Munich on $60, $150 or $400 a day
Munich is Bavaria's proud capital — a city that effortlessly balances world-class museums and BMW engineering with beer garden culture, medieval town squares, and the gateway to the Alps. Orderly, prosperous, and beautiful, it is consistently ranked among Europe's most liveable and most visited cities.
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Plan by budget
One city, three ways to travel it.
How much does Munich cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $60 a day, mid-range trips run around $150, and luxury starts near $400 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included. That makes Munich the joint 23rd most expensive of 110 cities for a mid-range trip (see all 110 ranked).
Daily budget · Budget
Munich is more expensive than most German cities, but still very manageable on a budget. A litre of beer in a beer garden costs €5–8, the MVV transit system is excellent, and the Englischer Garten is one of the world's greatest free parks. Avoid Oktoberfest season for accommodation.
Where your money goes
How to Get There
What to Do
The first Nazi concentration camp, now Germany's foundational memorial — free to enter, essential to understand, best visited with a guide.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →The Wittelsbachs' summer palace — a baroque façade wider than Versailles, swan-filled canals, and the hall where Ludwig II was born.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →FC Bayern's glowing spaceship — 75,000 seats, the tunnel walk, and a museum with more silverware than shelf.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Award-winning hostel near central station, great facilities
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Budget hotel-hostel hybrid, clean and well-located near station
Check prices on Klook →Hostel accommodation with dorm beds and, usually, a few private rooms.
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Where to Eat
Chinesischer Turm beer garden, authentic and massive, locals only
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Altstadt & Beer Hall
Viktualienmarkt for breakfast: Weisswurst (the traditional Bavarian white sausage, eaten before noon with sweet mustard and a Weissbier - €5 total). The market is the best introduction to Bavarian food culture. Then Marienplatz (free) and the Frauenkirche (free).
Deutsches Museum (€15 - submarine walk-through, the first working airplane, the original Enigma machine, musical instruments from around the world). Allow 3-4 hours. Lunch at the museum cafe (€10).
Hofbrauhaus for a liter of Hofbrau (a Mass, €12 - expensive for Munich standards but obligatory once). Weisswurst if you missed it at breakfast. Then a local beer garden for the rest of the evening: the Augustinerkeller (Arnulfstrasse, the most genuine beer garden in Munich, liter €10, excellent food).
Museums & the English Garden
Sunday: all three Pinakotheken for €1 each (€3 total for three world-class museums). Alte Pinakothek for Rubens, Dürer, Raphael; the Neue Pinakothek for Van Gogh and Klimt; the Pinakothek der Moderne for the design museum with a BMW 507 in it. Allow 2h per museum if interested.
Lunch in Schwabing (the student cafes, €7-10 for a full meal). English Garden afternoon: the Eisbach surfers (free), the Chinesischer Turm beer garden (liter €10, snacks €5-8), nude sunbathing meadow if the weather holds. The park in summer is Munich at its most free.
Glockenbachviertel dinner: a natural wine bar for €20-25 (wine, charcuterie, cheese). The neighborhood stays lively until late without the beer hall crowds.
Day Trip: Neuschwanstein or Dachau
Train to Fussen (2h, €28 return) for Neuschwanstein Castle (€15 - Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle, the original for Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle; the view from the Marienbrücke bridge above it is the famous one). Book timed entry online (essential in peak season). Or: Train to Dachau (30 min, €12 return) for the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (free - sobering and important; 4h minimum).
Continue exploring the Fussen/Schwangau area or return from Dachau for an afternoon at the Nymphenburg Palace gardens (gardens free, palace €15).
Return to Munich. Final beer: the Augustinerkeller or the Paulaner am Nockherberg (the original Paulaner brewery site, excellent Dunkel). Dinner: a Haidhausen neighborhood restaurant for €15-18.
Eat lunch at the Viktualienmarkt — sausages and a pretzel for €5. The Deutsches Museum is the world's best science museum at €15. The MVV day ticket covers all transport for €10. Sleep in Maxvorstadt or Schwabing for cheaper hostel rates. The Englischer Garten's beer gardens are authentic, not touristy.
Daily budget · Mid-range
Mid-range Munich is superb — boutique hotels in Maxvorstadt or Glockenbachviertel, excellent Bavarian restaurants and international cuisine, day trips to Neuschwanstein, Dachau, and the Alps, and easy access to every major museum. The city rewards spending a little more.
