8 Great (Mostly) Free Things to Do in Munich

A Bavarian Beauty

Munich is the capital of the German state of Bavaria and has a bustling city old town that was a little less upscale, but reminiscent of Vienna. Towering Christian cathedrals, quaint squares, alleyways, and shops and restaurants dominate the old town. Outside of old town, Munich is a modern day city with all the pluses and minuses associated with that. If you like Oktoberfest, beer gardens, and lederhosen then this city is for you!

8 Great (Mostly) Free Things to Do in Munich

St. Peter’s Church Munich View

St Peter’s Church Munich

Munich Stachus Fountain

Glockenspiel Munich

Frauenkirche Munich

Eisbach River in Englischer Garten

To Do in Munich

Free

Put on your hiking shoes and explore these free activities

Glockenspiel (new city hall). Immense gothic building with 260’ animated clock town which commemorates celebratory events of a wedding and a second tier of animation representing the coopers dance which was meant to represent perseverance in the face of the plague.
St. Peter’s Church. Ornately painted ceiling and beautiful church overall. There seem to be services all morning each day, so visit later in the day if you want to take photos.
Viktualienmarkt. Munich’s oldest and biggest farmers market. Sample local cherries, grab and a brat and a beer, or chow down on a huge pretzel.
Residenz. Tour through ten courtyards with green space, beautiful gardens, and architectural eye candy. Not to mention some chocolate shops!
Englischer Garten. Massive green space larger than Central Park in NYC with a fantastic vibe. Joggers, bikers, picnickers, and sunbathers were everywhere along with people playing frisbee, futbol, and letting their dogs run free provided lots of entertainment while we played cards under a shade tree along the Eisbach River. Waterfalls, people floating by on the current, and even surfers made this quite an enjoyable experience.
Eisbachwelle. A continuous on the Eisbach River at the south end of the Englischer Garten where you will be entertained by surfers taking turns doing tricks.
Asamkirche. This baroque masterpiece is a 1700s church known for its lavish, baroque interior swathed in gold leaf, frescoes & stucco.

Get a birds eye view of town. You can climb 299 steps to the top of St. Peter’s tower (5 euro adults/2 euro children).

Worth the Money

These activities are worth the spend

Tips for Visiting Munich

Eat at Siggis Vegan Restaurant. Where we got our veggie on and the kids ate vegan schnitzel. Also wonderful was Max Pett, a vegan place with a killer carrot soup and veggie ratatouille.
There is only one grocery store open Sundays, nights and holidays and it is a zoo during those times. It may be hard to find with google maps because it is underground in the subway corridor with a whole world of people coming, going and shopping.
If you are watching the Glockenspiel, the knight falls on the second round so keep an eye out or a camera ready.
You can get a great view of the Glockenspiel show from St. Peter’s tower, so if you choose the stairs route, plan to be up at 11:00am, 12:00 noon or 5:00pm.
This is a very walkable city from one end of old town to the other, including the English Gardens.
There are free bathrooms in public museums.
Keep some euros in your pocket for souvenirs and the market.
According to fellow travelers, parking fees are astronomical, when you can find a spot.
You can float down the river in the English Garden, so bring a swimsuit, or not, it’s Europe – they seem to be optional! Be sure to scout out your entrance and exit strategy.