free guided tour munich

The Ultimate Free Walking Tour of Munich (For 2023)

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Ah… Munich. A city known for Oktoberfest, Munich offers more than just beer. Filled with museums and historical sites and surrounded by extravagant castles, Munich is one of the best cities in Germany. And there’s no better way to explore this delightful Bavarian city than on a free walking tour of Munich!

This self-guided Munich walking tour is not just doable — it’s called for. Where else can you find over a dozen historical monuments, breathtaking city views, and lively plazas packed into less than one kilometer?

And while some walking tours of Munich may be tiring, this one has a total walking distance of only 35 minutes . This means you’ll have plenty of time to take it easy, wander around, and dive into the legends of these unique Munich landmarks.

However, you should still set aside at least 1 day in Munich to do this tour, as there’s plenty to do at each stop.

Well, without further ado, let’s begin!

A Quick Summary of Your Free Walking Tour of Munich

• Karlsplatz-Stachus
• Bürgersaalkirche (Citizen’s Hall Church)
• Michaelskirche (St. Michael’s Church)
• Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
• Marienplatz
• Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)
• Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
• Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church)
• Asamkirche (Asam Church)
• Viktualienmarkt (Victuals Market)
• Hofbräuhaus München

Needless to say, this free walking tour of Munich will take you to all the top spots . So get your camera ready, put on some comfortable shoes, and prepare to spend one perfect day in Munich (one of the best places to visit in Bavaria !).

The Ultimate Free Walking Tour of Munich

1) karlsplatz-stachus.

• Opening Hours : None
• Cost : Free

Your Munich walking tour starts at Karlsplatz-Stachus, the most famous square in Munich.

It practically connects all the city’s transportation lines, making it one of the top hubs in Munich. In the mid 20th century, it reportedly had the most traffic in all of Europe ! This led to a saying that spread well beyond Munich: “Da geht’s ja zu wie am Stachus,” which is similar to the UK expression “It’s like Piccadilly Circus.”

Needless to say, there is always something to do at Karlsplatz-Stachus. On the eastern side, you can admire the gothic gate “Karlstor.” In the summer, you can enjoy some ice cream while sitting by the picturesque fountain. And in the winter, this fountain turns into a huge Munich ice rink!

There are also endless shopping opportunities, including:

• Kaufhof : Built in 1950, this was the first department store in Munich.
• Stachus Passagen for some underground shopping.
• Shops, cafes, and restaurants lining the square.
• The entrance to Neuhauserstraße and Kaufingerstraße , the two main shopping streets of Munich.

But before checking out the shops or continuing with our tour, take your time to soak up the atmosphere at Stachus. We will gradually head down Neuhauserstraße for the next stops on our free walking tour of Munich!

The Funny Story Behind the Dual Name of Karlsplatz-Stachus

The square was built in 1777 when the Elector Karl Theodor took over the government of Bavaria. Like any modest ruler, he named the new square after himself — Karlsplatz. But he was so unpopular with the residents that they refused to use that name . And so the square became known as Stachus, in memory of the tavern that was displaced for the square’s construction.

2) Bürgersaalkirche (Citizen’s Hall Church)

• Opening Hours : Upper church: Monday-Saturday, 11 am-1 pm. Lower church: Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 2 pm-5 pm.
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 4 minutes
• Website : https://www.mmkbuergersaal.de/

From Karlsplatz-Stachus, walk four minutes to our next stop: Bürgersaalkirche, otherwise known as the Citizen’s Hall Church.

From the outside, Bürgersaalkirche kinda looks more like a government building than a church. And, as a matter of fact, it was first built in 1709 as a “citizen’s hall” (hence the name), and was only consecrated in 1778. The church is also divided into an upper floor and a lower floor, with the exterior pink façade showing this division.

In the upper church, you’ll find the brightly lit, ballroom-like prayer room . Everywhere you look, there are works of art in the form of frescoes, paintings, and statues.

In the lower church, you can find the crypt of Ruper Mayer , a Jesuit priest known for his resistance against the Nazis. For a bit of history, I recommend walking around the small museum room containing memorabilia from his life.

If you’re planning to visit Germany but you’re still in school, click here to read my guide on how to travel as a student!

3) Michaelskirche (St. Michael’s Church)

• Opening Hours : The Crypt is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am-4:30 pm, and the weekends from 9:30 am-2:30 pm.
• Cost : Free (or 2 euros to enter the Crypt).
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 2 minutes
• Website : https://www.st-michael-muenchen.de/en/

The next stop on our walking tour of Munich is St. Michael’s Church: an art gallery, an architectural masterpiece, and a place of worship all in one!

Built in the late 16th century, Michaelskirche was modeled after the Church of the Gesù in Rome. It’s best known for having the second largest vaulted roof (after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome).

If you look between the two entrances, you’ll see St. Michael, the Archangel, slaying a dragon-like creature, which was meant to symbolize Catholicism triumphing over Protestantism in the Counter Reformation era.

And hey, if you’re craving a little company, why not visit the “Mad” King Ludwig II in the crypt ?

4) Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)

• Opening Hours : Monday to Saturday 8 am-8 pm, Sunday 9:30 am-8 pm.
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 3 minutes
• Website : https://www.muenchner-dom.de/

Next, head over to Frauenkirche, one of the most popular landmarks in Munich.

The original plan for Frauenkirche was a grand church of the likes of Stephansdom in Vienna. But budgetary constraints unraveled these plans into the plain red-brick construction that it is today.

In the end, this lack of funding is what shaped the church into the remarkable mix of styles that makes it so unique. By the time the towers were finally finished, the Renaissance era had started. Thus, domes were installed instead of the intended Gothic pointed towers.

These towers are an iconic part of the Munich skyline , jutting out far past any other building. The residents of Munich are deeply passionate about their city’s “mother church”; in 2004, they even voted to prohibit building anything taller than 98.57 meters — the height of Frauenkirche.

Inside, Frauenkirche has a remarkable capacity of 20,000 people. The decorations are simple, but there are still tons to admire, including:

• Gothic pillars
• Original stained-glass windows
• 14th-18th century artwork
• A 16th-century automaton clock
• The tomb of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV

The Legend of the Devil’s Footprint

By the entrance, you’ll also notice a black mark resembling a footprint . Legend says the master builder Jörg von Halsbach struck a deal with the devil to ensure they had enough money for the church’s construction. In exchange, he promised to not build any windows, meaning the church could not be consecrated.

Stepping inside the completed church, the devil could not see the windows at first, as they were hidden from view by the columns and buttresses. But when he realized he’d been duped, he stomped his foot in anger and turned into the wind to try to blow the church down. If you stand outside the church, you can still feel the devil’s vain efforts!

If you’re planning to travel Europe in the fall, click here for my Europe fall packing list for women!

5) Marienplatz

• Website : https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/attractions/marienplatz.html

Next up on your Munich walking tour is Marienplatz, a plaza that will provide you with a short break from the stunning Munich churches and aerial city views!

This popular square dates back to the city’s founding in 1158 . It used to be a calm intersection where monks decided to settle, giving the city its name (“monks” in German).

The area soon became the city’s marketplace, then called “Schrannenplatz” (“grain plaza”). In 1854, the market outgrew the plaza and moved to Blumenstraße. The plaza was then renamed to Marienplatz after the Virgin Mary, for helping the city overcome a cholera epidemic.

The center of the plaza is marked by Mariensaule , the Virgin Mary column. It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of the Swedish occupation of Munich. Its base depicts the city’s triumph over famine (the dragon), war (the lion), the plague (the basilisk), and heresy (the snake).

Events and Things to Do in Marienplatz

• June : Stadtgründungsfest, celebrating Munich’s birthday.
• December : a Christmas Market with 150 stalls.
• Year-round : Countless stores and restaurants — needless to say, it’s one of the best things to do in Munich on Sunday!

The Munich Marienplatz is where many of the free tours in Munich and walking tours in Munich start, so you’ll see lots of tourist groups here. The plaza itself has many interesting landmarks, which we are about to see!

6) Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)

• Opening Hours : 10 am-7 pm Monday to Saturday, 10 am-5 pm on Sundays.
• Cost : 10 euros for tours, or 4 euros to access the tower.
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 0 minutes
• Website : https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/attractions/new-town-hall-neues-rathaus.html

To reach the next stop on your free walking tour of Munich, just turn around and look for the Neues Rathaus right at Marienplatz! Although it’s only one building, it has plenty to offer, including some fun things to do with kids in Munich.

It was built in the late 19th century when the old town hall was no longer able to accommodate the government. And this new one sure takes care of the space issue — 12 buildings had to be demolished to make room for it! It also holds 400 rooms and takes up over 9000 square meters of space.

Surprisingly, Neues Rathaus Munich survived WWII, so the carvings you see are original. Don’t miss the “Glockenspiel,” a storytelling music box on the exterior of the tower. It is still manually operated and uses 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures to perform two historical events, including:

• A 1568 tournament celebrating the marriage of Duke Wilheim V to Renata of Lothringen.
• “Schäfflertanz”, or Coopers’ Dance : After the plague epidemic, the barrel makers were supposedly the first to go out into the streets, where they danced to give courage and joy to the fearful citizens.

The show lasts about 15 minutes. It’s performed daily at 11 am and 12 pm, so make sure you’re there for the show!

Before you turn away, look all the way up to the top of the tower and wave hello to “the Munich child”, aka “ Münchner Kind .” This symbolic representation of Munich has had a prolific advertising career, as it’s been featured in Munich commercials for virtually everything under the sun.

The New Town Hall also offers several other things to do, including

• A 90-minute tour.
• A tourist office on the ground floor.
• An 85-meter-tall tower with a great view of the old town of Munich.
• Marienhof, a small garden at the back.
• The Ratskeller restaurant in the basement.

7) Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)

• Opening Hours : 10 am-5:30 pm daily (for the Toy Museum).
• Cost : 6 euros for the Toy Museum.
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop: 1 minute
• Website : https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/attractions/altes-rathaus.html

Now that we’ve admired the New Town Hall, it’s time to check out the Old Town Hall! Walk over to the eastern end of Marienplatz to find Altes Rathaus, Neues Rathaus’ predecessor.

The building goes back as far as 1310 . But it has been damaged and rebuilt so many times that it has practically worn every architectural style since its founding. Its most recent restoration after WWII has brought it full circle to its original Gothic design . And with its plain façade, the Old Town Hall look more modern than the ornate New Town Hall Munich!

Altes Rathaus has a dark side as well. It was the location of the hate-filled speech by Joseph Goebbels that inspired Kristallnacht, “ the night of the broken glass” in 1938 . This is considered to be the start of the Holocaust.

Other things you can see at Altes Rathaus:

• A historic toy museum located on over 4 floors of the tower (it’s one of the best things to do in Munich with kids!).
• A ballroom on the second floor with an impressive ornate wooden ceiling.
• A Juliet Capulet statue on the side of the building, gifted to Munich by Verona in the 1970s.

8) Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church)

• Opening Hours : 9 am-6 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday.
• Cost : Free for the church, 3 euros for the tower.
• Website : https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/churches/church-of-st-peter.html

Next on your Munich free walking tour is Peterskirche, the city’s oldest Catholic church dating back to the 12th century. Like many Munich landmarks, it has been reconstructed many times due to fires and wars. The inside reflects its many reincarnations with elements of the Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo styles .

The most notable aspect of Peterskirche Munich is the second chapel, as it holds the skeleton of Saint Munditia , lavishly decorated with a crown, precious stones, and luxurious clothing. You’ll also see many beautiful works of art, though most of them are restorations.

And if you haven’t had enough bird-eye views of the city yet, you can climb the 300 stairs up the tower. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Alps!

At the top, you’ll also find another peculiarity: no fewer than 8 clocks. The Munich-based comic Karl Valentin offered a whimsical reason as to why: “Well, of course, it’s so eight people can check the time at once!”

9) Asamkirche (Asam Church)

• Opening Hours : 9 am-6 pm
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 6 minutes
• Website : https://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights/churches/asam-church.html

Compared to the gargantuan buildings you’ve seen so far, the 22-by-8-meter Asamkirche in München might seem ludicrously tiny. But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in decoration.

Through the opulent wooden door, you enter a space filled with such an excessive amount of stucco and ornamentation, it’s downright overwhelming. There’s barely an inch left undecorated.

The church is divided into three vertical levels:

• The rather gloomy lower area, where visitors sit, symbolizes worldly suffering.
• The middle level, reserved for the Emperor, is decorated in white and blue.
• The top, dedicated to God, is brightly lit.

Naturally, the space gets brighter the closer to heaven it goes. The ceiling also has a lavish fresco portraying the drowning of Saint Nepomuk, to whom the church is dedicated.

10) Viktualienmarkt (Victuals Market)

• Opening Hours : Usually 8 am-8 pm Monday to Saturday, but it depends on the stall.
• Cost : Depends on what you buy.
• Walking Time from the Previous Stop : 7 minutes
• Website : https://www.viktualienmarkt-muenchen.de/

Remember how Marienplatz used to be a marketplace? Well, Viktualienplatz is where it moved.

Viktualienmarkt, from the late Latin word for food, stretches over 22,000 square meters. About 150 stalls offer everything your fridge and pantry could desire, from vegetables to fish, through spices and pastries, and even kitchen accessories and other trinkets. Every Munich food guide will recommend visiting this famous market!

Halls and pavilions were added as even Viktualienmarkt Munich started lacking in space for its eager shoppers. At the center, you’ll find an authentic Bavarian Maypole displaying aspects of life in Munich.

If you need to rest your feet a little, you can relax in the beer garden . Then walk around to find the fountains with statues commemorating folk singers and comedians.

11) Hofbräuhaus München

• Opening Hours : 9 am-12 am daily.
• Cost : Depends on what you order.
• Website : https://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/hofbraeuhaus.html

Today, we associate Germany with tall glasses of beer, but 500 years ago, Bavaria was far from being a beer nation. At the time, beer was imported from Northern Germany, and boy, was it expensive! Like any beer lover, the rulers wanted more beer for less money, and commissioned their own brewery in 1589: the Hofbräuhaus München

It was initially reserved for royals , and they were only allowed to brew stout and white beer. The beer hall was then added in 1897 and eventually opened to the public.

You can take a look at the glass cellar or sit down for a refreshing drink — perhaps in the very same spot where Mozart or the Empress Elisabeth of Austria once sat! Adolf Hitler presented his “25-Point Program” in this very bar as well.

You can unwind here until as late as midnight — the Hofbräuhaus is hands down one of the best things to do in Munich at night!

If you’re also thinking of visiting Seville, Spain, click here to read my self-guided walking tour of Seville!

Got More Time to Explore Munich?

If you have time leftover after your Munich walking tour, consider adding these things to do in Munich, located close to where your tour left off:

• National Theater
• Theatine Church
• Munich Residenz

And obviously, if you’re visiting Munich in mid-September to October, you have to check out Oktoberfest! The largest beer festival in the world, Oktoberfest is a 17- to 18-day festival where you can drink tons of beer, enjoy some rides and carnival games, and wear Trachten, the traditional outfits for Oktoberfest .

Finally, if you’re wondering what else to do in Munich, here are the top attractions not yet mentioned:

• English Garden
• Nymphenburg Palace
• Alte Pinakothek
• Neuschwanstein Castle (one of the best day trips from Munich!)

And That’s It for our Free Walking Tour of Munich!

And so we have come to the end of your free walking tour of Munich. If you have 2 days in Munich or even just 1 day in Munich, this walking tour will help you make the very best of your time. Happy exploring!

Thanks for reading the article! If you have any questions, feel free to comment down below, and if you want to see more travel and hike-related content, make sure to check out my other articles.

Photos by Mia and Pixabay.

About to embark on a trip around Europe? Here are some helpful articles to make your trip as awesome and stress-free as possible:

• How to Travel Around Europe
• How to Travel Without Breaking the Bank
• 15 Things to Do Before a Trip
• My 5-Week Europe Itinerary
• The Minimalist Europe Fall Packing List for Women
• How to Start Hiking: 15 Beginner Hiking Tips

And here are some additional helpful links:

• Click here for my walking tours
• Click here for my hiking guides
• Click here for more posts on Europe
• Click here for more posts on Germany
• Click here for more resources

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Mia is the founder of Walk a While with Me, a travel blog dedicated to sharing the best self-guided walking tours, travel itineraries, and hikes for destinations around the world. A keen traveler, she has visited more than 20 countries in the past six years. She is excited for you to follow along on her adventures!

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About Munich

Within Germany there are a large number of high quality tourist destinations, totally recommended for those visitors who want to discover the purest German essence. The capital of Bavaria is a clear example of this, a city where tradition, culture and the best of environments come together to offer a unique experience. An enclave north of the Alps that means "in the place of the monks", in reference to the monacal settlement of the early tenth century. To speak of Munich is to refer to the most typical German customs , such as its exceptional beer and exquisite cuisine that have their maximum representation in Oktoberfest. In this city the breweries -The mythical Hofbräuhaus-, the monuments, the architecture and the culture help to form a really enviable tourist offer. Next to a tasty gastronomy such as the "Kartoffelsalat" potato salad or the "Dampfnudeln" fritters or the typical "Weisswurst" white sausages. This town is one of the most important destinations in the country, both for its important weight in the German economy, and for the wide cultural and leisure offer that is in it throughout the year. The best way to tour the city is to sign up for a free walking tour in Munich , an excellent opportunity to make the most of your stay in this beautiful town, where you can see such important places as your center "Marienplatz" typical meeting point. Other essential places to see are the new town hall “Neues Rathaus” or the Odeon Square “Odeonsplatz”, as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady in Munich . Museum lovers have the "Deutsches Museum", the Old Pinacoteca, the Gliptoteca or the Brandhorst Museum , an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the city's wide cultural offer. Other recommended visits are the beautiful “Karlsplatz” building, as well as its lively and colorful “Viktualienmarkt” market, as well as the impressive Nymphenburg Palace, of great beauty and charm. Given the immensity of this German city, it is important to concentrate the visit on the most interesting and tourist points. In this way the free tour in Munich is the best way to approach the most important, the most recommended and essential places to this beautiful Teutonic city. Other destinations where you can also find free paid guided tours with local guides are Berlin, Cologne or Dresden.

