Munich is clean, orderly, and efficient — but don’t be fooled. Beneath the polished veneer lies a beating heart that loves meat, beer, and a good bit of mischief. Munich is tidy, polite, and predictable — until it’s not. Scratch the surface and you find something raw, proud, and deeply human. A city that drinks hard, feels deeply, and never apologizes for either.
Day 1: The Beating Heart — Marienplatz, Markets, and Munich’s Soul
Every city has a center, but Munich’s feels like it’s been here forever — equal parts fairy tale and beer-fueled reality.
Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel - Start at the center of it all — Marienplatz. Watch the Glockenspiel chime at 11 a.m. while locals barely glance up. You’re in the middle of centuries of Bavarian pomp, but the best part? The bakeries tucked in side streets selling still-warm pretzels and buttered rolls to people who couldn’t care less about tourists.
Viktualienmarkt - Just steps away, this sprawling open-air market is where Munich eats. Forget souvenirs — come hungry. Grab a plate of Weißwurst with sweet mustard, fresh bread, and a pint of Helles under the shade of chestnut trees. Try the cheese stall with samples that smell like an apology you’ll happily make to your arteries.
Bavarian National Museum - A short walk away, this museum is a love letter to Bavarian craft — religious wood carvings, ornate furniture, and centuries-old armor that looks like it still smells of beer and battle. It’s weirdly mesmerizing, a glimpse into how deeply the Bavarians romanticize their past — and, to be fair, they’ve earned it.
Hofbräuhaus München - It’s iconic, yes, but not kitsch if you do it right. Sit among locals at a long table, order roast pork with dumplings, and drink from a liter stein like you mean it. The oompah band blares, strangers sing along, and by the end of the night, you’ll swear you’ve joined a secret Bavarian brotherhood.
Day 2: The Park, The River, and The Reckoning
Munich’s beauty isn’t just in the architecture — it’s in its contradictions: surfers on rivers, solemn memorials, and beer in the park.
Englischer Garten & Eisbachwelle - One of the largest urban parks in the world, the Englischer Garten is Munich’s green lung — vast meadows, winding paths, and beer gardens tucked between groves. Start your day watching the daredevil surfers at the Eisbachwelle, a man-made river wave where wetsuits replace lederhosen. It’s pure chaos, perfectly choreographed.
Seehaus im Englischen Garten - Grab a table by the lake and enjoy a Weißbier with grilled fish or schnitzel. The ducks are shameless, the atmosphere is easy, and time feels like it’s taken a lunch break too.
NS-Dokumentationszentrum (nsdoku) - A sobering reminder of what happens when nationalism and obedience run amok. Built on the site of the former Nazi headquarters, this documentation center is modern, clean, and painfully honest. Walk through it quietly. Then go outside and look at the city again — differently.
Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap - Not in a hall or fancy restaurant — just a kebab stand near Sendlinger Tor that serves up smoky chicken, grilled vegetables, and tangy sauce with almost spiritual precision. The line tells you everything you need to know. This is late-night salvation in pita form.
Day 3: Day Trip to the Heights — Zugspitze and Alpine Awe
There’s something humbling about standing on top of Germany — beer in hand, cold air in your lungs, wondering why you ever lived anywhere flat.
Train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Two hours from Munich and you’re in another world — jagged peaks, crisp mountain air, and chalets straight from a storybook. The Germans do nature with order, of course — immaculate trails, punctual trains, and not a gum wrapper in sight.
Zugspitze Summit - Take the cable car up Germany’s highest peak. From the top, you can see into Austria, Switzerland, even Italy on a clear day. The restaurant Gipfelalm serves schnitzel and beer with a view that would make a monk cry.
Alpine Trails & Eibsee Lake - Descend to Eibsee, a glacial lake that glows a surreal turquoise. Rent a rowboat or just sit by the water with a beer. The silence here is a kind of music.
Return to Munich — Dinner at Wirtshaus in der Au - Back in the city, reward yourself with hearty Bavarian fare — Schweinebraten, dumplings, and sauerkraut. The place feels timeless, the service unfussy, the flavors unapologetically rich.
Day 4: The Art of Leisure — Local Haunts and Quiet Corners
Munich’s secret isn’t speed — it’s how it slows down. Beer, conversation, food — all done with purpose.
Schwabing Neighborhood & Café Frischhut - Start your day with Schmalznudel — fried dough pastries dusted in sugar — and a strong espresso at Café Frischhut. Then wander through Schwabing, the bohemian district once home to artists and poets, now a blend of old charm and quiet confidence.
Augustiner Bräustuben - The locals’ favorite beer hall — loud, simple, perfect. Wooden benches, roasted meats, and Augustiner beer poured straight from wooden barrels. You’ll see workers on lunch break, retirees in wool coats, and students all sharing space like it’s a civic duty.
Lenbachhaus Museum - A museum that celebrates Munich’s artistic soul — home to the Blue Rider movement (Kandinsky, Marc, Münter). It’s color, chaos, and creativity born in a time of uncertainty. The café next door serves good wine, too.
Tian Restaurant München - A vegetarian fine-dining spot that could convert the most ardent carnivore. Each plate looks like art, tastes like revelation. It’s Munich at its most modern — thoughtful, unpretentious, and quietly extraordinary.
Augustiner-Keller - Lagerkeller was historically used to cool beer with ice. Now, many levels below the earth, you and I can drink beer at communal tables with friends we’ve never met and tell personal stories with folks you may never see again. What a night.
And More…
This is dedicated to the seasonal, sorrowful and artistic gems that you can uniquely find in Munich.
Octoberfest - It’s what some of us envision when we speak the name, Munich! Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest. It combines a beer festival with a fun-fair, which is held annually in Munich on the Theresienwiese from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. Bring your lederhosen, appetite and thirst for a good time.
Holiday Markets - You can find Christkindlmarkt, the original Christmas market in Munich, at Marienplatz (main square) along with a whole series of other markets in various districts across Munich.
Dachau - You’ll need to muster the emotional courage for this one, but assuming you do, it’s worth it to visit this important piece of history. Dachau was one of the first concentration camps built by Nazi Germany, and you can find it around 30 minutes north of Munich.
Lenbachhaus Museum - A museum that celebrates Munich’s artistic soul — home to the Blue Rider movement (Kandinsky, Marc, Münter). It’s color, chaos, and creativity born in a time of uncertainty. The café next door serves good wine, too.
