Weekend in Munich: A Cosy 2-Day Itinerary

If you’re planning a weekend in Munich, expect a city that mixes big-city buzz with storybook charm. Think:
onion-domed churches peeking over red-tiled roofs, parkland bigger than some English villages, and beer gardens
where strangers become friends over a single, brimming stein.

This relaxed weekend in Munich itinerary is ideal for a Friday–Sunday escape.

Getting There & Getting Around

From the UK, Munich is an easy hop – direct flights run regularly from major airports and take around 1 hour 45 minutes.
From Munich Airport (Franz Josef Strauss), follow the signs for the S-Bahn. Lines S1 and
S8 both run into the city centre roughly every 10 minutes and take about 40 minutes.

Once you’re in town, the public transport network is wonderfully simple: U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (suburban trains),
trams and buses all run on the same ticket system, and day tickets give you unlimited travel within your chosen zones.

If the weather behaves itself, you’ll walk a lot – Munich is compact and very strollable – but it’s reassuring knowing
there’s always a tram or U-Bahn to whisk you home after that last stein.

Where to Stay for a Weekend in Munich

For a short break, pick somewhere near:

Altstadt / Marienplatz – ideal if you like to tumble out of your hotel straight into the old town.
Maxvorstadt – close to museums and leafy streets, with a slightly more local feel.
Glockenbachviertel – hip, pretty, and full of cafés and bars for evening people-watching.

Anywhere within or just beyond the central zone will keep you well-placed for all the sights on this
Munich weekend itinerary.

Day One – Old Town Munich Charms & Beer Garden Evenings

Morning: Marienplatz & the Old Town

Start at Marienplatz, Munich’s central square. This is the classic “yes, we really are in Bavaria”
moment – the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus looming over the cobbles and the famous
Glockenspiel chiming away in the tower. Time your visit so you catch the figurines twirling: it
usually plays late morning and again at midday, with an extra show in summer.

From here, duck into the side streets:

Pop into Frauenkirche, with its twin onion domes and simple, soaring interior.
Wander along to Odeonsplatz, flanked by Italianate architecture that feels more Florence than Germany.
Follow your nose down little lanes lined with bakeries, delis and wine shops – ideal for picking up snacks for later.

Late Morning: Viktualienmarkt Grazing

A five-minute stroll from Marienplatz brings you to Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s largest open-air
market and a food-lover’s playground.

Grab a bratwurst or Leberkässemmel (a kind of Bavarian meatloaf in a crusty roll), pick up fruit, cheese or pastries
for later, and find a perch in the market’s own beer garden if the sun is out. It’s perfect for people-watching –
locals doing their weekly shop, tourists dawdling over flowers, and groups of friends clustering around long wooden tables.

Afternoon: Museums or the English Garden

Depending on your mood:

Culture fix: Head to the Residenz (the former royal palace) or one of the art galleries
in Maxvorstadt – the Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek are particularly good for a leisurely wander.
Outdoor fix: Stroll up to the English Garden (Englischer Garten), one of the world’s
largest urban parks, complete with rivers, meadows and the famous surfers on the
Eisbachwelle – yes, actual surfing, in the middle of a city.

If you’re in the park, aim yourself vaguely towards the Chinese Tower beer garden – a huge, atmospheric
space where you can reward your walk with an early evening drink.

Evening: Beer Hall Traditions

You can’t really leave Munich without at least one proper beer hall or beer garden evening. Classics include:

Hofbräuhaus – touristy, yes, but iconic: vaulted ceilings, oompah bands, steins the size of your head.
Augustiner-Keller – one of the city’s oldest beer gardens, shaded by chestnut trees and beloved by locals.

Order a Märzen or Helles, some roast chicken or pork knuckle with dumplings, and lean into the convivial chaos:
clinking glasses, shared tables, and that pleasantly sleepy, “we’re on holiday” feeling as you step back into the night.

Day Two – Palaces, Parks & Rooftop Views

Morning: Nymphenburg Palace

Begin your second day in royal style at Schloss Nymphenburg, the Baroque summer residence of Bavaria’s
rulers. The palace itself is suitably ornate, but the joy here is the grounds – lakes, canals, pavilions and long,
tree-lined avenues where joggers, dog-walkers and families all share the space.

If the weather’s fair, bring a takeaway coffee and wander through the park; in cooler months, it’s still wonderfully
atmospheric with mist curling over the water and the palace gleaming in the background.

Late Morning: Alternative Munich

On your way back into town, detour through a neighbourhood like Schwabing or
Glockenbachviertel for something a little more everyday-Munich:

Independent boutiques and design shops.
Cosy cafés with excellent cakes (look out for Apfelstrudel and cheesecake).
Street art, leafy squares and residential streets to nose at and say things like, “I could definitely live here…”

Afternoon: Olympiapark & BMW

For a change of mood, hop on the U-Bahn to Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Olympics. You can:

Wander around the park and lake.
Head up the Olympiaturm for panoramic views over the city and, on a clear day, the Alps.
Combine it with a visit to BMW Welt or the BMW Museum if you’re fond of shiny cars
and clever engineering.

If views are your thing, you could also time a visit to a rooftop bar back in the centre later – there are several hotels
and terraces that open their bars to non-guests, giving you sunsets over Munich’s spires.

Evening: One Last Stroll

For your final evening, take it gently:

Stroll through the Hofgarten, a formal garden that glows in the early evening light.
Loop back to the old town for a final dinner – perhaps somewhere slightly quieter than the beer halls, serving schnitzel,
seasonal salads and a last glass of Franconian wine or Bavarian beer.
Finish with a wander through the softly lit streets of the Altstadt, church towers silhouetted against the sky.

It’s one of those cities that feels very safe and very walkable, even after dark, and you’ll likely find yourself
promising to come back – perhaps for a longer trip, or for the madness of Oktoberfest one year.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Munich Weekend

Language: German is the official language, of course, but English is widely spoken – especially in
hotels, restaurants and tourist areas.
Payments: Card is accepted almost everywhere, but it’s worth having some euros for markets and smaller kiosks.
Tipping: Round up the bill or add around 5–10% for good service.
Weather: Munich does proper seasons – hot summers, crisp winters. Pack layers and a decent coat outside
of high summer.
Transport: If you’re hopping around the city a lot, a 1-day or multi-day ticket for the local MVV
network is usually better value than buying single tickets each time.

However you shape your weekend in Munich, it’s all about balance: grand palaces and friendly beer gardens,
slow walks and lively evenings, history and everyday life woven together. The sort of place you leave already plotting a return visit.