Free walking tour near Munich

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Free Walking Tour of Munich

• 9.10 / 10 550 reviews | 5,159 travellers Our guide Peter was very knowledgable .. Stuck to the schedule and gave us all of the necessary information to enjoy Munich. 10 Randolph Spiteri

Pass through Munich's many sights, and immerse yourself in German culture and history , discovering all the best points of the Bavarian capital on this free tour.

The tour begins at the designated time in front of  Fish's Fountain in Marienplatz , in the centre of Munich. Marienplatz is home to both the new and old town halls, two of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Here we will stop to see the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel , and learn the history behind its wooden figures.

Passing through the main shopping streets which surround Marienplatz the tour arrives at Frauenkirche, the Munich Cathedral . Here we'll contemplate the majestic facade of the city's largest church, built on the site of an ancient Roman basilica, and pass over the recent history of the city.

Fünf Höfe (shopping mall). Then we'll move onto the iconic Odeonsplatz square, where we'll find the Feldherrnhalle , a monumental loggia built to honor the Bavarian Army in the 19th century.

Our next destination will be the  Theatinerkirche , a church that was built in Italian high-Baroque style in the 17th century. Then, we'll move on to the  Viscardigasse , also known as the "Shirker's Alley", the place where locals could circumvent the nearby Nazi memorial to avoid the requirement to render a Hitler salute to the nearby guarded memorial.

Next, we'll pass by the  Munich Residenz , the former royal palace of the  Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria . Then, the tour arrives at the National Theatre and State Opera , the Bayerische Staatsoper, where the famous Bavaria State Orchestra plays. 

Maximilianstraße will be our next destination. This is one of the city's four royal avenues and was named after the king who commissioned its construction: King Maximilian II of Bavaria.

As the perfect finishing tour to the tour, we'll guide the tour to  Hofbräuhaus, Germany's most famous beer hall.  After a total of 2.5 hours, we'll part ways at this strategic spot so you can continue exploring the city on your own.

We're unable to accept reservations for groups greater than 6 people. If you're traveling in a larger group, we recommend checking out our private tour of Munich .

More Information

2 hours 30 minutes.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English speaking guide

Not included

When to book.

You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• Printed material is avoided.
• No single-use plastics are used.
• The activity helps the dissemination of local cultural heritage.
• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.

Explora Múnich Show more

Corporate name: Explora Múnich UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Frequently asked questions

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?

A - This activity requires a minimum of 4 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point.

Fish's Fountain (Fischbrunnen), Marienplatz

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• Destinations
• Tours in Munich

Munich Old City Free Tour

Overview of the tour in Munich

Please book at least 24 hours on forehand. The tour takes place when at least 7 persons have signed up for the tour. Right now the tours take place according to the 2Gplus rules, meaning you have to be fully vaccinated and you have to bring an official negative quick covid-19 test from the day the tour takes place and of course masks. We will meet on "Marienplatz" in front of the "Deutsche Bank" - look for the man with the dark brown cowboy hat. After getting to know each other with an introduction to the history of Munich we will "take off" with the oldest church in Munich "Saint Peter". Then will cross "Marienplatz" with the old and the new city hall to the "Cathedral Church of Our Lady - Frauenkirche". From there we'll pass through Emperor's fortress and the biggest city castle in Germany the "Residenz" to reach "Fieldmarschalsshall". The "Viktualien Market" - our next stop - offers 1807 local products. Here our tour will end.

This activity includes:

• New Town Hall
• Feldherrnhalle
• Victuals Market
• Frauenkirche

Marienplatz

• Munich Residenz
• Old Town Hall, Munich
• St. Peter's Church

Meeting point

You reach Marienplatz by subway or by walking from Karlsplatz/Stachus. We meet on Marienplatz at the "Hugendouble Corner". You recognize me by my brown cowboy hat.

Things to note

In case of very bad weather - storm, thunderstorm, heavy snow, or similar - the tour might be canceled. Otherwise, bring an umbrella and a raincoat. Minimum 7 participants are required for the tour to take place. Maximum 30. The tour includes visits to churches and requires modest clothing or making sure you bring it. It's a walking tour. That means comfortable shoes are required (10 cm high heels do not comply with this definition! Also, not flip-flops!). If you have a medical condition that might limit walking, consider avoiding the tour. I organize this tour voluntarily, therefore I hold no responsibility for bodily injuries or property damages during the tours. In case you liked the tour, Leave a generous tip, And spread the word!

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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Fall in love with Munich

Heart of Munich is a local and independent tour operator situated in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. We specialise in free walking tours and private tours for those looking to experience the best that Munich and Bavaria history, culture and beer has to offer.

Our aim is to make sure you have an enjoyable and interactive learning experience and fall in love with Munich as much as we have. There is a lot to do here, so the best way to get the most out of your visit is with a professional tour guide.

Over the last 8 years,  we have received hundreds of five star reviews across Google, Tripadvisor, Guruwalk, Airbnb and more. Also, our free tour is the highest rated in Munich across multiple platforms.

You can read some of our reviews on each relevant tour page.

I look forward to meeting you soon,

Jake Slisz (Jax)

CEO – Heart of Munich tours

Free Walking Tour

We are an independent tour operator.

What does this mean? It means that we do all of our own advertising and marketing. You cannot book our tours through websites like Tripadvisor, Getyourguide or Viator. If you were not aware, these companies take 20 – 25% of every booking payment!. This is not something we support in the tourism industry, as it makes it hard for small companies like us to exist amongst the big corporations. When travelling, you should try to look for and book with local tour operators when possible.

We are a small company made up of 10 guides. We are all friends and have been working in the tourism industry for many years. We are very passionate about what we do and always try to deliver the best possible tour everyday. This is why we are currently the highest rated tour company in Munich. We go for quality tours over quantity.

We also believe that everyone should get the chance to experience Munich’s wonderful old town, which is why we run free tours twice daily. Anyone can reserve and join for free and then you pay at the end what you think the tour was worth. We are also a proud member of the Free tour community, a global network of local independent tour companies all supporting each other.

Private tours

Private City Tour

Explore the last 860 years of Munich’s history on a 2.5 hour walking tour through the backstreets of the old city.

Third Reich tour

Learn about the rise of Adolf Hitler, National Socialism and the Third Reich on a 3 hour walking tour through Munich.

Dachau Memorial Camp

Visit the memorial site on the grounds of the first concentration camp opened during the Third Reich.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Take a day trip from Munich to see the famous ‘Disney Castle’ built onto the Alps mountain range.

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Meeting point change during christmas markets, from the 27th november to 24th december the meeting point for our daily free tours will be in front of the 'hugendubel' bookstore on marienplatz. you will find further information in our faq and booking confirmation emails..

‎ Germany ‎ > Munich > Free Munich Walking Tour Map

Top 10 Munich Tips | Suggested Itineraries For Munich

• Top 10 Things To Do
• Old Town Walking Tour
• English Garden Walking Tour
• Oktoberfest
• Dachau Memorial
• More Sights
• Overview & Dates
• Top 25 Oktoberfest Tips
• Best Beer Tents
• How To Dress
• Most Popular Songs
• Table Reservations
• Beer and Wine Tips
• History Of Oktoberfest
• Best Day Trips
• Helpful Tourist Tips
• Suggested Itineraries for Munich
• Transportation Tips
• Historical Overview

Free Munich Walking Tour:

Walking Tour Location : Old Town Munich ( Altstadt ) Cost : Free, Self-Guided ( Museum and sight costs below ) Style : Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour ( Self Guided ) Start : Karlsplatz Stachus Square & Metro Stop End : Hofbräuhaus Beer Hall & Restaurant Walking Distance : 2.5 miles Time :  90 Minutes for Walk ( Full tour 6+ hours with all stops ) Fun Scale : 9.5 out of 10

Munich’s compact Old Town is one of our favorite places to walk in Europe. Primarily geared toward pedestrians, the neighborhood truly is where old meets new and is a perfect setting for a free walking tour.  Originally surrounded by a series of Medieval walls, you still enter Old Town Munich through the mighty city gates.  Once inside you’ll experience great shopping mixed in with historic beers halls, amazing museums, and even a royal palace.  The Bavarian atmosphere is very predominate everywhere you turn which adds to the fun of our free Munich walking tour.

To help you maximize your time in this wonderful city we have put together the perfect self-guided walking tour of Old Town for you.  We go to Munich often, and this walking tour will make sure you hit up all the must-see attractions along with a couple of hidden gems.  Enjoy our free Munich walking tour map!

Historical Overview of Old Town:

Settled by Benedictine Monks in the 700s, Old Town Munich is full of rich history.  While Munich ( München ) means “by the monks”, you’ll see a lot of Lion Statues on this Old Town Munich walking tour because it was officially founded in 1158 by Henry the Lion.  Early-day Munich was less than 1 square mile centered on Market Square and was surrounded by a gated Medieval wall.

As a growing trading power, Old Town Munich tripled in size by the 1300s and was surrounded by a larger wall with a wide moat to protect the booming city.  The expansion of Old Town was largely fueled by Munich’s Wittelsbach family who took over ruling Bavaria in 1180 and quickly moved the capital from Regensburg to Munich.  The powerful family formed an imperial dynasty through the year 1918 and even produced multiple Holy Roman Emperors along the way.  Old Town Munich quickly became known around Europe for its museums, its beauty, and of course its festive beer halls.

Dark days came upon Munich after Hitler helped form the Nazi Party here starting in 1919 which eventually led to Old Town being heavily bombed in World War 2.  Luckily as the new modern Munich rose out of the ashes, many of the historic sights were persevered or rebuilt.  Today, Old Town Munich has a ton of great attractions and an unbeatable atmosphere to keep you coming back again and again.  The sights on this free Munich walking tour will help you experience true Bavarian charm as you fall in love with Munich.

1. Karl’s Square – Stachus ( Karlsplatz ):

About Karlsplatz : We love to start our free Munich walking tour by entering one of Old Town’s city wall gates which date back to Medieval times.  Our favorite gate is the castle-like New House Gate ( Neuhausertor ) on the Westside of Old Town near Karlsplatz Square.  This lively square has been the primary Western entrance into Munich’s Old Town since the original Inner City Wall ( Innere Stadtmauer, built 1156-75 ) was expanded into the Outer City Wall ( Äußere Stadtmauer, built 1285-1347 ) to fit a rapidly growing city.

First built as a single tower gate called New House Tower ( Neuhauser turm ) in 1302, this was one of 4 main gates making up Munich’s new outer boundary.  The entrance you see today was added right in front of the of the tall tower in 1337 as part of a new double-walled ditch which opened up to a wide protective moat that surrounded the entire city of Munich.  The only way to access the New House Gate was over an impressive drawbridge that spanned the length of the current Karlsplatz Square until a stone bridge replaced it after the 30 Years War in the 1600s ( See Photo ).  Following this post-war expansion, there were a total of 8 main gateways into the City Wall and almost 60 watchtowers scattered throughout Old Town Munich.

Most of the Western section of the city wall was later removed by Elector Karl Theodor in 1791 to make way for an expanding and modern city.  With the wall section removed and the moat filled in, Karl gave the newly formed square and old New House Gate a facelift which both came to bear his name ( Karlstor & Karlsplatz ) after his death in 1799.

While Karl ( reign 1777-99 ) did leave a positive mark on Munich by turning the royal hunting grounds as the English Garden park and expanding salt mining in Bad Reichenhall, he was widely unliked as a Wittelsbach-cousin outsider imported from the Netherlands.  One of his missteps was ending the beloved Scarlet Horse Race ( Scharlachrennen ) in 1786 which had been held outside the city walls near today’s Karlsplatz since 1448.  Karl also ended other local celebrations like the annual Butcher’s Leap which didn’t help his popularity with the commoners.

Because locals thought of Karl as an unfair ruler, they started calling the square by its nickname Stachus Square instead, after the Beim Stachus Pub that once stood near the New House Gate.  Notice how we prefer to call the gate by its original name of New House instead of Karlstor.  The tall central watch tower just inside the New House Gate was turned into gunpowder storage in the 1800s and remained standing until an explosion blew it up in 1857.

After devastating WW2 bombings, Karlsplatz Square required a ton of renovations, but has since turned into one of Old Town Munich’s focal points.  Part of the re-build incorporated three boy musician statues under the gate’s arch which came from the Market Fountain ( now the Fish Fountain ) in Munich’s main square which was also damaged in the war.  Huge retail centers now flank the New House Gate and overlook a sprawling fountain .  The fountain shoots dozens of water jets high into the air and is a popular attraction for people of all ages, especially kids.  In the Winter months, the fountain even becomes an ice skating rink.

Our favorite fountain in Munich called the Fountain Boy ( Brunnen Buberl ) , sits just inside the New House City Gate.  This playful fountain was originally built in the middle of Karlsplatz Square in 1895 before being moved to the pedestrian zone right before the 1972 Olympics.  The fountain depicts a naked boy shielding his face as Satyr ( a drunk Greek woodland God ) spits water at him.  Citizens were initially mad that a leaf didn’t cover the boy’s privates, but it has become the most popular fountain on this free Munich walking tour.  Photos : ( Gate in the 1600s | Inside of Gate in 1700s ).  360 Degree Panoramas : ( During the Day | At Night ).

2. Citizen’s Hall Church ( Bürgersaalkirche ):

About Citizen’s Hall : Built in 1709, the Citizen’s Hall ( Bürgersaalkirche ) building has been a famous meeting and gathering point through the centuries.  The bright pink facade of Citizen’s Hall really stands out among the neighboring buildings, but it is the interior’s gold-accented alter that truly shines.  The alter and painted frescoes were added in 1778 when the Citizen’s Hall was converted into a church .  Although it was heavily damaged in WW2 and largely rebuilt, the church now looks almost exactly like it did in the 1700s thanks to renovations.

On October 17th, 1810 mass was held at the Citizen’s Hall ( Bürgersaalkirche ) followed by a procession out of the city gates where a horse race was held for the 5th and final day of Prince Ludwig I’s wedding celebration.  The race was attended by 40,000 spectators and was the start of the modern Oktoberfest festival.  The tradition of the procession to the grounds from old town Munich still takes on Oktoberfest’s opening weekend.

The religious artwork inside Citizen’s Hall Church underwhelms many visitors, but it does have some wonderful pieces.  The best works are the reliefs on the altar, an interesting series of paintings on the nave walls, and an angel statue near the entrance you’ll for sure love.  History buffs will want to visit the lower level of the church for the tomb of Rupert Mayer , a famous Jesuit priest who stood up to the Nazis occupation.   Photo : ( Interior ).  Church Website : ( HERE ).

3. Richard Strauss Fountain :

About The Richard Strauss Fountain :  Often missed by tourists, the 18 foot tall Richard Strauss Fountain was designed to pay tribute to the composure’s most famous opera, Salome .  Strauss was born in Munich in 1864 and is one of the city’s few iconic musicians from his era which was dominated by cities like Salzburg, Berlin, and Vienna.  His composing talents made him the Kapellmeister of Munich by age 22, long before Strauss’ opera Salome was released in 1905.

The six different carved reliefs around the fountain’s column each depict a different scene from Salome.  The water pouring down the column from the large bowl above is supposed to symbolize the final dance in the opera called the Dance of the Seven Veils.  While most people walk right by the wonderful fountain without inspecting it, examining the details close up will help you appreciate its beauty.

One really interesting note about Richard Strauss is that his ancestors started the Hacker Brewery in Munich back in 1417.  In the late 1700s, Strauss’s paternal grandfather Joseph Pschorr bought out other relatives and even opened a second brewery called Pschorr next to the home Strauss was born in.  These two breweries later merged as Hacker-Pschorr and are now sold worldwide in addition to their beer halls and Oktoberfest tent in Munich.  Note that we will be ending this free Munich walking tour at the most famous brewery in town, the Hofbrauhaus.   Photo : ( Fountain With Tourists ).

4. Saint Michael’s Church ( Michaelskirche ):

About Michaelskirche : As you approach the doors of the massive Saint Michael’s Church, a gleaming bronze sculpture of the Archangel Michael fighting a demon-like Protestant peers down at as you.  Completed in 1588, the beautiful sculpture signals to the religious conflicts of Munich’s past.  This work is the only part of the Church’s original facade that survived the heavy Allied bombings during WW2.  The other rows of re-created statues on the front of the Church portray the Counter-Reformation , an anti-Protestant movement in the late 1500s which Saint Michael’s Church was the center of.

As you explore Saint Michael’s, the huge interior under a barrel-vaulted roof reaffirms the claim that it is the largest Renaissance church North of the Alps .  Saint Michael’s Church is so grand in size that it actually served as the head of the Catholic Church’s Counter-Reformation efforts in the 1500s.  Because of damage from the war, Saint Michael’s Church doesn’t have the same over-the-top stucco interior as many other churches in Munich have, but its size and historic value make it worth a quick stop.