Where your money goes
How to Get There
What to Do
The Wittelsbachs' summer palace — a baroque façade wider than Versailles, swan-filled canals, and the hall where Ludwig II was born.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →FC Bayern's glowing spaceship — 75,000 seats, the tunnel walk, and a museum with more silverware than shelf.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Mad King Ludwig's fairy-tale castle in the Alps — the one Disney copied, two hours from Munich, and strictly a book-ahead affair.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Elegant boutique on Maximilianstrasse, Mark's Restaurant on site
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Upper-tier international hotel: larger rooms, a pool or spa at most properties, central location.
Check prices on Klook →Four-star chain hotel, reliably comfortable rooms and full service without luxury pricing.
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Where to Eat
Chestnut-shaded garden in Neuhausen, the locals' favourite
Map ↗Best traditional Bavarian restaurant in the old town, stunning room
Map ↗Stylish all-day brasserie near the opera, excellent Bavarian cuisine
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Art & Beer Culture
Alte Pinakothek (€8 - the finest collection of Old Masters in Germany: Rubens' massive canvases, Dürer's self-portraits, Raphael's Canigiani Holy Family). Then Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel at 11am. Coffee at the Cafe Luitpold (Munich's grand cafe, since 1888, €12 for coffee and Kuchen).
Viktualienmarkt lunch (€12-15 at a market stall). Afternoon: Residenz Museum (€9 - the Wittelsbach royal palace complex in the city centre, 130 rooms; the Antiquarium is the largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps). The Treasury (€9 separate or €14 combined) has the finest collection of royal jewels in Germany.
Dinner at Tantris (the legendary Munich restaurant, reopened in 2021, €80-100 for the full menu - the finest cuisine in Munich, book ahead). Or a traditional Wirtschaft (inn): Zum Franziskaner (Residenzstrasse, €35-45, excellent Bavarian food in a wood-panelled hall).
Nymphenburg & Olympic Park
Nymphenburg Palace (€15 - the full baroque complex, the Amalienburg hunting lodge inside the grounds, the porcelain museum). The canal and grounds are free. The palace in winter has the best light. Coffee at the palace cafe.
Olympic Park (grounds free, tower €9) - the 1972 Olympic stadium and the story of the Munich massacre is in the Documentation Centre (€5). The BMW World (free) and BMW Museum (€12) are adjacent - even non-car enthusiasts will be impressed by the building.
Dinner in Schwabing: the Tantris or the Osteria Italiana (€40-55, Schwabing's oldest Italian, the one where Ancelotti and the Bayern squad always went). Beer at the Chinesischer Turm to close.
Alps Day Trip
Train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (90 min, €28 each way by Bayern-Ticket). Zugspitze ascent (€72 return - the highest peak in Germany, 2,962m; the panorama on a clear day covers Austria, Switzerland, and Italy). Book online, weather-dependent.
Lunch at the Zugspitze summit restaurant. Return by a different route (cogwheel train down one side, cable car the other - same ticket). Afternoon walk around the Partnach Gorge (€3 entry).
Return to Munich. Farewell dinner at Augustiner-Stammhaus (Neuhauser Strasse - the original Augustiner brewery tavern, the best traditional Bavarian food in Munich, €30-40). A final Mass of Munich's finest lager.
Book Neuschwanstein tickets 3 months ahead — no exceptions. Stay in Glockenbachviertel or Maxvorstadt for the best atmosphere. Altes Hackerhaus is the best traditional Bavarian restaurant in the old town. The Deutsche Bahn day return to Salzburg takes 2 hours and costs €30–50.
Daily budget · Luxury
Luxury Munich means the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, a private BMW factory tour, box seats at Allianz Arena, and tasting menus at Alois — Dallmayr's Michelin-starred restaurant. Augsburg and Berchtesgaden make exceptional day trips by chauffeured car.
Where your money goes
How to Get There
What to Do
The Wittelsbachs' summer palace — a baroque façade wider than Versailles, swan-filled canals, and the hall where Ludwig II was born.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →FC Bayern's glowing spaceship — 75,000 seats, the tunnel walk, and a museum with more silverware than shelf.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Mad King Ludwig's fairy-tale castle in the Alps — the one Disney copied, two hours from Munich, and strictly a book-ahead affair.
