Munich
Munich is Bavaria's capital and Germany's third-largest city, known for beer halls, royal palaces, large museums and day trips to the Alps.
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Munich is the capital of Bavaria, on the Isar river about 50 km north of the Alps, and Germany's third-largest city. Marienplatz is the central square of the old town, home to the New Town Hall and its Glockenspiel. The Frauenkirche, with two towers about 99 m high, is the city's landmark. The Residenz, the former royal palace, and the Kunstareal museum district show the city's royal and artistic past.
Beer halls and beer gardens are central to local life. Weißwurst, a white veal and pork sausage invented in Munich in 1857, is traditionally eaten before noon with sweet mustard and pretzels. Oktoberfest runs for 16 to 18 days from late September into early October on the Theresienwiese and draws over six million visitors a year, so book accommodation early. Summers are warm and pleasant, and winters are cold and overcast. Two to three days cover the main sights, plus a day trip to the Dachau memorial or the Alps.
Munich in five
- S-Bahn from the airportThe S1 and S8 reach the center in about 40 minutes.
- Know the Oktoberfest datesIt runs from mid or late September to the first Sunday in October. Rooms go early and rates jump.Oktoberfest
- Day trips by trainFüssen for Neuschwanstein is about 2 hours away, and Salzburg about 1.5 hours. Both work as long days from a Munich base.Füssen and Neuschwanstein
- Sundays are quietShops close on Sundays, but museums and beer gardens stay open.
- Come back in DecemberThe Christmas markets open in late November.Christmas markets
Things to do in Munich
See all attractions in Munich
Need to know
- Airport
- Munich (MUC), about 40 min by S-Bahn
- Getting around
- U-Bahn, S-Bahn and trams; the Deutschlandticket covers them
- Best base
- Near the Hauptbahnhof or in Maxvorstadt
- Emergency
- 112, or 110 police
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-2°Cold, ski tripsJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski trips
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°CarnivalFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Carnival
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low1°ChillyMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Chilly
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°SpringAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Beer garden seasonMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beer garden season
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, lakesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, lakes
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Oktoberfest, busySeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Oktoberfest, busy
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°GreyNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Grey
- DecemberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Christmas marketsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Munich, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Munich
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Bavaria
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today7°1°0%Monday: Rain. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue6°3°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed6°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu5°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri5°2°2%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat7°1°9%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun8°1°21%Sunday: Rain. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 21%.
Updated 07:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
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Every year
- Jul–AugBayreuth FestivalBavaria, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Dachau memorialS-Bahn, about 16 km from the centreThe former Dachau concentration camp memorial, about 16 km north-west of the city centre. Allow a few hours for the site and the museum.
- Bavarian AlpsTrain, about 50 km south of the cityMountain towns and lake views at the foot of the Alps. Warm föhn winds, which blow on about ten days a year, can bring clear views of the mountains.
- AugsburgRegional train from MunichAn old city with a cathedral and the Fuggerei, the world's oldest social housing estate still in use.
Before you go to Munich
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Rules for Munich, checked
- Check whether you need a visa for Germany on the Federal Foreign Office site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for fire or an ambulance, and 110 for police, anywhere in Germany.
- Tanzverbot (dance ban) applies on Holy Week and quiet days, so clubs and dance events are closed or limited.
- At Oktoberfest, food must be bought in the tent where you sit, so do not bring your own.
Plan around Munich
Cities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideFüssen and NeuschwansteinThe castle day trip by train and bus
Read the guideSalzburgMozart's city, about 1.5 hours by train
Read the guideGarmisch-PartenkirchenThe nearest Alpine base for hiking
Read the guideOktoberfestDates, rooms and when to skip it
Read the guideEES at the German borderWhat registration involves on arrival
Read the guideMunich FAQ
How many days do you need in Munich?
Two to three days cover the Altstadt, the Residenz, a museum quarter and a beer garden. Add a day for Neuschwanstein or Salzburg.
How do I get from Munich Airport to the city?
Take the S1 or S8 to the Hauptbahnhof or Marienplatz, about 40 minutes. Buy the right zone ticket at the machine before you board.
Is Oktoberfest worth it?
If you want the tents and the crowds, yes, but book rooms months ahead and arrive at opening for a table. Outside those weeks you get beer halls and gardens at normal prices.
Can you visit Neuschwanstein as a day trip from Munich?
Yes. Trains to Füssen take about 2 hours, then a bus runs to the castle. Book timed tickets ahead, and start early to beat the tour groups.
Is Munich or Berlin better for a first trip to Germany?
Munich suits the Alps, castles and beer gardens in a smaller city, and Berlin suits history and nights out. Many first trips use both, about 4 hours apart by ICE.