
I published a guide on how to spend 24 hours in Munich in August 2023. Fast forward a few years and I have since met my partner who has spent a number of years living in Munich, so I've also spent a lot more time visiting the city!
This updated Munich guide includes all the fun things Ina and I did on my first visit to Munich in summer of 2023 to attend to The Weeknd Concert, but also has been expanded to add in the things I've done throughout the years since that visit.
Home to approximately 1.5 million people, Munich is the vibrant capital of Bavaria, the southern region of Germany. Perhaps most famously known for the annual Oktoberfest, there's plenty more to discover in this popular German city.
This list gets updated each time I visit Munich; this post was first published 5 August 2023 and last updated 25 January 2025.
By flight: I've flown in and out of Munich's International Airport many times; from the airport you can catch an S-Bahn train directly to Munich Hauptbahnhof in the heart of the city in about 45 minutes. It is the second-busiest airport in Germany only after Frankfurt so it's a great place to get connected to the rest of the world!
I live in nearby Salzburg, just across the border in Austria. We have our own little airport, but most often us Salzburgers make the journey to Munich to catch our flights.
By car: You can of course travel to Munich with your own wheels if you are coming from closer by. Speaking from experience, parking in Munich is a bit of a nightmare - it's not easy to find and it's usually pricey.
By train: If coming from Salzburg, I often travel to Munich by train, arriving at Munich Hauptbahnhof in less than two hours direct. Trains arrive at the Hbf from across Germany and neighbouring countries. Tickets can be purchased with Deutsche Bahn.
By bus: The Flixbus rus directly between Munich and a whopping 379 other cities across Europe.

Flying out of Munich

Waiting for my train to Munich at Salzburg Hbf

Sunset while on the road to Munich
Munich is well-connected with a public transit system getting you to all parts of the city. I find Munich can be quite large so you won't be able to walk as easily as in some smaller European cities.
→ Check out Munich's public transport map.
Having said that, the old town core is walkable and you can easily get between the major tourist destinations that on foot. You might want to join a walking tour of Munich to get a good insight from a local of the history and learn a bit more about the city.


My partner lives in Munich, so I stay with him when I visit the city 😉
But before I met him, I visited the city a few times, including once with one of my best friends, Ina, to attend the Weeknd concert in August 2023. As a big city, you'll find accommodation options to suit every taste and budget. As we were just there for one night to attend the concert, we opted for something affordable and in walking distance from the Hauptbahnhof so that we could easily get to the train station and back with our luggage so as to maximize exploring time!
We spent the night at Bayer's City Hotel and found it clean, comfortable and well-located. We didn't have breakfast at the hotel, but there's a popular cafe right next door.
→ Book your stay at Bayer's City Hotel.
My partner, who has lived in Munich for many years, also highly recommends Roomers and the Rosewood.



Munich is a big city with loads of international dining options. I've been to the city a handful of times now during the past years while I have lived in nearby Salzburg, Austria. Here is where I have eaten (so far!):

Pizzesco

Maison Yang

Soul Kitchen

Mamma Bao

Coffee Fellows

Vapiano

Die Küche im Kraftwerk at Kare

IKEA!
I still have many more things on my Munich to-do list pinned to my Google Maps and I plan to keep updating this list as I continue to explore the city, while living just across the border in Salzburg, Austria. For now, here is everything I have seen and done in Munich so far:
Wander through the Hofgarten
The gardens of the 17th century Residenz München Castle are well worth a wander for a slice of greenery and peace in the bustling city.





Enjoy the architecture of Odeonsplatz
Built in the 19th century, you'll find this beautiful plaza just outside the castle and lined with gorgeous buildings, sweet cafes and a general buzz in the air.



Watch a concert at Olympiapark
I have been to two concerts in Munich, in the summer of 2023 to see The Weeknd, and then again in the summer of 2024 to see Adele on her incredible one-city only summer residency in Munich (in a temporary custom-built stadium that no longer exists).
Olympiapark is a beautiful open air stadium and a brilliant live music venue. It's also host to a whole bunch of other events, such as markets and sport events and is a big culture hub for Munich.






Pick your own flowers
I honestly cannot remember where in Munich this was but flower fields where you can go and pick your own flowers, leaving the coins in the box at the edge of the field, are so common in the spring and summer months all around Germany and such a beautiful and affordable way to have flowers in your home.



Go to the ballet
Spend an evening watching a beautiful ballet performance at the stunning Bayerische Staatsballett. I grew up dancing pre-professionally and classical ballet will always have a dear place in my heart.



Buy pumpkins from the side of the road
If you're living here or visiting Munich during the autumn months, you'll notice that nearly every street corner seems to have a stand of pumpkins of all sizes from the cute mini ones to the large orange carving ones just sitting there waiting to be taken home. Leave the cash payment in the box and don't forget to snap a few autumnal photos while you're there!










I have been lucky enough to explore so much of Bavaria in southern Germany and of course also Austria, the country I currently call home. So many of these beautiful places can be visited on a day trip to Munich. Click on each photo below to read my guides!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.