The best Munich 3 day itinerary for first-timers

Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Ioana

I’m going to be real with you: I was not impressed by Munich and I wouldn’t go back there. I explain below why. However, my experience should not stop you from visiting Munich. You should see it with your own eyes and form your own opinions. So in this blog post I’ll share my Munich 3 day itinerary to help you plan your trip. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Why I was not impressed by Munich

The city looked rough

First, I just thought that the city was in a pretty rough state and compared to other Western European cities.

What do I mean by rough? The old buildings desperately need a renovation as their facades are covered in a black patina and the facades are starting to look really badly.

Then, the sidewalks had uneven parts, potholes, and there was trash on them. There was also graffiti. Compared to a city like Madrid, Munich looks rough.

Architecture was not impressive

Secondly, the architecture is depressing. Besides the older city center, all buildings look like communist buildings. I come from Romania and I hate this architecture. So I was shocked that a Western European city looks like that too.

People were not welcoming

Thirdly, the people were not welcoming. They speak to you in German even when they clearly see you’re a tourist and can’t understand a word of German.

Whenever I would speak English I felt judged. Very similar to the feeling you have when you visit Paris and you can’t speak French. They had this attitude of superiority, which is not conducive to tourism success. 

Even at my hotel (Bayer Vi Vadi 89) when I told them the bathroom has mold, they just said they would look into it and never got back to me.

In many places they would have apologized, offered me to switch rooms, or try to smooth things over by giving me a little gift or a discount. Not in Munich. Here I was just dismissed.

I didn’t feel safe

Lastly, as you probably know from the press, Europe (and especially Germany) has a big problem with immigration. I can confirm that this problem exists.

I have seen many immigrants in Munich who look like they could do something to you. So I didn’t feel very safe while being outside, especially at night. I always had to be on high alert to make sure I’m safe.

Day 1: Munich’s Old Town

Marienplatz

Marienplatz is the most famous square in Munich. It’s full of historic buildings, including the Old Town Hall. There are also statues and a fountain in the square. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful part of Munich. 

Here you can go to the top of 2 buildings to get panoramic views of the city. One of them is St. Peter’s Church tower, and the other one is New Town Hall.

New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

I opted to go to the top of New Town Hall not necessarily because it had the best views, but because it had an elevator. The other tower only has stairs. So if you’re visiting with an older family member they can still enjoy the views without the climb.

You need to buy tickets from the tourist information center, which is right next door. Once you have the ticket you have to pass through an archway and you’ll see an elevator on the left.

Take that elevator to the 7th floor. You’ll know which button to press because it says tower next to it.

Once you arrive there will be someone checking your tickets and then you can go enjoy the views. The observatory deck is 360 degrees, outdoors, but it is fenced since it’s an older building. 

The place is very small. If you’re trying to take a picture and people are trying to pass by they need to wait since there isn’t enough space for them to go behind you, for example.

Viktualienmarkt

After you explore Marienplatz, you can go to Viktualienmarkt, a farmer’s market right off the square. They sell fresh produce, cooked food, souvenirs. You can find a lot of things and it’s really cute.

The prices are pretty affordable given the location, so you can try the classic bratwurst sandwich here. I also tried a gingerbread from a local bakery and it was delicious. There were a lot of locals getting their bread from that bakery, so I knew it would be good.

If you’re hungry and you want more than a pretzel or wurst, you should go to the Munich Soup Kitchen. It’s a small restaurant in a tent that serves a bunch of types of soup, as well as some main dishes.

The soups are hot and delicious, so it’s the perfect place to warm up, especially if you’re visiting during the cold months, like I did. There is always a queue, but you can usually find a table pretty fast. 

Frauenkirche

After you explore the market you can head to Frauenkirche, an old church, which is a short walk away. The most interesting thing about this church is that after you enter you will see the devil’s footprint on the floor. Or so the legend says haha.

According to this legend, the architect who built this church didn’t have money to build this church, so he made a deal with the devil. The devil provided funds as long as it would be a celebration of darkness without any windows.

