A city that combines the best of classic and modern German culture, life here starts at the very center and radiates out to the suburbs.
Join the crowds at Oktoberfest, sample a real Bavarian Christmas at the festive markets or head out into the lush countryside for fresh air and fairytale castles, with car rental in Munich.
Make for the Marienplatz
Marienplatz is one of the great main squares of Europe, the equivalent of Brussels’ Grand Place in terms of status and beauty. It has been at the heart of life here for centuries, home to a market in the middle ages. At its heart is the column of St. Mary, erected in 1638 but crowned with a statue from 1590.
Confusingly, the Old Town Hall is newer than the New Town Hall. That’s because the Old Town Hall was burnt down in 1460, rebuilt later the same century and then destroyed during World War Two.
The current version was rebuilt after the war from the original plans. The towering New Town Hall, with its imposing Gothic architecture, was finished at the very start of the early 20th century.
While you’re in the square, you’ll also find the Fish Fountain – originally from 1864 but another war casualty rebuilt in 1954 – and the carillon or glockenspiel. The latter attracts visitors for its displays three times a day.
The market and the middle ages
The Viktualienmarkt was moved from Marienplatz to its current location by royal decree in 1807. It combines a daily open-air market and various food halls, it’s the place to come for fish, meat, and local honey, butter and eggs.
Stroll from here to the Frauenkirche, a 15th century church with two gigantic towers that must remain, by law, the tallest in the city. The interior is quite plain (it was heavily reconstructed after bombing raids from the war led to the collapse of the roof) but has an incredible sense of scale and light.
It also hosts a rich collection of notable art spanning from the 14th to the 18th century. See if you can spot the ‘Devil’s Footstep’ on the floor, an original feature.
Elsewhere in Munich, you can discover more elaborately decorated churches, such as St. Michael’s Church (Michaelskirche) and the city’s oldest church, St. Peter’s (Peterskirche).
Modern day Munich
Make time for a whistle-stop tour showcasing Munich’s more modern side. The 75,000-seater soccer stadium Allianz Arena is home to Bayern Munich, one of European soccer's true powerhouses. It looks amazing at night as its exterior changes color.
At Olympiapark, motoring marque BMW have built an incredible glass and steel building to showcase their wares, the BMW Welt, while modern galleries Lenbachhaus (with its impressive Kandinsky and Klee collections) and Pinakothek (Dali, Picasso, Goya and more) cast Munich into the 21st century.
Finish off at the stunning interior of Tantris restaurant. Its sombre outside belies the inside, which is a riot of style. It’s not just about the looks though, the restaurant has held at least two Michelin stars every year since 1974, and it brings Bavaria bang up-to-date.
A city that strides across the centuries with boldness and style, this place is truly rewarding for visitors. Car rental in Munich means you can pack in as much sightseeing as possible, and then strike out into the rest of beautiful Bavaria.
