Cheap things to do in Munich
Free churches, park walks, beer halls, and schnitzels that won't hurt the wallet.
This is Munich for the traveller who wants the real city: rococo chapels, a giant park, a sobering history museum, and cold Augustiner poured from a barrel. You'll eat well at kebap counters and market delis, drink in rooms full of locals, and spend almost nothing on culture. Three days, mostly on foot, no reservations required.
Day 1: Altstadt churches, markets, schnitzel
A morning of free, staggering Baroque architecture and a sobering history centre gives way to cheap market sandwiches and a huge schnitzel in the university quarter.
- 9:30 AM
Rischart Café am Marienplatz
Grab a morning coffee and pastry right on Marienplatz, cheap, classic, and central.
Map - 10:15 AM
Asamkirche
Free entry to one of Munich's most jaw-dropping Rococo chapels, built by two brothers and missed by most tourists.
Map - 12:30 PM
Marinas Feinkost
Cheap, highly-rated sandwiches just steps from Viktualienmarkt, perfect quick lunch.
Map - 2:00 PM
NS-Dokumentationszentrum
Free, rigorous exhibition on Munich as Nazi party capital, sobering and essential context for the city.
Map - 7:30 PM
Steinheil 16
University-quarter Wirtshaus with one of Munich's best huge, crisp schnitzels at honest prices.
Map - 9:15 PM
Augustiner-Keller
Munich locals' beer hall, Augustiner Edelstoff poured from wooden barrels, bring cash.
Map
Day 2: Englischer Garten to Haidhausen
Spend the morning in Munich's vast urban park, fuel up on a top-rated kebap, lose a few hours in the Deutsches Museum, and end the night at a proper neighbourhood pub.
- 9:30 AM
Café Münchner Freiheit
Kick off the day with a coffee at this neighbourhood café right near the Englischer Garten end of the route.
Map - 10:30 AM
Englischer Garten
Vast urban park with meadows, streams, beer garden, and surfers on the Eisbachwelle river wave.
Map - 12:30 PM
Fusion Kebap - München
Haidhausen kebap counter for a cheap, stuffed döner on the walk from the park to the museum.
Map - 2:00 PM
Deutsches Museum
World's largest science and technology museum, aircraft, ships, rockets, a full mine; hours of free-feeling wandering for cheap entry.
Map - 7:30 PM
Nage and Sauge
Small Lehel bistro with a big salad and pasta menu at fair prices; busy, so go early.
Map - 9:15 PM
Schwabinger 7
Local pub with a good-value drinks list, exactly the unpretentious neighbourhood bar the city guide flags.
Map
Day 3: Nymphenburg Park and west Munich
A free morning stroll along Nymphenburg's canal paths and rococo hunting lodge, a falafel stop at lunch, and a creative dinner followed by a classic Löwenbräu beer hall to close the trip.
- 9:30 AM
Schlosspark Nymphenburg
Grab a coffee from a kiosk in the park and stroll the canal paths, free and right on the doorstep.
Map - 10:30 AM
Amalienburg
Cuvilliés's rococo hunting lodge; the mirror hall opens April to mid-October, the outside is free all year.
Map - 12:30 PM
- 7:30 PM
mokum
Small Westend kitchen with a short, changing menu at fair prices; ask what's on that night.
Map - 9:30 PM
Löwenbräukeller - Das Original
Löwenbräu's 1883 beer palace on Stiglmaierplatz; a Mass in the big hall to close the trip.
Map
Where to stay
Münchner Kindl
Simple, central guesthouse a few minutes from Marienplatz, so Day 1 is all on foot.
Platzl Hotel
Platzl is just east of Marienplatz, close to the Day 1 route and an easy starting point for every day of this plan.
Make Munich your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Deutsches Museum: a few days ahead
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site: a few days ahead
- BMW Museum: weeks ahead
- Bayerische Staatsoper: weeks ahead
- Allianz Arena: a few days ahead
- Olympiastadion München: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Hofbräuhaus as your beer experience: worth a look in, but Augustiner-Keller, Hofbräukeller or any garden here gives a better hour.
- The Glockenspiel as an event: glance up if passing at 11am, do not plan a morning around it. Climb Alter Peter instead.
- Restaurants facing Marienplatz charge for the postcode. Walk three minutes into the Tal, Lehel or the market.
- Neuschwanstein's interior as the point: 35 rushed minutes in an unfinished castle. The bridge, lakes and Linderhof are the day.
The full Munich travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around