Independent trip to Munich. Independent trip to Munich Famous Neuschwanstein Castle

Today we will walk around Munich and you will find out what sights you can see in the city in one day. I want to warn you right away: you will need 3 days for a detailed inspection of the city. If you want to explore only the old part of the city, then 3 hours of brisk walking will be enough for you.

First, let me give you some facts about Munich.

Facts about Munich

  • Munich is the capital of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany.
  • The city's population is 1.5 million people.
  • Munich sits on the Isar River north of the Bavarian Alps.
  • The first mention of the city dates back to 1158.
  • In 1972 the city hosted the Summer Olympic Games
  • Munich is the capital of the Nazi movement.
  • Munich is one of the richest and most beautiful cities in Germany.
  • Munich is the beer capital of the world. This is where the famous Oktoberfest beer festival is held. In addition, Munich is famous for its beer traditions, the most popular being wheat beer. Surely you know such beer brands as Augustiner Bräu, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner. You can drink beer in one of 20 beer gardens. The largest beer garden is located in the English Garden.
  • Munich's economy is very powerful, partly due to the presence of 89 headquarters of 89 of the world's largest corporations here: BMW, Allianz, Das Erste, MAN SE, Siemens, The Linde Group, Brainlab, Fujitsu Siemens Computers.
  • Real estate in Munich is the most expensive in Germany.

Walking around Munich

Our walk begins with main station (München Hbf), this is where most tourists come, because even if you arrived in Munich by plane, it is most convenient to go to the main station. You can start your walk from the metro stations Karlsplatz or Marienplatz, they are located in the very center of the city. We leave the station and find ourselves on a pedestrian street Schützenstraße, we pass it and move towards the street Neuhauser Straße where is the area Karlsplatz. You can see our entire route on the map.

Karlsplatz is a large square in the historical center of Munich, named after the popular Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria. In the middle of the square there is a large fountain. Part of the square will be surrounded by semicircular buildings, between which you will see ancient gates Karlstor, which lead to the old part of the city, and on which you will find characters from the city's folklore. The Palace of Justice is located right here Justizpalast and church Bürgersaalkirche. Behind the Palace of Justice is the old botanical garden Alter Botanischer Garten.

We continue to move along the pedestrian street Neuhauser Straße, where there are many shops with Bavarian paraphernalia, souvenirs, delicacies, expensive clothes and food. All buildings on the street are decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptural groups, and tourists are entertained by street musicians and actors. On this street you will see funny sculptures of wild boar and catfish.

Walking along Neuhauser Straße, you will definitely see a beautiful building - this is the Frauenkirche or Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Frauenkirche), which is one of the symbols of the city and the tallest cathedral in Munich (99 meters). The cathedral houses the black marble sarcophagus of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria. They say that the devil himself left a mark on the veranda of the cathedral. Next to the cathedral there is a square Promenadeplatz, decorated with statues. Frauenkirche address: München, Frauenplatz 12

Marienplatz Square, here is the calling card of Munich and a real tourist magnet - New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus). The city council meets in the town hall. In summer and spring, the town hall is decorated with fresh flowers; in winter, a Christmas tree is placed next to it and Christmas markets are organized. This is the traditional city center. At the town hall you will probably be interested in the clock with 43 bells and 32 human-sized figures. Every day at 11.00 the figures perform a 15-minute show (in the summer you can see the show at 11.00, 12.00, 17.00).

A few steps from the New Town Hall is Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), which was built back in the 14th century. Both town halls are made in the neo-Gothic style. In the building of the Old Town Hall, Goebbels' famous speech was heard in 1938, which preceded the so-called Crystal Night, when mass pogroms of shops and shops owned by Jews, as well as synagogues, took place.

After visiting the town hall we move along the street Burgstraße to the national theater and opera (Bayerische Staatsoper). You can, of course, look into the famous beer hall, but it’s better to postpone visiting the beer hall until the evening, when it’s fun and interesting and you can taste all types of beer.))

