Marienplatz Tours
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A public plaza in the center of Munich, Marienplatz is full of history—it’s been the city’s main square and central heart of Munich’s Old Town (Altstadt) since 1158. Marienplatz is a popular gathering spot and possibly the busiest location in all of Munich, with crowds of locals and tourists visiting its landmarks, shops, and restaurants on foot from early morning until late at night.
The Basics
The pedestrian-only Marienplatz is at the center of Munich—both literally and figuratively—and is bordered by a variety of historic structures and shopping markets. In the middle of the square is St. Mary’s Column (Mariensaule), topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a trip up to the top of the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) tower offers panoramic views of Munich; on clear days, you can see all the way to the Bavarian Alps. Historic city tours often begin at Marienplatz, and most bike tours, walking tours, and city sightseeing tours pass through the square as well.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Head to Marienplatz to watch the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel’s 43 bells and 32 figures perform their song and dance. Shows are at 11am and 12pm year-round, as well as at 5pm in summer.
- The best views of the Glockenspiel show are from the top floor of the Hugendubel bookstore and the Cafe Glockenspiel.
- While there are some flat cobblestones, Marienplatz is widely wheelchair-accessible.
- For the quintessential Munich experience, be sure to visit a hofbrauhaus (beer garden) close to the square.
How to Get There
Marienplatz is located in the heart of Munich’s Old Town. All of Munich’s major landmarks are easily accessible from the centrally located Marienplatz subway station.
When to Get There
Marienplatz is a public square, with varied opening times for the different businesses located there. During the holiday season, one of Munich’s most celebrated Christmas markets is held on the plaza. In summer, the square hosts viktualienmarkt (farmers markets) and musical buskers.
Neues Rathaus and the Glockenspiel
At the top of the Neues Rathaus’ tower is the famous Glockenspiel clock. Every day it chimes at 11am and noon, as well as 5pm in summer. The Glockenspiel portrays two stories from the 16th century, with the top half of the clock acting out the marriage of the local duke (Wilhelm V) to Renata of Lorraine and the bottom half telling the story of the Schafflertanz, or Coopers’ Dance. Legend says that Munich’s coopers danced through the streets during the plague of 1517 to bring vitality to the city.
Address: Altstadt-Lehel, Munich 80331, Germany
23 Tours & Activities to Experience
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US$19,63
Munich Christmas Markets Tour
- Soak up the holiday spirit with a 2-hour tour of the Munich Christmas markets. With more than 20 holiday markets across the city, follow a guide through Munich's Old Town to explore the city's festive offerings, including Christkindlmarkt in Marienplatz. Shop for handmade Bavarian gifts, sip on glühwein (mulled wine), and try lebkuchen, the gingerbread cookie that has been a local Christmas staple since the 14th century.
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US$19,63
Munich City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Get acquainted with Munich the easy way on a fun, flexible hop-on hop-off city bus tour. Choose a 24-hour Express Tour to check out Munich’s main highlights or a 24-hour or 48-hour Grand Tour ticket to widen your sightseeing net. Either way, settle aboard an open-top double-decker bus, listen to the enlightening onboard commentary, and enjoy panoramic views of sites such as the Marienplatz, Hofbrauhaus, Viktualienmarkt and more. Hop off at the stops that interest you, explore on foot and then re-board the bus at any stop you wish.
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Munich Old Town Walking Tour
- First time in Munich? Take in the best bits of the Bavarian capital on this 2-hour walking tour of Munich’s Old Town. Admire architectural wonders like the Old Town Hall, St Peter’s Church and the Munich Residenz; stroll through the lively Viktualienmarkt; and see the world-famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall. Accompanied by an expert guide, you’ll have ample opportunities to learn more about Munich’s history, cultural heritage and beer-brewing legacy, while walking between the central squares of Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz.
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Panoramic Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of Munich by Double-Decker Bus
- Marvel at Munich’s monuments, parks and famous beer halls on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Combine the ease of a tour with the flexibility of independent travel and see the city sights at your own pace with a 24- or 48-hour pass. The 1-hour route passes all the city’s most popular attractions including the Nymphenburg Palace, Odeonsplatz and Olympic Park. Listen to the on-board audio commentary or jump off to explore the English Garden, stroll around lively Marienplatz or enjoy a beer (own expense) at the legendary Hofbräuhaus beer hall.