Read guide → Map ↗ Get tickets on Tiqets →Where to Stay
Schwabing address, exceptional spa, Michelin-starred Sophia's
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Munich's most celebrated hotel, Maximilianstrasse landmark since 1858
Map ↗ Check prices on Klook →Palatial suites in Munich's historic grand hotel, rooftop bar
Map ↗Where to Eat
Elegant fine dining with modern Bavarian cuisine, excellent cellar
2 Michelin stars inside Munich's legendary delicatessen
3 Michelin stars — Bavaria's greatest restaurant experience
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Private Munich
Private guided tour of the Residenz - the royal apartments, the treasury (the St George's Statuette set with 2,291 diamonds, rubies, and emeralds), and the Antiquarium. A historian explains the Wittelsbachs, the strangest ruling family in European history (including Ludwig II). Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Munich or Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski.
Lunch at Tantris (the full €150pp experience, wine included - reserve months ahead). Private afternoon: the Nymphenburg porcelain manufactory (private tour and commission a bespoke piece) or BMW's private museum collection (available to special guests).
Dinner at Koy (modern Japanese-German fusion, €120-150pp tasting menu, one of the most interesting restaurants in Munich) or at Atelier (Bayerischer Hof hotel, 2 Michelin stars, €180-220pp). A final whisky or cognac at the hotel bar.
Alps & Neuschwanstein
Private chauffeured day to the Alps: Neuschwanstein Castle private early-access tour before public opening (arranged through a specialist guide), then continue to Zugspitze or the Berchtesgaden salt mines. Lunch at a mountain inn (Bavarian roast pork, Knodel, dark beer).
Continue in the Alps or return via the Starnberger See lake (where Ludwig II drowned mysteriously in 1886 - the memorial cross stands in the water). A boat trip on the lake is easy to arrange.
Return to Munich. Spa at the Mandarin Oriental. Dinner at Geisels Werneckhof (2 Michelin stars, €180-200pp, the finest tasting menu in Munich - reserve 2 months ahead).
Opera, Markets & Farewell
Private Pinakothek experience - the Alte Pinakothek before public opening with a curator who specializes in Northern Renaissance. The room of Rubens' large-format canvases in silence is an overwhelming experience. Then the Residenz Treasury for a private second look.
Lunch at Tantris Maison (the Tantris wine bar and bistro, more casual, €60-80). Shopping on Maximilianstrasse: Hermès, Bulgari, Bottega Veneta - Munich's luxury shopping street. The Kunsthalle München for a temporary exhibition.
Farewell dinner at Atelier or the Schwarzreiter (€150-180pp, regional Bavarian produce at its most refined). Final opera or concert at the Bayerische Staatsoper (book through hotel concierge - last-minute house seats are sometimes available).
The Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski is Munich's finest hotel — suites overlook Maximilianstrasse. Arrange a private BMW Welt factory and museum tour. Alois restaurant at Dallmayr needs booking 4–6 weeks ahead. A helicopter to Neuschwanstein via the Alps is one of Bavaria's most spectacular experiences.
Sight guides
Munich Sight Guides
About Munich
When to go, and what it's like on the ground.
Best time to visit
May - June, September - October
Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. May-June: the beer gardens open, the Alps are snow-capped but accessible, and the city is in full civic bloom - the best weather for sightseeing. September-October: Oktoberfest (the last two weeks of September and first week of October) draws 6-7 million visitors - book accommodation a year ahead or expect to pay €500+/night. October-April: Munich's Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz, among the finest in Europe) run from late November. Winter skiing in the Alps is 90 minutes away. July-August: hot (30-35 degrees C), excellent for the beer gardens and lakes, but peak tourist season.