So our walk continues, and we go out to the theaters on the street Maximilianstrasse. Maximilianstraße is famous for its chic boutiques and designer shops. This is the most expensive store rental in all of Germany, but the boutiques of Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Escada, Hugo Boss, Gucci, Gianfranco Ferre, and Bulgari are not embarrassed by this. On the same street are located the most expensive and best hotels in Munich, for example, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (using this link you can book a hotel, the prices will be lower than those of Booking, which takes large commissions).

Next we inspect the area Odeonsplatz. On the square you will see the Leuchtenberg Palace and the equestrian monument to King Ludwig I. The most majestic building of the square is Theatinerkirche. This church was built in the Italian Baroque style. In the church you will see more tombs, this time of members of the Wittelsbach dynasty. But what is most striking is the stunning facade with twin towers and marble statues of saints. Pay attention to the hall of the Bavarian commanders Feldherrnhalle - this is a loggia in the southern part of the square.

There is a park next to Odeonsplatz Hofgarten, which is decorated with arched galleries, a gazebo and fountains. In general, Munich is famous for its parks and gardens; very close you will find one of the largest parks in Europe - English Garden. This park has summer beer gardens, a Japanese tea house, a Chinese tower, more than 100 bridges, a waterfall and many places for entertainment and picnics. Another large park is located on the banks of the Isar River and is called Maximiliansanlagen.

If you go north from Odeonsplatz along Ludwigstraße you will see Gate of Victory (Siegestor)- This is a triumphal arch decorated with a Quadrigue with lions.

Do you still have energy left after such a busy walk? Then you can walk to Königsplatz. This is a square in the center of Munich where the main art galleries, the Alte Pinakothek, the New Pinakothek and the Pinakothek of Modern Art are concentrated, which is why this area is called the “Art Quarter”. Attractions in the area include Villa Lenbach, museums and the Technical University.

But I would advise going to technical museums, such as the grand BMW Museum or in German Museum (Deutsches Museum), you will not see such museums anywhere in the world. The German Museum is the largest museum of natural history and technology in the world! The BMW Museum is located next to the Olympic Park.

The Olympic Park is a park that was built to host the 1972 Summer Olympics. Previously, there was a training ground for the local army. Now it is an excellent park for recreation and for holding concerts and cultural events. You will surely love the futuristic buildings of the park, especially its dominant feature - the 290-meter television tower, which you can climb to look at the city, take panoramic photos or eat in the revolving restaurant. Address: München, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21. By the way, there is a BMW museum right next door. BMW Museum address: München, Am Olympiapark 2, entrance fee: €10.

But one day for a walk around Munich is very little, especially for visiting museums or tasting real German beer in the shade of chestnut trees. So, if you are planning to see Bavaria and Munich in full, then buy plane tickets and go to Munich for at least a week, because this city and region is worth it. By the way, if you want to explore the attractions described above with a professional guide, I advise you to read the article ““, from which you will learn about the best company organizing excursions in Munich and Bavaria.

You can also explore the city with the help of the Munich in 1 Day guide. The guide includes the optimal passage of the main attractions and places of interest, markers on an offline map with navigation and routes, markers with the best restaurants and cafes, facts about attractions and a description of public transport. This solution is suitable for independent travelers who want to see the maximum in the city in 1 day.

You may also be interested

A selection of websites for travel planning

Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport (Flughafen München "Franz Josef Strauß" ) is an international airport located in Bavaria. Named after the former prime minister of Bavaria. The airport was put into operation on May 17, 1992. The second largest airport in Germany in terms of the number of passengers carried. It is the base airport of the national company Lufthansa.

Munich Airport is located 40 km from the city center, but getting here is easy thanks to public transport.

Regular S-Bahn commuter trains and buses provide an excellent alternative to more expensive taxi services.

By train S-BAHN

The Airport - Munich train is one of the most convenient types of transport by which you can get from the airport to the city. Schedule S1 and S8 very dense (from 4 am to 1.30 am). During the day, S-bahn trains run every 10 minutes.