When the architect finished the building and the devil came to see it, he noticed that the columns of the building were blocking the view of the windows. He got very angry and stamped his foot, marking the floor, which is what you can see today on the floor.

It’s a fun little legend. A lot of people don’t know about it and they pass by the foot on the ground without knowing its significance. A bit of a hidden gem.

Hofbrauhaus Munich

Also in the heart of Munich you can find one of the oldest and most popular beer houses: Hofbrauhaus. It’s one of the best places to try local dishes and experience the beer house culture.

There is loud music and a lot of people at all times. It can seem a little intense, but it’s worth going once just for the experience.

​Munich Residenz

In the afternoon on your first day in town you can visit the Munich Residenz, a palace that served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes for 400 years.

Compared to other palaces and castles I’ve been to, I didn’t find it that impressive, but it’s still a great place to explore.

Englischer Garten (English Garden)

After the tour you can head to the English Garden, right behind Munich Residence. It’s the ideal place to take a stroll in nature, especially on a sunny day.

Odeonsplatz

Another square in the heart of the old town is Odeonsplatz. It is lined with old buildings and churches. And it also has an Italian Renaissance garden. It’s a good place to people watch.

You can end the day at any restaurant around the old town for dinner. German cuisine is pretty bland and it doesn’t have a lot of variety, so after you try it once or twice and want to eat something else, I highly recommend eating at Turkish restaurants.

Germany has a large Turkish population and they cook very well. It feels like you time traveled to Istanbul while in Munich.

Day 2: BMW Welt + Museum, Nymphenburg Palace, and Allianz Arena

BMW Museum

This is one of the major attractions in Munich and one of my personal favorites. As the name suggests, this is a modern BMW Museum where you can see how the brand evolved from its early days to today.

The exhibits are very well thought out and executed. You can take a lot of pictures with the cars, but you can’t touch them.

BMW Welt

Across the street you can find the BMW Welt, an exhibition, adventure museum, and event venue right by the Olympic Park. Unfortunately they were sold out the day I visited, so I couldn’t go.

But it sounded awesome. And even the look of the building is very funky and futuristic.

Nymphenburg Palace

After exploring the BMW world, you can take an Uber and go to Nymphenburg Palace. Compared to Residenz, this one is more impressive and it has a little pond with swans and ducks in the back, as well as gardens where you can walk. The locals were also running here.

Despite its bigger size and being fancier than Residenz, it’s still very bland. Virtually all other palaces in Western Europe have a lot of details on their facade and have unique features.

This one is grey and has very little adornments. It’s like this large, plain, dull house. You feel like something is missing.

As you can clearly tell, I was not a fan of the architecture in Germany. 

Allianz Arena

​If you’re a soccer fan, you’ll love exploring Allianz Arena, home to FC Bayern Munchen. They offer guided tours where you can both see the stadium and the museum. Plus, you’ll learn a lot about the history of the team and the place.

A guided tour lasts about 2-2.5 hours, so make sure you plan your day accordingly. The tickets here also sell out in advance, so you should book them online ahead of your trip.

Day 3: Take a day trip

Two days is the perfect amount of time to visit the highlights of Munich. So on the third day I suggest you take a day trip to explore other things. There are multiple options for day trips from Munich, so I’ll tell you about the best 4 options.

Salzburg

I took to day trips while in Munich: Salzburg and Nuremberg. My favorite one was Salzburg. It’s a cute little mountain town in Austria that is Mozart’s hometown and the set of The Sound of Music.

I loved the architecture here (you could tell you’re no longer in Germany haha), the little cobblestone streets with shops and cafes, the apple strudel and the Mozart chocolates.

While virtually all cafes and chocolate places sell Mozart chocolates, you can find the original ones only at Konditorei Furst, where they were invented.

One day in Salzburg is perfect. You can visit all main attractions and have enough time to enjoy a meal, an apple strudel and a Viennese coffee. I highly recommend you take this day trip.