- January: -1°C average high, 9 rain days, low crowds
- February: 0°C average high, 8 rain days, low crowds
- March: 5°C average high, 9 rain days, low crowds
- April: 9°C average high, 10 rain days, moderate crowds
- May: 13°C average high, 11 rain days, moderate crowds
- June: 16°C average high, 12 rain days, high season
- July: 18°C average high, 11 rain days, high season
- August: 18°C average high, 11 rain days, high season
- September: 14°C average high, 8 rain days, high season
- October: 9°C average high, 7 rain days, moderate crowds
- November: 4°C average high, 9 rain days, low crowds
- December: 0°C average high, 10 rain days, moderate crowds
Getting around
Getting around Munich
Munich has an excellent integrated public transport network (MVV): U-Bahn (metro), S-Bahn (suburban rail), trams, and buses. A single inner-zone ticket costs €3.70; a day ticket costs €9.20. The airport is 40 minutes by S-Bahn (S1 or S8, €13.60) - buy the Airport-City-Day-Ticket for €16 if visiting on the way in. The city is very cyclable (Munich is flat). Taxis are expensive (€2.70 flag fall) - use U-Bahn wherever possible. The main station (Hauptbahnhof) connects to Vienna (4h), Zurich (3.5h), Berlin (4h), and the Alps. Intercity rail is excellent in Bavaria.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Germany — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
On foot
Walking routes in Munich.
Marienplatz and the market, the cathedral and the Residenz, finishing at the river surfers.
Königsplatz and the Pinakotheken, then north into the biggest city park in Europe.
Nymphenburg in the morning, the Glockenspiel and the tower of Alter Peter, lunch at the market, the Asamkirche and the Residenz, a beer garden in the English Garden and the Hofbräuhaus by night.
Where to stay
Munich, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
Altstadt & Marienplatz
The old city centre: Marienplatz is the main square with the Neues Rathaus Glockenspiel (the mechanical clock carillon that performs at 11am and noon - free, very touristy but genuinely impressive at 85 bells). The Frauenkirche (the twin-domed cathedral, free) and the Viktualienmarkt (the outdoor food market, open daily - the best place for Bavarian sausages and bread for breakfast) are both here. The Hofbrauhaus (the most famous beer hall in the world, since 1589) is 2 minutes from Marienplatz - expensive and tourist-heavy, but you should go once.
Best for mid-rangeMaxvorstadt & Museum Quarter
The museum district: the Pinakotheken (three world-class art museums in 5 minutes of each other - Alte Pinakothek for Old Masters €8, Neue Pinakothek for 19th century €8, Pinakothek der Moderne for contemporary art and design €12). Sunday entry is €1 at all three. The Deutsches Museum (the world's largest science and technology museum, €15 - submarines, planes, musical instruments, chemistry lab where benzene was discovered). The Ludwig Maximilian University neighborhood has the best cafes and the lowest prices in central Munich.
Best for mid-rangeSchwabing
The former bohemian quarter north of the museum district: the English Garden (Englischer Garten) - larger than Central Park, with beer gardens, nude sunbathing meadows, and the artificial Eisbach wave where surfers ride a standing wave in the middle of a city park (year-round, free to watch). The Chinesischer Turm beer garden (the second largest in Munich, 7,000 seats, excellent and relatively affordable). Schwabing has the most affordable restaurants and the most genuine Munich street life.
Best for budgetGlockenbachviertel & Isarvorstadt
The creative southern quarter: Munich's most progressive neighborhood, with natural wine bars, independent coffee shops, and excellent restaurants at prices below the tourist centre. The Isar River banks south of the old city are a free urban beach in summer - Munichers swim in the river, barbecue on the banks, and sunbathe on the gravel. The Mullersches Volksbad (a Art Nouveau public swimming pool, €6 entry) is one of the finest historic baths in Europe.
Best for budgetHaidhausen
The neighborhood east of the Isar: the French Quarter (Franzosisches Viertel) named after the street names, with good neighborhood restaurants and bars that serve locals rather than tourists. The Maximilianeum (the Bavarian state parliament, tours available) on the Maximiliansstrasse connects to Marienplatz across the river. The Gasteig cultural centre is here.
Best for mid-rangeNymphenburg & West Munich
The western royal district: Nymphenburg Palace (€15 - the Wittelsbach summer palace, a 2km-wide baroque complex with canals, gardens, and the Amalienburg hunting lodge inside the grounds - one of the finest rococo interiors in Europe). The Nymphenburg porcelain manufactory is adjacent. The neighborhood is Munich's most prosperous, with excellent restaurants on Nymphenburger Strasse and the Olympic Park (free, the 1972 Olympic site with a tower view at €9).
