstein Castle, you won’t need any longer to see the top sights.
Getting around Munich
Getting around Munich is easy as there is a great network of public transport. The U-Bahn connects many central locations via an underground rail system. The S-Bahn, an above ground railway, connects the city with the suburbs. Combine these with their reliable tram and bus system and you can get across town in minutes. The old town and city centre are especially pedestrian friendly, with many shopping streets being pedestrianised.
The key sights and tourist areas can all be accessed within Zone M, you can get more information on journey planning and tickets here.
Fun Fact: The largest city in Germany is Berlin, followed by Hamburg and then Munich.
48 Hours In Munich | Itinerary
Our Munich Itinerary below includes top tourist attractions along with food recommendations and top tips.
Day 1
AM
Walk the streets of the historic centre
Watch the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz
PM
Try some food at Viktualienmarkt
Dive into a stein at Hofbrauhaus
The first day in a new city should always be spent exploring and sampling local cuisine, immersing yourself in the new culture.
Walk The Streets
Begin the day strolling leisurely through the streets, getting lost and absorbing the atmosphere of the Bavarian Capital. Around every corner you’ll discover historical gems, stunning architecture and another, of many, beer halls.
We found a free walking tour online that we used to explore the streets, learn about it’s history and make sure we didn’t miss anything. We used this tour, by Big Boy Travel, we’ve put a few other options below too.
Watch the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz
In the heart of the city you will find Marienplatz, the central square, most famous for it’s clock, the Rathaus-Glockenspiel. Twice a day at 11am & 12 noon, (with an additional time of 5pm between March – October) crowds gather in the square to watch the fairy-tale motorized figures dance, sing and twirl. The 12 minute performance is charming and it’s colourful characters re-enact scenes from Munich’s history as they rotate around the tower.
Top Tip: You can see the Glockenspiel performance clearly from almost anywhere in Marienplatz as it’s so high up, so no need to get there really early if you are too busy exploring!
Viktualienmarkt
Just a short stroll from Marienplatz, in the heart of the old town, is another of Munich’s top attractions, Viktualienmarkt. The picturesque market is full of a range of produce and traditional Bavarian delicacies. With it being in the Old Town the market is surrounded by ornate buildings and makes the perfect setting for a bite to eat. There are plenty of benches to relax, eat, drink or people watch on. What gives it even more of a traditional feel is that many of the stalls have been run by the same families for several generations.
Fun Fact: In 1807, the market, which was originally based in Marienplatz, had grown so much King Max I Joseph ordered it to move to it’s current location so it could continue to grow.
Fun Fact: The word Viktualien comes from the Latin word for Food.
Dive into a Stein at Hofbrähaus
The world famous beer hall is one of the top tourist attractions in Munich, with over 35,000 people visiting daily during peak season. It’s Oktoberfest every day in Hofbrähaus, with long shared tables, back breaking steins and staff dressed in traditional lederhosen. It’s not only an incredible atmosphere, it was also the site of important historical events. In 1920 it was host to the first meeting of Hitler and the National Socialist Party. When we visited we sat in the Festaal room on the top floor, which was where this meeting took place. The beer hall has also played host to famous visitors such as Lenin and Mozart.
We tried the whole roasted knuckle of pork with homemade beer gravy which was delicious and also huge!
Top Tip: The ceilings are incredible and intricate so don’t forget to look up!
Day 2
AM
Dachau
PM
Any last stops!
Dachau
Dachau was the first of the horrific Nazi Concentration Camps and is located just outside of Munich. It is only around a 30-45 minute journey from Munich, you can drive or catch the train to the Memorial Site, we’ve detailed more on this in our Visiting Dachau Memorial Site post.
A visit to Dachau is a profoundly somber and emotional experience, offering a vital and educational opportunity to safeguard the memory of the harrowing atrocities which took place there. Today, Dachau is one of the most visited Dark Tourism sites in the country.
More time…
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle! The majestic and monumental fortress is world famous. Supposedly it inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle! Located only 1 hour 45 minute drive south of Munich, it’s easily accessible for a day trip or a great addition to incorporate onto a multiday adventure through the Bavarian Alps. If you are flying into Munich you can pick up a hire car at the airport very easily.
FAQ's
Our 48 hours in Munich itinerary has hopefully inspired you to book your Bavarian adventure. You might still have a few unanswered questions and that’s ok! We’ve got you covered, listed below are some of the most common FAQ’s:
Is Munich very expensive?
Munich is expensive, in fact it’s known to be one of the most expensive cities in Germany. However, like many European cities, it is possible to visit on a budget. If you’re happy to explore the city by foot and are more interested in absorbing the atmosphere rather than paying entrance fees for attractions or excursions, it’s easier to visit on a budget.
Food and drink tend to be the most expensive part of the city (aside from accommodation), so if you do some research beforehand it’s possible to eat on a low budget too.
We would recommend taking €60 – 100 per person per day, based on an average weekend away and as long as you aren’t planning to eat in expensive restaurants.
What is the best month to go to Munich?
We visited over New Year, which was magical, with all the lights and fireworks it was amazing. It was pretty cold in December & January, averaging between -3 & 3°C.
Oktoberfest is a great time to visit, but also the most expensive, this tends to be over September and October, but check the dates before you go.
As a European city, there’s not really a bad time to visit but as with everywhere, out of season tends to be cheaper but colder, whilst peak summer is warmer but more expensive.
Is Munich a walkable city?
Munich is extremely walkable! In fact, many of it’s major shopping streets are pedestrianised. If you get tired you can just hop on one of it’s many public transport systems.
How do I get from Munich airport to the city centre?
Getting to the city centre from Munich Airport is fairly simple. There are great public transport connections, but if this worries you there’s always the option to hop in a taxi!
We mentioned the S-Bahn previously, this connects central Munich to the airport and surrounding areas. You can catch either the S1 or S8, both take around 45 minutes and each come every 20 minutes, but are staggered so there is only a 10 minute gap between them.
For more information on planning your journey check the airport’s journey planner here. Ticket information and how to buy them can be found here. A single costs ~ €16
Fancy spending 48 hours in Munich? We hope our itinerary has you craving a Pretzel and the desire to relax in one of the city’s bustling squares, let us know in the comments below.
We love to hear feedback and if you’re planning a trip to Munich or Germany let us know what you’re up to whilst you’re there! Thanks for reading, for the latest updates follow us on Instagram and drop us a message to say hi!
Eve and Nick