1: St. Mary’s Square (Marienplatz Square)
Historically this square held festivities, tournaments, and was the site of the city’s marketplace. Today it remains the city’s center, but for different reasons. Marienplatz is an excellent place to see fantastic German architecture in the form of the Old and New Town Halls. The Fischbrunnen Fountain and the Column of St. Mary are also big draws for visitors.
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2: Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)
The twin towers of the Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) has been the major attraction to visit in the Bavarian city of Munich. The city center requires that buildings be built no taller than 99 meters, which happens to be the height of the two towers of the Frauenkirche, that now dominate the city center’s skyline. Its foundation was laid in 1468 and today the cathedral serves as the seat for the Archbishop and the Archdiocese of Munich.
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3: English Garden (Englischer Garten)
The Englischer Garten is Europe’s largest city park, stretching from the city center to the northeast city limits. The park boasts a Chinese pagoda, a Greek temple named Monopteros, and a Japanese teahouse. Sunbathing is a popular pastime for locals, although Kleinhesseloher lake and the beer gardens are also great alternatives if you’re in need of a cool down.
Website: www.muenchen.de
4: Residenz Palace (Wittelsbach Residence)
From 1508 to 1918 the Munich Residenz was the former royal palace for the Bavarian Dukes, electors and kings. Today its magnificent architecture, its extensive room decorations and the displays of the former royal collections are open to the public. There are over 130 rooms and 10 courtyards for visitors to explore!
Website: www.residenz-muenchen.de
5: Royal Brewery (Hofbraeuhaus)
The Hofbraeuhaus was once a royal brewery in the Bavarian Kingdom. Nowadays it’s known for some of its popular beers including Maibock, Oktoberfest and Dunkel. The brewery also holds one of the largest tents at the country’s famous Oktoberfest celebrations.
Website: www.hofbraeuhaus.de
6: Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg)
The palace’s construction began in 1664 and since that time has been expanded and changed over the years. What we see today is a Baroque style palace, which was where Bavarian rulers once resided during the summers. The grounds and park are now open, displaying some of the rooms with their original Baroque interiors and decorations.
Website: www.schloss-nymphenburg.de
7: Deutsches Museum (German Museum)
This is the largest museum in Munich. It holds over 28,000 objects in scientific and technological exhibits. The main site of the museum can be found on a small, beautiful island in the Isar River. Some of the notable current exhibits include Astronomy, Masterpieces, Hydraulic Engineering, and Mineral Oil and Natural Gas.
Website: www.deutsches-museum.de
8: BMW Headquarters and Museum
The 101 meter tall BMW Headquarters is such an icon in Munich that in 1999 was declared a protected historic building. The museum next door is what brings in the hundreds of thousands of yearly visitors. It displays the development of cars and motorcycles and also has exhibits detailing the history of the company.
Website: www.bmw-welt.com/en/
9: Food Market (Viktualienmarkt)
What was once a food market that locals used to purchase goods needed for daily life is now still a food market, but so much more. Along with selling poultry, cheese, spices, fish, vegetables and juices, it has also garnered a reputation for gourmet items. Now if you visit the market you’ll see exotic fruits, lovely flowers, game, plants, venison, and honey as well. If you’re lucky you’ll catch one of the many traditional or folkloric events that the market often hosts.
Website: www.muenchen.de
10: Pinakothek Museums
Each of the three museums in this complex offers a look into a different period in art. The Neue features 19th German art and an excellent collection of French impressionists. The Alte specializes in masterpieces, over 800 of them, from the Middle Ages. The Pinakothek der Moderne is Germany’s largest museum of modern art, including greats among the likes of Picasso, Warhol and Kandinsky.
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