The Best Munich Itinerary for First Timers: One Week in Bavaria!
Welcome to my 7 day Munich itinerary! Munich, or München in German, is the capital city of the state of Bavaria. It is located in the southeast corner of Germany and is most famous for the legendary Oktoberfest beer festival.
However, you don’t have to love beer to enjoy this beautiful city (though it helps). Munich is full of rich history, beautiful architecture, delicious food, and great culture.
Below you will find a sample Munich itinerary for first timers visiting this incredible city! This itinerary assumes you are not in town for Oktoberfest – however, if you are, feel free to still use this Munich itinerary as a basis for your trip!
You can easily rearrange this itinerary and replace the day trips with your days at the festival.
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How to Spend One Epic Week in Munich, Germany
Getting to Munich
The best airport to fly into if you’re traveling to Munich is Munich Airport (MUC). Depending on where you are flying from, you might have to connect and clear customs in Frankfurt (FRA). If you’re combing this 7 day Munich itinerary with another European country, you could also arrive by train!
If you’re flying into Munich airport, once you arrive, grab your first German pretzel (a staple) from one of the many stands and follow the signs for the S-Bahn (S-trail, in English!). This will lead you to the München Airport Center (MAC) which is located right in between the two terminals.
From there, buy a ticket from the kiosk for the S-1 or S-8 trains – both of which leave every 10 minutes and will take you right into the heart of Munich in about 40 minutes. Depending on where your hotel is located, you will likely get off at Munich’s main station, Hauptbahnhof, or Marienplatz, in the heart of Munich’s Old Town.
Where to Stay in Munich
There are a ton of hotel options in Munich, from typical hotel chains like Hilton or Marriot to cozy European bed and breakfasts. Which you choose will of course depend on your budget and style, but I’ll give a couple quick tips to help!
If it’s your first time in Munich, I highly recommend picking a hotel within the main city center, as shown in the map below. The Marientplatz, which translates to Mary’s Square, is the main town square in the heart of Munich.
Nearby on the map, you’ll see “Munich Central Station”. Staying in a hotel near this train station will be extremely convenient, especially if you plan to take day trips outside the city (which this itinerary includes a few of!).
Another quick tip I can give: Most hotels in Europe do not have air conditioning! So keep this in mind if you’re planning a trip in the summer. When we visited in March, this wasn’t an issue because the weather was cool and the nights were cozy.
However, August temperatures can get high and you might not think about this until you’re trying to sleep in the sticky humidity.
Day 1: Explore Old Town Munich
Today is your first full day in Munich! In the morning, head over to the Marienplatz and check out Sandeman’s FREE walking tour of Munich. It’s about 2.5 hours and will take you to the major landmarks in the city, including the famous Hofbrohaus, the Royal Residenz, and St. Peter’s Church.
This tour will give you a feel for the area and is packed full of information about Munich, without feeling too structured. And it’s free – but don’t forget to tip your tour guide at the end!
Once the tour is over, head over to the famous Hofbrohaus beer hall for your first lunch in Germany! Order a liter of beer, a sausage platter, and enjoy the traditional Bavarian music. The atmosphere here is unlike any other. Don’t forget to get a giant pretzel while you’re there!
I recommend spending the rest of your afternoon wandering around the heart of Munich. The free walking tour probably showed you some areas that you want to explore further. If not, here are some popular things to do around the Marienplatz!
1. Check out the Architecture of both Old Town & New Town Hall
2. Visit St. Peter’s Church (Climb the tower for awesome views)
3. Wander along Kaufingerstrasse, a famous shopping street that runs from Marienplatz to Karlsplatz
Day 2: Fussen & Neuschwanstein Castle
The second day of this 7 day Munich itinerary will be centered around visiting one of the most famous places in southern Germany – Neuschwanstein! This castle is what fairy tale dreams are made of – literally. It was the inspiration for Walt Disney while designing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for Disneyland.
To get here, catch the train from Munich to Fussen, which leaves every hour from Hauptbahnof station. The journey takes about 2.5 hours and has some spectacular scenery along the way.
Tip: Grab one of these delicious pretzel sandwiches from the station for breakfast before you leave!
Spend a wonderful day exploring the incredible Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle, and the charming town of Fussen. There’s enough here to fill your whole day.
If you don’t love the idea of traveling this far alone, there a tons of also offers a paid tour of Neuschwanstein Castle, that departs from Munich so you don’t have to worry about all the trains, buses, and tickets! Check out different tour options here!
Day 3: Englischer Garten
Today you’ll spend the day seeing the beautiful nature of Munich. The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is a huge public park in the middle of Munich. You can easily spend most of your day here, strolling through the gardens, riding bikes, etc.
Start your journey into the garden through the south end. Here, you will find the famous “Eisbachwelle”, where permanent waves are present on the Eisbach River. These waves draw in surfers year round and tourists gather to watch them!
