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Places to Visit in Munich: 9 Top Attractions 

places to visit in munich
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Munich is a city that has a lot to offer. It’s the capital of Bavaria, and its location on the fringes of the Bavarian Alps makes it a great place to see some of Germany’s most beautiful scenery. It’s also one of the largest cities in Germany and has a population of 1.8 million people.

Munich began as a monastery, growing into a settlement when the Duke of Bavaria allowed the monks to establish a market at the crossing of the route from Salzburg and the river Isar. The city was named after Munich, which was founded by Charlemagne in AD 800. 

If you are looking for something fun for children there are several playgrounds throughout the city including one at Englischer Garten itself!

The best way to determine what will work best for your family is by taking advantage of our handy list of 9 top tourist attractions in Munich.

1) Munich Residenz

Munich Residenz

The Munich Residenz is a well-known sightseeing destination in Munich. It is a large museum complex with an art collection dating back to the Renaissance and the Wittelsbach dynasty. Much of it was destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt in 1945.

2) Marienplatz Square

Marienplatz Square

Located in the center of the city and at the heart of Hofgarten, Munich’s Marienplatz is one of the best-known squares in Munich. It is considered by many to be one of the best places to start your exploration through Munich with lots of fascinating things to see and do. The square itself is surrounded by many medieval buildings, including Schloss Nymphenburg, Schloss Stiglmaier, Kirche is Dom, Mariahilfkirche, and Alte Oper.

3) Englischer Garten (English Garden)

Englischer Garten

Munich’s English Garden is more than a park – it’s a work of art. Covering an area of 910 acres, it offers ever-changing views and includes nine kilometers of winding streams and an artificial lake. The atmosphere is truly delightful. The park is enclosed by a high, graceful stone wall and a river, with water fountains and a multitude of greenery. The paths meander through the park’s forested areas. It is one of Germany’s most beautiful natural parks and it is so large that Munich’s English Garden is like a separate city itself.

4) Nymphenburg Palace 

Nymphenburg Palace 

The Baroque palace of Nymphenburg is a large, sprawling complex that was originally the summer residence of the Wittelsbach Electors in the 17th century. The palace extends more than 600 meters from wing to wing and is surrounded on each side by the Nymphenburg Canal. A canal that splits and re-unites in a central fountain-adorned pool.

5) The Olympic Park

Olympic Park

Munich’s Olympic Park has been the site of numerous major concerts and events, including the summer Tollwood Festival (the winter Tollwood is held at Theresienhöhe). The 2.7 million square meter facility is situated on the Oberwiesenfeld, a former training ground for the Royal Bavarian army. It was originally built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, and since then it has hosted several other events, including the Tollwood Festival (the winter Tollwood is held at Theresienhöhe, home of the Oktoberfest).

6) BMW Museum

BMW Museum

BMW’s next-to-the-Olympic-Park headquarters and factories are located in a round contemporary building with a metal shell that houses the company’s museum. The museum’s collection is impressive—it includes more than 3,000 vehicles dating back to 1896 and spanning every decade of BMW’s history. Visitors can also enjoy a video presentation about each vehicle in detail. Visitors can also learn about current BMW models by taking a self-guided tour around the museum or by stopping by one of two areas dedicated to them: The first is designed for new vehicle models; the second focuses on older ones.

7) Viktualienmarkt

Viktualienmarkt

The farmers market at Marienplatz is a great place to go if you’re looking for fresh produce, meats, and cheeses. It was originally intended to serve as a place for locals to shop on Marienplatz, but as the city grew and expanded, it outgrew its original location—so in 1807, when the farmers market outgrew Marienplatz, it was moved to the nearby square, where it thrived and expanded. While most people use the market to buy food for dinner or a picnic on their way home from work, it’s also a place for residents to get fresh bread and pastries as well as wheels of cheese, cured meats like prosciutto and salami that they can take home with them. Tables and benches provide places for shoppers or visitors to sit while they eat sizzling sausages and hot pretzels prepared in mobile kitchens.

8) Hellabrunn Zoo

Hellabrunn Zoo

Hellabrunn Zoo is more than a zoo, it’s a destination. With over 19,000 animals from 757 species on display, Hellabrunn Zoo is consistently ranked among the best zoos in Europe. Hellabrunn Zoo is one of Munich’s most popular attractions, and it’s no wonder—the zoo is conveniently perched in the Koptenbach Forest, which rises from the edge of the city and offers a picturesque view of Germany’s largest lake. Spread across 89 acres, Hellabrunn Zoo has consistently ranked among Europe’s best zoos thanks to its use of naturalistic enclosures for animals that normally share habitats and its commitment to conservation programs such as its global breeding program.

9) Hofgarten

Hofgarten

The Hofgarten, Munich’s Court Garden, is the perfect place to spend an hour or two on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Located in the center of the city, this peaceful sanctuary dating back to 1613 features eight intersecting paths and fountains that lead to flower gardens and shaded arcades. The focal point is the central pavilion, where visitors can enjoy a drink at one of the many restaurants surrounding it.

The Hofgarten, at the center of Berlin’s Tiergarten district, was modeled on Italian Renaissance gardens and has a pond with a statue of Venus. It is one of 10 parks in Berlin’s Tiergarten district that are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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