Five ideas for sightseeing tours in Munich

• Viktualienmarkt

  The Viktualienmarkt is Germany’s largest weekly market and arguably the best place to sample local food, mingle with Munich’s locals and enjoy its unique open-air atmosphere.
  Located in the heart of Munich. The market is filled with 140 stalls selling food, drinks, fruit, fish and vegetables, with no less than 80 butchers and 35 bakeries.
  Let the smells and sounds of the Viktualienmarkt transport you. Located in the lively Ludwigsvorstadt district, its square is filled with more than 300 stores, cafés and restaurants. It is a special place dating from the 18th century and surrounded by beautiful old buildings. You can spend part of the day here whether you are interested in shopping or not and in any case its immediate proximity to the Marienplatz will allow you to reach it easily throughout your stay.

• Marienplatz

  Marienplatz is the main center of Munich, a lively medieval-looking square where people like to come and stroll amidst architectural gems like the new Neues Rathaus neo-Renaissance town hall with its huge 100-meter long facade and its beautiful carillon on top. Many of the buildings on the Marienplatz were destroyed during the bombing of World War II, but were rebuilt in an identical manner. In the middle of the 20th century, the evolution of the subway brought even more centrality to the place with no less than seven lines stopping there. Also worth seeing is the old town hall dating from the 15th century where the toy museum is located and of course its famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel clock which comes to life every day at 11am and 5pm representing historical scenes, in particular that of the coopers celebrating the end of the plague epidemic in 1854

• Nymphenburg Palace

  Nymphenburg Palace is one of the most beautiful castles in Bavaria. This baroque building, built in the 18th century, is one of eight royal palaces in the region and was the first to be built on the left bank of the Isar River. As a princely residence, it is known for its art collections, including the Kuenburg Museum. Rococo and romantic, Nymphenburg Palace has long been a symbol of Munich’s nobility, splendor and culture. Originally built by an Italian Renaissance architect, it was embellished by artists such as Johann Baptist Zimmermann, Dominique Girard and François Cuvilliés, before being massively rebuilt in the late 18th century. Today, it houses three museums featuring art collected by Archduke Karl Albrecht, who commissioned Bernd Lohausen to create a collection of sculptures to capture his vision of northern Germany. The grounds have an extraordinary English-style park stretching over 200 hectares with a lovely canal winding through it. It’s a great place to take a walk in the open air and wander through the garden paths where you’ll discover several buildings in various styles, most of them built in the early 17th century. Let us quote Badenburg, first covered swimming pool, Magdalenenklause place of meditation whose architecture in ruin was wanted with its construction. Pagodenburg, a former resting place for the nobles after a game of Mailspiel, a game which was the forerunner of golf.

• Englisher Garten

  For a little green getaway just 30 minutes from the center of Munich in the district of Schwabing; the Englisher Garten is a great place to relax and enjoy the tranquility of nature. The huge garden, larger than Central Park in New York, consists of several rolling hills, with trees and paths at every turn. It has waterfalls, ponds and many other surprises. The English Garden in Munich, hosts many cultural events throughout the year. Come see the park during the Oktoberfest, or stop by during a summer festival like Tollwood.
  The Englisher Garten is one of the most romantic and enchanting parks in Germany. You can reach its most famous places, which are mainly found in its southern part. The 25 meter high Chinesischen Turm (Chinese Pagoda) and the largest beergarden (open air brewery) in the city at its feet and the “Japanese Tea House” a little further away.

• Brewery Hofbräuhaus am Platzl

  The Hofbräuhaus brewery near Marienplatz is one of the oldest breweries in the world, and the oldest brewery in Munich. It was founded at the end of the 16th century and its worldwide reputation makes it a must-see.
  Like its 30,000 daily visitors, take a seat for a hearty Bavarian cuisine accompanied by its house beer Hofbräu Original Lager, whose production has not changed for 500 years. You can taste it straight from the barrel.