You can go by train and you’ll be there in under 2 hours.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwansein Castle is the famous 19th century castle perched on a rugged hill that Disney used as inspiration for their fairytale castles.

If you don’t want to coordinate public transportation, which might be a bit complex in this case, I suggest you go on a guided day trip instead. This way you’ll be going by car and you’ll have a guide to tell you more about the place.

Nuremberg

The second day trip I took was to Nuremberg, a town 1 hour away by train from Munich. I liked it more than Munich.

Nuremberg has a lot of history as this was the place where the Nazi trials were held. They were even called the Nuremberg Trials. And that room where they judged the Nazis is now a museum, so you can visit it. 

The other historic place in Munich is the Nazi Party Rally Grounds. This is where over a million people would gather annually for the party’s propaganda rallies. 

It is now under renovation, so only part of the exhibit is open for visitors, but it’s still so interesting to learn more about this dark side of history.

The old town was very cute and they were setting up the Christmas market in early November. One day is perfect to explore the town.

Dachau

If you want to learn even more about the Nazi history, you can take a day trip to the first Nazi concentration camp and the longest running-one in Dachau.

You can join a group tour to see the former gas chambers, barracks, and cells, and to learn more about the history of the Holocaust.

FAQs about Munich

Is Munich safe for a solo female traveler?

To be honest, Munich was one of the cities in Europe where I always had to be on high alert. Similar to London and Paris. 

After traveling to 30+ countries, I can objectively tell you that the Middle East and Eastern Europe are much safer destinations than Western Europe. You simply won’t find the scammers, pick pockets, and people who make you feel unsafe on the street there.

So if you’re new to solo travel, you might want to start with destinations like Dubai, Romania or Hungary. I promise you you’ll have a much better experience and you don’t have to be on high alert every time you step outside.

What is the best time to visit Munich?

It depends what travel style fits you best. If you like to party and drink, then visit during Oktoberfest, end of September – beginning of October. 

If you want to see the Christmas markets, then visit during December.

Alternatively, if you prefer to visit while the weather is warner to be able to spend more time outside, then visit during the spring or early fall.

​The summer tends to be hot and there will be a lot of tourists in Europe. But again, if this is the only time you can take time off, then by all means book a trip.

I personally visited at the beginning of November. There weren’t too many tourists, which I loved. But the main downside was that the weather was pretty cold and gloomy already.

How can I get around Munich?

A lot of the main attractions in Munich are clustered together, so you can walk. However, to get to BMW Museum, Allianz Arena or the castles, you might want to take either public transportation or an Uber/Bolt. 

Munich has one of the most expensive public transportation systems in Europe (and maybe the world?). I was baffled when I saw that a one-way metro ticket costs over 4 euros! Like whaaat? Not even NYC has these insane prices.

If you’re traveling with friends or family, it honestly makes more sense to get an Uber than take the subway. It’s way more comfortable and the cost is very similar if you split it with 2-3 other people.

I have the same recommendation for getting to a central location from Munich Airport. Train tickets are about 10 euros, so if you’re with a few other people, it’s just easier to take an Uber.

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from outside of the EU is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone in under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

Do I need cash for my trip to Munich?

I didn’t use cash while in Munich. All places where I went accepted cards.

But it’s always a good idea to have some cash so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or food from outdoor markets in case they prefer cash.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

Do I have to tip in Munich?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros (or the equivalent in the local currency) as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

I highly recommend you book tickets for popular attractions online in advance of your trip. Munich is a very popular destination so it’s very likely that tickets will sell out. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.

Do people speak English in Munich?

Yes, they do. But be warned, that similar to France, they prefer talking in German. And they will give you a bit of side eye when you start talking in English and not German.

I didn’t find the German people to be very friendly. They seemed quite cold and having this attitude of superiority if that makes sense. If you want incredible hospitality you will not find it in Germany. Go to Eastern Europe or the Middle East instead.

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