Beautiful Things to See in Munich

Munich is a large, easygoing German city with strong central urban development, several large breweries, unique architecture, a series of scenic canals and a dedication towards beer gardens and park spaces. Munich is also the main site for the ever-famous annual Oktoberfest Celebration. There are many beautiful things to see in Munich, including carefully constructed parks, large statue spaces, old castles and restored churches.

A List of Beautiful Things to See in Munich

Marienplatz Rathaus Glockenspiel

This large structures is famous tourist attraction clock with moving figures located in the heart of Munich.  Marienplatz itself is a very ornate city main plaza, famous since 1158. There are various shopping centers, historical markers, quaint cafés and public events held around Munich’s most iconic building.

Englishcher Garten

This is an enormous and very active public park in the center of Munich extending to the northernmost city limits.  It hosts many unique buildings, fields and river lounging areas. Visitors can lounge outside enjoying picnics, walk over the various foot bridges crossing small streams and rivers, enjoy the hiking trails through the green spaces or visit the various flowers. It is considered one of the most relaxing places to visit in Munich.

Victuals Market (Viktualienmarkt)

A 200-year-old daily food market and public square with popular gourmet and exotic culinary options. The market is located in the wonderfully scenic Old Town area and serves all sorts of food from nearby beer gardens, restaurants and stalls. Traditional German foods can be found, alongside meat, fruit and flowers.

Lady of Bavaria

This famed, colossal effigy of Lady Baveria is a forerunner of modern statue-building techniques and art development. It’s the first statue of the modern era erected with using construction techniques unemployed since ancient times.  The techniques used to erect the Lady of Bavaria led to other famous, large statues being built with the same techniques, including the United States’ Statue of Liberty.  The statue can be entered and climbed but only during specific opening hours. Most days, the statue is open from 9AM to 6 PM and can be entered for €5 Euros.

Orlando di Lasso Monument (Michael Jackson Memorial)

This statue depicts “Orlande de Lassus“, a prominent composer of the Late Renaissance, known for his work in the Franco-Flemish polyphonic style. His statue now shares a strange and popular memorial with Michael Jackson, the late “King of Pop.” Since Michael Jackson’s untimely death, the added shrine has steadily grown and been maintained.

Westfriedhof Station

Part of Munich’s underground railway system, this station is a dramatic and colorful neon architecture waypoint. It’s known for it’s dome-shaped hanging lights, strangely colored hallways and access to the famous Westfriedhof Cemetary.

Eisbachwelle

Munich has three “standing waves” that are artificially created in it’s rivers, but Eisbachwelle is the most consistent and famous.  After petitioning against its closure, experienced surfers are now allowed to compete in the freshwater channel.

Wurmeck Dragon (Serpent’s Corner)

A metal beast latched onto the side of a building in Munich is dedicated to the city-legend regarding a metaphorical dragon which brought the Black Death to the region before being slain by the heroic citizens of Munich.

Viscardigasse

This hidden piece of Munich history contains a gold-bricked route leading through a back alley, which passive-protesters used to avoid giving the Nazi salute to Hitler and other high ranking officials by avoiding the main road.

Weisse Rose Pavement Memorial (White Rose)

The Weisse Rose was a non-violent resistance group led by sibling-students protesting against the Nazi authorities before their untimely execution.  A monument to the White Rose movement exists in a series of bronze pamphlets clustered and impressed into the ground in Munich.

Asam Church (Asamkirche)

A blazingly overwhelming and visually daunting Baroque church with an astounding clutter of paintings and sculptures. It is one of the most incredible places in the world to see various Baroque-artworks and architecture. The church has a unique design since it was never officially commissioned. Instead, it is the private building of worship for the Asam Brothers Sculptors who called Munich their home. The artworks within are some of the most beautiful things to see in Munich.

Neuschwanstein Castle

One of the most fairy-tale picturesque capitals in all of Bavaria, the 19th century spired structure was created for King Ludwig II during his accession to the throne. The castle is best defined by it’s pale, towering walls, tall spires, dark rooftops and commanding views over the Pöllat, Schwangau River and nearby mountains.

Odeonsplatz

This is the major public square and focal point for several important landmarks in Munich, including the Feldherrnhalle, the Residenz and the Theatine Church.

Nymphenburg Canal and Palace Park

The scenic Nymphenburg Canal is a long waterway famously cutting through Schlosspark Nymphenburg. The park area and the canal can be experienced on foot, by bike or on boats drifting up and down the canal area. The Canal itself is responsible for supplying water to the Nymphenburg Palace Park (Schloss Nymphenburg), a stately building with a Rococo interior and beautiful Baroque Gardens. The park is home to a range of other attractions for public tours, including the Apollotempel, the Große Kaskade (fountain), Badenburg Castle, Schalenbrunnen im Botanischen Garten (Schalenbrunnen Botanical Gardens). The palace and it’s many features are some of the most beautiful things to see in Munich.

Munich Residenz (Residenz München)

This enormous castle is the former Royal Palace of the Wittelsbach Bavarian Monarchs. It is the largest city palace in Germany and hosts profound decorations, royal collections, paintings and unique architecture. The original interiors are intact and state-owned museums are housed within the palace. The palace also accesses the stately Hofgarten formal lawn grounds and Finanzgarten green space.

Read more about visiting some of the most beautiful things to see in Munich and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Travel Blog.

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