Munich

1. Alte Pinakothek

The Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinacotheca) is a museum of art situated in the Kunstareal area in Munich. One of the oldest galleries in the world, the Alte Pinakothek features a world-renowned collection of Old Master paintings spanning from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including works by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Vincent van Gogh.

Built in 1836, the Neo-Renaissance design of the Alte Pinakothek is different from that of the typical early 19th-century castle-like museums that were the norm and features the use of skylights and northern lights for the cabinets. The Alte (Old) Pinakothek is so named for this collection, which features “older” works, while the Neue Pinakothek features works from the 19th century. The Pinakothek der Moderne displays modern art.

Alte Pinakothek, Barer Straße 27, Eingang Theresienstraße, 80333 München, Phone: +49-89-23-80-52-16

2. Bavarian National Museum

The Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum) is a treasure trove of Bavarian art, culture, and history located in the center of the Prinzregentenstrasse, one of the city's four royal avenues. One of the largest museums in Bavaria and one of the most significantly important institutions of decorative arts in Europe, the Bavarian National Museum is divided into two sections: the folklore collection and the historical art collection.

Built in 1855 by King Maximillian II of Bavaria in the style of historicism, the building is an artwork in itself and houses a large collection of European artifacts from late antiquity until the early 20th century.

Bavarian National Museum, Prinzregentenstraße 3, 80538 München, Germany, Phone: +49-8-92-11-24-01

3. BMW Welt

BMW Welt (BMW World) is a multi-purpose exhibition center next to the BMW Headquarters and Olympiapark in the AM Riesenfeld district in Munich. The center is used for several functions, including buyers taking delivery of their specially ordered vehicles in a dramatic staged experience, meetings, promotional events and special functions, and it serves as a showroom for displaying the latest models of BMW cars and motorbikes, as well as two BMW Group brands, Mini and Rolls-Royce.

BMW Welt also has a range of shops selling BMW-branded merchandise and accessories and a casual restaurant. Visitors can enjoy guided tours through the center and the BMW Museum, which is also on site.

BMW Welt, Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 München, Germany

4. Deutsches Museum

Officially known as Deutsches Museum von Meisterwerken der Naturwissenschaft und Technik (German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology), the Deutsches Museum (German Museum) is the world's largest museum of science and technology. Founded in 1903 and home to over 28,000 exhibited objects from fifty different fields of science and technology, the museum welcomes about 1.5 million visitors per year and is the largest museum in Munich.

The main building of the museum is situated on a small island in the Isar River, which is famous for rafting wood dating back to the Middle Ages.

Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München, Germany, Phone: +49-8-92-17-91

5. Eisbach

The Eisbach (meaning “ice brook” in German) is a small man-made river that flows through the Englischer Garten in the heart of Munich. The two-kilometer river is a side arm of the Isar River, and it features a man-made wave that attracts surfers from around the world. It gained a huge following after the 2011 movie Keep Surfing by Björn Richie Loeb.

The cold, shallow water of the river forms a standing wave of about a meter in height at a bridge near the Haus der Kunst and is popular with surfers and whitewater kayakers. There is also a second standing wave on the Eisbach located a few hundred meters downstream, which is wider and therefore is a less demanding wave.

Eisbach, Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany

6. Englischer Garten

The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is a large urban park in the center of Munich that stretches from the heart of the city to the northeastern-most city limits. Established in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson, the park was laid out in the style of an English country park, thus named Englischer Garten, and it continually evolved throughout the centuries with the addition of green spaces and various buildings. Today the Englische Garten offers a variety of recreational activities and pursuits, including nearly eighty miles of jogging and cycling paths, fields for soccer, a Japanese teahouse and beer garden, and stunning city views from the Monopteros.

Englischer Garten, 80805 Munich, Germany, Phone: +49-89-38-66-63-90

7. Hofbrauhaus am Platzl

The Hofbrauhaus am Platzl is a world-renowned beer hall and institution that attracts visitors from around the world to enjoy Munich-brewed beer. Originally built in 1589 as a ducal brewery for Bavarian dukes and kings, the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl still upholds the 400-year-old Stammtisch tradition, a time-honored system of standing reservations for regulars at certain tables. The unique vaulted hall at the heart of the Hofbräuhaus called the Schwemme boasts a proverbial Bavarian “gemütlichkeit” (coziness) that exudes a quintessential Bavarian ambiance and serves locally brewed beer along with traditional Bavarian dishes to both locals and visitors alike.

Hofbrauhaus am Platzl, Platzl 9, 80331 München, Germany, Phone: +49-8-92-90-13-61-00

8. Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace (Schloss Linderhof) is a magnificently preserved palace near Ettal Abbey in southwest Bavaria. Also known as the “Royal Villa,” the Linderhof Palace is the smallest of three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and one of the most artistic and stylistically sophisticated buildings of the 19th century. Modeled on the small 18th century French palaces with Baroque and Rococo sculptural elements and influences from the age of Louis XV of France, the Linderhof Palace is surrounded by inspiring gardens and parklands that were designed and established by court garden director Carl Joseph von Effner in 1874. Linderhof Palace was the only palace that King Ludwig II of Bavaria lived to see completed.

Linderhof Palace, Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany, Phone: +49-8-82-29-20-30

9. Marienplatz

Marienplatz (Mary’s Square) is a central square in the middle of Munich that has been the center of the city since 1158. Named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column erected in the center of the square in 1638 in celebration of the end of Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years’ War, the square is lined with historic buildings, including the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus). Once home to medieval markets, celebrations, and tournaments in the 12th century, the square is today a popular tourist attraction among those who come to see the famous Glockenspiel in the Neues Rathaus’ tower and the Gothic ballroom and tower of the Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus). A bustling pedestrian zone Marienplatz with Karlsplatz is lined with numerous restaurants and shops.

Marienplatz, Marienplatz 1, 80331 München, Germany