Facts
Name of the city: München (English: Munich)
Location: Bavaria, South of Germany
Population: 1,566,000
Next international Airport: Munich Airport (MUC)
Next Airport flying to Asia: Munich Airport (MUC)
Exploring Munich is fun as the city is full of charm and fascinating history. The main attractions are described in the blog post Munich must see. Besides the great main attractions, the city has more to offer, read about the attractions off the beaten path. In and around the city you find many castles and palaces. Let’s feel like in a fairytale, exploring the beautiful castles and palaces in and around Munich.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace was created as a summer residence to the birth of Max Emanuel. The palace became a favorite residence of the Bavarian royal family. The Nymphenburg Palace is surrounded by an extensive park. Every time I visit the palace, I admire the symmetrical park grounds. In the summertime, you can even take a gondola ride on the canal. You can feel like in Venice.
Stroll around the park and enjoy romantic canals, bridges and much more. The park is the second largest one in Munich after the English Garden.
Opening hours of the Palace Park:
| January-March, November, December: | April and October: | May-September: |
| 6:00 am – 6:00 pm | 6:00 am – 8:00 pm | 6:00 am – 9:30 pm |
Opening hours to get inside the palace:
| April to 15 October: | 16 October to March: |
| daily 9:00 am – 6:00 pm | daily 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Admission:
The admission for a regular ticket to the palace is EUR 8.00 (reduced EUR 7.00) (as of August 2022). The tickets can be purchased in advance here.
You do not need a ticket to stroll around the Palace Park.
How to get there?
Take the tram no. 17 to “Schloss Nymphenburg” stop.
Neuschwanstein
The fairytale castle Neuschwanstein was built by Ludwig II as a private retreat. The construction began in 1868 and was never completed. The King Ludwig II main interest was in arts. Neuschwanstein castle is one of the most famous buildings in Europe and was supposed to be the inspiration for the Disney castle.
The postcard-perfect views to Neuschwanstein castle are offered from Queen Mary’s Brdige (Marienbrücke). It passes 90 meter over the Pöllat gorge. The bridge is named after Ludiwg’s mother Queen Mary. You can enter the bridge without entrance fee.
Do not miss the view from Marybridge. It is one of my favorite views to the castle.
Admission and opening hours:
The castle Neuschwanstein can be accessed with a ticket. I recommend purchasing the ticket in advance online on this page. According to the purchased timeslot, you can enter the royal castle. The speaking guided tour is available in English and German language. You can book a tour with an audio guide in Chinese language.
How to get there?
Take the train to Füssen train station and the bus line no. 73 or no. 78 to Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau stop.
Schleißheim New Palace
In Oberschleißheim the palace complex of Schleißheim is located. It is one of the largest and most impressive residences of Wittelsbach dynasty in Bavaria. In the 1690s, Max Emanuel started to plan the construction of a new, ambitious residential palace. In the palace area you will find one of Europe’s most important Baroque gardens. It includes a canal system, similar to Nymphenburg Palace.
The Oberschleißheim palace complex comprises in total three palaces. You can plan the visit as a day trip from Munich.
Stroll around the palace park and enjoy the symmetrical park grounds as well as the waterworks. Visit the palace inside to see the interior paintings, textile art and magnificent furniture.
Opening hours:
| April – September: | October – March: |
| 9:00 am – 6:00 pm | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Closed on Mondays and public holidays. For detailed information check the page of New Palace.
Admission:
The admission for a regular ticket is EUR 6.00 (reduced ticket EUR 5.00) (as of August 2022). With the Munich Card the admission is reduced. Read more about the Munich Card in the report Munich’s main attractions.
How to get there?
Take public transportation S1 to Oberschleißheim stop.
Schleißheim Old Palace
Starting in 1595 the Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria purchased several farm properties. His son Duke Maximilian I replaced the hermitage with a new building. It is the point of origin of the palace complex in Oberschleißheim.
Walk from the New Palace to the Old Palace. During the walk you can enjoy the waterworks, the Baroque gardens and canal system.
Opening hours:
| April – September: | October – March: |
| 9:00 am – 6:00 pm | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
The Palace is closed on Mondays and public holidays. For detailed information check the page of New Palace.
Admission:
The admission for a regular ticket is EUR 4.00 (reduced ticket EUR 3.00) (as of August 2022). With the Munich Card the admission is reduced. Read more about the Munich Card in the report Munich’s main attractions.
How to get there?
Take public transportation S1 to Oberschleißheim stop.
Munich Residenz
The Munich Residenz is located just next to Odeonsplatz. It is Germany’s largest inner-city palace. The former seat of Bavarian royalty is surrounded by the Court Garden. The Wittelsbach family ruled Bavaria from the 11th century onwards and used the palace for over 400 years as their official residence.
I highly recommend visiting the Residenz also inside. The Antiquarium is a magnificent room inside the Residenz. It was used as an exhibition hall for sculptures and later as a banquet hall for dinners.
The Treasury of the Munich Residenz is a collection of jewels of more than 1,000 years. During your stay you can see royal insignia and jewel-incrusted swords. My personal highlight was to see the oldest surviving royal crown.
Take a free audio guide, which is available in Chinese language and look around the inside of the Residenz. I have booked the ticket for both, the Residenz and the Treasury. Both are absolutely worth a visit. Check out detailed opening hours on this page.
aioutravel tip:
Would you like to be lucky? In front of the Munich Residenz you can see four lions. Touch the nose of each and you will be lucky. The background of this story is that a student made fun of the King’s new mistress. The King was angry and wanted to punish the student. However, as the student report of his own accord that he has made the fun the King Ludwig I pardoned him. The student left the Munich Residenz holding in one hand a bag full of money and with the other hand he held onto the muzzle of the lion’s nose. The people believed that if you stroke the lion’s muzzle you will be lucky and may bring home a bag full of money. 🙂
Opening hours:
Residence Museum and Treasury:
| April to October 15th: | October 16th to March: |
| daily 9:00 am – 6:00 pm | daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Admission:
The admission for the combination ticket of Residence Museum and Treasury costs EUR 14.00 (reduced EUR 12.00) (as of August 2022). If you prefer a single ticket to the Residence Museum or Treasury only, it costs EUR 9.00 EUR (reduced EUR 8.00) (as of August 2022).
How to get there?
Metro lines U3, U4, U5 and U6 or public transportation bus no. 100 to Odeonsplatz stop. Are you visiting Marienplatz before? You can easily walk to the Munich Residenz.
Palace of Justice
The neo-baroque complex was built between 1891 – 1897. You are allowed to walk freely within the palace. The impressive central atrium is absolutely worth a visit. My highlight is the central staircase.
You can visit the palace without any entrance fee. Please remember that it is a court, and the Bavarian Department of Justice has its seat on the top floor, so please act accordingly. Before entering, you will go through a security check.
Opening hours:
| Monday to Thursday: | Friday: |
| 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | 8:00 am – 2:00 pm |
How to get there?
Take any train to Karlsplatz (Stachus). You can see the palace just after exiting the station.
More Beautiful Castles in Germany
Are you attracted by the beautiful castles? Germany offers a lot of magnificent castles in different styles. See the report about the Imperial Castle in Nuremberg for more information.
Do you want to know more about Munich’s main attractions? Check out the blog post about Munich’s main attractions.
Do you know more romantic castles and palaces in and around Munich? Which places did you enjoy the most? Please let me know. I am looking forward to it.