2 Days in Munich (My Itinerary + Map 2023)

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is one of the largest cities in Germany. And in my opinion – it’s also one of the most beautiful ones. If you have experienced only Berlin or Cologne, you’ll find Munich completely different from them.

It’s elegant, full of magnificent buildings and history. And how could it not be? The city was home to Wittelsbach, the famous dynasty that ruled Bavaria for more than 700 years.

Founded initially by monks, Munich expanded and turned into a royal city under Wittelsbachs’ influence. You can still see the magnificent palaces, once home to these great rulers.

With its beer gardens, Christmas markets and the famous Oktoberfest, Munich is a perfect destination for a city break no matter the season.

This Munich itinerary will give you a complete idea of the city by covering all the major landmarks. In addition, you’ll find ideas for modifications of the itinerary, plus the best restaurants and hotels.

You can find a map of this Munich itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites) at the end of the article.

Already have a hotel booked? Then check your hotel’s location and make sure it’s in a good area (see my guide – where to stay in Munich first time).

2 Days in Munich (best tried and tested itinerary)

• Day 1: St. Peter’s Church, Frauenkirche, New Town Hall, Theatine Church, Munich Residence, Hofbräuhaus
• Day 2: Nymphenburg Palace, English Garden, BMW Welt and BMW Museum

For my trip to Munich, I used this DK Eyewitness Travel Guide. I love their travel guides, as they have practical information, walking tours and a durable map!

Have breakfast at Bakery Zöttl

09:00 AM – 09:30 AM
Start your 2 days in Munich with breakfast at Bakery Zöttl. They offer a really good assortment of salty and sweet foods. I tried the Nussschnecke, a German sweet pastry with nuts (one of my favourites).

Climb St. Peter’s Church’s Tower

09:30 AM – 10:20 AM
The first landmark in this Munich itinerary is St. Peter’s Church (Peterkirche). This is the oldest Catholic church in the city. In this very place, monks of the Benedictine order established a monastery in the 8th century. This monastery later expanded to a city, called Munich. That’s why you can see a monk on the city’s coat of arms.

Located right on Marienplatz, St. Peter’s Church offers the best views of the Old Town. From here you can see the magnificent New Town Hall. However, to enjoy the incredible view, you have to climb 306 narrow steps to the top. So, get there early before it gets busy with people.

One of the church’s treasures is the bejewelled skeleton of Saint Munditia, decorated with gold precious stones.

Look for the Footprint of the Devil in Frauenkirche

10:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Frauenkirche is considered a symbol of Munich. It’s the city’s main cathedral and the seat of its Archbishop.

The most interesting attraction in the cathedral is the so-called Footprint of the Devil. According to the legend, when the church was built, the devil came to see it. From the entrance hall, where he was standing, no windows were to be seen. He laughed at the people’s stupidity to construct such a building without any windows. In his joy, he stamped the floor with his leg and left a footprint on the ground.

However, as he made one step further, he realised his mistake. There were windows, he just couldn’t see them, because of the pillars. Out of anger, he turned into a stormy wind and tried to destroy the church. He wasn’t successful, but since then there is always a wind blowing through the towers.

See the New Town Hall and the famous Glockenspiel

10:50 AM – 11:50 AM
The New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus) dominates Marienplatz, the city’s main square. This 19th-century Neo-Gothic building is one of the most remarkable landmarks in Munich. Its impressive facade is richly decorated with figures from Bavarian history.

However, the star of the show is the famous clock tower, Glockenspiel. Every day at 11 AM, 12 PM and 5 PM there is a clock show. The Glockenspiel re-enacts two stories from the 16th century – a medieval marriage and coopers dance. Each show lasts about 15min.

Go at least 10min early to find a nice spot to watch the performance. Please note that the last show at 5 PM is only from March to October including.

There is an observation deck at the top of the clock tower (and luckily there is a lift). This is your second chance for nice views of the city’s roofs (in case you miss St.Peter’s Church Tower). You can buy tickets from the Tourist Information Office in the New Town Hall. Or you can take the lift to the top, buy tickets from there and take a second lift to the observation deck.

