Your Complete Munich Itinerary 3 Days Guide
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With so many landmarks, beer gardens, and cultural spots, creating a plan that covers everything in Munich in 3 days without feeling rushed is tough.
Having visited Munich, I know how to perfectly structure a trip that balances top attractions with local experiences, particularly for a first-time visitor. This guide will give you a well-paced, stress-free itinerary covering key sights, food, and culture.
Follow it, and you’ll make the most of your three days in Munich.
Let’s dive in!
Overview
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
| Day 1 | Marienplatz St.Peter’s Church Frauenkirche | Viktualiemarkt | Munich Residenz Hofbräuhaus |
| Day 2 | Nymphenburg Palace | BMW Welt & BMW Museum | Olympiapark & Olympiaturm, English Garden |
| Day 3 | Zugspitze / Dachau / Salzburg, Austria / Oktoberfest (seasonal) | – | – |
Munich Itinerary 3 Days
How to Get Around Munich
Munich has an efficient public transport system, and I’d recommend using it instead of taxis or Ubers.
One app that proves incredibly useful is MVV Journey Planner. It helps in route planning, schedule checks, and most importantly you get real-time public transport updates.
Here’s a quick list of your options –
- U-Bahn & S-Bahn (subway and suburban trains) – Best for covering long distances.
- Trams & Buses – Good for short distances and scenic routes.
- Walking – The Old Town is compact and easy to explore on foot.
- Biking – A great way to see the city if the weather is good.
💡 Tip: Get the Munich CityTourCard for unlimited public transport + discounts on attractions.
Where to Stay in Munich
I’d recommend staying in or near the city center i.e. Munich Hauptbahnof to save time.
- Altstadt (Old Town) – Most convenient, close to all landmarks. Expect higher hotel prices but worth spending on them and then just walk around the Old Town.
- Maxvorstadt – Great mix of cafes, and museums and has the best public transport access. This is closest to the old town.
- Schwabing – This trendy area with lots of restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere closest to the English Garden.
- Haidhausen – Located to the east of the city it is quieter, more affordable, but still well-connected.
💡 Budget Tip: Maxvorstadt and Haidhausen offer better prices without sacrificing convenience.
The Best Munich Itinerary – 3 Days
📍 Day 1: Exploring Munich’s Historic Old Town
The Old Town (Altstadt) is the best place to start your trip, covering Munich’s most famous landmarks on a walkable route.
Marienplatz
Marienplatz is historically Munich’s main square.
The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) dominates the area, and its Glockenspiel show is what everyone gathers to witness; though I found it to be underwhelming, with its life-sized figures reenacting Bavarian history, the show is something you won’t want to miss as a first-time traveler.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: Glockenspiel show at 11:00 AM & 12:00 PM (also at 5:00 PM in summer).
- How to Reach: U-Bahn (U3/U6) or S-Bahn (all lines) to Marienplatz station.
St. Peter’s Church (Alter Peter)
St. Peter’s Church is Munich’s oldest church, hence the name Alter Peter!
It is free to enter, but for €5, you can climb 299 steps to the top of its tower for a panoramic view of the city.
This is the only place where you get a view of the old town, so if you can handle the climb, it’s worth it.
- Entry Fee: Free for the church | Tower climb: €5.
- Timings: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Monday–Friday), 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Saturday–Sunday).
- How to Reach: 2-minute walk from Marienplatz.
Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady)
Frauenkirche is one of Munich’s most famous landmarks with twin green-domed towers.
The Devil’s Footprint inside is worth a quick look.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM (Monday–Saturday), 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM (Sunday).
- How to Reach: 5-minute walk from St. Peter’s Church.
Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is a food market, with over 140 stalls selling fresh produce, local cheeses, and Bavarian baked goods.
The center beer garden is a great place to take a break.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Monday–Saturday), closed on Sundays.
- How to Reach: 5-minute walk from Frauenkirche.
💡 Food to Try: Pretzels, Obatzda (cheese dip), and homemade cakes.
Munich Residenz
The Munich Residenz is the city’s largest palace and a stunning display of Bavarian royalty.
If you have time, a full tour takes up to 4 hours, but a 1-hour visit is enough to see the highlights.
Either way, it’s a must-see.
