Things to do and where to stay in Munich
Where to stay · Germany

Where to stay in Munich — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Picture the Germany in your head — chestnut-shaded beer gardens, blue-and-white striped maypoles, and the twin domes of the Frauenkirche set against the Alps on a clear day — and you're picturing Munich. The capital of Bavaria pulls off a rare balance: stylish old-world city meets unpretentious, down-to-earth charm. At its heart sits Marienplatz, where the Glockenspiel clock dances daily and the Viktualienmarkt food market is just steps away — grab a white sausage with sweet mustard and a warm pretzel. Walk it off in the Englischer Garten watching river surfers, or use the city as your launchpad for Neuschwanstein Castle and the Bavarian Alps. Few cities let you do city-breaks, beer culture, and mountain day trips in a single visit quite like this one.

🍺Beer capital + Oktoberfest🏰Gateway to Neuschwanstein🚆Citywide U-Bahn / S-Bahn🏔️Alps within easy reach🥨Authentic Bavarian food
4areas to consider
0ranked guides
14See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in Munich

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World-class beer culture

Birthplace of Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival, with leafy beer gardens all over the city where you can share a litre stein with locals and feel right at home.

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A walkable old town

Marienplatz, the Residenz, the Frauenkirche and world-class museums like the Deutsches Museum all sit close together — you can sightsee all day barely touching public transport.

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Gateway to the Alps and fairytale castles

A short train ride gets you to Neuschwanstein Castle, alpine lakes and Bavarian ski towns — Munich is the ideal base for day trips into the mountains.

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Green space in the heart of town

The Englischer Garten is a central park bigger than New York's Central Park, complete with Eisbach river surfers and a beer garden under the Chinese Tower.

Pick an area first — where to stay in Munich

Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel

Altstadt-Lehel (Old Town)Altstadt-Lehel (Old Town)

The dead center — walk to Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt and the main shops. Ideal for first-timers who want everything on foot. Highest room rates.

Coming soon
MaxvorstadtMaxvorstadt

The university and art-museum district (the Pinakothek galleries). Young, café-heavy, fairly priced and an easy hop into the center.

Coming soon
SchwabingSchwabing

Leafy and characterful, right by the Englischer Garten, packed with bars and restaurants. Great for couples, longer stays and nightlife.

Coming soon
Hauptbahnhof (Central Station area)Hauptbahnhof (Central Station area)

Around the main train station — hotels at every price point and easy onward connections. Best for budget travelers and anyone hopping to other cities.

Coming soon

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Munich

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

We're rolling out Munich stay reviews — meanwhile search Munich hotels across all 3 sites now

Local dishes to try in Munich

  1. 1🥨

    Weißwurst + Brezn

    Veal sausage gently poached and served in its broth with sweet mustard and a warm pretzel. A Munich breakfast tradition — and by custom, only eaten before noon.

    📍 White sausage + pretzel
  2. 2🍖

    Schweinshaxe

    Pork knuckle slow-roasted until the skin crackles and the meat falls apart, served with sauerkraut and potato dumplings (Knödel). The classic beer-hall order.

    📍 Roast pork knuckle
  3. 3🍺

    The Maß

    Beer served in a one-litre glass stein (a Maß). Choose pale Helles, dark Dunkel or wheaty Weißbier — best enjoyed with food in a beer garden.

    📍 Litre of beer
  4. 4🥓

    Leberkäse

    A baked loaf of finely ground meat, sliced thick and tucked into a roll as a sandwich (Leberkässemmel) — Munich's go-to quick lunch.

    📍 Bavarian meatloaf
  5. 5🧀

    Obatzda

    A rich camembert-and-butter spread seasoned with paprika and onion, scooped up with a pretzel in the beer garden — the essential beer snack.

    📍 Bavarian cheese spread
  6. 6🐟

    Steckerlfisch

    Whole fish rubbed with herb salt and grilled on a skewer, a beer-garden and Oktoberfest favorite you eat with your hands alongside a cold beer.

    📍 Grilled fish on a stick
  1. 1🕰️

    Marienplatz + Glockenspiel

    Munich's beating heart since 1158, framed by the ornate New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus). Its Glockenspiel clock puts on a daily figurine show at 11am, with extra noon and 5pm shows in summer.