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Classic Munich Bike Tour in the Morning
- Hop in the saddle for a 4-hour bike tour of Munich, and discover the charms of the Bavarian capital as you explore it on two wheels. With a local guide, you’ll pedal past landmarks such as Odeonsplatz with its Italianate architecture and the landscaped English Garden. Hear fun facts about life in the city as you go, and enjoy an hour-long stop at the Chinese Tower beer garden for food and drink (own expense).
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US$277,09
Munich Walking Tour with a Private Guide
- See the sights of Munich with your own private guide for a group of up to eight people, and enjoy a pickup direct from your accommodation. The 3-hour tour takes in all of the Bavarian city's showpiece sights including the Royal Residence, Marienplatz, and the Ohel Jakob Synagogue, along with commentary about the history of each landmark. Finish up near the Viktualienmarkt food market -- a perfect setting for a Bavarian lunch.
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US$38,48
Private Munich Old Town Walking Tour
- Enhance your experience of Munich’s Old Town on a private 2-hour walking tour, designed for first-time visitors seeking a personalized experience. Tick off highlights such as Marienplatz, the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady (Frauenkirche), and Victuals Market (Viktualienmarkt), where you’ll browse stalls selling Bavarian delights. Plus, you’ll visit the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall and have the chance to customize your itinerary according to your interests.
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US$184,73
Private Munich Walking Tour
- Discover Munich with a private guide, exploring the enchanting Old Town squares and hearing the city's history. During a walking tour, you'll learn about landmarks such as the Glockenspiel, Munich Hofbräuhaus, and the Royal Residence, and hear tales of wartime history. Find out fun facts about the beer purity law and the annual Oktoberfest, and enjoy photo stops aplenty as you walk your way around the city. The tour is led by a private guide, and the meeting point and start time can be chosen by you.
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Munich Bike Tour with Optional Königsplatz and Olympiapark Visit
- Get to know the best of Munich on this guided, 4-hour bike tour. Learn the history of this popular city, along with fascinating stories and facts, while riding around its open parks, elegant plazas, meandering riverbanks and winding, medieval alleyways. This tour includes stops at gathering spots like Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz, plus Englischer Garten for a break at the Chinese Tower beer garden. Upgrade to a 5-hour tour and see Königsplatz, or a 7-hour tour to visit Olympiapark, BMW Welt and Nymphenburg Palace. Use of a bike and helmet included.
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US$38,48
Private Munich Old Town and Third Reich Walking Tour
- See some of Munich’s top attractions and discover its days of Third Reich rule on this private, guided, 2-hour walking tour around the city’s Old Town. Learn about the history of Munich as well as the Third Reich’s rise to power here. This tour features visits to historic landmarks like Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Viktualienmarkt. Then explore those sites associated with Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party, like the building where he first joined the Nazis, the former headquarters of the Gestapo and much more.
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US$67,02
Munich Super Saver: City Bike Tour plus Bavarian Beer and Food Evening
- Get to know the best of Munich on this guided, 3-hour bike tour. Learn the history of this popular city while riding around its open parks, elegant plazas, meandering riverbanks and winding, medieval alleyways. This tour includes stops at gathering spots like Marienplatz, Königsplatz, the Odeonsplatz and more. Ride through Englischer Garten, Europe’s largest city park and stop at the Chinese Tower beer garden for a beverage. Then in the evening, enjoy a 3.5-hour Bavarian beer and food tour. Use of a bike and helmet are included.
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Small-Group Munich and The Third Reich Walking Tour
- Step into a dark time in Munich’s past with a 2-hour walking tour of the city’s most significant Third Reich sites. Learn about German history and culture as you stroll the broad Marienplatz, and get a local perspective on how and why the Nazi party was founded here. See the Hofbrauhaus where Hitler gave early speeches and the site of a failed revolt against the ruling party. Follow a route past other Nazi landmarks then finish your tour near a new museum that explores the history of National Socialism.
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Olympic Games Tour
- We feel passion for Munich and we like to communicate that passion because you enjoy your stay in the city.
