2 to 3 Day Munich Itinerary with Oktoberfest
Whether you’re headed to Munich, Germany, for Oktoberfest or for the Christmas markets or for fun at another time of year, there is no shortage of things to do and see in this beautiful medieval city! Munich is filled with centuries-old buildings, interesting museums, and some of the largest breweries in the world. It’s the perfect home base to see Bavaria.
For my dad’s milestone birthday a few years ago, we planned a two-week-long trip to Germany around Oktoberfest in Munich. I didn’t only want to hang out at Oktoberfest the whole time we were in Munich, though! Below, I shared our full Munich itinerary (2.5 days) along with a roundup of things to do in Munich to help you build your own itinerary.
READ NEXT: Where to Stay in Munich
2 to 3 Day Munich Itinerary with Oktoberfest
We spent a half day in Munich followed by two full days, and one of those days was spent at Oktoberfest. We agreed that it was too little time in this beautiful city. Oktoberfest really takes it out of you, so we opted to take it easy on the day after Oktoberfest and didn’t get to see as much as I had originally hoped. Keep that in mind if you’re also going to Munich for Oktoberfest!
I wrote out our full itinerary below and then followed it with a list of things to do in Munich along with the handful of places we ate at. There’s an interactive map to help you visualize where everything is located. I also shared some Germany travel etiquette tips at the end of the post. It was too quick of a trip, so I hope we go back sooner rather than later so I can see more of Munich!
Day 1: Arrive at Munich
We made it to Munich in the early afternoon after a long train ride from Berlin. You can get to Munich a number of ways, including by high-speed train from basically any other nearby city, or you can fly direct to Munich. For our trip, we flew into and out of Frankfurt from the US and took the train everywhere in between.
Korri and I stayed in the Lehel neighborhood, which was four subway stops away from Theresienwiese (where Oktoberfest is located). The rest of our travel group stayed just south of the train station within walking distance of Oktoberfest. Our neighborhood was super quiet yet convenient to Old Town and everywhere else we wanted to go.
The first night, we all met up for beers at the popular Hofbräuhaus before dinner reservations at La Pizza, the cutest Italian restaurant! The owner is absolutely delightful. The younger guys all went to Oktoberfest that night.
Day 2: Oktoberfest
For our first full day in Munich, I booked a local photographer, Marina of Hey Bella Photo, to take photos of all of us in our traditional Oktoberfest outfits. We started at Odeonsplatz and moved to other spots around the Munich Residence before she followed us to Oktoberfest, where we took more photos before our noon reservation at the Schottenhamel tent. (If you also want photos and Marina isn’t available for your trip to Munich, check out these options.)
My dad got two tables for the 15 of us and we had tickets for 30 liters of beer and 20 half chickens. Plus, we also got an appetizer platter! It was a lot of food…and a LOT of beer. I only managed to drink 1 liter of Radler over our 3-hour reservation.
After indulging in the traditional Oktoberfest tent experience, we wanted coffee drinks from Cafe Lehel (they’re SO good) in our neighborhood, so Korri and I took my brother and his then-girlfriend with us, and then we took the subway back to Oktoberfest for more fun in the evening. (What’s funny is my brother has basically no recollection of us doing this, ha!)
We found my parents and their friends at the Löwenbräu tent, and after a platter of fries and more beer, we rode the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel)! The carriages were little Bavarian houses!
Everyone meandered to a couple of other smaller tents/drinking areas and Korri and I wandered around the carnival side of Oktoberfest (all the beer tents were mostly on one side, and the typical carnival rides and games were mostly on the other). Oktoberfest was MUCH more packed at night, as you’d expect!
Day 3: Sightsee and Relax
For our second full day in Munich, Korri and I decided to sleep in and have a mostly chill day. We wanted to do a little bit of sightseeing and wandering around our neighborhood before departing Munich the next day. I started my day with another photo shoot with Marina, this time just for myself!
(My dad had booked another Oktoberfest lunchtime reservation at Armbrustschützenzelt but only for 10 people—just my youngest brothers and their friends were there for that.)
Korri and I went out in the afternoon to see the Glockenspiel play at Marienplatz and then took the elevators up to the observation deck in the New Town Hall that overlooks the whole city (the observation deck is above the Glockenspiel in the same tower). You can see Theresienwiese in the distance!
After that, we wandered to the Eisbachwelle (popular surfing wave on the river) in the English Garden before heading to Tattenbach Wirtshaus for dinner. That was one of the best schnitzel meals we had! The käsespätzle (basically mac and cheese) was delicious too.
Things to Do in Munich
We were unfortunately not able to make it to too many places in Munich because we reserved one day of our short stay for Oktoberfest. I would recommend staying at least three full days and four nights if you are able so that you can spend one day at Oktoberfest and two sightseeing! (Stay longer if you want to do day trips from Munich to Füssen or Salzburg.)
Here is a roundup of 15 things to do in Munich. I’m definitely going to be referencing this list for our next trip.
Alte Pinakothek
Alte Pinakothek is a massive art museum with one of the oldest galleries in the world. The art housed in the museum is from the 14th to 18th centuries. Across the street is Neue Pinakothek, which highlights more recent (19th century) art. Get directions.
Beer Halls
As one may expect, there are a number of beer halls and beer gardens to visit during your trip to Munich. We visited one (and arguably the most popular), Hofbräuhaus, located in Old Town. Get directions to Hofbräuhaus. Beer hall tours are also an option.
Cathedral (Frauenkirche)
The Munich cathedral, called Frauenkirche, is a stunning cathedral that features two prominent towers. It was heavily damaged during World War II, and restoration was completed in 1994. Get directions.
