Munich tours and tickets
Munich sells most sights at the door. The bookings that matter are Neuschwanstein, which sells timed tickets weeks ahead, Dachau guided tours in busy months, and Oktoberfest tent tables, which are reserved from the spring. The museums and palaces can be bought on the day, and the beer gardens need no booking at all. Salzburg is an easy day by train.
Book these first
- Oktoberfest tent tables
- months ahead, from the spring. Tents sell tables for groups well in advance. Walk-ins are only possible on weekdays at quiet hours.
- Neuschwanstein Castle tickets
- 2 to 4 weeks ahead in summer. Timed entry tickets sell out and you cannot buy at the door.
Nobody pays to be on this page. The Viator buttons are partner links: if you book through one, Viator may pay us a commission, at no cost to you. Where the official site sells the ticket, we link it too. How we rank
Churches and palaces
Munich Residenz
The palace of the Bavarian kings, with rooms, a treasury and a court theater. Tickets cover the Residenz Museum and the Treasury, with an audio guide. A visit takes about two hours.
Which to pick. Buy online for weekends. Choose the combined ticket if you want both the rooms and the treasury.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorNymphenburg Palace
A baroque summer palace west of the center, with a great hall, a carriage museum and large gardens. The grounds are free to walk, and the palace and pavilions need tickets.
Which to pick. Go in good weather and spend most of the time in the park. Buy at the door.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Deutsches Museum
One of the largest science and technology museums in the world, with aircraft, ships and mining tunnels. Tickets are sold online and at the door. It is too large for one visit.
Which to pick. Pick two or three halls and spend half a day. Buy online to skip the queue.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorPinakothek museums
Three museums of art, with Old Masters, nineteenth-century paintings and modern works, in the Kunstareal district. A day ticket or combined ticket covers several. Sunday is cheap.
Which to pick. Choose one or two museums, not all. The Alte Pinakothek is the strongest for old masters.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBMW Welt and Museum
A showroom and a museum of the carmaker's history, with cars, motorbikes and engines. The Welt is free, and the museum needs a ticket. Factory tours are offered separately.
Which to pick. Go in the afternoon if you like cars. Book a factory tour weeks ahead, since places are limited.
A few weeks ahead for the factory tourOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Guided walks and tours
Old town walking tour
A guided walk through Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus, with stories of the Bavarian kings and the city. It lasts about two hours.
Which to pick. Join on your first morning, and see the Glockenspiel at 11:00 or 12:00. It is an easy start.
A day or two aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorDachau Memorial tour
A guided visit to the site of the Dachau concentration camp, with a museum and the preserved grounds. Tours last about three hours, and the memorial can be reached by train and bus.
Which to pick. Book a guided tour a few days ahead for busy months. Go in the morning, and allow time for reflection.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Oktoberfest tent table
The festival fills 14 tents with benches, and tables are reserved by group in the spring. Without a table, you queue early, mostly on weekdays. Seating rules vary by tent.
Which to pick. Reserve a table as early as the tents open bookings. Go on a weekday afternoon if you have no reservation.
Months ahead, from the springOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBeer hall and garden tour
A guided evening visiting a few traditional beer halls and gardens, with an explanation of Bavarian beer, food and rules. It lasts about three hours.
Which to pick. Join on your first night, or go alone to a garden for a better value.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau
The fairytale castle of Ludwig II and the family castle below it, about two hours from Munich. Tickets are timed and sold in advance, with a short walk or shuttle from the village.
Which to pick. Book the timed ticket as soon as you know the date, and go early. A guided day trip includes transport and entry.
2 to 4 weeks ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSalzburg
A baroque city on the Austrian border, about 90 minutes by train, with the fortress, Mozart sites and a market. Tours include The Sound of Music locations.
Which to pick. Go alone by train and buy a fortress ticket on the spot. Pick one or two sights.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorZugspitze
Germany's highest mountain, reached by train and cable car from Garmisch, about 90 minutes away. The top has a viewing terrace and a restaurant.
Which to pick. Go on a clear day and check the weather and webcams. Buy the cable car ticket online.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Munich
- Munich City Tour CardA card for public transport and discounts on tours and museums, in one-day and multi-day versions. It suits people who will use the tram and metro a lot and see a few paid sights. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Munich
Do I need to book Neuschwanstein?
Yes. Tickets are timed and can sell out weeks ahead in summer. Buy online, and arrive in the village at least an hour before your time.
When do I book Oktoberfest?
Tent reservations open months ahead, from the spring. Without one, go on a weekday afternoon and arrive before the tent fills. Weekends fill by mid-morning.
Is a Dachau tour worth it?
Yes, for the context. A guide explains the history and the grounds. Book ahead in busy months, and plan half a day with travel.
Is the Munich City Tour Card worth it?
It is worth it if you will use public transport every day and see several museums. For two or three sights, single tickets are simpler.
Can I see Salzburg and Munich in one trip?
Yes. Trains take about 90 minutes. Salzburg works as a day trip from Munich or as a night on the way to Vienna.
What can wait until I arrive?
The Residenz, Nymphenburg, the museums, Viktualienmarkt and the beer gardens can all be done the same day. Book Neuschwanstein, Oktoberfest tables and Dachau tours first.