How I’d Spend 3 Days in Munich After Visiting Myself

July 15, 2026

Only Have 3 Days in Munich This Is the Itinerary I’d Follow

Planning a trip to Munich is one of those things that seems straightforward at first, but once you start looking into it, there’s actually quite a lot you can fit in.

Munich itself isn’t huge, but things are just spread out enough that if you don’t loosely plan your days, you can end up wasting time going back and forward between areas.

On my last trip, I stayed just outside the Old Town and could walk to most places, which made a bigger difference than I expected. Especially in the evenings when you don’t want to think about transport or getting back across the city.

If it’s your first time visiting, this is how I’d plan 2 or 3 days now based on what actually worked when I was there to make your trip a lot easier.

If you’re still planning your trip, I’d book your hotel and any must-do tours before you arrive, especially if you’re visiting during summer or around Oktoberfest.

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How Many Days Do You Need in Munich?

For a first trip, I’d say 2 to 3 days is the sweet spot.

With 2 days, you’ll see the main highlights and get a good feel for the city.

With 3 days, everything just feels more relaxed. You’re not rushing between places, and you can add a day trip, which is honestly one of the best parts of being based in Munich. I’ve done a few from there.

If I had to choose, I’d go for 3 days. That extra day makes a bigger difference than it sounds.

If you have three days, I’d use your final day for a trip outside the city. Neuschwanstein Castle and Salzburg are two of the easiest options from Munich.

👉 Compare the most popular day trips from Munich

Where to Stay (Quick Tip Before You Start)

If it’s your first time in Munich, I’d stay in or just outside the Old Town.

That’s what I did, and it made the whole trip feel easier from the start. Being able to walk everywhere meant I didn’t have to think about transport or plan my day around it. Plus, the Old Town is just a beautiful area in Munich.

It also made evenings a lot more relaxed. I could just wander, stop somewhere for dinner, and walk back without overthinking it.

Where I stayed in Munich. (Walk everywhere!)

Where did I Stayed in Munich

Watch our hotel review staying at Bob W in Munich

👉 View the hotel here

Where to stay in Munich Old Town

($) 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian
($$) Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor
($$$) Hotel Bayerischer Hof

View more dreamy Munich hotels here

Day 1: Explore Munich’s Old Town Properly

For your first day, I’d keep things simple and stay around the Old Town.
Everything is close together, and it’s the easiest way to get your bearings without overplanning it.

Start Your Day at Marienplatz

I’d start at Marienplatz.

This is where everything kind of begins, and it’s the first place that really feels like “you’re in Munich.”

You’ll also see the New Town Hall Munich, which is hard to miss.

If you can, try to time it for the Glockenspiel at 12 pm. It’s one of those things that’s worth seeing once, especially on your first visit to Munich, even if you wouldn’t plan your whole day around it.

If you want to understand more of what you’re actually looking at rather than just walking past the main sights, a guided Old Town tour is a good option for your first morning.

👉 Check availability for this Munich Old Town walking tour

Walk Through the Old Town

From here, I wouldn’t overthink it too much.

Just start walking and let yourself explore.

You’ll pass places like Frauenkirche Munich, smaller streets, and shops that all feel very “classic Munich.”

When you go inside Frauenkirche, you’ll notice the footprint on the floor. It’s one of those small details that’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.

This is also why I think a walking tour can be worth doing on your first day. You’ll notice a lot of the history and smaller details you might otherwise walk straight past.

👉 View the Munich Old Town walking tour here

Stop at Viktualienmarkt

For lunch, I’d head to Viktualienmarkt.

This was one of my favourite stops because it felt a lot more relaxed than sitting down somewhere.

I grabbed a few different things from different stalls and just sat there for a while. It’s a good way to try a mix of things without overplanning it.

Afternoon: English Garden

In the afternoon, I’d head over to the English Garden Munich.

It’s huge, and it really doesn’t feel like you’re still in a city.

This is also a good point in the day to slow down a bit rather than rushing through more sights.

Afternoon / Evening: Beer Experience

You’re in Munich, so this is something I’d definitely build into your day.
If you want something a bit more structured, doing a beer tour or tasting is a good way to experience it properly.

The Munich beer tours I recommend.

If you’d rather just go somewhere yourself, these are the places I tried:

Augustiner Stammhaus – this was probably my favourite, it felt more relaxed and less touristy

Hofbräuhaus Munich – very busy, very touristy, but still worth seeing once
If you have time, I’d try both. They feel completely different, and it gives you a better sense of what Munich is actually like.

Day 2: Palaces, Views, and a Different Side of Munich

Start at Nymphenburg Palace

Start your day at Nymphenburg Palace.

It’s a bit outside the centre, but easy to get to.

What I liked most here wasn’t just the palace itself, but the grounds. You can walk for quite a while, and it feels a lot quieter than the city centre.

Lunch at a Beer Garden

If the weather is good, I’d plan lunch at a beer garden. You have to make the most of being in Germany’s beer capital.

This is one of those experiences that feels very “Munich” without needing to overplan it.

You can just sit, order something simple, and take a break.

Afternoon Options

In the afternoon, you’ve got a couple of options.

You can visit:
Olympic Park Munich
Or BMW Museum

I almost skipped Olympic Park, but I’m glad I didn’t. It’s a really nice break from the city and gives you a different perspective.

Evening: Schwabing

In the evening, I’d head to Schwabing Munich.

It has a completely different feel from the Old Town, with more cafés, bars, and a slightly more local atmosphere.

It’s a nice way to end the day without repeating the same areas again.

Day 3: Bavaria Day Trip (Castles or Eagle’s Nest)

If you have a third day, this is where I’d get out of Munich.
This is honestly what makes the trip feel more complete.

Option 1: Neuschwanstein Castle

One of the most popular day trips is visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.
If it’s your first time in the region, I’d choose this. It’s one of those places you kind of have to see once.

It takes about 2 hours to get there, so it’s a full day, but it’s worth it.

You can visit independently, but if you don’t want to organise trains, buses and timings yourself, I’d look at a day tour from Munich. Many combine Neuschwanstein with Linderhof Castle, which lets you see more in one day.

👉 Get Neuschwanstein skip the line tickets here

Option 2: Eagle’s Nest

Another option is visiting Eagle’s Nest.

This is more about the scenery than the city. Plus, there’s the history relating to Hitler and Nazi Germany.

It’s a longer day, but the views are completely different from anything you’ll see in Munich.

For a day trip like this, I’d personally look at an organised tour so you don’t have to piece together the transport from Munich yourself.

👉 Check Eagle’s Nest tours here

Eagles Nest Day Trip

One of my favourite day trip from Salzburg!

👉View tour here

Getting Around Munich

Munich really is one of the easiest cities to get around.
You’ve got U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses, and everything connects well.

If you’re staying centrally, you’ll probably end up walking most of the time anyway. I really didn’t find much need for public transport while I was there.

You don’t need a car here, and in most cases, it’s easier without one.