Have lunch at Ooh Baby I like it raw

11:50 AM – 01:50 PM
Stop for a delicious healthy lunch at Ooh Baby I like it raw. It’s a small lovely café with an excellent selection of fresh vegetarian food. If you look for delicious avocado toast, this is the place to go.

Visit Theatine Church

01:50 PM – 02:10 PM
Before continuing to the next site from your 2 days in Munich, stop at Theatine Church (Theatinerkirche). It’s a gorgeous little church right next to the Munich Residence. It was built by Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife as a token of appreciation for the birth of their long-awaited heir to the Bavarian crown.

Explore the royal Munich Residence

02:10 PM – 05:00 PM
Munich Residence is one of the must-see sites in Munich. It’s the largest city palace in all of Germany. This sumptuous palace was home to the powerful Wittelsbachs from 1508 to 1918. And it’s one of the most impressive palaces I’ve ever seen (similar to Versailles).

Nowadays, it is a huge museum, so prepare yourself to spend the whole afternoon here. There are more than 130 rooms open to visitors! You can visit the staterooms, the treasury and the Cuvilliés Theatre.

There are several ticket options for the museum (more info here) that come with a free audioguide. I’d recommend you buying the combination ticket that includes the Residence Museum, Treasury and Cuvilliés Theatre. The gardens are free to enter.

In the treasury, you’ll find on display the royal jewels of the Wittelsbachs. It takes only a few minutes to visit the Cuvilliés Theatre, but it’s totally worth the additional fee. This exquisite performance venue once was reserved only for members of the court.

Dinner at Bratwurst-Glöckl am Dom

Finish the day with dinner at Bratwurst-Glöckl am Dom. It’s a little traditional restaurant known for their speciality Nürnberger Rostbratwürste (grilled sausage).

Desserts are also not to be missed. We ordered a combination of all desserts, that comes with two different sauces (and it was huge). You’d better be hungry!

Have a beer at Hofbräuhaus

Hofbräuhaus is one of the oldest and most famous breweries in Munich. Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm V, founded it in 1589 to serve as a royal brewery. Opened to the general public in 1828, it soon became very popular and busy.

You can’t say you’ve experienced Munich without having a beer at Hofbräuhaus. The beer is excellent, but better skip the food. It’s not so good, as the place is super touristy. So go only for the beer and live music.

Old Town Hall

As you’re in the area, why don’t you take a quick look at the pretty Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus). Today, its tower houses a Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum).

Take a Third Reich Tour

If you’re interested in WWII, I highly recommend you to take this Third Reich walking tour. You’ll discover infamous WWII locations and learn about the city’s dark past.

Also, take a look at my complete guide to the most famous Third Reich sites in Munich (including Hitler’s apartment and the place where the Nazi Party was founded).

Asam Church

Asam Church (Asamkirche) is just a short walk from Marienplatz. Even if you’re not into churches, it totally worth a quick visit. Built between 1733 and 1746 by the Asam brothers, it was intended to serve as a private chapel.

It may not look much from the outside, but when you enter you’ll be wowed. Its impressive Baroque interior decorated with gold is an example of sheer opulence.

Bürgersaalkirche

Bürgersaalkirche is a historical building from the 18th century. The church is divided into a lower and upper chapel. Visit the site for the upper chapel, which is stunningly beautiful.

Note, that the upper chapel is not always open. The entrance is on the left immediately after you enter the building. Unfortunately, the opening times weren’t listed. I visited it at around 11 AM.

Church of the Holy Spirit

Church of the Holy Spirit (Heilig-Geist-Kirche) is a small Baroque Church from the 14th century. This makes it one of the city’s oldest churches. Visit it for the stunning Rococo ceiling frescoes.

St. Michael’s Church

Munich is full of stunningly beautiful churches. St. Michael’s Church (Michaelskirche) is not an exception, too. This is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps.

If you’re not into churches, visit the site for its crypt. Several members of the Wittelsbach family are buried here, including the Mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Besides being known as the Mad King, he is responsible for building some of the most impressive castles in Germany.

