Munich

The Neues Rathaus figures perform at 11:00 and 12:00, plus 17:00 in summer. Climb the tower afterwards for the rooftop view.

The Wittelsbach city palace: the barrel-vaulted Antiquarium, a startling Treasury and the Cuvilliés Theatre next door.

Enormous science and technology collection on its own island, daily 09:00-17:00, midway through a decades-long rebuild.

Bigger than Central Park. The Eisbach standing wave was reopened to surfers in May 2026; watch from the Prinzregentenstraße bridge.

Baroque summer palace reached along a canal, with the Hall of Beauties and a park that swallows an afternoon.

The S1 and S8 reach Marienplatz in about 45 minutes; the Lufthansa Express Bus takes a similar time to Hauptbahnhof.

Berlin in about four hours, Frankfurt just over three, Salzburg 90 minutes and Zurich around three and a half.

Trains and beds sell out for the 19 Sept-4 Oct 2026 dates. Arriving via Nuremberg or Salzburg is often easier.

Late May to July: beer gardens open, Alps clear, no festival surcharge.

November to March, apart from the Christmas market weeks.

Oktoberfest, mid-September to early October, when rooms triple.

Be on Marienplatz for the 11:00 Glockenspiel, then wander into the Viktualienmarkt behind the square.

The Residenz Treasury, or the Alte Pinakothek if you would rather have Dürer, Rubens and Raphael.

Weißwurst and a pretzel at the Viktualienmarkt beer garden; tradition says the sausage is eaten before noon.

Walk into the Englischer Garten, watch the Eisbach surfers, then on to the Chinesischer Turm.

A litre under the chestnuts at Augustiner-Keller, then Rote Sonne or Bahnwärter Thiel if the night keeps going.

Two hours south by train and bus. Guided tours only, tickets online in advance, and the castle is never quiet.

S2 then a bus, about 45 minutes. Free entry, daily 09:00-17:00, English guided tours at 11:00 and 13:00.