Munich
Munich is worth 2–3 days on its own, or longer if you're timing it around Oktoberfest (late September–early October). It's Bavaria's capital: a walkable old town, a genuinely huge beer garden culture (not just tourist theater — locals do this every warm evening), and the best base for a Neuschwanstein Castle day trip (about 2 hours away by train). Add a Alpine day trip if you have a spare day.
If Berlin is Germany's edgy, sleepless capital, Munich is its polished, old-money cousin — church spires, beer gardens under chestnut trees, and a very real Alpine backdrop on a clear day. It's also, by a wide margin, the easiest launch pad for the castle everyone's actually picturing when they imagine 'Germany.'
How many days in Munich?
Two to three days covers the old town, a proper beer garden evening, and a day trip. The old town itself (Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt) is compact and walkable in a day; save the second and third days for Neuschwanstein and/or the Alps.
The beer garden isn't a tourist trap — it's just how Munich spends a warm evening
Munich has genuine beer garden culture, and the etiquette is simple: at a traditional Biergarten you can bring your own food if you sit at the unreserved tables (a real, protected local tradition), though buying beer from the counter is expected. The Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten and Augustiner-Keller are two of the best-known and most tourist-friendly.
If you're visiting outside Oktoberfest season, the Hofbräuhaus is the famous, touristy option — fun once, but locals mostly go elsewhere. Augustiner-Keller or any neighborhood Biergarten gets you the same beer-garden experience with fewer tour groups.
Day trip: Neuschwanstein Castle
About 2 hours from Munich by regional train plus a short bus, Neuschwanstein is genuinely worth the trip — it's the real-life inspiration for Disney's castle, and the mountain backdrop is spectacular. Book your entry-time ticket online in advance (walk-up tickets sell out by mid-morning in summer), and budget most of a day for the round trip plus the climb up to the castle.
What it costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel, per night | $110–180 |
| Beer garden meal with a Maß (1L beer) | €20–28 |
| Neuschwanstein Castle ticket (online, adult) | ~€21 (plus €2.50 booking fee) |
| Day-trip train ticket to Füssen (round-trip) | €25–45 |
Oktoberfest timing
Oktoberfest runs from mid-to-late September through the first Sunday in October — not actually in October for most of it, a detail that trips up a lot of first-time planners. Entry to the grounds is free; a table inside a tent for peak weekend evenings is normally reserved months ahead, so weekday visits or standing areas are the realistic option if you're booking late.
Where to stay in Munich — hotels
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