Today the Church’s main attraction is the Royal Crypt which holds 40 decorative tombs mainly of the Wittelsbach family who ruled Bavaria from 1180 through 1918 AD.  Of the royal tombs, the most visited is that of “ Mad” King Ludwig II .  Ludwig was disliked in his day for being disconnected from the people and for being an over-spender, but is loved today for the numerous castles and palaces he built.  One of this castles, Neuschwanstein Castle, is so beautiful that it inspired Walt Disney to make his version of Snow White’s Castle.

Church Hours : Daily 9am-7pm; Thursday open until 845pm; Sunday open until 10pm.   Crypt Hours : Monday-Friday 930am-530pm; Saturday 930am-230pm.   Cost : Church Free, Crypt 2 euros.   Church Website : ( HERE ).

5. Saint Anna’s Church ( Damenstiftskirche ):

About Saint Anna’s Church : The exterior is so plain that you could easily miss the grand interior of Saint Anna’s Church ( Sankt Anna ).  There has been a chapel here continuously since 1440 which later became a Gothic church with a small convent.  In 1735, the old Gothic church made way for today’s  Ladies’ Pin Church ( Damenstiftskirche ) .  Since Medieval times, a Ladies’ Pin was a convent-like foundation for unmarried noblewomen and widows to devote themselves to without giving full vows as nuns.

If you are confused by the church having two names it is because Ladies’ Pin is often referred to by its nickname Saint Anna’s Church after Princess Maria Anna of Saxony ( 1728-1797 ) who served as the abbess after her husband died in 1777.  The beloved Anna was the Princess of Saxony and Poland before her marriage to Maximilian III also made her Electress of Bavaria.

The highlight of the Saint Anna’s Church was the amazing interior done by Munich’s famous Asam Brothers during the 1735 rebuild.  The brothers became world renown church builders for their over-the-top stucco interiors.  We will see the Asam Brothers’ home and elaborate show house church later on this free Munich walking tour.

During WW2 the interior of Saint Anna’s was badly damaged including the frescoes and stucco work.  While the interior has been masterfully restored you can tell the newer work based on its color.  Because they only had black and white photos to work off of in during the post-war restoration, many of the murals were given a sepia tone instead of guessing on the original colors.  The result is not quite the over-the-top antique grotto feel the church originally had in the 1700s, but the interior is still very beautiful.  Today grounds of Saint Anna’s former convent serve as an all-girls junior high school.

Church Hours : Doors are usually unlocked Dawn-Dusk and even if the nave is closed you can still see the interior through a large grate inside.   Cost :  Free.   Photos : ( Entrance Doors ).   Address : Damenstiftstraße #1.

6. Asamhof Passage :

About Asamhof Passage : Walking South of Saint Anna’s Church you’ll pass an amazing tree sculpture and then come to pedestrian corridor known as the Asamhof Passage.  This restaurant-lined alley is a hidden gem on Munich as it is filled with umbrella tables and tons of flowers.  Most of the restaurants stay open year round and have indoor seating in the Winter.  Our favorite place to eat in the passage is Café Bricelta ( website ).  As you walk the alley there are a number of cool statues which were added during rennovations to Asamho in the 1980s.  The most playful statue is that of a homeless man slumped over on the curb from 1982 called The Cold Night ( Die kalte Nacht ) .

7. Saint Johann Nepomuk Church ( Asamkirche ):

About Asamkirche : WOW!  At just 30 feet wide, this is truly one of the most amazing church interiors in the World.  In 1740, the famous Asam brothers moved into the house next door and started building their main showroom church. The brothers were known for over-the-top Rococo interiors and spared no lavish details with what is considered their masterpiece.  Officially named after St John of Nepomuk, the church is commonly known today as Asamkirche ( pronounced Ah-Sham Kear-Sha ).

Your experience starts with a breath-taking artistic facade complete with the figure of St. John of Nepomuk looking down from above 20-foot-tall large wooden doors.  Saint John of Nepomuk was a Christian priest who was tossed off the St Charles Bridge in Prague to die when he refused to tell the King secrets he had promised to keep private. He has since become a symbol of integrity and keeping your word and was the favorite Saint of Asam brothers.

The dark Baroque interior is ornately decorated with stucco, gilding, and paintings to the point where it almost looks like it is right off of an opera set. As you enter the church, a golden skeleton figure representing death cuts a man’s string of life reminding us all that no one escapes death.  The entire focus of the storybook interior funnels to a bright golden window meant to feel like the eye of God staring down at you.

It is amazing that the brothers fit so much detail into a church that only holds 12 pews.  Living in the neighboring house, they even made sure the high altar was visible from their bedroom rooms.  The finished work left quite on the impression on congregation representatives from around Europe who would come on private tours and place orders for the Asam brother’s to build new churches for them.

Hours :  Daily 9am-5pm, often until 6pm in the Summer. Saturday-Thursday 915am-6pm.  Cost : Free.  Photos : ( Exterior  | Interior Ceiling | Interior Wall | Asam House ).   Address : Sendlingerstraße #62.

8. “ New ” Sendlinger Gate ( Sendlinger Tor ):

About Sendlinger Tor : Munich’s first city wall expanded here in the late-1200s marked with a tall multistory central gate tower.  Although the original city gate 4 blocks to the Northeast was already called Sendlinger Tor, this new tower retained the same name because it was on the important Sendlinger Road .  This road was a main trade route in Medieval times and led from Munich to Italy.

Sendlinger Tor’s two brick towers you see today were built in 1318 and remain the oldest part of the 3 city gates still standing in Munich.  The towers were added in front of the central tower as part of a double wall surrounded by a moat complete with a large drawbridge.  The gateway was further fortified in the 1600s including the drawbridge being replaced by a hefty stone bridge.

Today the mighty brick gate is beautifully covered in vines and leads visitors into a series trendy shops.  Just outside the gate is the famous Sendlinger Tor Film Theater.   Opened in 1913, this vintage theater shows new release movies, however, the movie posters are still painted on just like the early days of film.  Photos : ( Gate in the 1600s | Gate in the 1600s close up | Back of Tower in 1805 ).

9. Munich City & Jewish Museums :

About The Museums :  Sitting inside a former 15th Century city arsenal, the Munich City Museum ( Münchner Stadtmuseum ) is one of only a few museums worth a stop in Munich.  The museum highlights all periods of Munich’s history, from its monk origins, the numerous fires, its time as the seat of Bavaria, the growth of the Nazi Party, and the effects of WW2.  One of the coolest exhibits at the City Museum is one that traces the past 200 years of Oktoberfest.  While a lot of exhibits are seasonal only, the Museum still makes for a great look into Munich’s culture, especially on a rainy day.

Sitting right next door to the City Museum is one of Munich’s hidden gems, the Jewish Museum .  The first Jewish museum in Munich opened back int 1928 and it was housed in a very cramped house.  This was around the same time that Hitler started forming his Nazi party and through the horrors of the Holocaust it is amazing that items still remain to display today.

The current Jewish Museum and was opened in 2007, 69 years after the Nazis tore down Munich’s synagogues.  It is modern looking building is filled with great exhibitions centered on Jewish history in Munich.  Instead of feeling like a Holocaust museum, the Jewish Museum is more like a cultural learning experience.  This is a great stop especially if you plan on visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial  while in Munich.

Visiting Hours : Both run Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm.  Admission Cost : They are each 4 euros, but if you go to the City Museum you get the Jewish Museum half off.  City Museum Website : ( HERE ).   Jewish Museum Website : ( HERE ).

10. Old Cattle Market Square ( Rindermarkt ):

About Rindermarkt :  Serving as City’s main cattle market in Medieval times, Rindermarket was built at the Southern entrance of Munich’s original city wall.  Dominating the square was the initial Sendlinger Tower Gate ( Sendlinger Tor ) which was built in 1175 and served as an important trading crossroads  because Sendlinger Straße was the main road out of Munich toward Italy.

By the early-1200s this section of the city wall already had to be slightly expanded and bubbled out along Rosenthal Street.  This expansion included another small gate called Rose Tower ( Rosenturm ) and a seven-story-tall brick water tower called the Lion Tower ( Löwenturm ) .  The impressive Lion Tower still survives today because in the 1500s it was incorporated into a large stately home to provide water for its garden.  It had almost been completely forgotten about until bombing in WW2 ruined the home and revealed the tower once again.

A citywide expansion of Munich’s original wall from 1285 to 1347 pushed this section outward 4 blocks and included the building of the New Sendlinger Tower Gate.  Parts of the Old City Wall were removed to make way for a larger cattle market surrounded by new homes for some of the wealthiest tradesmen in Munich, but the Interior Sendlinger Tower was left standing.

One of the wealthiest traders to live near the Cattle Market Square was the salt merchant Johann Baptista Ruffini who Interior Sendlinger Tower from the City in 1708 and built his house right night to it.  The tower later became known as Ruffini Gate ( Ruffiniturm ) in his honor until it was torn down 1808.

In the late-1800s the city bought back the property and had a design competition to rebuild Ruffini’s home.  The winning design was completed in 1906 and was comprised of 3 different styles of family homes joined together around a triangle courtyard.  The result was almost perfect and the facade of the Ruffinihaus is one of our favorite buildings in Munich.  The tombstone of Johann Baptista Ruffini can be seen on the outside walls of Saint Peter’s Church which we will visit on our next stop of this free Munich walking tour.

Make sure to check out the large cascading Cattle Market Fountain ( Rindermarkt Brunnen ) before leaving the square.  It built in 1964 in honor of the old cattle market and is completed by numerous cattle figures.  Photos : ( Ruffini Tower in the 1600s | Rose & Lion Towers in the 1600s ).

11. Saint Peter’s Church ( Alter Peterskirche ):

About Saint Peter’s Church : Saint Peter’s Church is the oldest parish in town and pre-dates the city of Munich itself.  In the 700s a group of Benedictine Monks were the first to settle here and built modest monastery and chapel on what they called Saint Peter’s Hill.  Not only did this define the Munich’s location, but the name München is literally derived from Mönch, the German word for monk, basically meaning Monk Settlement.  The city of Munich was officially founded in 1158 when the Monks are given permission by Henry the Lion to hold a market.

After the Wittelsbachs took over Bavaria in 1180, the first permanent Saint Peter’s Church was built in a Romanesque style.  This new wooden church latest until 1327 when it burned down and was replaced with a larger Gothic style church complete with 2 large bell towers.  Shortly after the Gothic reconstruction, the 1st public clock in Munich was installed on Church.

Saint Peter’s Church was greatly damaged once again in the 1400s and the twin bell towers could not be saved.  Instead of rebuilding, they added a new Renaissance steeple between the former twin towers and slanted their tops to match the roof line which you can still see today.  Even more clocks were added to this new steeple with 2 on each for a total of 8 to ensure you could see the time no matter where you were.  The steeple bell tower even got a balcony in the 1600s which allowed it to become an important fire lookout until 1936.

Today you can climb up to get an amazing view of Munich from the fire balcony if you are willing to hike up 306 steps .  You will even be able to see far away sights to the North such as Olympic Stadium on a clear day.  The view will also help you get a lay of the land for the sights on this free Munich walking tour map.

Make sure to explore the richly decorated interior of St Peter’s Church, its gold-laced giant Alter, and even a skeleton?  That’s right, not only is there a Reliquary with a ton of assorted bones/skulls, but also the almost comical, gem-covered skeleton of Saint Munditia . Housed in the 2nd enclave on the left side of the church, Mundita’s wide-eyed stare and rotten tooth smile will be something you will surely remember from your trip.  Murdered in 310AD, she was decorated in 1675 before finally being put on display here.  It’s only fitting to see this odd collection as Munich is said to have more relics than any other city outside of Rome.

These relics make it easy to miss the elements of St Peter, whom the church is named for, above the altar and on the ceiling.  The painting on the ceiling represents Saint Peter being crucified upside-down on Vatican Hill in Rome which served as a springboard for the growth of Catholicism.  Most of the paintings were damaged in WW2 and it took until the year 2000 to repair them all.

Hours : Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-630pm.  Cost : Free, spire climb is 1.50 Euros.  Photos : ( Interior | Alter | St Mundita’s Remains | Reliquary | View from Bell Tower 1 | View From Bell Tower 2 ).

12. Victuals Market ( Viktualienmarkt ):

About Viktualienmarkt : Victuals is a Latin word for food, which is fitting for this daily market often called  The Stomach of the City .  The Viktualienmarkt (pronounced:  vick-tool-lee-an market ) started as a simple farmers market in the 1700s known as Green Market ( Grünermarkt ), but quickly grew to overtake Marienplatz as Munich’s main market.  Most of the markets from Munich’s main square were ordered to move here in 1807 and in just 16 years it was packed to the brim with stalls.  When the neighboring Holy Ghost Hospital was demolished in 1885 it gave the proper room for the Viktualienmarkt to expand with proper space.

The sprawling market now has over 100 produce stands organized into 6 sections and even has a welcoming shaded beer garden  which opened in 1970.   Sitting at a table with a tablecloth means you will have a server come to you and no tablecloth means it is a self-service area where you buy from the stands or bring your own food with you.  Every 6 weeks the market features a different one of Munich main breweries on tap making it the most diverse of the City’s 180 beer gardens.  This is also out favorite place to relax and people watch on this free Munich walking tour.

If you are hungry, make sure to stop by the legendary Münchner Suppenküche soup kitchen to eat like a local.  The most popular items are goulash soup, Krustis sandwiches, and sausage with sauerkraut.   There is even a wonderful umbrella lined terrace we love called  Rischart Cafe ( website ) which sits above a row of former late-Medieval butcher shops.

The blue and white, candy-striped Maypole overlooking Viktualienmarkt is an extremely iconic imagine in Munich and definitely worth a photo or two.  This one, decorated in an Oktoberfest theme, is one of 30 Maypoles scattered around town.  Maypoles date back to per-Christian times and are symbols of fertility and luck.  Each year on May Day ( May 1st ) spring celebrations are held around the Maypoles including the tapping of the new year’s batch of beer.  In Medieval times during May Day, the top of the Maypole would have market items hanging from the halo wreath on the top.  If you could climb up to the top barefoot you got to keep the prizes waiting there for you.  During the holiday season Viktualienmarkt also hosts a Christmas Market which features the Maypole covered in lights.

If it is bad weather consider stopping at the nearby Schrannenhalle  ( website )   covered shopping hall.  The hall was originally built by King Maximilian I to store grain modeled after French storehouses.  It burned down in 1932 but was rebuilt in 2005 to hold an indoor market, shops, and restaurants.  On the North side of the hall is the Der Pschorr Beer Hall   ( website ) which has very tasty beer.  Like most produce stands in Munich, it is normal for the workers to grab the fruits and vegetables you like for you instead of pulling them from the shelves yourselves.  We were a little confused by this on our first visit, but even if you don’t speak German it is easy to just point to what you want.

Market Hours : Monday-Saturday Early morning until dusk; Schrannenhalle is open the same days 10am-10pm.  Photos : ( Overview From Air ).   360 Degree Panorama : Click Here .  Market Website : ( HERE ).

13. Old Town Hall ( Altes Rathaus ):

About Old Town Hall : The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus , pronounced Alt-as Rat-house ) adds some much welcomed Medieval flair into the center of old town and is a favorite spot for photographers.  The spired watchtower, which is called the Valley Fort Tower ( Talburgtor ) , was built in 1175 as one of the five original city gates on the very 1st protective wall surrounding Old Town Munich.  Outside of the gate, the wall was protected by the Baker’s Stream ( Pfisterbach ) which served as a flowing moat.  From the late-1100s this was the Munich’s main Eastern gate until the city walls were expanded out toward Isar Gate ( built in 1337 ).

The original city council offices were inside the Small Town Hall ( Kleines Rathaus ) built onto the South side of the watchtower in 1310.  The grand hall you see today on the Northside of the watchtower is called the Dance House ( Tanzhaus ) .  It was built before 1395, housed the prison in the basement, a bakery and meeting rooms on the main floor, and had a large dancehall ballroom on the upper floor.  Notice the small square fountain in front of the Old Town Hall?  This was the central fountain the small Herb Market ( Kräutlmarkt ) which in Medieval times sold eggs, herbs, and grain as visitors entered the city.

The Old Town Hall watchtower, offices, and Dance House were given a mutual castle-like makeover after a fire in 1460 to show Munich’s power as a major trading hub.  While the buildings were almost completely leveled by WW2 bombings , they have been faithfully restored.  The only real changes were the Small Town Hall was eliminated to make room for the road and the first floor of the Dance House was turned into open arcades for pedestrian passage.

Two original Medieval statues were preserved on the watchtower including Henry the Lion who officially founded Munich in 1158 before the Wittelsbachs took over in 1180.  On the Westside of the tower is a statue of Ludwig IV , called the Bavarian, who ruled during the early 1300s in the height of the salt trade.  Ludwig ( Louis the 4th ) became the Holy Roman Emperor and declared Munich’s main square to officially be public for the people.

Since 1983, the tower has served as a 4-story Toy Museum filled with dolls, doll houses, trains, teddy bears, and vintage Barbies.  While the museum is more for toy lovers it offers great views of the square below.  Near the base of the tower is the popular bare-chested Juliet Statue given to Munich by its sister city of Verona, Italy in 1974.  The right breast of the bronze statue from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet has been polished to a golden shine by visitors rubbing it for good luck.