Route S1 runs from the airport to the Central railway station "Hauptbahnhof" and the city center of Munich "Marienplatz City Center".

Route S8 also goes to Central Station, but transits through Ostbahnhof. A map of routes S1 and S8 is located below.

Both lines pass through the central stations of the city: the main station, Marienplatz, Karlsplatz. If you are traveling to the center of Munich, then it makes virtually no difference to you which line you take - you will end up at the central stations in any case.

How to find access to S-Bahn trains

To find the station where trains depart from, look for signs with a white “S” on a green background.

Which ticket to buy

The fare is 12€. By purchased ticket The Airport-City Day Ticket until 6 am the next day, you will be able to travel by any type of public transport. If you are traveling in a group, you can purchase a special travel pass Gruppen Airport-City-Day-Ticket (formerly called Partner) for a group of up to 5 people for only 23.20 €.

If you are going to go straight from Munich main station to another city, then buy a Bavarian ticket (or a Bavarian night ticket, if it is after 18 o’clock). The Bavarian ticket will take you from the airport through Munich Central Station to the city you need.

Children under 6 years old travel free of charge. There is a special children's ticket for children aged 6-14 years old Kinder-Fahrkarte, one trip to any distance costs 1.30€, day ticket for children Kinder-Tageskarte for the whole day it costs 3€. If you bought a ticket for the Gruppen Airport-City-Day-Ticket group, then children 6-14 years old are considered half a passenger on such a ticket. Thus, for example, 3 adults and 4 children can travel on the Gruppen Airport-City-Day-Ticket at the same time.

Where can I buy a ticket

Tickets are sold at S-Bahn stations and at airport ticket machines. Upon arrival at terminal 1 or 2, look for signs to “MAC”, this is the area where you buy tickets for trains and board trains.

Bus from Munich airport to the center

City buses connect the airport with the Munich suburbs of Erding, Freising and Markt Schwaben, so they are more suitable for locals than visitors. The only bus going to Munich without transfers is the Lufthansa Airport Bus.
This bus takes you to the Nordfriedhof metro station and Munich Central Station Munich Hauptbahnhof. These buses are equipped with air conditioning, toilets and Wi-Fi. The cost of an adult ticket is 10.50€ one way, 17€ round trip. Children - 5.50€ one way, 11€ round trip. These prices are indicated when purchasing online on the website; the price from the driver is 1 € more expensive. Travel time to the central station is about 45 minutes. Buses stop just steps from Terminals 1 and 2.

Bus schedule from Munich city center to the airport.
Bus schedule from the airport to the center of Munich.

Taxi from Munich airport

Taxis can be found in the arrivals and departures level E04 car park, in front of modules A-E of Terminal 1 and along the bus parking area at Terminal 2.

At airports, it is very common to “warm up” tourists who have arrived in France for the first time. There is an effective way to avoid getting into trouble with “extra tariffs”. One of the most effective alternatives is to call a taxi online. It is quite possible to catch a taxi at the terminal, but with this option, all risks are transferred to the passenger; the cost of a taxi may cost you 2 times more than the real tariff. That is why it is advisable to place a pre-order in the search form below. Your order confirmation will be sent to you by email, and the driver will be waiting at the exit from the arrivals area with a sign with your name on it. The driver can also help you with your luggage, and payment of the full cost will be made only after arriving at the place, which you will already know when booking a taxi.

Car rental at Munich Airport

You can rent a car directly at Munich airport, and at the end of your vacation you can return the car there.
To rent a car, we advise you to go to the car rental counter right at the airport or use the popular service, multifunctional and simple, which will allow you to choose the most suitable car at home and receive it immediately upon arrival.
To get to Munich Airport by car, you must first take the A9 highway and then turn onto the A92. Roads in Munich are free. The highways are high-speed and equipped with information boards.

