How to spend 48 hours in Munich

Anyone who has ever visited Munich will tell you that the first thing you should do is visit Marienplatz, also known as Mary’s Square. The city’s most famous square has been in use since the 12th century and has played host to scores of markets and tournaments in the middle ages. This is the perfect place to kick-start your 48 hours in Munich. The Marian column with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary on top is where the square gets its name from. Wander around its many historical buildings and pay a visit to Rathaus-Glockenspiel. Built in the early 20th century, the glockenspiel chimes every day at 11am and 12pm and enacts stories from the middle ages, with court jesters, knights, horses, the whole works. The 15 minute performance is worth making time for. 

Built in the 19th century, a tour around the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the top Munich things to do. Built by King Ludwig II, the castle embodies the Romanesque style of architecture. Discover the curiously modern fittings of this very medieval looking castle, from toilets with automatic flushing to a heating system. Located atop a hill in the midst of the Bavarian Alps, the castle offers spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains and lush alpine forests. With soaring turrets, elaborate frescos and ornate halls, you’ll not find a more idyllic fairy tale castle.   

It’s not often that you get to visit a market that dates back to 1807, which is why, enjoying an al fresco lunch at the Viktualienmarkt should be on top of your Munich things to do list. Spread over 22,000 square metres, this 200-year old market is home to over 140 stalls. With a crowd of both locals and tourists, this is a great place to get to know the real Munich. Tuck into freshly made pretzels, delicious bratwurst and weisswurst, and delightful desserts, amongst various other lip-smacking treats. 

Undeniably, one of the best things about Munich is its numerous beer gardens. While beer gardens in Munich are a dime a dozen, the one to put on your what to do in Munich list is Hofbräuhaus. The cradle of Bavarian tavern culture, Hofbräuhaus was built nearly five centuries ago and is the oldest and most famous beer hall in the city. So famous, it has been known to have been frequented by Mozart, Lenin, and Hitler. Settle down and enjoy the trademark brew along with a delicious Bavarian meal, complemented by charming Bavarian live music. 

Immerse yourself in art and technology at one the world’s oldest and largest museums of science and technology. Founded over 100 years ago, it boasts 28,000 exhibits from 50 fields of science and technology. The genre of the exhibits range from astronomy and nanotechnology, to musical instruments and clocks. You’re never too old to learn something new, so prepare for a wonderful hands-on experience, learning about early computers, cars, microscopes and more.

Opened in 1973, the BMW museum is a car lover’s paradise. Even if you’re not interested in what lies under the hood, the mere sight of some of BMW’s sleek and sophisticated classic beauties is sure to set your heart aflutter. The museum offers up to 14 guided tours, with experiences varying from a Car Designing Workshop in the BMW Creative Tour, to dismantling of a vehicle in Vehicle Recycling Tour. 

At the neighbouring BMW Welt building, you can opt for a factory tour that will take you behind the scenes to experience the manufacturing of one of the world’s most loved car brands. With smooth lines, seamless contours, and Double Cone geometry, the elegant and futuristic architecture of BMW Welt makes the building a museum exhibit in itself – enough reason to add it to your what to do in Munich list.  

The Dachau Concentration Camp was opened in 1933. In the twelve years of its existence, over 200,000 prisoners from all over Europe were kept here and in the subsidiary camps, before American troops liberated the survivors. In 1965, through the initiative of the surviving prisoners, a memorial site was established on the grounds. Visit the various sections of the memorial site, including the permanent exhibitions, the bunkers, and the crematorium area, for a grim reminder of the best and worst of human nature.

Now that you’ve seen all the top Munich things to do and spent a divine 48 hours in Munich, it is time to relax and take in the sights from a wonderful vantage point – Restaurant 181. Watch the world pass by from the 360 degree revolving restaurant as you sip on delicious cocktails and enjoy a Feinschmecker (gourmet) menu, 181 metres above the city.