Tower Toy Museum Hours : Daily 10am-5:30pm.  Museum Cost : Adults 4€, Kids 1€.

14. Fish Fountain ( Fischbrunnen ):

About Fischbrunnen :  While we will visit the rest of Munich’s main square ( Marienplatz ) and the gigantic New Town Hall next on this free walking tour, it’s important to see the town’s medieval roots at the Fish Fountain ( Fischbrunnen ).   There was at one point three separate fountains and well in the vast square, but this was the most important one.

Initially called the Market Fountain and Citizen Fountain, there has been a fountain on this spot continuously since 1318 when the square was declared the property of the people by Lugwig IV.   Through the Middle Ages, the Market Fountain was used for drinking water, as a meeting point, and also by local fishmongers to store live fish to keep them fresh.  The first version of the Fish Fountain had a simple column which was later topped with a citizen/tradesmen statue.

Since the 1400s,  Purse Washing has been a significant tradition at the Fish Fountain.  Every Ash Wednesday locals would wash out their money bags in the fountain in hopes they will be filled again in the coming year.  To this day, the Mayor of Munich still washes out the City’s coffers in the fountain’s turquoise water with the town treasurer.

In the 1860s the Fish Fountain got a substantial 3-level makeover with bronze statues of four butcher apprentices tossing out buckets of water, under a row of four musical children, and capped with a tradesman ( journeymen butcher ) raising a cup.  This new design paid homage to the  Metzgersprung ( Butcher’s Leap ) which was held here every year on Rose Monday ( two days before Ash Wednesday ).  The event was considered a rite of initiation as young butchers were issued journeyman letters for the official conclusion of their apprenticeship training.  The butcher apprentices would then jump into the Fish Fountain as a baptism to wash themselves of youthful sins wearing costumes draped in sheep’s eyes hung with calf’s tails.  The newly anointed journeymen then toss coins, apples, and nuts onto the square for the children and toss buckets of water at them as they attempted to grab the prizes.

At the start of the tradition, the joyous Butcher’s Leap also helped people to get back out on the streets and stop being afraid of the water following the Plague of 1634-35 .  It took place every year from the mid-1600s until the controversial Elector Karl Theodor ended it in 1793, but was revived in 1849 by Maximilian II.  After a post-war hiatus from 1954 until 1995, the Butcher’s Leap was brought back again and moved to early September where it now happens every 3 years.

Bombings in WW2 leveled the Fish Fountain, but luckily some of the original statues from the 1860s were recovered.  Three of the musician boys were moved to the New House Gate in Karlsplatz ( which we saw earlier in this free Munich walking tour ), and three of the butcher boys were reused for today’s Fish Fountain built in 1954.  The boys still pour their buckets into the fountain’s base, one holds a fish in the air, and the whole thing is  topped with a chubby fish  to pay homage to the fishy roots.

Photos : ( Fountain In 1760 | Butcher’s Leap In 1863 | Fountain in 1890 )

15. Mary’s Square ( Marienplatz ):

About Marienplatz :  Mary’s Square ( Marienplatz ) has always been the center of Munich back to when the area was first settled by Benedictine Monks in the 700s.  When the Monks got a royal charter from Henry the Lion to start an official marketplace here in 1158 , it formerly founded the city of Munich and started the general layout of today’s Old Town.  Just two years earlier, Henry built a new toll bridge nearby over the Isar River to reroute the Salt Road from the mines in Bad Reichenhall and Hallein ( near Salzburg ) through Munich on its way to Augsburg which helped the marketplace surge.

While called both Market Square ( Marktplatz ) and Stall Square ( Schrannenplatz ) over the centuries, the lively space has been home a wide range of markets.  Since Medieval times they’ve had every type of market  from salt ( boomed in the 1300s ), to produce, fish, meat, and a Christmas market ( which is still active) .  In addition to the markets, at one point there were three separate fountains, a well, the gallows, and the stocks all in the Market Square.

While in Mary’s Square ( Marienplatz ), it is hard to miss the backdrop of the huge New Town Hall ( Neues Rathaus ) which we will visit next on this free Munich walking tour.  Before moving on, make sure to investigate the Virgin Mary Column ( Mariensäule ) in front of New Town Hall which tells an interesting story of Munich’s history.

The column was added by Maximilian the 1st in 1638 declaring Mary the new patron of the city for protecting Munich during times of trouble. Just 6 years earlier ( 1632 ) Munich had survived a 3-week  Swedish occupation  as part of The 30 Years War which was followed by an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague of 1634-35 that wiped out 1/3 of the population.  While Mary was given the credit for protecting the city in both cases, it also helped that the Swedes were paid off with 600,000 barrels of beer to spare the Munich.

The beautiful column is capped with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary which was originally crafted in 1590  for the nearby Church of Our Lady ( Frauenkirche ) which we will visit later on this free Munich walking tour.  Below the beautiful golden icon, four playful child-like warrior statues surround the sturdy base of the column on each of its corners.  These four child statues are all depicted fighting different creatures to symbolize adversities that Munich has overcome: war represented by the lion, pestilence by the rooster-headed creature, famine by the dragon, and heresy by the serpent.

This Virgin May Column is considered the 1st Marian Column built North of the Alps which inspired a wave of them around Europe after traumatic events like war and plagues.  While the fountain survived WW2, the Mary statue was knocked off the top and needed significant repair.  Seeing how pretty the dramatic column is, it is no wonder that Market Square was re-named Mary’s Square ( Marienplatz ) in 1858 as the last of the markets moved to other squares.

16. New Town Hall & Glockenspiel :

About New Town Hall :  From 1801 to 1861 the population of Munich boomed from 40,000 to 120,000 and the City’s needs quickly outgrew the Old Town Hall.  Built over 40 years starting in 1867, the sure size of Gothic-style New Town Hall ( Neues Rathaus, pronounced Noy-as Rat-house ) is stunning.  It sits over a football field long, has 6 courtyards, and  over 400 rooms .  The first phase of the New Town Hall complex was the right side built over the old Landstände Mansion ( 1740 ) which represented outside rule by the former Holy Roman Empire ( dissolved in 1806 ).  The second phase was the left side of the New Town Hall (1898-1905) complete with the iconic Glockenspiel Tower.  While the 600-year-old Gevierten neighborhood behind New Town Hall ( now Marienhof Park ) was leveled in WW2, luckily the complex was largely spared of damage.  Most of the roof burnt off, but only some decorative details and five statues on the facade were ruined.

Dominating New Town Hall’s Gothic facade is the 280-foot-tall central clock tower which is capped by the symbol of Munich, a statue of the Child Monk ( Münchner Kindl ) .  The main attraction of the clock tower is the 2-story, 28-foot-tall  Glockenspiel ( Carillon ) , complete with 43 bells, which is the largest in Germany.  Everyday mechanical figures in the Glockenspiel perform a 15 minute long miniature Medieval tournament , re-enacting numerous events in Munich’s history.  These full performances take place at 11am and Noon with an extra 5pm show in the Summer.

The Glockenspiel shows are manually operated and while the figures look small from the ground, they are actually almost life-sized .  You can get a closer look at the Glockenspiel figures and some commanding city views by taking either the stairs or elevator to the top of the tower.  For the best vantage point of the show itself, head to the third floor of the Hugendubel Bookstore (open 10am-8pm ) across the square from New Town Hall.

The upper level of the Glockenspiel show depicts the Crown Jousting Tournament ( Kröndlstechen ) held on Marienplatz in February 1568 as part of a festival for the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine.  A carnival-like parade of royal court members lead the jousters to battle and on the second rotation, the red rider ( French ) is flung from his horse by a strike from the triumphant blue rider ( Bavarian ).  The powerhouse wedding between cousins made Bavaria’s Wittelsbach rulers related to the Kings of France, Denmark, Scotland, and Spain.  The wedding was attended by royal delegations from all across Europe and was a celebration on a scale not often seen in the Middle Ags.   The day of the wedding at Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), the bride was led to Munich from nearby Dachau by a procession of over 3,500 horses and during the two-week-long party over 600 oxen were roasted.  Duke Wilhelm V went on to become well-known for his religious witch hunts, but is most famous for founding the Royal Beer House ( Hofbrauhaus ) in 1589 which we will visit later on this free Munich walking tour.

The lower level of the Glockenspiel shows the Dance of the Coopers , called Schäfflertanz in German.  The Coopers are dancing to celebrate the end of the Plague of 1517 which folklore says was spread to the people of Munich by the Wurmeck Dragon .  With the people in chaos, a city guardsman hit the dragon with a direct cannon shot, killing it, and ending the plague.  On the Southwestern corner of the New Town Hall, this same story of the Wurmeck Dragon is shown in dramatic sculpture.

Every night 9pm a mini-show called Bedtime for the Münchner Kindl is performed on the sides of the Glockenspiel.  During the show the Münchner Kindl ( Child Monk ), who is the symbol of the city who is led to bed by the Friedensengel ( Angel of Peace ) as the Night Watchman sounds out the City’s Medieval curfew on his horn.

The New Town Hall’s interior is also really cool.  As you enter City Hall’s large central courtyard, which serves as an open-air restaurant, stay to your left to see some great vertical sculptures .  We’re always fascinated by these Gothic sculptures and how they show different stages of men turning into various creatures as you follow up each tier.  Some of the men are turning into horses, another a large bird, and a couple of them even have quite creepy middle stages.

If you are looking for a taste of Medieval drinking, work your way down to the basement tavern called Ratskeller Restaurant  ( website ) which is Munich’s oldest wine cellar.  Prior to the New Town Hall being built, the Ratskeller had been housed in the neighboring mansion called the Landscape House ( now Ludwig Beck ) since Medieval Times and was limited to the upper-class and City Council.  Even if you don’t go down into the Ratskeller ( Council Resturant ) take a minute to look at the decorated details on the entrances, especially the drinking monks on the entrance from the courtyard and the masquerade dancer door knobs on the Eastern doors outside New Town Hall.

Tower Elevator Hours : May-October Daily 10am-7pm; November-April Monday-Friday only 10am-5pm.  Elevator Cost : 2 Euros.  Glockenspiel Show Times : Full 15-minute show at 11am and Noon, plus 5pm in Summer ( March-October ); 5-minute long night show daily at 9pm.  Photos : ( Exterior | At Night | View From St Peter’s | Glockenspiel | Pope at Mary’s Column | Mary’s Column Warrior ).  360 Degree Panoramas : ( Day Time | At Night ).  Video : ( Glockenspiel In Action ).

17. Pedestrian Only Shopping :

About The Shopping :  Munich’s main shopping lane called New House Street ( Neuhauser Strasse ) was turned into a pedestrian-only zone leading up to the 1972 Olympics and is a highlight of any visit.  Since Munich was established as a market town in 1158 the lane was important as the Salt Road trade route passed right through the city from Salzburg in the East to Germany in the West.  The original shopping lane went from the Lower Gate ( Talburgtor ) near Old Town Hall, through Market Square and to the Upper Gate ( Hohentor ) which stood on the West side of Old Town.

As the city wall was expanded in the 1300-1400s, the merchant family Kaufinger moved into the Upper Gate ( Hohentor ) which then became known as Kaufinger Tower ( Kaufingertor ).  Rebuilt in a Gothic style, the tower was later demolished in 1810, but the family’s name lives on along Munich’s shopping lane.  Known as  Kaufingertor Passage ( website ), one of the more modern elements is the covered alleyway that branches off of New house Street.   In 1994 a glass roof was added to the shopping gallery with an illuminated design which is pretty cool.  The lighting in the Kaufingertor Passage even copies the feel of a natural sunset as the colors change every evening gradually over a 90 minute period.  Our favorite element of the Passage is the statue of a man balancing on a beam high above the entrance.  The statue, called Man With Outspread Arms , was created by the artist Stephan Balkenhol and is meant to be inviting everyone into the world of shopping at Kaufingetor.

One block further up the main pedestrian lane from the Passage is the famous Hirmer Department Store ( website ) which is one of the most beautiful buildings in Munich.  The mega-sized clothing store carries a huge collection of high-end Men’s clothing that is almost as impressive as the building itself.  Even if you don’t go inside, your camera will love the flower-laden exterior, especially after dark when it is lit up .  Right in the middle of the intersection in front of the large Hirmer Haus was once the location Munich’s original Western city wall gate called Kaufingertor mentioned above.  A large dark square in the pavement marks the watch tower’s original location and a sculpture relief of what it looked like is on the corner of the Hirmer Haus.

Just past Hirmer is a wonderful collection of great souvenir shops housed in the former Augustiner Monastery from the 1200s.  The building was rebuilt in the 1600s and the best shop is the Max Krug Gift Shop ( website ) which is famous for its beer steins, cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers and Christmas ornaments.  If you are looking for a little more high-end shopping, check out the Funf Hofe Shopping Center which we will pass by shortly on this free Munich walking tour map.

18. Cathedral of Our Lady ( Frauenkirche ):

About Frauenkirche : You will be able to see the massive 325-foot tall twin towers of the Cathedral of Our Lady ( Frauenkirche ) hovering above Old Town Munich from almost anywhere in town.  It is by far the tallest church in Munich. This mega-sized cathedral has become a symbol of Munich not only because its dominance in the skyline, but also because the brick towers survived heavy WW2 bombings even when the most of the church was leveled.  The ambitious construction of Frauenkirche started in 1468 to replace the much older Mary’s Church that already stood here.

With most of Germany being Protestant and Bavaria being Catholic, Munich wanted to make a statement with the size of their new Gothic-style City Parish.  The new church was so big that it even covered the graveyard of the previous church and today you can headstones that were incorporated right into the outside walls of Frauenkirche.  Although the builders switched from stone to brick to save money, the new Church quickly ran out of money before the Pope stepped in and saved the project.  With a Papal decree that official Catholic Church indulgences could be bought in Munich, over 120,000 pilgrims showed up over a 3 year period which provided enough money to complete the Frauenkirche.

When the church was completed in 1488, its facade was quite bare and the structure of the towers was exposed. One famous illustration from the Nuremberg Chronicle from 1493 shows the bare towers over the city from an Eastern vantage point, Click For Photo .  The towers were meant to be finished with elaborate Gothic spires to look like the style seen at Saint Stephens Church in Vienna, Cologne Cathedral, and Saint Vitus in Prague, but it never happened because of money.  In 1525, the twin towers were faced off with brick and the tops were covered in a large copper plated onion domes .  An Old Town building height restriction ensured the towers would be seen which was extended throughout the entire city in 2004 as skyscrapers started to pop up.

The interior of Frauenkirche is also gigantic.  The size seems even crazier when you learn that Munich, which was decent sized for Medieval times, only had 13,000 residents when the 20,000-person Cathedral opened.  As you enter all of your attention is funneled to the high altar as tall columns make Frauenkirche appear almost windowless from the entrance.  This is quite a feat as the detailed stained glass windows are actually huge and open up to you the further you walk into the church.

Legend has it that the architect made a deal with the Devil when the project ran out of money that he would help fund the project as long as it had no windows.  After the Church was finished and paid for the Devil realized he was tricked and stomped his foot hard in the entrance making an imprint on the marble floor.  The Devil’s footprint can still be seen today and is one of the biggest attractions at Frauenkirche.  Other highlights include the royals buried here like the huge bronze tomb of Ludwig IV , who ruled during the early 1300s during the height of the salt trade, and was elected Holy Roman Emperor.  During the Summer you can even ascent the massive 325-foot tall towers with a climb of about 90 steps plus an easy elevator ride to get some great views of the city.

Sitting in the courtyard in front of Frauenkirche is a peaceful square calls Frauenplatz.  Every time we visit the church we end up spending a couple minutes sitting by the outdoor art pieces and small pond to relax.  The pond is still feed from what was Munich’s original city moat from 1175 which flowed right around the church grounds.

Cathedral Hours : Daily 7am-7pm; Friday closes at 6pm.  Bell Tower Hours : April-October Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Closed November-March.   Cost : Church Free, Towers 3 euros.  Guided Tours : May-September on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursday at 2pm. Meeting place under the organ loft.  360 Degree Panoramas : ( As Seen From St Peter’s Tower ).  Church Website : ( HERE ).

19. Field Marshall’s Hall ( Feldherrnhalle ):

About Field Marshall’s Hall :  Built by Ludwig I in 1841, the large 4 column, open-air gallery capping the square is called the Field Marshall’s Hall ( Feldherrnhalle ).  Modeled after the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence , this Italian gallery was meant to honor the commanders of the Bavarian Army.

While the gallery was supposed to get many more statues over time, it only has three main works.  The two statues flanking both ends  were in honor of revered Bavarian military heroes, Johann Tilly and Karl Von Wrede.  The largest statue in the middle was added in 1870 in honor of the soldiers who died in the Franco Prussian War in 1870.  The two large lions guarding the steps were not added until 1900.  Notice how the lion facing the Palace is growling but the one facing the church is calm with a closed mouth.

On August 1st, 1914 the German declaration of war was announced from the Field Marshall’s Hall in front of a large crowd.  Among the audience was a young Adolf Hitler who joined the military two days later where he was awarded the Iron Cross both First and Second Class.  Hitler returned to the hall in 1923 when his failed revolution called the Beer Hall Putsch was foiled here .