Find cheap flights

If you have not yet purchased air tickets to Munich, you can use our convenient search form right now. All you need to do is enter your origin and destination and your expected travel dates, and then click “Find flights.” The air ticket search engine will select the optimal route for you and show the minimum price among airlines and air ticket sales agencies.

During our trip to Europe, we spent the whole day in Munich. I don’t argue that one day for a city like Munich is negligible, but our route through the historical part of the city was designed in such a way that we were able to cover almost all the main attractions of the city.

If you look at the map of the city, you can see that our walk was an open circle: from the National Theater building, through the Odeonplatz, with a visit to the Frauenkirche and the Church of St. Michael (a little to the side), through Marienplatz, past the old Town Hall, and ended near the beer hall Hofbräuhaus. And now, in order.

The first point of our excursion was Max-Josef-Platz, where the Munich National Theater is located. Sightseeing tours on double-decker buses also start from here, but our walk was on foot. The square was named in honor of Emperor Maximilian Joseph, who, after visiting Paris, decided to build the same theater here, reminiscent of the Parisian Odeon. True, for this it was necessary to demolish the Franciscan monastery that previously stood here. This theater was supposed to become the center of the cultural life of the city, in fact, this is what happened; Strauss, Wagner and many other famous composers presented their operas here. The theater building is made in antique style and decorated with a colonnade.


Our next stop is Odeonplatz. This is one of the largest squares in Munich and, after Marienplatz, the most visited by tourists. Here are three important attractions that are definitely worth paying attention to. Firstly, this is the Feldherrnhalle - a pavilion in honor of the Bavarian commanders Wrede and Tilly. The Munich people themselves are people with humor, so they laugh at one of their main monuments, that one of them (Wrede) is not a commander at all, and the second (Tillie) is not a Bavarian at all.


Be that as it may, this open pavilion, recreated after the famous loggia in Florence (well, Bavarian architects loved to adopt other people’s experience), is one of the city’s attractions. Tourists love to sit on the steps of this pavilion among the lions, especially in hot weather. By the way, in order to make the square so large and representative, the Bavarian Emperor Ludwig ordered the destruction of the old city wall.


If you are sitting on the steps of the Feldherrnhalle, on your right hand will be one of the most beautiful churches in Munich - Theatinekirche. This yellow building in Baroque style (with light Rococo elements) was built by an Italian architect, also known for the reconstruction of the beautiful Ettal Monastery. It is interesting that the facade of the building, which became famous with two elegant columns, appeared here only a hundred years after the church building itself was built. The building is crowned with a large baroque dome, similar to those seen on many Italian cathedrals. The church of St. Cayetano (that is what it is correctly called) belonged to the monastic order of Theatines, little known outside Bavaria.


Opposite the Theatinkirche is a pompous complex of buildings decorated with statues. This Residence is the seat of the Bavarian kings of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Construction began back in the 14th century, and today this palace complex includes a dozen beautiful courtyards, a very beautiful park, tourists have access (for a fee, of course) to several state rooms and a treasury, where items collected by Bavarian kings since the early Middle Ages are presented treasures. But due to lack of time we did not get there. But we were advised that next time we should definitely visit the unusually beautiful halls Antiquarium and the Hall of Ancestors (we looked it up on the Internet, and it’s really impressive). There are lions at the entrance to the Residence; you must rub the paw of one of them to make a wish. Which one you will easily understand, since it is wonderfully polished by tourists.



Odeonplatz is also associated with events that Munich residents themselves do not really like to remember. Here, back in 1923, Adolf Hitler and his associates made their first attempt to seize power (the so-called Beer Hall Putsch - where the name came from, a little later). Hundreds of Nazis clashed with the police, resulting in the deaths of three police officers and several Nazis. During Hitler's reign, a memorial plaque was erected here, and every German had to raise his hand in greeting when passing by it. After the defeat of the Nazis, the Americans entered the city. They removed this slab, and the townspeople erected a memorial slab here in honor of the police officers who became the first victims of the Nazis.

You can go from Odeonplatz to Frauenkirche along the Fünf Höfe shopping arcade, located in a historical building. But only the facade remains of the historical one, and in the passage itself you will pass under hanging garlands of plants, balls, and bright lanterns. Very beautiful and unusual.



Our next stop is the main cathedral of Munich, Frauenkirche, built in an unusual manner for late Gothic, distinguished by its grandiose size and legends associated with it. This attraction is worth telling about separately. Here I will only say that this is the tallest building in the city, above which it is prohibited to build.

Then we deviate a little from the conventional circle to the side to go to the incredibly beautiful Church of St. Michael. This is an incredibly beautiful temple with a snow-white facade, reminiscent of traditional town halls, decorated with statues of Bavarian rulers. But its interior decoration delights not only and not so much with its wealth, but with its grace, sophistication, and sophistication. The white walls are decorated with luxurious stucco in the Italian High Renaissance style. The shine of gold, the beauty of paintings, the golden altar - it’s hard to take your eyes off all this.



The church was built in the 16th century during the period of religious wars. The Wittelsbachs always remained faithful to Catholicism, and therefore were ardent supporters of the Counter-Reformation. And this church was intended for the Jesuit order, created specifically to fight the Protestants.


Many representatives of the Wittelsbach family are also buried in this church (in the crypt). ruled Bavaria for several centuries. Also here are the miraculous relics of saints, presumably Cosmas and Damian. At the entrance to the church, the Archangel Michael stands over a bowl of holy water, as if protecting everyone who enters the temple and the church itself from evil. This bronze statue dates back to the end of the 16th century.


The church building was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War by a direct bomb hit. But it was restored quite quickly, and today, as a reminder of this, photographs of the war-damaged building are posted on the wall at the entrance of the church.


Then our path lies to the main attraction of the city - the central square Marienplatz. Passing by the Frauenkirche, we took another look at this grandiose structure (although one of its towers was under reconstruction), and soon came out onto Marienplatz. There will be a separate story about this place, as it deserves it. I will only say that its main attraction is the unusually beautiful Town Hall, made in the neo-Gothic style.


From Marienplatz, if you turn your back to the town hall, you can see a fragment of another important landmark of the city - the bell tower of St. Peter's Cathedral (Peterskirche). This tower is only six or seven meters lower than the Frauenkirche towers. The city residents themselves call this tower “Old Peter”.


It is noteworthy that the church consists of two parts. Its facade looks brand new, but if you go around the church, you will see an ancient, darkened structure, worn out by time. This is the old part of the church. The fact is that this cathedral is the oldest in the city, and the first Romanesque basilica was built here in the 12th century by the monks who founded the city here.


By the way, Munich is translated as “monk”. There are a lot of different statues and figures in the city that remind of this. And the city’s coat of arms depicts a hooded monk.


We walked around St. Peter's Church from different sides (we didn't go inside), and we moved on. There are a lot of different arches, passages, and galleries in Munich. Many of them are used as parking for public transport - bicycles. In Munich, the cyclist is the master of traffic. You can rent a bicycle here everywhere - you throw in some money, take a bicycle from the parking lot, go where you want, find a bicycle parking place there and leave it there. Steal a bike? It seems to me that such an idea will not even occur to the Germans.


And finally, finishing the tour, we come to another attraction - the Hofbrauhaus beer hall. In addition to the fact that this is the largest beer hall in Europe, and most likely in the world, it is also known for a very unpleasant fact. Remember I wanted to tell you about the Beer Hall Putsch? So, it was in the Hofbräuhaus, over a glass of beer, that Hitler and his supporters discussed the coup plan in 1923, which is why it got its name. Today at the Hofbräuhaus everything is different. Here you can drink several liters of beer, eating a luxurious pork knuckle with cabbage and potatoes, while listening to traditional Bavarian melodies. Of course, everything here is expensive, but the portions are wow, you don’t leave there, you almost crawl out.



And of course, I cannot ignore one more point of visit, which is not in the excursion plan, but which we found in our free time - the Bayern Munich Fan Shop. There are only a few of them in Germany, and only here you can buy original club products. For the almost 100 euros we gave without regret, Bernie the bear and a branded T-shirt with Schweinsteiger's name went to Russia with us.



After two hours of free time walking through the shopping streets of Munich and leaving a lot of euros there, we had to return to Max-Josef-Platz, where the bus was waiting. It’s interesting that as soon as you take out a guidebook and ask the Germans a question, you are immediately surrounded by ever-smiling Japanese, Chinese and very friendly and cheerful Italians, eager to help and show that they know the city.

Do you want to go on an independent trip to Munich for the weekend? Then you will definitely need this article! We will share our experience and tell you what to see in Munich in two days, where you should definitely go and how to combine business with pleasure when you find yourself in the capital of Bavaria.

There are three ways to get to Munich from Russia, for example, from Moscow:

  1. By private car you can get there in 30-35 hours, covering 2700 km.
  2. There are no direct railway connections, therefore, those traveling by rail will have to change trains in one of the European cities.
  3. By plane from Moscow the flight time is just over three hours; flights from Aeroflot, Lufthansa, S7, AirBerlin, Germanwings and some other airlines fly to Munich.

Since time in our case was limited, we naturally chose the third option. We booked air tickets to Munich Strauss Airport via the Internet and went on our little trip. (By the way, the cheapest plane tickets to Munich can be bought between November and January!) Particularly detailed on how to fly, how to get from the airport to the city, etc. We won’t stop - all the necessary information about this is on the Russian-language website about the airport in Munich. Flight schedules, terminal maps, hotels and transfers to the city - everything is written in Russian.

On this website we read about a specialized train route (S Bahn) running from the airport to the center of Munich, and we actually took it. More precisely, there are two routes S1 and S8 - both go to the city center. The ticket cost 12 euros per person. You could also get there by Lufthansa bus, taxi, or rent a car.

Munich S-Bahn (S-Bahn)

Transport in Munich

Munich has a large and developed transport network, which includes: metro (U-Bahn), electric trains (S-Bahn), trams and buses. In addition to public transport, you can use taxi services. If you decide to travel outside the city, you can use intercity trains or buses.

Where to stay

There are no problems with where to stay in Munich - everything will just depend on your budget. There are many cheap hostels and comfortable five-star hotels here.

Visa to Germany

To travel to Munich you need a Schengen visa. The list of required documents and the amount of the consular fee changes periodically - therefore, on the eve of the trip, we recommend that you check the latest information on the website of the Germany Visa Application Center in Russia or, if you don’t want to bother, there is an excellent registration service.

Mobile communications and Internet in Munich

In Munich there is a free municipal wireless Internet network M-WLAN, which can be connected to in most tourist destinations. Also, traditionally, free Wi-Fi is available in many restaurants, bars, cafes and shopping centers. If necessary, for 10-15 euros you can buy a local SIM card from one of the operators: O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile or BASE.

Once all issues with flights, accommodation and arrangements have been resolved, you can begin to explore the city.

Sights of Munich and bus tour in Russian

There are quite a lot of attractions in Munich, one of which is the central square – Marienplatz. There is a huge number of restaurants, shops, souvenir stalls and shops, and all kinds of street performances and concerts are held here. The main holidays are held on Marienplatz. Not a single tourist who has visited Munich will pass by this square.

Marienplatz Square

Now you find yourself at Marienplatz, and you will definitely end up here in order to see the main attractions of Munich - the Old and New Town Hall. The New Town Hall is striking both outside and inside; you will need a lot of time to explore this object. On the facade of a hundred-meter building, you will see significant figures in the history of the city, the faces of saints, masks and grimaces. The famous striking clock is located on the tower in the central part of the New Town Hall. You can hear their fight if you come here at 11 and 12 noon all year round. At the same time, on two tiers of the tower, you can see puppet shows. The New Town Hall Tower is also an observation deck located at an altitude of 85 meters, where you can admire the panorama of the city. The Old Town Hall is one of the oldest buildings in the city; now it houses a wonderful toy museum.