- Entry Fee: €9 for the Residenz Museum, €5 for the Treasury.
- Timings: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (April–mid-October), 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (mid-October–March).
- How to Reach: 10-minute walk from Viktualienmarkt.
Hofbräuhaus
End your day at Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s most famous beer hall.
The menu has traditional Bavarian dishes, and even though Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) is the most famous dish, I went for giant pretzels.
- Entry Fee: Free entry, just pay for food/drinks.
- Timings: 9:00 AM – Midnight (Monday–Sunday).
- How to Reach: 500 m walk from the Munich Residenz.
📍 Day 2: Palaces, Cars & Parks
After having explored the Old Town on Day 1, on Day 2 you must visit the West and North Munich.
Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace is one of Munich’s most overlooked attractions.
Once the summer residence of Bavarian royalty, it offers a real glimpse into their extravagant lifestyle.
While many visitors rush to Neuschwanstein Castle, Nymphenburg’s interiors are far more opulent and I was awestruck looking at the intricate work done on the ceiling of the Great hall.
After visiting the palace, do not skip the gardens. They are extensive. Explore at a comfortable pace.
- Entry Fee: €8 for the main palace, €15 for the full complex (includes gardens, museums, and pavilions).
- Timings: April–mid-October: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Mid-October–March: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- How to Reach: Take tram 17 from Hauptbahnhof (Munich Central Station) to Schloss Nymphenburg (15 min ride).
BMW Welt & BMW Museum
BMW Welt is a massive showroom featuring the latest BMW models and it has to feature in your Munich itinerary 3 days version.
Entry is free, and even if you’re not into cars, it’s a cool place to see innovative German engineering up close.
Next door, the BMW Museum showcases BMW’s history, from its early aircraft engines to modern luxury cars.
The pure luxury had me staring in awe at every turn!
- Entry Fee: BMW Welt: Free | BMW Museum: €10.
- Timings: BMW Welt: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | BMW Museum: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (closed Mondays).
- How to Reach: The route from Nymphenburg Palace to BMW Welt is not direct. It involves walking and changing connections. Use the MVV app journey planner for the best option at the time of your visit.
One route that I recommend is
Schloss Nymphenburg to Laim (by Bus No. 51) -> Laim to Munich HBF (by S-Bahn) ->HBF to Olympiazentrum (U-Bahn U8)
Olympiapark & Olympiaturm
Built for the 1972 Olympics, Olympiapark is now a massive recreational area.
Locals come here to cycle, jog, or just relax by the lake.
You will get a great panoramic view of urban Munich on taking the elevator up to the observation deck at the Olympic Tower.
On clear days, you can even see the Alps in the distance.
- Entry Fee: Olympiapark: Free | Olympic Tower: €11.
- Timings: Park is open 24/7 | Tower: 9:00 AM – Midnight.
- How to Reach: 5-minute walk from BMW Museum.
💡 Tip: If you don’t feel like climbing St. Peter’s Church on Day 1, this is the best alternative for city views.
English Garden
The English Garden is one of the largest urban parks in the world, even bigger than Central Park in New York City!
It’s the perfect place to relax after sightseeing.
The park is famous for the Eisbach Wave, where surfers ride an artificial wave in the river, which surprises many given its urban neighborhood.
Inside the park, you’ll find the Chinese Tower Beer Garden, a laid-back outdoor spot serving traditional Bavarian food.
The food is a bit overpriced, but it’s definitely worth stopping by for a stein of beer.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: Open 24/7
- How to Reach: To travel from Olympiapark to the English Garden, take the U3 subway from ‘Olympiazentrum’ to ‘Münchner Freiheit’; from there, it’s a short walk to the English Garden.
Dinner in Schwabing
Schwabing is a local neighborhood filled with great restaurants and a lively evening scene.
It’s a good place to enjoy authentic Bavarian food without the tourist crowds.
- Best Dishes to Try: Käsespätzle (cheesy egg noodles), Brezen (pretzels), and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel with vanilla sauce).
- Timings: Evening
- How to Reach: Take U-Bahn (U3/U6) to Münchner Freiheit.