The Beer Hall Putsch began when Hitler and troop of Brown Shirts stormed the Bürgerbräukeller Beer Hall at 8:30pmon November 8th, 1923.  Hitler himself fired shots into the ceiling, took hostages and declared that a revolution was at hand to overthrow the government.  His revolution stalled and by the next morning, he decided to march with 3,000 of his men in the direction of Berlin.  As the march approached the Field Marshall’s Hall, they were met by the Bavarian Police and Army a clash broke out with an exchange of fire.  During the exchange, 16 Nazis and 4 police were killed, and even Hitler wounded his shoulder before being arrested two days later and jailed for 9 months.

During the first year of Nazi rule in 1933, Hitler made the gallery a guarded memorial for the Nazis that died that day.  All citizen who passed the memorial were forced to give the Nazi salute.  Every year on the November 9th anniversary of the Putsch they would have a parade following the original route of the failed march through town.  Everything Nazi-related was quickly removed from the Hall after WW2 and a plaque honoring the 4 policemen that died during the Beer Hall Putsch was added in 1994.  Today the Hall and square in front of it often hold concerts and art installations.

20. Theatine Church ( Theatinerkirche ):

About Theatinerkirche : In 1650 Elector Ferdinand married an Italian princess in a powerhouse arranged marriage.  Ferdinand didn’t even get to meet his bride until a year after they wed as a representative of the Royal Court was sent in his place for the wedding which took place in Italy.  A decade later the couple still hadn’t produced an heir, putting the dynasty in danger.  Things looked bleak as Ferdinand’s wife was sick on her deathbed multiple times.  As a call for help, the couple prayed for a child and made a deal that when it finally happened they built a church in honor of Saint Cajetan of Theatine .  In 1662, the couple finally got their long-awaited heir, Prince Max Emanuel, and work on the Church started the next year.

Only the shell of the Theatinerkirche and adjoining monastery were finished when it opened in 1674.  It took another 16 years to complete the stunning Baroque interior and the current exterior wasn’t done until 1765.  There wasn’t much of a rush on the exterior design as the huge Schwabinger City Gate from the 1300s dominated the Odenplatz Square and many of the outside vantage points at the time the Church was built.  After the gate was torn down in 1817 it opened up the square and views of the golden-yellow Theatinerkirche.  Our favorite elements of the exterior are the Rococo tops on the bell towers and the 2 statues to sides of the main window.  The statue on the left is the church’s patron Saint Cajetan of Thiene ( 1480-1547 ) and on the right is royal heir Prince Max Emanuel who’s birth sparked the project.

The spacious, white-washed interior is one of our favorites in Europe and quite unique.  Elaborate vine and shell decorations fill every inch of the Theatinerkirche along with 100s of child-like winged angle figures.  Details on the columns and inside the 230-foot tall dome are especially beautiful.  The Theatinerkirche feels light, airy, heavenly, and has exceptional beams of light pouring in throughout the day.  As the 1st Italian inspired Baroque churches in Bavaria, you can easily see how this beautiful style became popular throughout Europe.  After the Asam Brother’s Church, we saw earlier on this free Munich walking tour, the Theatine Church is our second favorite in all of Old Town.   Photos : ( Schwabinger Gate in 1600s | Schwabinger Gate in 1765 | Inner side of Gate in 1805 ).  360 Degree Panoramas : ( From The Square | Interior Close Up ).  Church Website : ( HERE ).

21. Royal Court Garden ( Hofgarten ):

About Hofgarten :  Originally laid out between 1613-17 on the North side of the Residenz Palace, the Hofgarten was a private garden  for members of the Wittelsbach Royal Court.  At the time the Royal Court Garden was outside of Munich’s moat and the outer wall, but was quickly protected by a double wall and moat built in 1618 to protect the city during the 30 Years War.  It is said that the new fortifications around the city took a workforce of over 40,000 people 13 years to complete.

To get an idea of what we are talking about, these new fortifications with starred ramparts can be seen around the Hofgarten HERE in a drawing from 1740.  The Hofgarten was opened to the general public in 1780 as the 1st public park in Munich.   With Hofgarten open to the public, the Royal Family then used a private park on East side of the Residenz Palace near their horse stables called Lustgarten which had been laid out in 1550, but later ruined in WW2.

While the open spaces and beer garden are nice, the main draw of the flower-lined Hofgarten park is the  8 portal pavilion in the center.  Built in 1615 to honor Diana, the Greek Goddess of Hunting , the green-domed pavilion is a little plain, but a great place to people watch.  The large building on the East side of the Hofgarten that looks like a greenhouse is actually Bayerische Staatskanzlei  which is home to the office of Bavaria’s Governor and is still the state’s government seat.  Also located adjacent to the Hofgarten is the Munich War Memorial . The most striking inscription is the one covering the 22000 dead, 11000 missing Munich soldiers and 6600 citizens from WWII.

The Hofgarten has turned into an ideal place to get a quick break from the bustling city.  This is also a perfect time to fit in our  English Garden Walking Tour if you are looking to visit the best park in Munich.  The huge English Garden has river surfing, sunbathing, the amazing outdoor Chinese Tower Beer Garden, and lots of open space.  It was laid out of the Schönfeld Meadow and Royal deer hunting grounds shortly after the Hofgarten was made public.   360 Degree Panorama : Click Here .   Photos : ( Garden in 1740 ).

22. Dodgers’ Alley ( Drueckebergergasse ):

About Dodger’s Alley : Viscard Alley in Munich is known locally as Dodgers’ Alley ( Drueckebergergasse ) because of its role during Nazi occupation.  Hitler had established a Nazi memorial on the East side of the Field Marshall’s Hall in honor of his 16 comrades who died here in the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923.  The memorial was guarded 24 hours a day and anyone who passed was required to give the Nazi salute.  Citizens who didn’t agree with the Nazi movement would dodge the guards as they walked North from Max Joseph Square by taking a quick left at Viscard Alley passing the Field Marshall’s Hall on the West.  Today a path of bronze bricks  in the pavement has been bronzed to mark the route the dodgers would take to avoid the Nazi memorial.

At the mouth of the alley are two large lion statues marking the Western entrance into the Royal Residence.  The lions, who were the symbol of the ruling Wittlesbach family stand guard while holding shield like coat of arms.  Notice how the muzzle of the face on the shields are brightly polished?  It is said that if you touch the face while you walk by it will bring you good luck.  While the ticket office for the Residenz is on the Southeast corner of the complex, remember the corridor by the lions as it leads to the Palace’s Cuvilliés Theater.

23. Munich Royal Residence ( Residenz ):

About The Munich Residenz : After a failed citizens uprising against the Wittelsbachs, the royal family started to build a small protected retreat along the city wall in 1385 called Neuveste .  This was the perfect location for a retreat as it provided access to the countryside without going through town and was right next to the very strong Silver Tower ( Silberturm ) .  A defensive moat and separate wall were built around the small 4 winged castle which supplied ample defense.  Starting in 1474 the royal family began to split time between Alterhof Palace and Neueste Castle.  The full-time move to the castle became official when William IV set up the first Royal Court at Neuveste in 1508 following the reunification of Upper & Lower Bavaria and the castle remained the main home of the Wittelsbachs until the end of their reign in 1918.

The oddest set of rooms in the Rezidenz are the lavish Stone Rooms which were built in 1612 and filled with tapestries solely to house the Holy Roman Emperor when he would visit.  These unbelievable marble rooms were almost never used which is strange for how cool they are.  They didn’t even put furniture or tapestries in the rooms unless the Emperor was there.  At about the same time the rooms were built, parts of Neueveste Castle and Silver Tower started to be torn down to make way for the expanding Palace, which by 1701 surrounded 4 courtyards.

Like many of the rulers before him, Albrecht VII also had big ambitions for putting his own stamp on the Residenz in 1726.  The first project was the building of new Ornate Rooms to keep up with the other Palaces in Europe.  This new wing was filled with apartments stocked with over the top in rich furniture, artwork and designer wallpaper.  It seems like almost every inch of these rooms is filled with paintings.  Over the years a number the Ornate Rooms have housed many important guests such as Elizabeth II.  Albrecht VII also got working on the Ancestral Gallery with portraits tracing back his famous bloodlines.  Historians widely view the gallery as propaganda, but it worked as Albrecht VII persuaded the people he was related to Charlemagne and was elected Holy Roman Emperor.  Hidden in many of the paintings today are huge square slash marks from where they were quickly cut from their frames to preserve them right before World War 2 bombings.

The most beautiful space in the entire Palace maybe the Residence Theater ( Cuvilliés-Theater ) , constructed by Elector Maximilian Joseph III (1745-77) in 1753.  Originally this theater was located between the Residenz and the State Opera House, but it was leveled in World War 2.  Luckily just before the bombings most of the Theater’s impressive interior was removed and stored for safekeeping until after the war.  When the dust had settled from the war the Theater was rebuilt with the original woodwork where a ballroom from the 1500s once stood.  Below the Theater are a series of Gothic cellars from the ballroom that once connected to Nueveste Castle until the last parts of the Castle burned down in 1750.  While these cellars are all that remain from the castle, an outline of its original footprint shape has been created on the pavement in the Northern courtyard.

The last rounds of expansion happened in the after Bavaria officially became a Kingdom in 1806 under the rule of King Maximilian I Joseph.  His son King Ludwig I ( 1825-1848 ) added a large Festival Hall Wing, the Kings Wing, and the unreal Court Church of All Saints .  The Church was modeled after the Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicily in a Byzantine-style and was filled with detailed golden mosaics.  Unfortunately, the Church was heavily damaged in WW2 and none of the mosaics survived by the time it reopened as a concert venue in 2003.  When King Ludwig II took over in 1864 he showed his flair for the dramatic by adding a huge greenhouse Winter Garden on the roof of the Northside of the Residenz.  The Garden was meant to feel like a fairytale and had lighting for rainbow and moonlight effects.  While it didn’t survive WW2, Ludwig’s masterpiece Neuschwanstein Castle two hours South of Munich is the most visited fairytale castle in Europe.  After the revolution of 1918, the Wittlesbachs ended their 738-year rule and the Residenz immediately became a public museum.

Residence Hours : April-October 15th Daily 9am-6pm; October 16th-March Daily 10am-5pm ( the Theater opens late Monday-Saturday at 2pm ). Last entrance 1 hour before close.  Entrance Cost : 7€ each for the Museum & Treasury or 11€ for both together, Theater is 3.5€, All 3 for 13€. All are covered by the Castle Pass.  Orchestra Concerts : Every Thursday at 7pm and Saturday at both 6 and 7:30pm the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra has concerts in the same small wedding chapel Mozart played in for 21€.  Hot Tips : If you plan on seeing other palaces and castles during your trip to Bavaria, we suggest getting the Bavarian Castles Pass which gets you into almost all Castles and Palaces for 14 days from your first use.  This pass is 24€ for one person or 40€ for 2 adults plus your kids under 18 years old.  Photos : ( Residenz Layout Map | Antiquarium After WW2 | Neuveste in 1540 | Neuveste Cellars Today ).  360 Degree Photos : ( Antiquarium | Lion Statues | Portrait Gallery | Stone Rooms ).  Palace & Museum Website : ( HERE ).

24. Max Joseph Square :

About Max Joseph Platz : Even if you don’t have time for a show, the exterior of the Opera House looking down at the statue of ruler Max Joseph is still very impressive.  Also consider grabbing a drink on the West side of the square at the outdoor tables to the Spatenhaus Beer Hall which has our favorite beer in Munich, Spaten.

Opera and the theater performances have both been big in Munich for 100s of years with opera companies operating here since the early 1600s.  Maximilian I built the current Greek columned Opera House during his last year as King in 1825 after the original opera house burned down.  The project was inspired by Pantheon in Rome and it covered with two impressive reliefs.  The lower gable has a carved relief of Greeks gods flanking Apollo in the center.  The upper gable is a beautiful golden mosaic with goddesses surrounding a bucking Pegasus.  By the time it opened, the 2100 guest State Opera House was the largest in Europe.  When Mad King Ludwig II took over in the 1860s he greatly expanded the Opera House’s offerings as he was obsessed with the work of Richard Wagner.

The Opera House was unfortunately turned to rubble during WW2 bombings, but it has since fully restored and today the building is grand as it ever was.  Make sure to check out their website if you want to catch an opera or ballet.  Opera House Guided Tours : 1 hour guided tours almost every day of the week at 2pm for 7€.  The meeting point is on the Northern entrance toward Marstallplatz, and not Max Joseph Platz.  Opera Website : ( HERE ).

25. Old Court Palace ( Alter Hof ):

About Alter Hof :  The Old Royal Court ( Alter Hof ), was first built in the 1180s as a small royal estate for the Wittelsbach family who had just taken over the rule of Bavaria from Henry the Lion after he refused to fight for the Holy Roman Emperor.  The family’s royal dynasty ( 1180-1918 ) over Bavaria would go on to last more than 700 years.

Between 1253-55, as Bavaria split into Upper & Lower states, Duke Ludwig II re-built and expanded Alter Hof turning it into the family’s formal Royal Court .  This is also considered the point when the capital of Bavaria officially moved from Regensburg, Germany to Munich.  In 1328 Ludwig IV, who was the 1st prince born in the new Alter Hof, became the King of Germany, the Romans, Italy and the  Holy Roman Emperor .  Ludwig IV’s rise power was also at the height of the regional salt trade and cemented the Wittelsbach’s as a major player in Europe.

As the Alter Hof grew, it was laid out with 5 wings around a central courtyard which housed farm-like gardens and Royal craftsmen.  The palace grounds were home to many animals including pigs, chickens, horses, lions, and monkeys.  One of the exhibits on display today has an interesting story about when a young prince Ludwig IV ( mentioned above ) was taken out of his crib as a baby and dangled high above a window by a pet monkey who eventually put him back unharmed.  Today you will see monkeys painted on the outside of the turret windows inside Alter Hof’s central square called the Monkey Tower.

After a failed citizen’s uprising , the royal family built a small moated retreat called Neuveste Castle ( now the Munich Residenz ) for protection just North of Alter Hof in 1385.  By 1474, the Wittelsbachs started to formerly split time between the two residences before official moving the Royal Court to Neuveste Castle in 1506 following the reunification of Upper & Lower Bavaria .  After the move, Alter Hof was used to house government departments, a horse stable, and the royal mint while Neuveste was slowly expanded into today’s Munich Residenz Palace.  You may remember the Munich Residenz from earlier in this free Munich walking tour.

While Alter Hof was heavily damaged in WW2, parts have been reconstructed to house exhibits where you can learn about its history and how day-to-day life was in a Medieval royal court.  We find the Gothic Hall to be the most interesting of the exhibits today.   Exhibit Cost : Free.  Exhibit Hours : Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.  Museum Website : ( HERE ).

26. Baker’s Mill Restaurant ( Pfistermühle ):

About Pfistermühle : What an amazing vine-covered building with an interesting history!  Before becoming a restaurant in 1988, the Pfistermühle was part of the Royal baker’s mill ( Hofpfisterei ) for the Bavarian dukes going back to the Middle Ages .  There was once a stream powering the mill running right down the middle Sparkassenstraße Street ( covered since the early 1990s ) which also served as the original moat for Munich.  The current building was added as a baking and a storage house for the mill and built in 1573.

The Baker’s Mill Restaurant has great food and you are served in one of the mill’s four original storage vaults.  These happen to be the only original Medieval storage vaults still maintained in Munich.  It’s even more astonishing that this part of the building survives today as the mill was heavily bombed in WW2 and half of the complex had to be completely rebuilt which now is home to the neighboring Platz Hotel .  The hotel is one of our favorite hotels in Munich as you can’t get closer to the Medieval city center.  With the combination of beauty, history, and great food it is easy to have fond memories of Pfistermühle Restaurant.

Hours : Open Monday-Saturday Noon-Midnight; Closed Sundays.  Reservations : Reservations are suggested and can be made on their website.  Photos : ( Bakery In 1897 | Back of Bakery 1907 | Stream 1907 )   Restaurant Website : ( HERE ).

27. Royal Beer Hall ( Hofbräuhaus ):

About The Hofbräuhaus : The Hofbrauhaus, or Royal Court Brew House, is by far the most popular beer hall in Munich and maybe the most magical in the World!  While beer has been brewed in Munich since 1328, Duke Wilhelm V established this official Royal Court Brewery in 1589 as an alternative to expensively shipping in his favorite beers in from Hanover, Germany ( Saxony ).  The current 3-story beer hall complex opened in 1607 as an expansion to brew Hofbrau’s wheat beer and visiting it  was reserved for the Royal family and their guests only.  Mozart and Austrian Empress Sisi were some of the esteemed royal guests who would often visit.

In 1828, King Ludwig I opened the Hofbrauhaus beer hall to the public allowing both rich and poor to experience the World-famous atmosphere.  Ludwig’s involvement was fitting as the King’s 5-day wedding celebration in 1810 was the start of the modern Oktoberfest and also helped to unite commoners and the social elite.  The brewery has sponsored a 10,000 person beer tent during Oktoberfest since 1955,  but the Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall has an excellent party atmosphere no matter what time of year you come.

Today, the Hofbrauhaus still brings people together with community seating, traditional barmaids, delicious German food, 1-liter glasses of golden Bavarian beer, smooth wine, and even live brass band oompah music.  The food is not to be overlooked and is a highlight as much as the beer.  Yes there are a lot of tourists at the Hofbrauhaus, but it’s still our favorite stop on this free Munich walking tour!