Once you’re in the park, there is plenty to do and see. Follow the nature paths and explore as you wish. Make sure to visit the famous Chinese Tower, which boasts the second largest beer garden in all of Munich. When the weather is nice, locals flock to the beer gardens. So, grab a liter from the beer stand and enjoy the sunshine!
In the evening, you can check out the Glockenbachviertel, an area famous for its nightlife scene. If this isn’t really your style, you could visit one of the many other beer halls in Munich. Our favorite was Augstiner Keller. It has the third largest beer garden in Munich, as well as a gorgeous indoor space that has some WWII history!
Day 4: Dachau Concentration Camp
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, while emotionally heavy, is a must during your trip. It’s located about 30 minutes outside the city via train and a short bus ride. The site is free to enter, and there are also daily guided tours in English available for a few Euros.
During your visit, you can explore the grounds, walk through one of the dormitories, and learn about the extensive history of Dachau in the museum. Expect to spend a few hours here in order to see it all.
If you don’t want to make the journey to Dachau by yourself, there are tons of tours on Get Your Guide to choose from for very reasonable prices. Choosing a tour takes the worry out of getting on the right train and bus, and you’ll get to learn more from a local’s perspective.
After leaving Dachau, you likely won’t feel like doing much – the visit often takes an emotional toll. Spend the rest of your afternoon wandering around the BMW Museum back in Munich. It’s full of interactive exhibits and is a great place to mentally relax after the heaviness of Dachau.
If you’re not into cars/museums and the weather is nice, Olympiapark is also a great option. Located right across from the BMW museum, the park was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. The park is still used for sporting, cultural, social, and religious events and is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon.
Day 5: Nymphenburg Palace & Beer Tasting
Schloss Nymphenburg, or Nymphenburg Palace, is a large Baroque-style palace just west of Munich’s city center. Entrance to the palace itself is not free, but for about 15 euro, you will have access to multiple museums, tours of the residence areas, and more. Surrounding the palace is a beautiful park, with multiple gardens, canals, and pavillions. Spend your day learning about Munich’s royal history and enjoying the immaculet landscape.
After walking around all day, you’ve earned a beer! By this time, you’ve probably realized that beer is more than just a drink to Germans – it’s a way of life. Spend your evening with a local expert while you sample different types of German beers on the Sandeman’s Beer Tasting Tour.
Along the way, you’ll visit some of the most famous beer halls in Munich and learn about the history of beer in Germany and why it’s such a huge part of their culture. More details on this tour and pricing can be found at the link below:
Day 6: Day Trip to Zugspitze or Salzburg
Option 1 – Zugspitze
How you spend your second to last day of this 7 day Munich itinerary will depend on a few factors, including time of year, personal interests, weather, etc.
If you’re interested in skiing/snowboarding and are visiting between November and April, check out Zugspitze mountain. Located on the border of Germany and Austria, Zugspitze boasts the highest mountain peak in Germany and is only about 2.5 hours from Munich. To make travels easier, the ski resort offers a combination ticket that includes all of the transportation from Munich AND your lift pass for only 60 Euros.
In the summer months, Zugspitze is still a great place to visit. The mountain, and the nearby Eisbee lake, offers awesome hiking and nature activities.
Option 2- Salzburg
If Zugspitze doesn’t fit your style, consider a day trip to Salzburg, Austria. Also around 2 hours by train from Munich, Salzburg is a great option for people who want to see another country on their trip to Germany without having to fly.
Highlights of Salzburg include Sound of Music tours, Mozart’s birthplace and museum, Mirabelle palace and gardens, and more. If you’re looking for more WWII history, check out the tours to the Eagle’s Nest from Salzburg. There are tons of options on Viator.com for any budget or style!
Day 7: Viktualienmarkt & Shopping
On your last day in Munich, head back to the Marienplatz and explore any sites you missed on the first day. Make sure to check out Viktualienmarkt, a daily farmer’s market with over 100 stalls. Make sure to bring your appetite!
Here you can sample a variety of German cuisine and purchase souvenirs from local vendors. And of course, grab a liter and enjoy the beer garden! If your last day happens to be on a Sunday, you’ll need to rearrange your schedule, as the Viktualienmarkt is only open Monday-Saturday.
For dinner on your last night, check out Ratskeller Munchen. Dating back to the 19th century, this restaurant is located downstairs in the cellar and has a local, cozy vibe, making it one of the most popular restaurant’s in Munich! Its a great place to spend your last evening in Germany.
Final Thoughts
That concludes my 7 day Munich itinerary for first timers! As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, this itinerary assumes you aren’t visiting Munich for Oktoberfest (we didn’t and it was still amazing!). However, if you are going to Oktoberfest, you can still use this itinerary for some ideas.
If you don’t have a full 7 days in Munich, I recommend cutting out the day trips and focus on the activities in central Munich. If you have more than 7 days or are looking to visit other areas in Germany, below are some other must-dos in Germany!
- See the Berlin Wall
- Visit the Black Forest
- Check out Nuremberg Christmas Market
- Drink Kölsch beer in Cologne
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