What to do in Munich in a day?
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Published on 11/27/24, modified on 9/22/26
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Munich, the capital of Bavaria, combines a compact old town, vast parks, and a beer culture that’s anything but a cliché! And here’s some good news: it’s easy to get there by train from Paris in less than 6 hours.
All trains from France depart from Paris Gare de l'Est and arrive at München Hauptbahnhof, the central station. From there, it's a 15- to 20-minute walk to Marienplatz, or a few minutes by S-Bahn or U-Bahn.
Good to know: The overnight train that connected Paris to Munich (and Vienna) was discontinued in December 2025. Today, the trip is available only during the day.
Another option if you like night trains And if you want to take this opportunity to explore another iconic city along the way: take a first night train European Sleeper as far as Hamburg, spend a day there exploring the city, then follow it up with a night train Nox as far as Munich. Two iconic German cities, two nights on board, zero nights in a hotel.
Once you're there, the old town is easy to explore on foot. To get around further afield, the MVV transit system (S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, and bus) serves all neighborhoods, and a day pass quickly pays for itself if you're planning to visit multiple sites in a row.
In Munich, there’s no shortage of things to do. Start, for example, at Marienplatz, the heart of the city, dominated by the neo-Gothic facade of the New City Hall. In its tower, the Glockenspiel comes to life every day at 11 a.m. and noon, as well as at 5 p.m. from March through October. Its figurines reenact two scenes from Munich’s history: a royal wedding from 1568 and the coopers’ dance. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early—the square fills up quickly.
Just a few hundred meters away, the two towers of the Frauenkirche, the 15th-century Gothic cathedral, are visible from afar. Admission to the church is free, and an elevator takes you up to the glass-enclosed room in the south tower, 80 meters high. Tickets for the tower are sold only on site. Prefer a bit of a workout? Climb the roughly 300 steps of the Alter Peter, the bell tower of the city’s oldest parish church: it offers one of the most beautiful views of the Old Town.
Right next door, the Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s largest market, which has been there for over 200 years. At lunchtime, its Biergarten under the chestnut trees becomes the Old Town’s dining hall. The best part: you can bring your own food, as long as you buy your drinks there. Don’t miss the Hofbräuhaus either—the city’s most famous brewery, located on the small cobblestone square known as the Platzl.
For a taste of royal grandeur, head to the Residenz, the former palace of the Wittelsbach family and Germany’s largest inner-city palace, bordered by the Hofgarten. A little further away, Nymphenburg Palace is accessible by tram: its vast Baroque park is open to the public year-round.
And when the sun is out, head to the Englischer Garten. Covering 375 hectares, it’s one of the largest urban parks in the world, featuring lawns, the Monopteros Temple, and a beer garden at the foot of the Chinese Tower. At the south entrance, near the Haus der Kunst, watch from the small bridge as surfers ride the wave on the Eisbach. The show is free, but the wave is reserved for experienced surfers, and swimming is prohibited there.
Want to spend a full day in the city? We've put together two itineraries for you—one for sunny days and one for rainy days:
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What to do in Munich in a day?
And if you're in Munich from late September through early October, you'll be right in the middle of Oktoberfest, the world's largest folk festival, held at the Theresienwiese. In 2026, it will take place from September 19 to October 4. Admission to the grounds and the tents is free. Only the Alte Wiesn, the area that brings the Oktoberfest of yesteryear back to life, requires an admission fee.
Munich is also an excellent base for exploring the region by train:
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Munich is one of Central Europe's major rail hubs. During the day, Railjet trains speed toward Vienna, and EuroCity trains travel to Innsbruck, Verona, and Venice, crossing the Alps along the way.
In the evening, it’s time for the night trains. A Nightjet departs every evening from München Ost and arrives in Venice the next morning. A EuroNight runs to Zagreb, and another, operated by PKP Intercity, takes you to Kraków via Salzburg and Vienna—a route we’ve covered in detail in our dedicated guide.
And if you're stopping over in the Austrian capital, be sure to make the most of your visit:
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