As the capital city of Bavaria, Munich is also the third largest city in Germany and lies on the River Isar on the fringes of the Bavarian Alps.Although Oktoberfest and biergartens are a big part of Munich life, they aren't the only things going for this cosmopolitan city. You'll also find several interesting museums, galleries and varied attractions.
TOP 8 PLACES TO SEE
1.MUNICH’S MAGNIFICENT RESIDENZ
The museum is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most spectacular palaces. Laid out around seven large courts, the complex comprises three main sections: Königsbau, Alte Residenz and the Festsaalbau. Built in 1579 was the magnificent Antiquarium, it now part of the Residenz Museum. The Residenz is home to a number of monuments and museums, such as the Residenz Museum, the Treasury, the Court Church of All Saints and Cuvilliés-Theater.
2.FRAUENKIRCHE – THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF OUR LADY
Since 1821 the Cathedral has been the main metropolitan church of the South Bacarion. The brick-built Late Gothic church with high walls and 100 meter tall twin towers with Renaissance domes was competed in 1488. A sort walk from the Cathedral you will find a long green spaces known as Promenadeplatz with statues of the Prince Elector Max Emanuel, the composers Christoph Willibald Gluck and Orlando di Lasso, and the Bavarian historian Lorenz von Westenrieder.
3.NYMPHENBURG PALACE
Originally built as the summer residence of the Wittelsbach Electors in the 17th century. The large white and gray Baroque palace with yellow ornamentation and red tiled roofs extending more than 600 meters from wing to wing, and surrounded on each side by the Nymphenburg Canal, which splits as it passes around the main buildings before reuniting again in a fountain-adorned pool in front of the principal façade. Visit the Central Pavilion an Italian villa style palace completed in 1674 to view the lavishly decorated three-story Stone Hall and a number of private chambers with fine furnishings and artwork. The Palace Chapel with its wonderfully expressive ceiling painting illustrating the life of Mary Magdalene, and the Marstallmuseum in the former Court Stables with its beautiful state coaches is also a must see. Other features is the Amalienburg Hunting Lodge, The Hall of Mirrors, Nympenburg Park, Palm House and Heckentheater.
4.HELLABRUNN ZOO
The zoo ranked the fourth best zoo in Europe in 2013 and is one of the most popular attractions in Bavaria. The zoo has more than 19,000 animals from 757 species they grouped the animals according to where they come from and held them in open enclosures meant to replicate the conditions of the wild. Other highlights include the Elephant House, the enormous 5,000 square meter free-flight aviary, the Polarium and ape houses.
5.ASAM CHURCH
Completed in 1746 the church dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk is richly decorated with stucco figures, frescoes, and oil paintings. The impressive exterior, particularly the large doorway flanked by massive columns and crowned by a figure of St. John kneeling in prayer is the most memorable. Highlights include a wrought-iron grille from 1776,the projecting cornice under the ceiling with its magnificent fresco depicting the life of St. John and the high altar, enclosed by four twisted columns and on which sits a glass shrine containing a wax figure of the church's patron saint.
6.ST. PETER’S CHURCH
The church built in Gothic style in 1386 is Munich’s oldest parish church and stands on Petersberg a small hill originally settled by monks. In 1636 the church was altered with a addition of a Baroque choir with three apses and the tower was given a lantern dome. Interior highlights include the font by Hans Krumper, the red marble monuments, the 15th-century Schrenk Altar with its sculptures of the Crucifixion, the Last Judgment, the 20-meter-tall 18th-century high altar with its figures of the Four Fathers of the Church and St. Peter, panel-paintings on the choir walls from 1756 and the 299-step tower with its eight clock and panoramic views as far as the Alps.
7.CUVILLIES THEATER
Built in 1755 the theater is a fine example of a Rococo theater with tiered boxes in Germany. During WWII the magnificent carved woodwork of the auditorium of the tiers of boxes was safely stored until it was reconstructed in 1958.
8.MODERN PICTURE GALLERY
Completed in 2002, the sleek glass and concrete museum holds a number of exhibits related to modern art, architecture and design, including the Bavarian State collection of graphic art and the Technical University's architectural museum.
OTHER PLACES TO SEE
- English Garden
- Marienplatz
- New Town Hall
- The Olympic Park
- The Bacaria Statue and Hall of Fame
- Konigsplatz and the Kunstareal District
- National Theater Munich and the Bavarian State Opera
- The Theatine Church of St. Cajetan
- Old Picture Gallery
- Residenz Royal Palace
- BMW Welt and Museum
- Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm
- Augustiner-Keller
- Burial Place of the Kings: St. Michael’s Church
- Allianz Arena Stadium
- Deutsches Museum
- Hofbrauhaus and Platzl
- Neushwanstein Castle
- Viktualienmark
- Lindefhof Palace
- Rathaus-Glockenspiel
- Museum Brandhorst
- Odeonsplatz
- Bavarian National Museum
Munich's efficient public-transport system is composed of buses, trams, the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn.
The best time to visit Munich is from March to May: fall's crowds have long since departed, and summer's peak season hasn't yet hit.