You will need to find a seat to get served at the Hofbrauhaus, but the community seating and friendly atmosphere make it easy to join other groups and make new friends.  The only place you cannot sit is anywhere with a sign saying “Stammtisch”, which means it is reserved.  Most of the 3,500 seats in spread throughout the beer hall’s rooms are open seating so don’t be afraid to join a table of strangers if there are spots available.  The main floor is the most festive area and even has a lovely open-air beer garden with seating for 400 under the shade of chestnut trees near the beer pouring station.  While on the way to the gift shop, check out the stein storage lockers called Masskrugtresor .  There are a total of 424 mug lockers where local patrons store their custom steins between visits.  The lockers, which cost 200 euros a year, are very prestigious and can now only be acquired through inheritance.

The upper floor of the Hofbrauhaus complex is often overlooked by tourists and holds a giant Festival Hall  with a barrel ceiling.  We LOVE the traditional Bavarian dance show held most evenings in the Festival Hall.  Guests are enchanted by a musical program comprised of traditional Bavarian Schuhplattler dancers, alphorn players, yodelers, whip performers and cowbell players.  It is in the 900 seat Festival Room that Hitler had some of his private meetings during the Nazi rise and occupation of Munich which were held at numerous beer halls.  The most famous meeting in the Festival Hall was in 1920 where a speech Hitler gave which got him kicked out of the Bavarian army after unveiling his “25 Thesis”.

If you are feeling extra festive, wear your traditional lederhosen or dirndls to make friends even faster, just don’t wear tacky costume outfits from American Halloween shops, go in authentic gear.  Also please don’t try to steal the beer steins.  If you want a glass or stein to bring home, they do have a great gift shop where you can buy them.

Beer Hall Hours : Daily 9am-Midnight.  Folk Buffet : On a lot of nights they have an all-you-can-eat Folk buffet upstairs for 20€ from 630-10pm. This buffet is heavy on music and folk dancing, but check out their website for a current event schedule.  Drinking Tips :  The 1-liter beer steins are called a ‘Mass,’ light beer is ‘helles,’ dark beer is ‘dunkel,’ and they also have a half beer/half lemon soda drink called ‘Radler’.  Brewery Tours : You can also tour the official Hofbrau Brewery on the edge of town which is accessible in 40 minutes by the S2 Metro plus a short walk. ( Address Hofbräuallee 1, More Info ).  Restaurant Website : ( HERE ).

Other Sights Near Old Town:

28. english garden walking tour :.

About The English Garden : Sitting as one of the world’s largest urban parks, the English Garden is the biggest in Europe and is even larger than New York’s Central Park. There can be over 100,000 people a day here in the summer, but because the park is so vast you would never notice. While you may be tempted to skip the park if cramped for time, it is too unique to skip, and serves and a great stop to rest and recharge your batteries. The highlights include World-Class river surfing, nude sunbathers, the Chinese Tower Beer Garden, and the Monopteros hilltop acropolis.  Beer Garden Hours : Daily 9am-Late.  360 Degree Panorama : Click Here .   

Read More : English Garden Walking Tour .

29. Beer & Oktoberfest Museum :

About The Beer & Oktoberfest Museum : Housed in Munich’s oldest home from 1340, this museum highlights the history of Munich’s Beer as well as the Oktoberfest celebration. Our favorite element of the amazing home is the 3 story tall the Stairway to Heaven .  In medieval times it was common of stairs in a house to go up all the floors in a continuous unbroken line.  As you check out the Beer Museum you follow how the making of beer was perfected in Munich including original recipes from the 1400s.  The Oktoberfest Museum is a awesome step back into time showing how the marriage reception for King Ludwig I in 1810 has turned into the modern Oktoberfest.  Today 600,000 people a day visit the 10 day long celebration with is a mix of state fair and beer halls.  You wont find a better party in the World than you do in Oktoberfest’s mega tents which hold 4,000-10,000 people each.

Make your trip to the Beer & Oktoberfest Museum special is grabbing a bite to eat at in the basement Museumsstueberl Cellar Restaurant  ( website ).  The food can be a little strong on the sauerkraut, but it is about as traditional as you’ll find in Munich.  The setting can also be a very romantic place to grab a drink as the tables and chairs in the cave-like, stone walled room are actually mad out of old, wooden beer and wine kegs.   Museum Hours : Tuesday-Saturday 1-6pm.   Museum Cost : 4€.   Underground Restaurant Hours : Monday-Saturday 6pm-Midnight.   Museum Website :  ( HERE ).

30. Isartor City Wall Gate :

About The Isartor Gate : In 1175, the first fortified wall around Munich was completed, but the city quickly outgrew that footprint.  The city of Munich was greatly expanded when a second wall was built further out from 1285 to 1337 which increased the footprint by 700% .  The wall was a masterpiece, complete with a moat and eight gates, up from the original four.  If you look on the map above you can see this expansion that turned the formerly oval shaped Old Town area into more of a kidney bean shape.  This footprint is very important to see to help you feel more connect to the city as you follow our free Munich walking tour map.

Maybe the most important gate on the newly expanded wall was the mighty Isartor River Gate .  It was nearby that in 1156 Henry the Lion built his Ludwigsbrücke tool bridge to reroute the Salt Road from Bad Reichenhall and Hallein on its way to Augsburg through Munich and established it as a town.  The new Isartor Gate helped provide a curtain to protect the town as is one of only three gates still standing.  In 1835, the central tower was rebuilt and frescoes depicting the victorious return of Louis IV  in 1322 after the Battle of Mühldorf.  Louis’ victory over the Austrian Habsburgs helped earn him the title of Holy Roman Emperor and strengthen Munich as a powerhouse in the Salt Trade through the 1300s.  Today the gate is a popular spot for photographers and the attached cafe is a favorite of locals.  Photos : ( Isartor Gate in 1600s ).

*Tram 19 takes you over the river and Prater Island directly to the… 32. Bavarian Parliament ( Maximilianeum ): Home of the Bavarian Parliament, Maximilianeum is a great example of renaissance architecture.  While there isn’t a ton to see inside Maximilianeum, the atmosphere at neighboring Wienerplatz and it’s beer garden HofbrauKeller make it worth the trip.  Wienerpatz is a cute square located just southeast of Maximilianeum which has a quaint old-world feel, complete with it’s own Maypole . A favorite backdrop for photos on the square fits the square, the May Pole, and the towering St Johns church all in one picture.  If you’re starting to run short on time, feel free to bypass this stop all together by riding on Tram #17 all the way 17 to 19.  360 Degree Panorama : Click Here .  Photos : ( Wienerplatz ).

*Tram 18 is the easiest way to get to the… 33. Deutsches Museum : Huge museum of arts and science spread out in a campus of buildings. It is Germany’s equivalent to the American Smithsonian in Washington DC. Great for kids and families.  Restaurant Website : ( HERE ).

*Also sitting on the route for Tram 18 is one of Munich’s hidden gems, the… 34. Munich Puppet Theater ( Münchner Marionettentheater ): If you have never witnessed a classic Marionette production this is your chance. Skilled puppeteers carefully maneuver wooden characters, making them truly come to life with every string movement. The range of shows that are preformed in Munich is pretty big, but even if you aren’t familiar with the work the show will be amazing.   Theater Website : ( HERE ).

35. Awesome Museums : A cluster of great museums often overlooked by tourists. Glyptohek Museum Built from 1813-1860. Is Munich’s oldest public museum; the only museum in the world that is solely dedicated to ancient sculpture. Pinakothek Art Museum is made up of a building for modern art and another for the classics.

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Free Tour of Munich

Book the original Munich free walking tour and visit many of the city's highlights with a local guide

ABOUT THE Free Tour of Munich

This tour is operated by our partner TodoTours. While you may not see the trademark SANDEMANs red umbrellas (look instead for the blue umbrellas of Todo Tours), we only work with partners we know, trust, and who have been vetted by us to ensure they meet the same standards you are used to enjoying in SANDEMANs’ own cities. We are proud to partner with Todo Tours and are sure you’ll love their tours as much as we do!

This 2.5-hour free walking tour will take you to many of Munich’s major landmarks. You will visit the Frauenkirche, see the world-famous Glockenspiel, go past the iconic Hofbräuhaus, and much more. This tour will help you tick off many of Munich’s must-see sites.

Your Munich Free Tour starts at Marienplatz in front of Mary’s Column and also finishes near the start point.

Explore one of Germany’s most picturesque cities

Munich locals will tell you their city is the most beautiful in Germany, if not Europe, and on this 2.5-hour walking tour, it’s not hard to see why!

Keep your camera at the ready as you stroll through the medieval heart of Munich, admire the beauty of the Royal Residence, see the Church of St. Peter, and of course the Glockenspiel.

Discover great Bavarian traditions

Learn about the origins of Oktoberfest and see Hofbräuhaus, one of Munich’s oldest beer halls and discover for yourself why they make such good beer!

Listen to the dramatic stories of the Bavarian royal family, and how Bavaria became a kingdom under Maximilian I.

Free Tour concept

The tips-based model of the Free Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, and to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.

The Munich Free Tour starts at Marienplatz in front of Mary's Column

• Visit the beautiful Marienplatz and watch the famous Glockenspiel
• Discover the story behind the impressive Frauenkirche
• Learn about one of the hardest periods of German History: Nazism
• Go past the Odeonplatz and Viscardigasse
• Enjoy the story and legends of the Bavarian Royal family at the old Residenz
• Find about the Oktoberfest and Bavarian food at the Hofbräuhaus

Todo Tours is our vetted partner in Munich

• Local English-speaking guide
• Gratuities for the guide (optional)
• This activity is operated by our partner Todo Tours. This experience is not provided by SANDEMANs, but has been chosen by our specialists from an array of offers based on their quality and value

Customer reviews

Munich free walking tour

I am so glad we found out about the free walking tour of Munich! Our tour guide, Sarah, was a great guide and told wonderful anecdotes about the city’s history. We learned so much about Munich and this gave us a greater appreciation of the city! Thank you Sarah and Sandeman for the wonderful FREE tour!

It was my first time going to a free tour and I didn’t know what to expect. Our guide was Jax who made our experience super fun. He was knowledgeable and shared great insight about Munich, it’s history and hidden gems. I strongly recommend this tour in your first day in the city. It will help you locate yourself and learn more about the city. Hopefully you will have Jax to make your experience even better.

Munich Free Walking Tour

We did the free tour of the Marienplatz and surrounding areas with Sarah Owens. She has a lot of knowledge and shared it in an entertaining way. We walked a lot but not at a rapid pace so it was easy to keep up. This is a great tour to do your first day in the city to help orient yourself!

Tour with Leander was great! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who comes to München to see the overview of the city and get to know some history!

Free Tour of Munich rocked

We had a wonderful time with Sandeman's free tour of Munich. Our guide Keith was funny and knowledgeable about Munich history and the local culture! It was a great tour and we highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to get a bit of an insight into Munich and what it has to offer.

Free tour with Timo

This walking tour was everything you want out of a tour. He always found spots where folks could sit, had amazing stories, and gave great secret tips. Could not recommend more highly. Plus free, just for the tips. He was a delight.

Our guide was Patricia and she was really wonderful. Knew exactly what she was doing and had so, so much information to share. A walking tour is a great way to get to know where you are, because no one, not even a book, can explain it or show it to you like a person can. I definitely suggest walking tours for those who are visiting a place for just a day or two, because you get so much useful information at once, and see so much that you otherwise wouldn't have.

Great tour through the beautiful city of Munich with Ben. Entertaining, funny and learnt a lot about this great place. Would highly recommend! Up the Dubs!

What is the SANDEMANs Partner Network?

Tours in Munich are offered by a partner, not SANDEMANs NEW Europe.

We only work with partners we know, trust, and who have been vetted by us to ensure they meet the same standards you are used to enjoying in SANDEMANs’ own cities.

We are proud to partner with Todo Tours and are sure you’ll love their tours as much as we do.

Book a tour with one of our partners

• SANDEMANs only works with partners that meet the same quality standards than us
• Tours are chosen by our specialists from an array of offers based on their quality and value
• We connect the best local guides with travelers from all around the world

WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN MUNICH

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Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

Experience the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle and the medieval town of Füssen on this easy day trip ...

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Tour

Join an expert licensed guide for a tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp memorial

Munich Third Reich Tour

Learn about the Nazi’s history in Munich and see scars on the city from these dark days

Day Trip to Salzburg

Experience Salzburg, the jewel of Austria, on an easy day trip from Munich

Munich Beer Tasting Tour

Taste some of Germany's favorite brews and learn why beer is such a big part of the culture

Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.

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2-hour Munich Highlights Private Tour

Make the most out of your visit and discover Munich's main attractions with your private tour guide

3-hour Munich Private City Tour

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of Munich's fascinating history and must-see sites with your private ...

Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, its staff members, nor any of the freelance guides we work with will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides and tour leaders reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

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Highlights of Munich

Munich is located in southern Germany, in picturesque Bavaria. It is famous for its numerous historical monuments, beautiful architecture and the annual beer festival – Oktoberfest. What are Munich’s main attractions? First and foremost is the Marienplatz and the buildings clustered around it. This includes the old and the new town hall. Both are definitely worth seeing, but it is the latter that especially impresses the visitors. It is a monumental edifice in neo-Gothic style, with a soaring tower housing more than 40 bells and one of the oldest clock mechanisms in the world. The building has as many as six courtyards and covers such a large area that as many as 24 townhouses had to be demolished to begin its construction!

The Marienplatz is also home to the 17th-century Marian column and the Fischbrunnen fountain. It is here that Munich’s famous Weihnachtsmarkt – the traditional Christmas market – takes place every year. Nearby is the imposing St Mary’s Cathedral with its two towers that are almost 100 metres high and are towering over the city. In addition to the sights at Marienplatz, Munich’s three mediaeval city gates, the Isartor, Sendlinger Tor and Charles Gate, are also worth visiting. For those who like sacred art sights, a walk to the late Renaissance church of St. Michael and Munich’s oldest church, St. Peter’s, is recommended.

Tours of Munich – what shouldn’t you miss?

Other highlights of Munich include the Alter Hof, the complex of buildings remaining from the first residence of the Dukes of Bavaria. It currently consists of five buildings and one of them, the so-called Burgstock, houses the city museum. Another three buildings that will appeal to architecture enthusiasts are the baroque Nymphenburg Palace, the so-called Residence – the Mannerist palace of the Wittelsbachs, and the Maximilianeum, which now houses the Bavarian parliament.

If you love being surrounded by art, you will certainly be interested in the collections housed in Munich’s Glyptothek. This is a beautiful historicist style building, which houses the Museum of Ancient Art. You can admire here, among other things, a bust of Emperor Octavius Augustus, a sculpture known as Apollo of Tenea dating from the 6th century BC and a number of other monuments from ancient Greece and Egypt. Painting enthusiasts, on the other hand, are encouraged to visit the Old Pinakothek, which houses paintings by masters such as Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel, Canaletto, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael Santi, Rembrandt and Rubens.

Walkative! free walking tour – Munich with an experienced guide

If you are taking a trip to Munich but don’t want to explore it on your own, we have the perfect solution for you! An experienced guide from Walkative! will guide you through the city, showing you the most beautiful sights and telling you about its fascinating history. If you join a Walkative! free tour of Munich, you decide the price of the tour yourself. You choose how much you want to reward the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of your guide! A free walking tour of Munich with Walkative! will be the perfect choice for small groups – such as families or couples. To join it, all you have to do is sign up via our website! Planning to travel to other beautiful European cities? You can find us in Berlin, Dresden, Wroclaw, Gdansk and many more. We look forward to seeing you!

We had just one day in Wroclaw and a decision to join Walkative tours was the right one! These guys are amazing! Their stories are very informative, full of history, legends, funny jokes! They took us to all astonishing places of Wroclaw. Perfect for a day trip to this lovely city! Thank you, Lukasz and Matt for the brilliant tours!

Dawie’s tour was the best theatre in Paris as well as informative!!!! He is great – even in the rain. Do it.

My group really enjoyed the amount of history explained in the tour, it was a nice way to get a lot of information on several of the key sites in the center of Paris in a compact amount of time. Excellent for orientation and background. I would certainly do other tours in the future.

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Munich Self-Guided Walking Tour

This self-guided tour covers some of the most historic and notable sites in Munich.

We’ll also include a map to help you find your way around the city.

Self-Guided Tour

• Munich Audio Tour
• Free Munich Walking Tours

Our self-guided tour of Munich will cover a lot of significant sites in the city centre, including 12 different stops of varying historical or social importance.

Here is a list of each site we’ll visit on the tour, as well as a map with directions to each location.

Click here to open the map in a new tab .

Marienplatz

St. peter’s church, jewish synagogue, asam church, st. michael’s church, frauenkirche, hofbräuhaus, max-joseph-platz, munich residenz, odeonsplatz.

The tour begins at Marienplatz near the New Town Hall and at one of the most central spots in Munich.

The tour will take you around the city in pretty much every direction, and you should wear comfortable shoes and socks for the walk.

You can also use public transportation or perhaps rent a bike to get around the city much easier.

If you’re looking for help from a professional guide, consider taking a pay-what-you-want Munich walking tour instead.

NOTE: This tour is loosely based on an audio tour from Rick Steves , and you can use that service while following the map above.

There are 12 stops on this self-guided Munich tour, and we will provide details about each location.

We will also include directions to help you find each stop on the tour. 

Don’t forget that there is also a free audio tour available .

If you have a smartphone and earbuds or headphones, this could be a great alternative.

This plaza has been the main central square of Munich since 1158. It wasn’t always just a public square, as it was originally called Markth (market).

The site became so well-known as a marketplace for grain that it eventually earned the title of Scranne (grain market), and then Schranneplatz (grain market square).

It wasn’t until the Scranne was moved to another location in 1853 that this public square earned its current name, which translates to Mary’s Square.

This plaza is named after Mariensaule, a Marian column located at the centre of Marienplatz.

This column depicts the Virgin Mary at the top and it was erected to celebrate the end of the Thirty Year’s War and subsequently the cessation of Swedish occupation in Munich.

Every December, this public square is transformed into a Christkindlmarkt for three weeks before Christmas where you can find festive gifts, foods, and drinks. 

If you face south in Marienplatz, you’ll find our next stop right down Rindermarkt street and to the left.

This Roman Catholic church is the oldest in Munich and the point at which the entire city originated.

Its 91-metre (299 ft) tower is colloquially known as “Old Pete,” and it’s a well-known site people will use to orient themselves while walking around the city.

Even before Munich was founded, there was already a Merovingian church at this location which was used by monks as early as the 8th century. At that time, the church was called Petersbergl.

Eventually, a new church took its place and was consecrated at the end of the 12th century.

Throughout centuries of different renovations done at St. Peter’s Church, several different architectural styles have been adapted into its structure including Bavarian Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.

The interior includes a beautiful fresco by Johann Baptist Zimmerman, paintings by Jan Polack, and altars by Ignaz Gunther.

To reach the next stop, head to the back end of St. Peter’s Church and walk south down Peterspl. Turn right on Viktualienmarkt and keep walking south until you reach Prälat-Zistl-Straße.

Keep walking south on Prälat-Zistl-Straße until you reach Sebastianspl. Turn right and walk west to Sankt-Jakobs-Platz. Follow this road west until you reach the Jewish Synagogue.

This site is known as Ohel Jakob Synagogue, it’s actually relatively new and was built in 2006. There was another synagogue nearby, but it was sadly destroyed in 1938 upon the orders of Adolf Hitler.

Following WW2, the Jewish population of Munich was gone, but in the years since many Jewish people have moved back into the city and population levels are now where they were before the war.

The synagogue is closed off to all non-worshippers, but the Jewish Museum behind it is open to all visitors. They house a permanent collection and also offer temporary exhibits every few months on average.

Just north of the synagogue, you’ll also find the Munich City Museum. If you want to learn more about this city, the museum covers both its medieval and modern history.

To reach the next stop on this tour, walk northwest past St. Jakobs-Platz, past Oberanger Street and onto Dultstraße.

When you reach Sendlinger Street, turn left and head southwest past Herrmann-Sack-Straße. When you reach Singlspielerstraße, our next stop will be on the right.

Built between the years of 1733-1746, this Baroque church is one of the most unique in all of Germany.

Brothers Egid Quirin Asam and Cosmas Damian Asam had the building constructed to serve as their own private church.

Since the construction was not under the control of a religious order, they had the opportunity to build this church with the design elements they wanted to see.

The Asam brothers were both artists. While Egid was a respected sculptor, Cosmas was one of the great painters of his time.

You can see some of his work in the fresco of the church, entitled “Life of Saint Nepomuk.” Many consider this one of his greatest pieces of art.

The two brothers both studied under Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest Italian sculptors of the 17th century.

Bernini is credited with creating the Baroque style, so the architecture you see on display here is among the most authentic you’ll find in the entire country.

When you’re done looking around, head back up Sendlinger Street until you reach Fürstenfelder Street. Turn right and then make a left on Rosenstraße. 

This street will take you back to Marienplatz, where you should turn left and walk west down Kaufingerstraße until you reach Ettstraße.

This is the biggest Renaissance church you’ll find to the north of the Alps, and its architectural style actually influenced early Baroque architecture in Germany.

St. Michael’s is one of the most notable Jesuit churches in the country.

Built in 1583 and consecrated in 1597, this religious structure has the second largest barrel-vaulted roof in the world, beaten only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Many important people are buried in the crypt of St. Michael’s, including Bavarian royalty such as King Ludwig II, King Otto, and Prince Leopold.

To find our next stop, head back down the way you came on Neuhauser Street and turn left at Augustinerstraße. This street will lead you right to the next big church on the tour.

Also known as the Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, this is actually a somewhat common name for churches in Germany.

What sets the Munich Frauenkirche apart from others is its status as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, and the seat of its Archbishop.

It’s difficult to miss this church when walking around the city, as its towers are among the largest structures in the area at 99 metres in height.

If you’re interested, the south tower is usually open for visitors to climb to the top and enjoy great views of Munich.

This church features elements of both Gothic and Renaissance architecture because it was built in the late 15th century, but the domes of the tower were added in the 16th century.

There are a lot of beautiful works of art inside this church from notable artists such as Jan Polack, Hans Leinberger, Ignaz Gunther, and others. 

Many famous and important people were buried here including Roman Emperor Louis IV and King Ludwig III.

Our next stop is a few blocks east, so begin heading past Frauenkirche to Löwengrube, which quickly turns into Schäfflerstraße. We recommend walking through the Marienhof park and onto Hofgraben on the other side.

Eventually this street turns into Pfisterstraße, which will lead you to our next stop if you keep walking east.

This public square is named after the restaurant and theatre which were once located in the area. From 1368-1805, this location was actually referred to as Graggenau, roughly translated to “the Point.”

The Theater am Platzl stood here from 1901-1995, and it was mostly frequented by folk singers.

The most famous building here is the Hofbräuhaus, but that’s our next stop, so we’ll cover it a little later. 

Another notable site nearby is the Orlando House, a five-story home to the north of the square.

This house was built by Max Littmann, who also built the Hofbräuhaus. Today, the building is registered in the Bavarian List of Monuments.

There are several restaurants and plenty of outdoor seating for customers in the area, so you might want to stop and take a break while you’re here. That said, we recommend saving your appetite for beer if you plan to visit Hofbräuhaus.

This famous beer palace is the home of the Hofbräu brewery, and it’s definitely a popular stop for beer lovers around the world.

Constructed in 1589, this is one of the oldest breweries in the world which is still in operation today. 

If you’ve ever wondered why beer is so popular in Germany, it’s because hundreds of years ago it was actually considered a substitute for food due to its contents of barley, hops, and yeast. 

In other words, beer is almost like an essential part of a meal for many Germans.

Back in 1844, King Ludwig I actually set the price of beer lower than usual because he wanted to “offer the military and the working class a healthy and cheap drink.” Yes, beer was considered healthy!

The beer hall at Hofbräuhaus has space for about 1,000 people, and the ballroom can fit close to 1,500 guests. 

During the summer, the inner courtyard is usually turned into a beer garden. If you’re visiting during the warmer months, you might want to check and see if this beer garden is open.

Once you’ve had your fill of beer, head back up to the Platzl square and continue north onto Am Kosttor. Turn left when you reach Maximilianstraße and walk west until you reach a plaza on the right.

This public square was constructed at the same time as the nearby National Theatre in 1818. The plaza was named after King Maximilian Joseph.

The building to the north is the Königsbau of the Munich Residence, a former royal palace. We’ll talk more about this location later, as it’s the next stop on our tour!

To the south of the square you’ll see several Neo-Renaissance arcades that were once part of the former Palais Toerring-Jettenbach.

You’ll see a monument at the centre of the square which was erected in honor of King Maximilian Joseph. The statue could not be revealed until 1835 (10 years after the king’s death) because he did not want to be eternalized in a sitting position.

Head past this plaza and take a good look at the buildings lining its northern side as you walk up Residenzstraße to our next stop.

This is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. The Munich Residenz is an amalgamation of several different buildings constructed for royalty between the 14th-20th century.

With so many structures attached to the Residenz, it actually qualifies as the largest city palace in all of Germany, and it’s now open to the public.

This palace has a combined 10 courtyards, 130 rooms, and dozens of buildings. If you want to learn more about this location, consider visiting the Residenzmuseum in Königsbauhof.

Another notable site here is the Treasury, which contains the jewels of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

This building also includes important relics such as Emperor Charles the Bald’s prayer-book, the altar-ciborium of Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia, and many other historic artifacts.

The Munich Residenz also houses the Bavarian state coin collection with more than 300,000 coins, medals, and banknotes dating back to ancient periods in human history. This is one of the most impressive coin collections in the world.

Our next stop is just north on Residenzstraße, at the northern end of the palace.

This is one of the more historically relevant public squares in Munich. One of the most notable events that took place here was the gun battle that ended the march on Feldherrnhalle during the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

The square is named after a former concert hall called the Odeon located on the northwestern side. You can also see the northern end of the Munich Residenz on the southeastern end of the plaza.

On the southwestern side of the square you’ll see the Theatinerkirche, a Baroque church built in the 17th century.

Many notable people are buried here, including King Maximilian Joseph, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII, King Otto of Greece, and many others.

Our final stop is at the northeastern end of Odeonsplatz, the Hofgarten. 

Built in the 17th century, this Italian Renaissance garden is a great place to finish your tour. There is a pavilion for the goddess Diana at the centre of the Hofgarten.

On the east side of the garden you’ll see the Bavarian Staatskanzlei, also known as the State Chancellery. This was once an Army Museum, but it was repurposed in 1993.

If you choose to walk over to the Staatskanzlei, you’ll find the Kriegerdenkmal (War Memorial” in front of the building. This is a memorial to commemorate the people of Munich who were killed in action during WW1.

At the northeast corner of the garden, you’ll find a black granite memorial in honor of the White Rose group. This organization was executed for committing to non-violent action against Hitler’s regime. 

There are a lot of other things to see here including arcades on the southern side with wall paintings telling the history of Bavaria. 

We recommend taking a good look around the serene Hofgarten to see as much as possible before heading back toward the city centre. Take a break and enjoy a walk through a garden!

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Guided tour for groups: Barrier-free

Barrier-free guided tours.

Experience Munich with all your senses: Your official tour guide will make your barrier-free stay as varied as possible, conveying Munich's history and stories in an exciting and up-to-date way. 

No matter whether you are in a wheelchair, walking impaired, blind, visually impaired or deaf - our trained tour guides show people with a special handicap the most beautiful sides of the city in a very special way adapted to them. 

Discover for example the old town of Munich:

Let yourself be captured by Munich's charm on a guided tour across Marienplatz and past the Frauenkirche to Odeonsplatz . Via Max-Joseph-Platz and past the Nationaltheater  (Bavarian State Opera) to the world-famous Hofbräuhaus am Platzl. The tour ends with a visit to the Viktualienmarkt , the culinary centre of the city.

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Frauenkirche: Visit of the South Tower

Book a visit to the observation deck of Munich's Frauenkirche and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting historical facts about Munich's most famous food market.

Justizpalast Tour

During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

Romantic Road: Rothenburg and Harburg

Hop on and be whisked away by one of the world's most beautiful stretches of street: the Romantic Road to Rothenburg and Harburg.

New Town Hall Tour

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Dream castles Neuschwanstein & Linderhof

Immerse yourself in the world of the fairytale king!

Visit of the Law Library: Juristische Bibliothek

Impressive architecture and unique ambience: discover the Law Library in the New Town Hall.

Pedicab tour through the old town and nature

Enjoy this special tour and pedicap ride past all the famous sights of Munich's old town and into the Englischer Garten.

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Old Town Tour

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Visit the birthplace of composer extraordinaire Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, stroll through the Baroque old town and then relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

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The 30 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

European embassies open their doors to the public, Eurovision takes over bars and the Smithsonian’s IlluminAsia festival returns.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated with a three-day festival at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, a family day at the Library of Congress, and new beers and a lion dance at Lost Generation Brewing. Following on last weekend’s Around the World Embassy Tour, the embassies of the European Union open their doors to visitors this weekend for cultural activities including music, beer and wine tastings, fashion shows, dog shows, and the Smurfs. Drive-in movie fans can welcome outdoor films — and “Grease” — back to Union Market. It’s also a big weekend for lovers of kitschy music, thanks to the Eurovision Song Contest and costume-friendly viewing parties. Spring garden tours and markets take place across the area on Saturday, while local breweries are banding together to help one of their own start making beer again.

Thursday, May 9

JxJ Jewish Film and Music Festival

Held at locations around the DMV (including the DCJCC in Washington, Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema and Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax), the annual festival returns to showcase music and films by Jewish area artists. The screenings include dozens of genres, and the music portion of the festival showcases international acts like the Maccabeats, Polyphony Quartet and Mister G. Through May 19. Prices and locations vary.

AAPI Beer Collab Launch Party at Lost Generation

For the second year in a row, Eckington’s Lost Generation Brewing marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by releasing a beer that benefits charity. Except this time, it’s releasing two beers. One, Asian Glow, is a fruited sour with dragon fruit, mango and litchi, brewed in collaboration with Falls Church’s High Side and Richmond’s the Answer, that benefits Act to Change, an organization fighting the bullying of AAPI youth. The other is Briefly Gorgeous, a saison made in collaboration with Bluejacket, which uses 50Hertz’s Sichuan peppercorns, yuzu and Buddha’s hand. Both beers debut at a party featuring a lion dance, plus food by Bun’d Up and Dine With Claudine. 6 to 9 p.m. Free .

Willow Smith at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Downtown D.C.’s massive Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library hosts Gen Z superstar Willow Smith for a teen-focused evening event. As the daughter of Hollywood royalty — her parents are Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith — Willow has already explored career paths from music to acting to performance art. She’s also written a book, a sci-fi fantasy called “Black Shield Maiden” with author Jess Hendel. In partnership with local bookshop Mahogany Books, Willow Smith discusses her debut novel. 7 p.m. $32; ticket includes signed copy of the book .

Eurovision Semifinal Watch Party at Wunder Garten

The finals of Eurovision — the Europe-wide pop music competition known for turning both costumes and stage performances up to 11 — take place Saturday. But first, judges need to select the tunes that will feature in the grand final. Sixteen countries are competing for 10 places on Thursday, including Switzerland’s Nemo and Italy’s Angelina Mango, both among the favorites to win. Wunder Garten is opening early to show the performances live from Sweden. 3 p.m. Free .

Home by Midnight at Jimmy Valentine’s

Do you ever wish you could go out to a bar, dance to great music and still get to bed at a reasonable hour? Home by Midnight hears you. This new night at Jimmy Valentine’s promises the music you’d expect at a late-night rave, but with a DJ who starts at 9 p.m. Perfect for the older raver — or the old at heart. Doors at 8 p.m., music at 9. Free .

‘Mummy in the Closet: Evita’s Return’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre

Eva Perón stars from beyond the grave in GALA Hispanic Theatre’s “Mummy in the Closet: Evita’s Return,” a macabre musical comedy based on the true journey of the Argentine political icon’s embalmed body after her death in 1952. This is a new production of the show, which was a hit for GALA during its world premiere there in 2009. At the time , The Post called it a “breathtakingly freakish mix of black comedy, serious historical musing, disciplined vaudeville and sheer ghoulishness.” For this revival, choreographer Valeria Cossu has set dance moves to the rhythms of tango, waltz and salsa. Through June 9: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $25-$48; $20 opening night. In Spanish with English subtitles .

Audrey Hepburn film series at the Miracle Theatre

In honor of film icon Audrey Hepburn’s May 4 birthday, Barracks Row’s movie house the Miracle Theatre will run a spate of Audrey flicks throughout the month. If you’ve only seen “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” go deeper into the perennially stylish actress’s repertoire with four other classics that also star classic Hollywood leading men like Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Fred Astaire. The series begins Thursday with “Roman Holiday” and continues with “Charade” (May 17), “Sabrina” (May 24) and “Funny Face” (May 30). All screenings begin at 7 p.m. $8 .

Friday, May 10

IlluminAsia at the National Museum of Asian Art

The Smithsonian’s IlluminAsia festival returns to the National Museum of Asian Art this weekend, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with three days of culture and entertainment. The party starts Friday with Asia After Dark, a wellness-focused evening that includes journaling, sound baths, and a zero-proof and low-ABV bar (5 to 9 p.m.). Saturday brings curator-led tours of the museum’s exhibits; panel discussions about identity, healing and the arts; empowerment workshops; and an outdoor market with vendors and food trucks (noon to 6:30 p.m.). Electronic artist Madame Gandhi headlines an evening concert (6:30 p.m.; registration suggested). The event wraps Sunday with a Mother’s Day theme, featuring craft making and family activities, as well as a guided sound bath (noon to 3 p.m.). Through Sunday. Free .

‘Grease’ at the Union Market Drive-In

Drive-in movies became a trend during the pandemic, but Union Market has been hosting outdoor screenings in its parking lot since 2013. This year’s series, which features films one Friday a month, kicks off with the singalong classic “Grease.” Drivers can reserve a space, ease the seat back and listen to the sound through their FM radio, while the carless masses are free to walk up to Neal Place, the closed street in front of the market, with blankets and camp stools. Either way, get there early and pick up a meal from one of the vendors inside. Parking lot opens at 7:30 p.m.; film begins at 8:45. $20 per car; free for pedestrians .

Animania at Union Stage

It might be another 11 months until Awesome Con (D.C.’s take on Comic-Con) returns, but in the meantime, fans can try out their next cosplay in a more intimate venue. Costumes aren’t required but are strongly encouraged. Dance to anime hits and try your hand at a variety of video games. 10 p.m. $20.

Firehouse Fridays at Hill Country

Firehouse Fridays, which has been offering country line dancing lessons and a dance party at the Vienna Moose Lodge, is making the leap to Penn Quarter. Both levels of Hill Country Barbecue will be open for two-stepping, line dances and country swing. The evening starts with a beginner-level country swing lesson at 8:30 p.m., followed by dancing on both floors from 9:30 until midnight. 8:30 p.m. $15 at the door .

Saturday, May 11

E.U. Open House

The members of the European Union open the doors to their embassies on Saturday, following last weekend’s Around the World Embassy Tour. Drop into 21 embassies, as well as the European Union’s office and “partner venue” Ukraine House, for live music, food and drinks, mini-language classes, and more cultural activities. Each country puts its own spin on the day: La Maison Française, which brings Germany and France together, is highlighting the Paris Olympics; Poland honors Maria Skłodowska-Curie (better known as Marie Curie) with “chemical workshops and molecular cuisine”; the Czech Republic celebrates with beer, a dog show and a performance by award-winning singer Kaczi; and the Netherlands and Belgium team up for free waffles and beer tastings with the Smurfs. Lines can be long, so wear comfortable shoes. Early arrival is suggested if you’re looking for free snacks and swag. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission; some embassies sell food and drinks .

Eurovision Grand Final viewing parties

Speaking of Europe, Saturday is also the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual pop music competition known for over-the-top performances, cheesy tunes and an abundance of glitter. The event is a spectacle in Europe — this year is hosted by 2023 champion Sweden — but it’s popular in D.C., too. (So popular, in fact, that the official viewing party at the House of Sweden has a wait list.) DC9 is hosting its annual celebration, with a live broadcast beginning at 3 p.m. Join in with Eurovision bingo, where sample squares include “fire (real or video)” and “Vikings,” as well as trivia and drink specials. After the winner has been crowned, it’s time for a Eurovision dance party featuring songs from past winners, including Abba, Céline Dion, Katrina and the Waves, and, hopefully, Finnish masked metal gods Lordi. There’s a $100 prize for the best Eurovision-inspired costume. ( Free tickets available at dc9.club . ) Adams Morgan’s Duplex Diner is showing the contest live with “ drink specials all day .” ( 3 to 6 p.m. Free. ) Over on H Street, the Queen Vic pub is hoping to put the U.K.’s traditional misery behind them — Mae Muller finished 25th out of 26 in 2023 — at a party with bingo, singalong tunes and a costume contest. ( 3 p.m. thequeenvicdc.com . Free. )

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Family Day at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress welcomes all ages to its Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. Families can learn about the different experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders documented in the library’s collections, then draw or write about their own family’s history. ( 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free; timed entry pass required, but events are drop-in. ) Artist and educator Jeffrey Yoo Warren, whose work has created virtual reconstructions of five historic Chinese American and Korean American communities, leads a mask-making workshop for 6- to 12-year-olds, before letting them explore portals to the 3D reconstructions. ( 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free; timed ticket required. ) Finally, actor and activist George Takei discusses his new book, “My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story,” in the Coolidge Auditorium. ( 2 p.m. Free; reservations required. )

Save Hellbender Beer Fest

Hellbender Brewing had its boiler break down in late April, and without a way to heat water and boil wort, the Fort Totten brewery can’t make beer. To help offset the high costs of a replacement, the local brewing community is rallying around Hellbender. Head to the taproom for a party featuring draft beers from at least 15 breweries, including Other Half, Ocelot and the Brewer’s Art, available in full or half pours; food from Beef Space BBQ and El Jefe Woodfired Pizza; and music by DJ TLH. 1 p.m. Free admission .

That’s So Vintage Market at Union Market

The hugely popular market returns to Union Market’s Dock 5 with over 30 of the area’s vintage sellers. Vendors include viral curators the Disco Loft and Libby & My (the full list of vendors is available on the market’s website ). Next door, experiential pop-up shop Playhaus is offering workshops on sewing and embroidering vintage clothes, which you can add on to your ticket price. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $24 for 11 a.m. entrance; $8 for 1 p.m. entrance or later.

Ivy City Makers Market and Bar Hop

This pop-up celebration of local makers is really multiple markets in one, with artists, crafters and vintage vendors spread among Atlas Brew Works , Other Half Brewing , Throw Social , and Don Ciccio and Figli ’s tasting room. It’s a shopping excursion-cum-bar crawl that might introduce you to a new favorite beverage as well as a new favorite outfit. 1 to 6 p.m. Free .

Del Ray Artisans Spring Art Market

This curated show in a Del Ray park features three dozen artists — potters, painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, fiber artists and more — selected by the Del Ray Artisans collective. Browse for Mother’s Day gifts or just for yourself, while kids can be entertained and have their faces painted. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free .

Diggin’ Thru the Crates at Dock 5

Diggin’ Thru the Crates is a celebration of hip-hop culture with a twist: Members of the audience get to flip through stacks of vinyl records to pick the song they want to hear, while DJs Alizay and B-Sharp work those selections into a playlist on the fly. The result is magic, and often surprising. Art by Maurice James Jr., Shay Will and the Jay Stewart Collection features at the Union Market event space, while Young Guru is the host. 9 p.m. $20 .

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Family Day

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop has been “building community through the arts” for more than 50 years, and if you’ve never experienced this local treasure, Saturday is a good time to explore. Family Day features activities for all ages on the arts center’s front lawn, including 3D scanning and printing, creating collage sculptures, and drawing “fill in the blank” comic strips. Noon to 2 p.m. Free .

Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour

Run by the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, this tour is a great chance to peek inside those multimillion-dollar rowhouses that grace the streets of Capitol Hill. Attendees will see nine homes and gardens and three semipublic buildings, all within the historic district, and grab refreshments from local vendors at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, where an architectural tour is offered both days. Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. $40-$50.

Del Ray House & Garden Tour

Step inside the bungalows and rowhouses of Del Ray, a walkable Alexandria enclave with its own bustling main street and blocks packed with dog parks and playgrounds. The Del Ray House & Garden Tour returns for the first year since 2018, and this year’s self-guided tour will include 11 properties showcasing manicured gardens, new-construction homes and small-scale accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Spend an entire day here with a VIP ticket, which sends you to Mount Vernon Avenue after the tour for an evening yoga class at Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, followed by a drink from Hi/Fi TexMex BBQ. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $45-$75 .

Dacha Spring Beer Fest

Think of Frühlingsfest as the warm-weather cousin of Oktoberfest: Instead of drinking beer outdoors in the cool fall air, people in Munich come together to drink beer and celebrate the return of flowers and longer days. Dacha’s inaugural spring festival at its Navy Yard location — inspired by Frühlingsfest — features unlimited pours of seasonal beers from at least 18 breweries, spanning European (Weihenstephaner, Duvel, St. Bernardus), American (Allagash, Boulevard) and regional (Denizens, Väsen, Pen Druid) selections. VIP tickets include early admission, a pint glass and other perks. Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. $50-$90; two day tickets $90-$170 .

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day ideas

Need a last-minute idea for Sunday? We can’t guarantee restaurant reservations are still available, but we do stand by our ideas for things to do from a few weeks back, including two all-you-can-eat brunch shows with the swinging Eric Byrd Trio at the Hamilton, a few trips on the historic carousel and a tour of galleries at Glen Echo Park, or a waterfront stroll in Alexandria.

Momedy Kumite at the DC Improv

Instead of the usual card or flowers, maybe Mom needs a good laugh for Mother’s Day. The DC Improv has revamped its signature stand-up tournament Comedy Kumite just for the holiday: All of the participating comics in Momedy Kumite are mothers themselves, and they’re competing for the unofficial title of Funniest Mom in D.C. The tourney consists of back-to-back sets from two comedians, followed by an audience vote to see who advances to the next round and, ultimately, the victor of the final showdown. 6 p.m. $20-$35 .

Monday, May 13

Hot Water Music at the Howard Theatre

The members of Hot Water Music seem as surprised as anyone that they’re celebrating their 30th anniversary on the road as they prepare to release their 10th album, “Vows.” The Gainesville, Fla.-founded act, fronted by singer-songwriter-guitarists Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard, can still whip up punk tunes with heart-on-sleeve emotion and anthemic hooks. The band promises to “dust off some oldies” on tour; perhaps it will play 1997 favorite “Turnstile” — the namesake of the current generation’s biggest hardcore band. Joining Hot Water Music is Quicksand, a New York band whose renewed existence — albeit after a long hiatus — is even more surprising. Quicksand’s metallic approach to post-hardcore laid the blueprint for countless punk and alt-metal bands alike. 8 p.m. $35-$60 .

Tuesday, May 14

The Dog and Cat Film Festivals at Arlington Drafthouse

After the annual New York Dog Film Festival and its feline-focused counterpart, the two-hour programs of new short films featuring pets — animated, documentary and narrative features from around the world — the festival screening travels to cities across the country. Arlington Drafthouse is hosting the two festivals back to back (dog people, go on Tuesday, and cat people, go on Wednesday ). Proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Note that admission is 21 and over unless accompanied by a parent. 6 p.m. $38.

Wednesday, May 15

NMWA Nights at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

The new exhibition “ New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024 ” is the inspiration for the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ latest after-hours party, with a costume contest inspired by exhibition themes, such as “creative” and “sustainable.” After capturing your lewk in the photo booth, try hands-on art-making activities; dance to Les the DJ’s mix of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander musicians; and watch a performance by Pretty Boi Drag. Two cocktails from locals Please Bring Chips are included in the ticket price. Be warned: This is the last NMWA Nights until September. 5:30 to 8 p.m. $22-25 .

Kathleen Hanna at the Lincoln Theatre

Bikini Kill and Le Tigre punk frontwoman Kathleen Hanna embodies the title of her memoir “Rebel Girl.” One of leaders of the ’90s “riot grrrl” feminist movement — the book takes its title from Bikini Kill’s iconic song — Hanna is embarking on a 10-stop nationwide book tour to discuss her boundary-breaking life in music. See her at the Lincoln Theatre in conversation with Mira Jacob, where hopefully she’ll share her memories of the District’s punk scene, since the members of Bikini Kill spent a climactic year in D.C. and originally wrote “Rebel Girl” in Mount Pleasant. 7 p.m. $66-$81; ticket includes a book.

Gaby Moreno at the Hamilton Live

Guatemalan singer, songwriter and producer Gaby Moreno’s work in the last decade and a half has culminated in recent months in back-to-back public-facing accomplishments. In February, she both performed at the Grammys and won the award for best Latin pop album for “X Mí (Vol. 1).” The seven-song record, released in 2023, revisits favorites from previous albums, set only to Moreno’s acoustic guitar. Also in February, Moreno released “Dusk,” her soulful ninth studio album. 8 p.m. $15-$25.

Looking for cheaper Eras Tour tickets? See Taylor Swift at these 10 international cities.

Swifties who want to snag tickets to Taylor Swift’s colossal Eras Tour know the experience won’t come cheap.  

This year, the billionaire will only visit three U.S. cities – Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis – and prices for the in-demand shows are astronomical . For the Oct. 18 show in Miami, for example, cost of a single ticket ranged between $1,615 and $8,524 on StubHub.com as of Wednesday afternoon.

So, how else can fans see one of the world’s biggest singers? Go abroad .

In the past 30 days, searches for ‘Taylor Swift Europe tour 2024 tickets’ have increased by 300% in the U.S., indicating that some people are ready to take a long-haul flight to see the wildly popular artist live, according to travel website Islands.com .

Concert-goers who head to Europe for their Swift experience may actually save more money in the long-run . Not only are ticket prices across the pond cheaper, but many European cities, like Warsaw and Lisbon, are also budget-friendly, offering inexpensive food and lodging. 

Was the travel worth it? Beyoncé and Taylor Swift's summer concerts drew fans from afar

To determine the most affordable Eras Tour stops, Islands.com researchers compared the cost of a two-night trip, including one cheap ticket on StubHub.com, two nights at a four-star hotel, six inexpensive meals, two five-mile taxi rides, and one domestic beer. However, researchers didn’t account for airline tickets or concert merchandise.

With safety at the top of travelers' minds, the researchers also factored in the city’s safety rating out of 100. 

To stay extra safe, the State Department encourages travelers to register with the U.S. embassy in the country they're visiting any time they travel abroad. That can be done at step.state.gov .

10 cheapest destinations for the Eras Tour in 2024

10. Vienna, Austria - total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. - total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France - total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal - total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany - total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France - total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden - total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany - total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany - total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland - total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

Taylor Swift is about to go back on tour: Here's what to expect on the Eras Tour in Paris

After a two-month break, Taylor Swift is revitalizing her titanic Eras Tour in Paris, and fans believe there are changes coming to the show.

If you are wondering where she's playing, if there will be changes and how to score tickets, here's everything we know.

And if you're new to the Eras Tour party, you can get caught up on the first 83 shows here .

When does the Eras Tour start again?

Swift kicks off the European leg of her tour on Thursday, May 9, in Paris. She will perform Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well, in the City of Light.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

What are Taylor Swift's tour dates in Europe?

There are 69 shows left in the Eras Tour: 51 in Europe, nine in America and nine in Canada.

The European leg stretches from May all the way through a five-night stand at Wembley Stadium in London in mid-August.

See a complete list of international dates here .

After she wraps up in Europe, Swift will stop in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis before wrapping up in Canada.

See the remaining U.S. dates here .

What is the Eras Tour set list?

The Eras Tour has featured a massive 45-song set list you can check out here . But speculation is swirling it won't look the same when Swift takes the stage in Paris.

Will Taylor Swift add 'The Tortured Poets Department' to her set list?

The tortured poet has been on hiatus keeping her stamina up by releasing a double album of 31 tracks. The 2-hours-and-2-minutes project broke a number of Billboard records as the superstar did zero press to promote it. Fans flocked to stores and streaming services to listen to all the songs from "Fortnight" to "The Manuscript."

Although the singer has not confirmed whether her 11th era album will be added to her Eras Tour set list, she did post a YouTube shorts video with two scenes that sent Easter egg decoders into a frenzy. In one of the shots, the singer is next to a railing where a "TTPD" logo appears to be (at 0:11). In the succeeding shot, her back-up dancers perform holding canes and wearing top hats, something they have not worn previously.

Swift's dancers and bandmates posted to their Instagram stories as they left for France last week. The singer did not appear at two media events with her boyfriend Travis Kelce: the Kentucky Derby and a Formula 1 race in Miami , Florida. Patrick Mahomes, Kelce's friend and Kansas City's quarterback, attended the car racing spectacular with his wife, Brittany.

Can I still get Eras Tour tickets?

Swift's show is completely sold out in Europe and North America. There are resale sites with tickets, but be wary of scams. The best way to avoid getting swindled is continuously checking links on Swift's website . There are some for resale on the sites verified by her camp.

Singapore was a hotbed for fans who traveled thousands of miles only to get turned away at the venue. In Tokyo and Australia, last-minute ticket drops happened a few days — without announcement — ahead of the shows.

Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis — the three U.S. cities Swift is visiting in the fall — have some of the heftiest price tags with Canada closely behind. In may be cheaper to travel to Warsaw, Poland, or Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Here's a list of cities with the cheapest resale tickets, according to travel website  Islands.com .

10. Vienna, Austria — total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. — total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France — total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal — total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany — total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France — total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden — total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany — total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany — total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland — total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

Catch Taylor Swift live with tickets at Vivid Seats , shop merchandise , and stream her latest on Disney+ . Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Who are the opening acts?

Paramore launched the Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona, in March 2023, so it's fitting the American rock band is opening the tour's second year. The act will open for Swift for 51 shows across Europe . The band was dubbed the 2024 Record Store Day global ambassador and surprised fans in Nashville the weekend following the release of "The Tortured Poets Department."

When the tour comes back to North America in October , Swift's opening act will be Gracie Abrams.

Where can I watch if I don't have tickets?

The Eras Tour is one of the first tours that has been followed, globally, by thousands of fans on digital platforms. Fans dedicate part of their concert experience to livestreaming as Swift performs. A few Swifties have learned how to host their own shows over social media including Tess Bohne , known as the livestream queen. Bohne goes live for (almost) every show pulling streams from Instagram and TikTok. When a livestream goes down, she fills the time with banter.

On YouTube, user @TaylorSwiftHockeyBro also livestreams the three-hour show, and on Twitch, @folkleric , is a host fans follow.

There is also an app, Swift Alert , that notifies fans who only want to watch certain eras like the acoustic, surprise set. The app sends out push alerts if there are any major announcements.

What secret songs are left?

For the past 83 shows, Swift has played an acoustic set she customizes at each stop with a guitar and piano performance. In 2024, the Eras Tour star added mashups of her songs for each stop. Here are the songs she has yet to perform:

• "Taylor Swift" (debut album): "Mary's Song" and "A Perfectly Good Heart"
• "Fearless": "The Way I Loved You," "Change," "Superstar," "We Were Happy," "That's When," "Don't You" and "Bye Bye Baby"
• "Red": "Girl At Home," "Ronan," "Forever Winter" and "Run"
• "1989": "Sweeter Than Fiction"
• "Reputation": "I Did Something Bad"
• "Lover": "London Boy," "Soon You'll Get Better" and "It's Nice to Have a Friend"
• "Folklore": "Hoax"
• "Evermore": "Happiness" and "Closure"
• "Midnights": "Paris" and "Glitch"
• "The Tortured Poets Department": all 31 tracks

Will Taylor Swift perform in 2025?

There have been many rumors that Swift will continue her show in 2025, but they are only rumors. Nothing has been announced for next year, and as of now, the tour will end in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Dec. 8.

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Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  X as @BryanWestTV .