Old Town Hall

Walking around Marienplatz, you will certainly get hungry, because there are so many interesting things to see here. You can have a tasty, but expensive meal in the Rathskeller restaurant, which is located right under the New Town Hall building. The restaurant is quite popular and serves traditional Bavarian cuisine and famous German wines and beers. There are quite a lot of people who want to dine here, so on weekends it is better to book tables in advance. A 5-10 minute walk north of Marienplatz is the famous Hofbräuhaus beer restaurant, which is definitely worth a visit, especially for lovers of the foamy drink.

Hofbräuhaus Brewery

West of Marienplatz square, there is the Munich City Museum, by visiting which you will recreate the entire history of the city. Also walking west from the square, you will find yourself on the main pedestrian street of Munich, where the tallest building in the city is located - the late Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Virgin, the towers of which are one of the symbols of the city. Here, on the main pedestrian street of Munich, is the Church of St. John of Nepomuk - as it is called - a pearl of the Rococo style.

Munich has a lot to offer and there are museum districts to the north of the central station. Here you will find the State Museum of Egyptian Art, the Alte Pinakothek with works by Durer, Rubens, Pieter Bruegel, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, the State Museum of Applied and Ancient Arts, and the State Archaeological Museum.

Hop-on hop-off bus tour

As in many European cities, special tourist buses run around Munich, the so-called Touristic bus (in German they are called Stadtrundfahrt). These are buses operating on a hop-on hop-off system (in our opinion, it’s something like getting in and getting out). Their essence is that they go along several routes. By purchasing the appropriate ticket, you can ride along the tourist route all day, getting off at the stops you need, and then boarding any of the tourist buses again. During the trip, the guide will tell you about passing attractions. Also, you can use a radio guide in Russian.

Bus route map for Munich

The latest current prices were around 15 euros for an adult and 9 for a child for a sightseeing tour in a small circle. You can purchase a two-day ticket for all tours for 24 euros. If you purchase tickets through the website, you can save a little. Link to the English version of the site.

Online purchase of a ticket for Tourbus

Individual and group excursions with Russian guides

Beer tours in Munich

Interactive map of Munich attractions

This is how our independent trip to Munich for several days turned out. Perhaps we missed writing something. If anything, correct it in the comments. Good luck everyone!

A few years ago, Anastasia Kazantseva moved to Munich and... fell in love with this city once and for all! For those who are planning to visit the capital of Bavaria for the first time, Nastya has prepared several routes for independent walks, through which you will not only see the main attractions of the city, but will also be able to feel its unique and so inviting atmosphere.

Munich is the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Its name comes from the old German word “Mönche”, i.e. monks. It is believed that the beginning of Munich was laid by the Benedictine monks who lived on the banks of the Isar River, which still flows through the entire city.

It is worth noting that Munich is organized in an interesting way: each city district has an established infrastructure, because... Previously, these were separate villages and villages, which later merged into one city. Therefore, despite the fact that more than a million people live in Munich, there is neither a bustle nor a crowd in it. This is a very compact and cozy city.

The capital of one of the richest lands in Germany fascinates with its simple, austere, but at the same time, pompous architecture. I suggest taking a walk through the ancient center and exploring the main attractions of Munich, which will give you the opportunity to feel the spirit of the city.

Before starting the walk, I want to warn you about specific weather conditions: they can change dramatically in just one hour - from heat to cold wind with rain. So I highly recommend having a complete set of clothes with you for all occasions.

1. Karlsplatz or Stachus

Let's start our walking tour of Munich from the beautiful Karl Square - Karlsplatz or, as it is also called, Stachus. “Stachus” is an unofficial name that has been established for a long time. According to one version, in the Middle Ages archers practiced here - Stachelschuss - “Stachelshus”.

It is easy to get to Karlsplatz from anywhere in the city using almost all city trains (S-Bahn), trams and other public transport.

