Munich is a lovely place to visit when you are in Germany. One of the great benefits of Munich is that most of the best attractions are located in the middle of Munich’s Old Town. Visitors can easily walk from one attraction to another. Put on your best walking shoes and enjoy the sights and surroundings!
Marienplatz
The heart of Munich is its Marienplatz. The Marienplatz is the town square and is home to the famous Glockenspiel. If you want to hear the Glockenspiel chime and watch the Bavarian history unfold before your eyes, you need to be at the New Town Hall at 11am or noon. The Marienplatz is enriched by many wonderful buildings and churches to explore.
Viktualienmarkt
After exploring the Marienplatz, walk over to the Viktualienmarkt. The Viktualienmarkt began in the early 19th century and is a wonderful outdoor farmers market. On average there are about 140 beautifully decorated booths for you to shop from. The market offers a mix of fresh foods and specialty foods from the region. You will find ropes of sausages and towers of fruit and vegetables, along with fresh flowers and local honey. It is an unforgettable shopping experience that is not to be missed.
Beer Halls
You cannot go to Munich and not visit one of their many beer houses. The most famous beer hall is of course the Hofbrauhaus. This is a place where the music and dress is traditional and the beer glasses and pretzels are very big. People are very friendly and it is a great place to try out some local cuisine. Come with the intent on staying a while and take the time to soak up the atmosphere. There are many other beer halls to visit and a fun way to try the local beers.
The Devil’s Footprint in a Cathedral
Another tourist interest is the cathedral built by architect Jorg von Halspach in 1468. According to legend- maybe even related to the game Mobile Legends – Halspach was looking for money to erect a new cathedral, and met the Devil. The Devil told Halspach that he would help him, but on one condition: he can’t build any windows, so that there will be no light streaming in. After completion of the construction, Halspach brought the Devil on a tour, and upon realizing that he has been tricked (a column was blocking the view of a mischievously erected window by Halspach), the Devil stamped his foot angrily, and the tile marking his footprint is found in this very cathedral.
Museums
There are many museums located throughout Munich that are worth going to visit. The Deutsches Museum is a unique museum for the fact that it is located on an island in the Isar River. It is one of the world’s largest and oldest science and technology museums. It is in this museum that you can see the first automobile and the bench where the first atom was split.
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the world’s oldest art galleries. It houses one of the largest Rubens collections. Over 800 European masterpieces covering the time period of the Middle Ages to the Rococo period are located within the gallery. Legend has it that
The Neue Pinakothek is the home of the French impressionists. Its main focus is on the art of the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The German painter, Caspar David Friedrich is featured in the museum.
The largest museum of modern art in Germany is also located in Munich and is housed in The Pinakathek der Moderne. This museum includes the art of photography and video in its exhibits.
The English Gardens
The English Gardens is one of many traditional beer gardens located in Munich. It is a lovely park and is larger than New York City’s center park. Here, you can explore the area by paddle boat or by walking on the gardens’ many paths. If you like water sports and consider yourself a surfer, than you need to give the German sport of Eisbach a try while you are visiting the gardens.
Frauenkirche
Germany is known for its beautiful cathedrals and Munich’s Catholic Cathedral of our Blessed Lady is no exception. It is the city’s largest church and its twin towers help to make up Munich’s skyline. The domes that are located on top of the towns are modeled after the Dome of the Rock which is located in Jerusalem. The Cathedral can hold up to 20,000 people and it has an amazing view of the Alps.
Dachau Concentration Camp
The concentration camp is located outside of Munich. It was the first concentration camp under the reign of Nazi Germany. The Dachau Concentration camp was the model that all other Nazi concentration camps were designed after. Visitors to the concentration camp can walk the path the prisoners were forced to take upon arriving at the camp. Visitors will be able to see how the prisoners were forced to live and suffer.