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Munich Day Trip from Frankfurt
- Discover top attractions in Bavaria’s bustling capital city on this Munich day trip from Frankfurt. Travel through Munich by double-decker bus and admire the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady, the Old Town Hall, the Marienplatz and the famous Hofbrauhaus beer hall. Pass popular museums and galleries, and listen as your guide shares insight into Munich’s thriving Arts scene. See the pretty English Garden and marvel at Baroque architecture at Nymphenburg Palace. Enjoy free time to sightsee further or browse the shops at your leisure, and perhaps sample traditional Bavarian beer!
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US$69,27
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site And Third Reich Day Tour From Munich
- Explore Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and take a Third Reich walking tour of Munich on this full-day, small-group tour. Visit Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp in Germany during the Holocaust. Learn how it served as a model for all the other camps that followed it and listen to the heart-wrenching stories of Dachau’s many prisoners. Then, return to Munich to see sites associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, and gain insight into this dark period of Munich's past. This tour includes transport and the services of a guide.
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Munich and Nuremberg Day Trip from Frankfurt
- Explore two of Bavaria’s beautiful cities in one day on this Munich and Nuremberg day trip from Frankfurt. Explore Munich by double-decker bus and discover top attractions including the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady and the Old Town Hall. Admire Nymphenburg Palace’s Baroque architecture and sightsee at your leisure. In Nuremberg, take a walking tour through the Old Town and Castle Quarter, where half-timbered houses tell of a bygone era. Listen as your guide explains Nuremburg’s medieval history, and perhaps visit the Germanic National Museum or Nuremberg Castle independently.
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Private Munich Bike Tour
- Pedal through Munich’s scenic streets with a private guide on this 3-hour bike tour, and see firsthand why this Bavarian metropolis ranks as one of the world’s most livable cities. Cycle at your own pace along the bike-friendly streets, winding your way through the timeworn lanes of Munich Old Town and the verdant expanse of the English Garden. Stop as often as you like to take photos, learn more about the sights, or enjoy a well-earned stein in a beer garden.
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Private Munich Walking Tour: City of Beer
- Bavaria is world famous for its beer and this private 3-hour tour of Munich offers the perfect introduction. Enjoy a walking tour of Munich’s Old Town, browse the stalls at the Viktualienmarkt Food Market, then learn all about Bavaria’s beer-making heritage at the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. Finish your visit with an expert-led beer tasting, accompanied by a platter of traditional Bavarian foods.
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Full-Day Tour to Munich and Rothenburg From Frankfurt
- Visit Munich and Rothenburg ob der Tauber on a day trip from Frankfurt, and discover these must-see Bavarian towns through a mix of guided walks and free time. During your morning in Munich, you’ll visit the legendary Hofbräuhaus and soak up the history that abounds in Marienplatz. Spend the afternoon in Rothenburg, strolling through the medieval streets and learning about the town from your guide.
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US$45,03
Superior 5 hour extensive Bike Tour of Munich
- Discover the best of Munich on this comprehensive bike tour. Visit some of the city’s key landmarks such as Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, the Chinese Tower in the English Garden, and much more during five hours. Listen to informative commentary from your guide about the culture and history of the city and finish the tour at the famous Hofbrauhaus.
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The Early Bird Bike Tour
- Rise early for a morning bike tour of Munich without the crowds. Perfect for active types, the experience includes less stops but covers more ground, making it easy to discover Munich in just three hours. Following a guide, you’ll pedal from Marienplatz and along the Isar River bike trail to the tranquil English Garden. Use of a city trekking bike and a helmet are included.
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US$121,71
Private Tour: Munich City Tour and Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
- Explore Munich and take a trip to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site on this private, full-day sightseeing tour. Begin with a guided tour of Munich — the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s most-visited destinations — during which you'll enjoy personalized attention from a dedicated guide while visiting top sites such as Marienplatz, the Deutsches Museum and Hofbräuhaus. Then take a trip to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, the first Nazi concentration camp in Germany. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Munich is included, but entrance fees and meals are at your own expense.
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US$76,75
Munich: Must See Experience with a Local Host
- Discover the very best of Munich in one day! Flexible, personalised and unique; explore the city with a Local Host by your side and see the most famous attractions, iconic views and highlights of the city. You’ll see the best known sights and tick Munich’s top spots off your bucket list, but your Local Host will show you few secret local spots along the way too. See the real Munich with a Local Host who knows the city inside out and can show you a side to the main tourist sites that you’d never find in a travel guide. So ditch the guidebook and get ready to see Munich’s highlights through a local lens!
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