On one side of the square there is Palace of Justice and Bavarian Court, and the center is occupied by an unusual fountain, the jets of which flow directly from the paving stones.


2. Frauenkirche in Munich

But you shouldn’t be particularly distracted by boutiques, because... You can skip the left turn to the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Frauenkirche is the tallest cathedral in Munich, which has long become a symbol of the city.


According to one legend, the devil himself helped build this temple, but the condition was that he had no windows. The architect outwitted the devil by arranging the windows in such a way that the “unclean”, having stepped on the threshold (and he could not go further), would not see the windows. Having revealed the deception, the devil stamped his foot in anger and left a mark in the floor, which is still shown to tourists to this day.

By the way, if while visiting the Frauenkirche you have the opportunity to attend an organ concert, be sure to take it! The feeling of the sounds of this instrument within the walls of the cathedral cannot be expressed in words - it must be heard and felt!

3. Marienplatz

After visiting the church, return back to Kaufingerstrasse and you will not notice how in just a few minutes you will find yourself in the central square of Munich - Marienplatz or Mary's Square.


To your left will rise a majestic Gothic building - new Town Hall. On its facade there is an interesting clock, which every day at 11:00 and 21:00 (and from May to October at 12:00 and 17:00), together with the ringing of bells and 32 figures, almost life-size, represent scenes from history cities: royal wedding, knight's tournament, dancing...


A seemingly newer building stands a little to the side, but in fact it is old Town Hall. Most of this building today is occupied by the Toy Museum.


4. Viktualienmarkt

Having examined all the sights of Marienplatz, cross it and go a little to the right - there is a market for always fresh products. Here you can find everything from mushrooms to delicacies. Naturally, the prices correspond to the quality. For tourists there are a couple of tents with interesting souvenirs: herbal infusions, spices, unusual home decorations and toys made from natural materials. It will be really interesting to see this place.


5. Hofbrauhaus

If you get hungry after seeing all the goodies at the market, you can go and refresh yourself with Bavarian dishes and, of course, beer. The best place for this is the court brewery - the Hofbräuhaus - a restaurant known almost throughout the world. By the way, it is famous not only for its cuisine and drinks, but also for its guests. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Elizaveta of Bavaria, Vladimir Lenin and his wife Nadezhda Krupskaya, and Adolf Hitler visited here. The beginning of the Nazi Party was laid here, but let’s not talk about the bad.


6. Odeonsplatz

After tasting the beer, you can continue exploring the Old Town. Now it is best to walk to Residenzstrasse and follow it to Odeonsplatz. Along the way you will come across a street of boutiques - Maximilianstrasse, as well as one of the largest theaters in Europe - National Theater. Further on the right side you will see the beginning of a large ensemble Residence buildings.


There are a couple of passages inside - feel free to look - you will find very nice courtyards there, reminiscent of the atmosphere of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and taking us back to the Middle Ages... Although there is nothing particularly pompous there, this reflects the whole German essence - simple and cozy. And on the eve of Christmas, there are magical holiday markets here =)

On the Odeonsplatz square itself there is a Catholic Church, one of the tombs of the German princes - Theatinerkirche. Its interior, decorated in white, gives the impression that you are in heaven - everything is very airy, “circular” and soft. Also on Odeonsplatz there is an arch in honor of famous commanders - Feldherrnhalle.


7. Next, there are two route options:

Option A- for those who want to enjoy nature and see one of the largest parks in Europe. The main thing is that the weather is conducive to long walks;)

Option B- for those who want to visit bars, restaurants, discos and see the austere, ancient-urban Munich.

So, option A:

After Odeonsplatz we go towards the Residence and find ourselves in Hofgarten.

This is a beautiful garden, great for romantic walks. In the center of it there is a gazebo, in which something is constantly happening - either a musician is playing, or a dance club is organizing an evening of salsa, rumba, etc. But even if nothing happens there, the gazebo itself, surrounded by flowers and greenery, is simply mesmerizing .

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