📍 Day 3: Zugspitze, Dachau or Salzburg
After exploring palaces and parks on Day 2, you can head beyond Munich on Day 3 to experience Bavaria’s natural beauty at Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, or visit the Dachau Concentration Camp or even go outside the country and visit Salzburg, Austria.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze is Germany’s highest mountain (2,962 meters), and I’d definitely recommend visiting if you want to experience snowy Alpine landscapes, even in summer.
From Munich, you take a train or a car to cover the 90km distance between the two places.
Then take a cable car to the summit, where you’ll find observation platforms, a small museum, and even a glacier.
- Entry Fee: €64.50 round-trip (includes cable car or cogwheel train).
- Timings: 8:00 AM – 4:45 PM (cable car, varies by season).
- How to Reach:
- Take a train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1.5 hours).
- From there, either take the Zugspitzbahn cogwheel train or the Eibsee cable car to the summit.
- The total journey takes about 2.5 hours one way.
💡 Tip: Leave Munich by 7:30 AM to get enough time on the mountain.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp, established in 1933 and even though it will leave you with a pit in your stomach it is a place you must visit.
As the first Nazi concentration camp, it’s a haunting reminder of the atrocities of WWII.
You’ll see original barracks, the crematorium, and an exhibition explaining the events of WWII.
I’d recommend skipping it if you’re traveling with kids, but it’s an important visit.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed December 24th).
- How to Reach: To reach Dachau from Zugspitze by public transport, descend to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, take a regional train to Munich Hauptbahnhof, then transfer to the S2 S-Bahn towards Petershausen and exit at Dachau. The journey takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes, excluding transfers.
💡 Tip: Give yourself at least 2-3 hours here to fully explore the memorial. Guided tours are available for a more detailed experience.
Salzburg
An alternative way of spending your 3rd day in Munich would be to visit the nearby city of Salzburg in Austria.
Salzburg is one of the best one-day trips from Munich, and I strongly suggest taking the train.
It’s a quick two-hour ride with the convenience of the Bayern Ticket, making travel easy.
But the real reason to take the train is the stunning scenery.
If you’re a fan of the movie “The Sound of Music“ , just like me, you just cannot miss The Original Sound of Music Tour.
You can then walk through the Old Town (Altstadt), visit Mozart’s Birthplace, explore Salzburg Cathedral, and head up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for panoramic views.
Evening in Munich
After a full day of exploring, spend your last evening in Munich at a relaxed spot.
I’d recommend:
✔ Hirschgarten beer garden – Less touristy and more of a local favorite.
✔ One last Bavarian dessert – Stop at a café for apple strudel or Prinzregententorte (layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream).
✔ A walk along the streets of Munich to soak in the atmosphere and maybe buy some souvenirs.
Oktoberfest
Experience the Oktoberfest instead of any of the day trips mentioned above if you’re visiting Germany during Late September or early October. It’s the world’s largest beer fest and it is simply unmissable whether or not you are a fan of beer.
The Theresienwiese fairgrounds are packed, the beer tents are loud and lively, and the energy is unmatched.
It might feel chaotic, but that’s part of the experience. Expect crowds, shared tables, and nonstop Bavarian music.
For a beer lover, it is like walking into an all-you-can-eat buffet. Enjoy the endless options, a lively atmosphere, and an experience you can’t pass up.
FAQ: 3 Days in Munich Travel Questions Answered
1. Are 3 days enough for Munich?
Three days are sufficient to explore Munich.
I also have an article with a detailed itinerary to spend 1 day and 2 days in Munich, proving that you can cover a lot in even less time.
With 3 days, you get to soak in the city’s vibe, visit all the major landmarks, and still have time to take a day trip.
I suggest you make the most of your extra day by visiting Salzburg, Austria which is just a short train ride away.
You’ll not only explore a new city but also check another country off your list!
2. How much should I budget per day in Munich?
Here’s a rough idea of how much you’ll spend per day:
- Budget travelers: €60-€80 (hostels, public transport, cheap eats)
- Mid-range travelers: €120-€180 (3-star hotels, local restaurants, sightseeing)
- Luxury travelers: €250+ (4-5 star hotels, fine dining, tours)
3. Can I visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a day trip from Munich?
I don’t recommend Neuschwanstein Castle in this 3-day itinerary.
It takes 2.5 hours one way, so you’ll spend 5+ hours just in transit. Take a train to Füssen and a bus to the castle, or book a guided tour for convenience.
