Top 4 Spots for Culture Lovers in Munich

Discover the European cultural legacy by visiting the royal residencies, museums, and galleries of Munich.

2 min read•Oct 31, 2019•By Mandy Hegarty

Friends enjoy beer on a sunny day in Munich

Hi, I'm Mandy!

Mandy Hegarty is a writer who specializes in food and travel. Currently based in Dublin, Ireland, she’s previously lived in New York, London, and Montreal. She has written for the likes of Time Out New York, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines.

The 19th-century Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria shaped their capital in the image of Europe’s cultural behemoths, transforming Munich into 'Athens on the Isar River'. It’s a legacy that continues today, as Munich remains an important European cultural center. Here are some ways to explore Munich’s cultural side.

Go museum-hopping at the Kunstareal

A visitor explores Kunstareal. | Photo Credit: frantic00 / Shutterstock

Visit Munich’s top museums in one swoop with a visit to Kunstareal, Munich’s museum quarter. Here, you find the three Pinakotheken galleries—Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek), New Pinakothek (New Pinakothek), and Pinakothek der Moderne—as well as Lenbachhaus art gallery and Museum Brandhorst. Admission to some of these institutions is included as part of multiattraction sightseeing passes.

Visit royal residences

Neuschwanstein Castle can be visited on a day trip. | Photo Credit: Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock

The former palaces of Bavarian royals are scattered around Munich and the surrounding regions. They serve both as architectural eye candy and as repositories for art, antiques, and decorative objects. Some, such as the Munich Residenz (Residenz München) and Baroque-style Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), are situated within Munich itself, while others, such as Linderhof Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Hohenschwangau Castle, can be easily visited as part of day trips.

Catch a music performance

Enjoying a Bavarian beer in the city. | Photo Credit: paparazzza / Shutterstock

A night out at a concert is a classic Munich activity. Attend orchestral performances at the Rococo-style Cuvilliés Theater, Max Joseph Hall, or the Hofkapelle (Court Chapel)—all of which are in the Munich Residence. For something less formal, catch oompah bands performing at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall.

Attend Oktoberfest

Revelers enjoy Oktoberfest. | Photo Credit: anandoart / Shutterstock

Immerse yourself in traditional Bavarian culture at this world-famous festival, which starts in mid-September and features parades, processions, and a fairground. Attendees don traditional Bavarian garb while they eat, drink, and dance the days away. Some packages include a tour of Theresienwiese, the festival site, as well as food, beer, and reserved spaces in an Oktoberfest tent.