Have breakfast at Backspielhaus

09:00 AM – 09:30 AM
Start your 2nd day in Munich with breakfast at Backspielhaus. It’s a lovely little bakery close to the first site for the day, Nymphenburg Palace. It will take you about 30-40min to get to the palace from the city centre (it depends on where your hotel is).

Tour the royal summer palace – Nymphenburg

09:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) was the summer residence of the Wittelsbach family, the former rulers of Bavaria. It’s a sumptuous Baroque palace built in 1664.

One of the most famous rooms in the palace is the so-called Gallery of Beauties. Here you’ll see 36 portraits of beautiful women from all classes.

Beside the palace, you can see the Carriage museum (Marstallmuseum) and Porcelain Museum. The Carriage Museum has one of the greatest coach collections in Europe. Amongst the most impressive items are the Paris Coronation Coach and the sleighs of King Ludwig II.

There are several ticket options to visit the palace. I’d recommend you to buy the combination ticket “Nymphenburg”. It covers the palace, Carriage and Porcelain Museums and the park palaces. Note that the gardens are closed in the winter.

It is possible to attend a concert at the Nymphenburg Palace (see details and available dates).

Have lunch at Aroma Kaffeebar

12:30 PM – 02:30 PM
Go back to the city centre and have lunch at Aroma Kaffeebar. It’s an arty place with a relaxed atmosphere and tasty food. Try the sandwiches and the homemade lemonade.

Have a beer at the English Garden

If you’re visiting Munich in the summer I’d recommend you going to the English Garden. It’s a huge urban park, featuring a Chinese Tower with a beer garden. You can also hire boats on the lake!

Visit a museum

If the weather is bad, head to one of the numerous city museums. If you’re an art lover visit the Alte and Neue Pinakothek. The BMW Welt and Museum are a must-see for every fan of the brand.

And if football is your thing, take this FC Bayern München Football tour.

Have dinner at Andy’s Krablergarten

For dinner go to Andy’s Krablergarten. They serve the best Schnitzels in the city. There is even a separate Schnitzel menu, so you have a lot of options to choose from!

Find a detailed map of the itinerary here.

As you can see the first day of this Munich itinerary covers the Old Town. It’s compact and can be easily explored on foot. The attractions that are not must-see are marked in grey.

However, to tour the landmarks on your second day in Munich, you’ll need to use public transport. I’d recommend buying a Single Day Ticket, as it will be cheaper than separate tickets. If you’re travelling with your partner or family, buy a Group Day Ticket. It’s valid for a group of 2 up to 5 persons, and it’s a real deal.

CityTourCard Munich is also a great option. It includes free travel on public transport, plus discounts at many attractions.

The Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) is at a walkable distance from the Old Town. Check timetables and book tickets online at Deutsche Bahn official site.

Munich Airport (MUC) is located about 30km away from the city. The easiest way to get to the city centre is by booking a private transfer directly to your hotel. I recommend this airport transfer (more than 450+ excellent reviews).

Another option is to take the Lufthansa Express Bus (it doesn’t matter which airline you fly with) to the Central train station. The buses depart every 15min, 7 days a week.

You can also travel by train. The S-Bahn lines (S1 and S8) connect the airport to the city centre at 10-minute intervals. The journey is approximately 35min.

The low-cost airlines, Wizzair and Ryanair, fly to Memmingen Airport, known as Allgäu Airport Memmingen (FMM). From there you can take the Allgäu Airport Express to Munich (journey time about 1h20min). Another option is FlixBus (same journey time, cheaper in most cases).

If you have more than 2 days in Munich, check out these popular day trips.

Built in the 19th century by Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein is the most iconic castle in Europe. With its fairytale appearance, it served as an inspiration for Walt Disney’s logo.

How to get to Neuschwanstein Castle
The easiest way to get to the castle is by taking an organized guided tour. This Neuschwanstein Castle day trip is the most popular one. It also includes a visit to Linderhof (another must-see castle built by the same king).