    📍 Central square
  2. 2

    Frauenkirche

    The twin green-domed cathedral that defines Munich's skyline. Climb the tower for sweeping rooftop views — on a clear day you can see all the way to the Alps.

    📍 City symbol
  3. 3🌳

    Englischer Garten

    One of the world's largest urban parks, bigger than Central Park. Watch surfers ride the Eisbach standing wave, visit the Japanese teahouse, and grab a beer under the Chinese Tower.

    📍 City park
  4. 4🏰

    Nymphenburg Palace

    The vast Baroque summer residence of Bavaria's monarchs, dripping with gold and fronted by sprawling fountain gardens that feel like stepping back into the 17th century.

    📍 Baroque palace
  5. 5🔬

    Deutsches Museum

    One of the world's largest science and technology museums — aircraft, submarines and hands-on experiments make it a winner for families and curious minds.

    📍 Science museum
  6. 6🥨

    Viktualienmarkt

    A central open-air market with around 100 stalls of produce, cheese, sausages and flowers, plus its own beer garden — the best spot for a casual lunch and edible souvenirs.

    📍 Food market
  7. 7🍺

    Hofbräuhaus

    Munich's most famous beer hall, going strong since 1589. Live oompah bands, litre steins, pork knuckle and pretzels make for a rowdy, unforgettable evening.

    📍 Legendary beer hall
  8. 8🚗

    BMW Welt + Olympiapark

    BMW's futuristic showroom-museum sits next to Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Games. Ride up the Olympic Tower for views stretching to the Alps.

    📍 Cars + Olympic park

Things to do in Munich

Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Munich — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.

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★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 Munich hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

Eden Hotel Wolff★ 9.2Upper-mid

Eden Hotel Wolff

📍 Munich⭐⭐⭐⭐

Classic Art Nouveau value near station

From~$137/night
read the full review →
NH Collection München Bavaria★ 9.0Upper-mid

NH Collection München Bavaria

📍 Munich⭐⭐⭐⭐

Modern 4-star opposite Hauptbahnhof

From~$169/night
read the full review →
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski München★ 8.6Luxury

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski München

📍 Munich⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Legendary luxury on Maximilianstrasse

From~$329/night
read the full review →
🏨 ALL PICKS

โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในMunich

ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ

#4

Hotel Bayerischer Hof

★ 8.6⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 Munich

Iconic grand hotel with rooftop spa

~$443/night
#5

Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor

★ 8.5⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Munich

Clean budget pick in the old town

~$86/night
#6

Mercure München City Center

★ 8.4⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Munich

Reliable mid-range, walk to Marienplatz

~$120/night

🚆 Getting around Munich

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MUC airport to the city

S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run every 10 minutes and take about 40 minutes to the center (via Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz). A single ticket from Zone 5 costs around €13.60.

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Lufthansa Express Bus

A direct, nonstop bus from the airport into the city center runs daily for about €13 (discounted return around €23). Buy online or from the driver.

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U-Bahn / S-Bahn / Tram

The MVV network covers the whole city, and one ticket works on the metro, suburban trains, trams and buses. A Day Ticket or CityTourCard is the best value.

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Validate paper tickets

Paper tickets from machines must be stamped in the small red or blue boxes at the platform entrance before you board — unvalidated tickets count as no ticket and risk a fine. App tickets need no validation.

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Walking + cycling

The old town around Marienplatz is fully walkable, and Munich's cycle paths are excellent — rent a bike or grab an MVG Rad to ride through the Englischer Garten.

Where to go next near Munich

Frequently asked — where to stay in Munich

When is the best time to visit Munich?+

For good weather and thinner crowds, aim for late April to May or September to October. To catch Oktoberfest, come in late September to early October — but book hotels months ahead, as rooms fill fast and prices spike.

Where should I stay as a first-timer?+

The Old Town (Altstadt-Lehel) is the easy pick — you can walk to Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt and the main sights without touching transport. On a tighter budget, the area around the central station (Hauptbahnhof) has hotels at every price point and easy onward trains.

How do I get to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich?+

Take a train from Hauptbahnhof to Füssen, then a connecting bus to the castle — about 2 hours each way. Alternatively, a guided day-trip tour handles the transport for you and often adds Linderhof Palace to the itinerary.

Ready to book your Munich stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking