The vivacious city of Munich, so bright,
Comes alive in Oktoberfest’s gleaming light.
With art and history, old and new,
Its baroque grandeur welcomes you.
I attended Oktoberfest 2014 and returned home after enjoying the Oktoberfest beer tent. After going through several Reddit threads, I realized a trip to Munich in September and October is undoubtedly incomplete without visiting the cultural and historic sites. Exploring Munich’s hidden gems in the fifth season-Oktoberfest- rounded off the trip.
I packed my bags again for Oktoberfest 2024 and experienced Munich coming alive, illuminated, and bustling with six million people eager for a beer adventure.
All this and more enhanced the grandeur of its Baroque architecture and lush gardens, which made them unmissable spots beside the beer chugging in one of the marquees.
All in all, the Munich city adventure is a haven for all sorts of crowds.
Munich’s Top Places to Visit
During Oktoberfest Season
There is nowhere like the city of Munich. It has historical palaces, research centers, parks, and restaurants serving local beer and regional dishes.
Historical and Cultural Attractions
Munich’s roots stretch back to 1158, when it was founded by Henry the Lion! Historical buildings of Munich are narrators of its glorious past and fulfilling future as quoted, “If you don’t know history, it’s as if you were born yesterday.”
Marienplatz
I started my Munich city expedition with the Marienplatz. It is home to the New Town Hall and one of the busiest spots in Munich. It is right in the middle of the city, connecting all the important streets.
The callosum St. Mary’s Square (another name for the Marienplatz) is an eventful place all year long. It is busiest during Oktoberfest, the Christmas market, or when massive crowds are celebrating big sports wins.
The best time to visit is at 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. when the Rathaus-Glockenspiel Carillon (43 bells and 32 life-sized figures) begins recreating historical scenes.
Fact: The carillon is powered by solar energy.
I stood there awestruck, tourist-capturing memories, while the locals barely glazed, signifying it’s a daily ritual.
Frauenkirche
After Marienplatz, I made my way to Munich’s most famous church, the Cathedral of Our Lady (Frauenkirche). Built in the 15th century, this cathedral is the city’s defining symbol.
The baroque interior of the cathedral is the final resting place of emperors and kings. There is a spot called “The Wittelsbach Monument,” rumored to be visited by the Devil. Everyone gathers here to capture the footstep.
There are two 100-meter-high skyscraping landmark towers of the Cathedral. I climbed the south tower (open to visitors) to view the majestic city from the 16th window, unfolding like a masterpiece beneath the sky.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Baroque Palace once served as the summer retreat for the Bavarian monarchy. Its expansive, lush park has pavilions, palace canals, grand fountains, and manicured flower gardens.
I was filled with wonder when I witnessed the Great Hall frescoes painted by Johann Baptist Zimmermann. The fountains and symmetrical park grounds are a treat to the eyes from the grand staircase.
Small castles and several museums surround the complex, including the Museum of Man and Nature and the Nymphenburg Porcelain Museum. If you have time, I suggest visiting these royal splendors.
Museums and Art Galleries
Munich spoils museum lovers rotten. It has historical exhibits that paved the path to contemporary innovations.
The Deutsches Museum
The world’s largest science and technology museum, Deutsches Museum, has it all. The 28,000 exhibits display steam engines and space shuttles. It’s a geek’s paradise.
I spent hours there, marveling at the Wright brothers’ A-model plane and the steam engine. The Forum of the Future, with its “Streaming Dome” and “Virtual Reality Lab, “is a pathway to the future.
It’s no wonder it draws over a million visitors annually. The place is past, present, and future all at once.
Pinakothek der Moderne
Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne has four museums under one roof, displaying modern and contemporary art, design, architecture, and graphics.
The art installations are futuristic. The 12,000 square meter museum was built in 2002 by Stephan Braunfels but earned a place across Europe.
The painting galleries feature over 700 European masterpieces from the 14th to 18th centuries. Picasso’s bold strokes and Warhol’s pop art captivated me the most.
BMW Welt and Museum
With an area of 5000 square meters and around 125 exhibits, the BMW Welt and Museum illustrates the history of the brand from its inception to the present.
The artistic architecture of Car Lovers’ haven has on display its first-designed classic and modern models, prototypes, and concept studies for its engine.
Besides the cars and engines, there are also motorbike exhibits. My favorite exhibit was the BMW Isetta featured in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.
| Did you know? The BMW IIIa was the first engine made by Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). It was a water-cooled aircraft engine with six cylinders in a row. Back then, BMW only manufactured engines for airplanes. |
Parks and Outdoor Spaces
After Oktoberfest’s chaos, Munich’s parks are a breath of fresh air to stroll in peace.
English Garden
The serene English Garden is a lush park in Munich where you can unwind, jog, cycle, play volleyball, or bask in the sun. Its expansive area of 3750 hectares has tourist spots like Monopteros, the Chinese Tower, the Japanese Tea House, the Beer Gardens, and Rumfordschlössl.
The park’s highlight is a surfer spot—Eisbachwelle (standing wave.) The English Garden also has the Kocherlball event (Munich’s largest folk dance), the Japanese Festival in July, and the Christmas Market in December.
Olympiapark
The 1972-built Olympia Park is great for sightseeing, relaxation, and enjoyable events. It is home to expansive architecture, including:
- Olympic Stadium
- Olympic Tower
- Olympic Hall
I realized that the Olympic Tower’s 291.28-meter observation deck provides a breathtaking view of the park.
The 850,000 square meters of the park are the site of fun and entertaining events- concerts, sports events,festivals.
Food and Drink Beyond Beer
Undoubtedly, Oktoberfest’s food and beer are legendary. Breweries like Paulaner and Hofbräu pour over 7 million liters during the fest. But the Munich city itinerary is complete without trying the amazing food!
The capital of the free state of Bavaria is famous for its beer scenes. The world’s oldest brewery(Weihenstephan) has been brewing since 1040. A relaxing beer garden is the perfect place to enjoy a sip of history!
A soft white sausage (Weisswurst) that goes perfectly with sweet mustard, or crispy pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe) that’s full of flavor is top of Munich’s favorite food. Chewy Bavarian pretzel (Brezn) is another favorite snack in Bavaria’s capital city.
| Recommendation My favorite was the Brezn sold at Viktualienmarkt, a food market that has existed since 1807. It is filled with fresh cheese, sausages, and sweet honey. |
Dessert choices are also unlimited. Fluffy, shredded Kaiserschmarrn and Oktoberfest hit apple strudels are definite sweet tooth delights. The city also spots serving spicy Thai dishes and creamy Italian risottos-food from around the world.
Shopping and Markets
The shopping spree in Munich felt like a treasure scavenger hunt! Maximilianstrasse is filled with fancy stores like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. I looked at the beautiful things in the windows, but they were too expensive for me to buy.
I found Viktualienmarkt to be a great place for affordable gift shopping. I collected hand-painted beer steins with skillfulness and intricate detailing for my friends and family.
Near Marienplatz, shops sell dirndls and lederhosen men, the traditional outfits people wear at Oktoberfest (a great place to visit before the festival).
Stalls sell fun festival souvenirs during the Oktoberfest season, like beer mugs with the year printed on them and tiny oompah-band figurines.
The best thing about Munich is its 50,000 retail stores where anyone with a specific budget can shop.
Day Trips from Munich
There are some incredible places to see near Munich in just a day!
On a two-hour train ride is a straight out of fairy tale Neuschwanstein Castle. It is believed Disney took inspiration from it for Sleeping Beauty’s castle! The magnificent architecture welcomes 1.5 million guests every year. And when I saw its sky-climbing towers, I understood why—it’s magical!
A life-altering “Dachau Concentration Camp,” 30 minutes away from Munich, teaches an important lesson about history. Walking through it made me sad but also reminded me why the lessons from history are valuable.
The Bavarian Alps, where the tale of lederhosen and dirndl dress began, is another fascinating expedition of mine. Train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is accessible. It is a beautiful mountain town 90 minutes south of Munich, with snowy peaks in Oktoberfest season. Hiking there felt fresh, refreshing, and peaceful
Practical Tips for Exploring Munich
Munich’s public transportation is convenient! There are U-Bahn (subway) and S-Bahn (trains) stations all over the city.
A single ticket costs €3, but the Munich City Pass gives free entry to museums and discounts on tours—I got one and saved a lot of money!
The best time to see tourist spots like Nymphenburg Palace is in the morning or later in the afternoon when there are fewer people.
Wear comfortable shoes because Munich is great for walking. Even though 4.8 billion people use public transport every year, walking to different places and enjoying the city is equally fun.
Bring light layers—September weather can be warm or chilly. And always carry a map—your phone might run out of battery, but Munich’s beauty never fades!
Conclusion
Munich is amazing during Oktoberfest, but the city has so much to it than the beer-guzzling halls! It’s full of history, cool places, and fun surprises. I heard the past in Marienplatz’s old buildings and experienced surfer standing waves in the English Garden. The city feels alive in colossal buildings, baroque architecture, and lush gardens!
On my trip, I learned that Oktoberfest is great, but Munich is even better. When you plan your next trip to the world’s largest Volksfest, take some time to explore beyond the beer tents—the better and best Munich city it
Great article and photos!
Thanks for the interesting article.
I have never been to the BMW Museum, but cannot remember a BMW Isetta featuring in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ – or any other Bond movie.
Well, while it appears that the Isetta (which I love) has had a movie career of sorts (https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-BMW_model-Isetta.html), the BMW in Tomorrow Never Dies is this one… the 750iL
That’s more in line with 007’s image!
I’ve been to Munich a number of times and only once to the Okoberfest celebration. First to the parade which was awesome, but the beer tents for which I have a suggestion. Go with friends because if you leave you seat you can lose your place unless someone is holding it for you while you stand in the long line at the urinal.