How to Spend 3 Days in Munich

The Perfect 3 day Munich Itinerary

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a unique city with old gothic buildings, elaborate palaces, and fairytale castles. Its culture stems from beer gardens, famous museums to delicious food. Three days is the ideal amount of time to see the city’s highlights while still having room for a day trip.

Day 1

Start your trip in the heart of the city at Marienplatz, Munich’s main square. It’s surrounded by Gothic looking buildings, filled with shops, restaurants, and tourists. Check out the New Town Hall and then go see the Glockenspiel show. It normally plays at 11am, 12pm and 5pm and the little figures come out and dance while the bells ring. I went to Munich in winter there were many Christmas markets, it fit perfectly into the theme. It’s a bit touristy, but then again who else has Glockenspiels?

Next, just a quick little walk to the Frauenkirche, the Cathedral of Our Lady. The church dates back to the 15th century so the architecture itself is beautiful. Gothic style like the rest of the square. There are two dome towers, each measuring almost 100 meters. You can climb one of the towers for amazing views of the city.

For lunch, you can grab a bite at the Viktualienmarkt. It’s an outdoor market that’s been around for centuries. There is so much classic Bavarian food, it’s a good place for your first meal. There were a large number of stalls to choose from and I opted for my first sausage. It was delicious. It tasted like fresh, home cooked food.

I spent a lot of time wandering through the Christmas markets. They have so many stalls with cute little trinkets and souvenirs. Many of them were hand made and very intricate. It was a great place to stop and relax. After I was too cold to be outside anymore I went to the Munich Residence, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs.

The palace was huge and beautifully decorated. Filled with massive chandeliers, art, and beautiful hallways. I could have easily spent more time there gazing at all the intricate details inside. There was a Christmas market right outside the residence in the plaza so you know I had to wander through there too.

Then I wandered through Graggenau, Munich’s historical center. Located near the royal palace, English garden and Old Town Hall.

I tend to get cold easily so I skipped the English garden, but I think it would be worth a stop in warmer weather. It’s one of the biggest parks in Europe and you can see river surfers at Eisbachwelle as well.

It would have been a very unique sight for me, but sometimes I just can’t bear the cold. I realize I’m from Minnesota and should be used to the cold weather, but after living in Spain my body has definitely gotten used to the mild winters there.

Day 2

If you want to venture a little bit outside the city center you could visit Nymphenburg Palace. It served as the main summer residence for the former rulers of Bavaria. I didn’t make it there myself, but many travelers say it’s one of Munich’s most beautiful spots. Normally I don’t drive or rent a car when visiting cities, so it would have taken too long on my short trip.

If you opt to stay close to the city center, there are many museums to check out during your stay. You could stop by the world famous Deutsches Museum, Pinakothek or Kindermuseum. There are many art galleries as well if you want to see more than just museums.

In the late afternoon or evening you have to experience Munich’s legendary beer halls. The Hofbrauhaus is the most famous in Munich, with bands playing and large crowds gathering or you could stop by the Augustiner-Keller hall. It’s more local and not as “lively” as the Hofbrauhaus.

Restaurants and beer halls are solo friendly with communal seating. It was my first time experiencing communal seating in a restaurant for dinner, but it was so unique, I absolutely loved it. I had great food and great company too. It didn’t feel awkward at all while chatting with the locals and enjoying my dinner.

Day 3

If you have three days, I recommend dedicating one to a day trip outside the city. I went to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles along with Linderhof Palace. While they are all different, the palace being the smallest of the 3 and the Neuschwanstein Castle being the most impressive to me. The Neuchwanstein Castle is an amazing fairytale like castle which inspired the Disney Sleeping Beauty Castle. The Hohenschwangau Castle is a more gothic like, yellow castle. Both the castles are close to each other so you are able to see both on the same trip. They both looked surreal in the snow perched high up on the hills.

The Linderhof Palace is a smaller yet seemingly beautiful palace we stopped at along the way to the castles. The palace is filled with ornate and embellished furnishings and has beautiful grounds outside you can’t miss. It was the perfect trip. It’s only about 2 hours from Munich and the day trip I took included transportation.

Final Thoughts

My time in Munich was short, but it gave me a real taste of Bavaria. Three days is the sweet spot for a first trip. It was so different from Berlin, (check out my post here) I’m so glad I made the stop. It’s a very unique city, dare I say, a must see city in Germany. I want to go back to Germany one day to see Hamburg and Frankfurt as well. It seems like when I visit a country, I end up leaving wanting to return to see more.

Munich Travel Tips

Stay central: The Old Town or near the Hauptbahnhof makes it easy to walk or hop on public transport.
Beer gardens are solo-friendly thanks to communal tables.
Walking or bike tours are great if you want to see the city and meet other travelers.
Public transport is excellent: The S-Bahn and U-Bahn get you everywhere quickly.
Munich is very safe and walkable.