It’s not possible to see both castles in one day if you’re travelling by public transport. So to get most of your time, I’d recommend you to take the guided tour.

To get to Neuschwanstein by public transport, you have to take a train to Füssen and then a bus to the castle (more info here). It’s almost 3h journey in one direction.

Nuremberg is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria. It’s mostly known for its spectacular Christmas market, one of the largest in Germany. Thus, if you’re visiting Munich in December, don’t miss this day trip.

For more information on how to see the city in just one day, take a look at my Nuremberg day trip itinerary.

Nuremberg is a must-visit for all interested in WWII. The Nazi Party Rallies (1933 – 1938) and the famous Nuremberg trials were held in the city.

If you’re a history lover, spend at least 1 night in the city. The WWII sites are out of the city centre and you’ll need almost one day only for them. To tour the imperial castle and the Old Town – one more day.

How to get to Nuremberg
Nuremberg is only 1 hour away by train from Munich. Plus, there are regular trains.

If you’re short on time and want to see all of Nuremberg in one day, take this guided day trip from Munich. It’s excellently organized and you’ll see the city’s highlights with a tour guide.

The infamous Dachau concentration camp is only 20min away by train from Munich. It was one of the first concentration camps, setting a model for the rest. A sober reminder of the dark past, Dachau is a must for all interested in WWII.

How to get to Dachau concentration camp
Take S-Bahn line 2 from München Hbf to Dachau Bahnhof (towards Petershausen or Altomünster). Once you arrive at the train station, take bus 726 (towards Saubachsiedlung) and get off at KZ-Gedenkstätte stop. Buses run every 20min.

Buy Group Day Ticket for zone Munich XXL (if you’re travelling with a company). It covers S-Bahn and the bus in Dachau.

To learn more about Germany’s dark past take this Dachau Memorial site day tour.

If you have additional time, after the concentration camp, don’t go back immediately to Munich. Take your time and visit the city centre of Dachau.

There is a nice little palace with a lovely garden and an awesome cake shop. You can visit the palace itself, a few rooms are open to the public. To get to the city centre take bus 722 from Ratiborer Straße stop (check timetables here).

For lunch stop at Samstagskinder, a cosy little café with excellent freshly prepared food.

Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, is a picturesque Baroque city with a well-preserved Old Town. There is a lot to see, so it’s best if you can spend at least 2 days here. Yet, if you’re short on time, Salzburg is a great option for a day trip from Munich.

How to get to Salzburg
The easiest option is to take an organized day trip to Salzburg (this is the most popular one). The best part is that you’ll get a fully-guided orientation tour, which is important when you’re short on time.

Another option is to take a direct train from Munich Central train station to Salzburg (2h journey). The Old Town is about 1km away from the station.

Are 2 days in Munich enough?

Two days in Munich is the perfect amount of time to explore the city. You’ll get a good idea of Munich and manage to see the most popular attractions, including the Old Town and the two palaces.

What if I don’t have 2 full days in Munich?

If you have less than 2 days in Munich, I’ll recommend you to do only the first day of the itinerary. It includes the Old Town and Munich Residence. Also, skip the Nymphenburg Palace (the second day of the itinerary), as you’ll need more than half a day for it. Plus, it’s a little bit out of the city centre.

2 or 3 days in Munich?

If you’re able to spend 3 or 4 days, you’ll have time for some day trips, too. The most popular ones include the Dachau concentration camp, Neuschwanstein castle and Nuremberg. So, if you’re interested in WWII or castles, my advice is to spend at least 3 days in Munich.

Munich is beautiful throughout the entire year, but there are a few things to take into account when planning your trip.

For sunny weather with fewer tourists, visit the city in late spring (April, May, June). July and August are the most popular summer months. The first half of September is also a good time.

Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, takes place at the end of September and the beginning of October. If you’re not visiting the city specifically for the festival, avoid the period in any case. The capital of Bavaria is packed with tourists and the hotel prices are 2-3 times higher.

December is also a very popular month, because of the Christmas markets. There are more than 10 markets to explore and the city is pretty magical at this time of the year. The only problem is the really cold weather.