Best for luxuryLocal etiquette
Dos & Don'ts
Do
- Be punctual — Bavarian punctuality is real
- Greet with "Grüß Gott" — the regional Catholic greeting
- Tip ~10% at restaurants, said aloud to the server when paying
- Carry cash — many beer halls and bakeries are cash-first
- Wait for the green man — never jaywalk
- Make eye contact when toasting "Prost!" at a Bavarian table
Don't
- Skip the Oktoberfest dress code if invited — Tracht is taken seriously
- Be loud in restaurants — Bavarians are warm but not raucous
- Ask for "American" beer — German purity-law beers are the point
- Confuse Bavaria with the rest of Germany — proud distinction
- Photograph beer-tent staff or strangers without asking
- Expect shops on Sundays — closed across Bavaria
Useful phrases
Say it like a local.
Beyond the city
Day trips worth the journey.
Neuschwanstein
Ludwig II's fairytale castle in the Alpine foothills — the Disney inspiration.
Dachau
A sobering memorial at the former concentration camp.
Garmisch & Zugspitze
Germany's highest peak, by cog railway and cable car.
Nuremberg
A reconstructed medieval old town and major WWII history sites.
Where to eat
Must-try dishes.
Weißwurst
White veal-and-parsley sausage eaten before noon with sweet mustard and a pretzel.
Schweinshaxe
Roast pork knuckle with crackling skin, potato dumplings and gravy.
Pretzels & Obatzda
Big soft pretzels with a paprika-cheese spread — the beer-garden classic.
Wiener Schnitzel
Crisp breaded veal cutlet with lemon and potato salad.
Leberkäse
A sliced meatloaf served warm in a bun with mustard.
Apfelstrudel
Apple, raisins and cinnamon in flaky pastry with vanilla sauce.
Hefeweizen
Cloudy wheat beer in tall vase glasses — Munich's signature pour.
Travel insurance
Do I need travel insurance for Germany?
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Munich. Safety is rated Very safe - one of the safest large cities in Germany. Standard awareness at Oktoberfest (pickpockets target intoxicated tourists). — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Schengen zone - 90 days visa-free for most nationalities. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Good to know
FAQ: Munich travel questions
Is Munich safe to visit?
Very safe - one of the safest large cities in Germany. Standard awareness at Oktoberfest (pickpockets target intoxicated tourists).
When is the best time to visit Munich?
May - June, September - October Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. May-June: the beer gardens open, the Alps are snow-capped but accessible, and the city is in full civic bloom - the best weather for sightseeing. September-October: Oktoberfest (the last two weeks of September and first week of October) draws 6-7 million visitors - book accommodation a year ahead or expect to pay €500+/night. October-April: Munich's Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz, among the finest in Europe) run from late November. Winter skiing in the Alps is 90 minutes away. July-August: hot (30-35 degrees C), excellent for the beer gardens and lakes, but peak tourist season.
How much does a trip to Munich cost per day?
- Budget $60–$95 / day
- Mid-range $150–$250 / day
- Luxury $400–$700 / day
Do I need a visa to visit Germany?
Schengen zone - 90 days visa-free for most nationalities
How do I get around Munich?
Munich has an excellent integrated public transport network (MVV): U-Bahn (metro), S-Bahn (suburban rail), trams, and buses. A single inner-zone ticket costs €3.70; a day ticket costs €9.20. The airport is 40 minutes by S-Bahn (S1 or S8, €13.60) - buy the Airport-City-Day-Ticket for €16 if visiting on the way in. The city is very cyclable (Munich is flat). Taxis are expensive (€2.70 flag fall) - use U-Bahn wherever possible. The main station (Hauptbahnhof) connects to Vienna (4h), Zurich (3.5h), Berlin (4h), and the Alps. Intercity rail is excellent in Bavaria. Munich has a metro system. Taxi base fare ~$3. Day pass ~$9.
Is tipping expected in Munich?
10% is standard and expected at restaurants. Round up for taxis. At beer gardens and casual places, round up generously. Say the amount when paying (e.g. "25 euros" and hand over 30) - do not leave it on the table.
What currency is used in Germany?
The local currency is EUR (€), and the official language is German (Bavarian dialect - locals appreciate any attempt).
Compare
Munich vs other cities
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