Christmas Markets
The Munich Christmas Market located in Marienplatz is a popular destination during the holiday season. The market typically runs from late November through December 24. There are a number of other Christmas markets that also pop up! Enjoy traditional food, beverages, music, shopping, and more. Get directions to Marienplatz.
Dachau Concentration Camp
Dachau is an easy day trip from Munich, located on the outskirts of the city and accessible via public transit. The first permanent concentration camp may not be your first choice of destination, but it is important to see it first hand and reflect on that dark time in history. Get directions.
Deutsches Museum
If you’re looking to nerd out at the world’s largest science and technology museum, head over to Deutsches Museum! Because it is so popular, it’s recommended to purchase tickets for this museum in advance. It’s located on a small island in the Isar River. Get directions.
Englischer Garten (English Garden)
Larger than Central Park in NYC, the English Garden is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This park is home to wide open spaces, a multitude of trails, and even a small stream that features a wave for urban surfing called the Eisbachwelle. Get directions.
Glockenspiel at Marienplatz
The Glockenspiel is a mechanical clock located within the Rathaus (Town Hall) at Marienplatz. Twice daily (and at an additional time in the summer months), the clock plays scenes from Munich’s history with life-size characters. Get directions.
Munich Residenz
The Residenz (or Residence in English) is the former palace of Bavarian royalty. It’s open to the public; book a tour to see the architecture, explore the rooms and art galleries, and learn more about the royal history of Bavaria. Get directions.
New Town Hall (Rathaus)
New Town Hall is located at Marienplatz. If you enter the building below the Glockenspiel, you can book a ride on the elevators up to the observation deck that gives you a 360-degree view of Munich. The St. Peter observation deck (Turm “Alter Peter”) is across the plaza, but it is only accessible by climbing 306 stairs. Get directions.
Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace)
On the west side of Munich is Nymphenburg Palace, a sprawling property featuring a Baroque palace with large wings, a beautiful garden, and several additional pavilions. You can easily spend a day exploring this area if you want! Get directions.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest takes place every year from about mid-September to early October. If you plan to come for the festivities, be sure to book your hotel WELL in advance (or expect to pay a premium). We booked ours the previous November. You’ll also need to request tent reservations months in advance if you want a guaranteed table.
In addition to a plethora of beer tents, there was at least one wine tent plus a ton of trucks selling fair food and a lot of fair rides, including a giant Ferris wheel! Get directions.
Olympiapark (Olympic Park)
If you’re a fan of the Olympics, head over to Olympic Park to check out what was built for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. The area is still used for cultural and sporting events. Get directions.
Viktualienmarkt
This is the most popular food market in Munich, located a couple of blocks from Marienplatz. Find a plethora of traditional German foods alongside exotic fruits and more. Guided tours and a beer garden are also available. Get directions.
Walking Tours
There are a number of Munich walking tours you can book to make the most of your short time in the city! Most tours include historical highlights and Old Town, though some offer more off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Where to Eat and Drink in Munich
This is obviously not an exhaustive list of places to eat and drink in Munich, but I thought I’d round up the spots we enjoyed during our trip to give you a few ideas. Unfortunately, two of the spots we ate at, La Pizza and Munich Surf Kitchen, permanently closed since our trip in late 2023.
I’m looking forward to going back to these and hopefully trying more spots when we eventually make it back!
Hofbräuhaus
This is one of the most well-known beer halls in Munich. You can also enjoy a plethora of Bavarian dishes with your beer. Get directions.
Cafe Lehel
Our favorite spot in the neighborhood to grab coffee drinks and a quick bite to eat. Get directions.
Tattenbach Wirtshaus
Offers traditional German fare. The schnitzel was DELICIOUS—one of the best of our whole trip—and I also enjoyed the käsespätzle (mac and cheese). Indoor and outdoor seating available. Get directions.
We also ate at a cute Italian restaurant in Old Town called La Pizza, but it’s unfortunately no longer open. There are a number of Italian restaurants in Munich with good reviews, so you likely can’t go wrong with any of them!
Travel Etiquette in Germany
If it’s your first time visiting Munich or Germany in general, here are some travel etiquette tips to keep in mind!
Tip around 5-10% on your restaurant bills
I’ll admit that we still weren’t 100% sure about the correct amount to tip in restaurants. Tipping is definitely not as big of a deal in Europe as it is in the U.S., but they do expect a small amount (and not sure if it’s because they know we are American…). For the most part, you can round up your bill to the next $5 or add more for larger bills.
Make eye contact when you cheers and tap glasses
I learned this one from my German friend! “Prost!” means cheers in German, and you’ll hear that a LOT if you attend Oktoberfest. Be sure to make eye contact with whomever you are tapping glasses or steins.
Follow traffic laws; no jay-walking
Germany is no New York; you definitely can’t cross streets whenever and wherever you want. Follow the lead of the German locals and obey all traffic laws, even when you’re traveling by bike or on foot.
Don’t be loud and obnoxious
Germans easily clock who the Americans are based on their volume. If everyone around you is quiet, don’t be loud and obnoxious. (If you’re at Oktoberfest where everyone is loud and obnoxious, this obviously doesn’t apply.) This applies indoors as well as outdoors; be sure to remain quiet in your hotel between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am.
Don’t book the quiet car on a train if you intend to chat
Similar to the previous point, pay close attention when you book your train seats and make sure you do NOT book the quiet car if you’re traveling with people and will want to talk to them the whole time. If you’re traveling alone, don’t book the quiet car and talk on the phone.
Don’t talk about Nazis whatsoever or make Nazi gestures
This one is self-explanatory. Germans do not tolerate anything related to Nazis, even as a joke.