10 Ways to Enjoy Culture and Cuisine in Munich

In Munich, it’s easy to satisfy your desire for art, music, food, beer and much more. Germany’s third-biggest city burgeons with great galleries, magnificent museums and exceptional eateries. Are you ready to live it up in the Bavarian capital?

Here are 10 ways to enjoy culture and cuisine in Munich.

Admire International Modern Art

Dive into modern art at the Museum Brandhorst, marking its 10th anniversary in 2019. It displays masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others. The museum’s facade is an attraction in itself, incorporating 36,000 ceramic rods in more than 20 shades.

Tour a Spectacular 17th-Century Palace

Explore the opulent, 1664-built Nymphenburg Palace. The summer home of the Bavarian monarchs features the famous “Gallery of Beauties,” with portraits of stunning women, collected by King Ludwig I in the 19th century. Charming pavilions adorn the 490-acre palace park.

Dine at a Historic Delicatessen

Head to the gourmet Dallmayr delicatessen to enjoy freshly roasted coffee and specialties like ox cheeks braised in red wine. Dallmayr, whose tradition stretches back 300 years, attracts more than two million visitors annually.

Dig Into Delicious Pastries

If baked goods are your guilty pleasure, make sure you visit Cafe Frischhut das Schmalznudel. The fried Schmalznudel is reminiscent of both donuts and funnel cakes and is particularly delectable when coated with extra sugar. The bustling café sits near the Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s central food market.

Check Out Cinema History

The Bavaria Filmstadt enables movie buffs to tour the sets of director Wolfgang Petersen’s 1981 submarine warfare epic, “Das Boot,” and learn about the special effects on his 1984 children’s fantasy classic, “The NeverEnding Story.” Famous non-German directors who have used these 1919-founded studios include Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles and Ingmar Bergman.

Try Some Vegetarian Goodness

Despite the meat-and-bread emphasis of most German restaurants, you can find fabulous vegetarian restaurants in Munich. Vegans flock to Siggis, which dishes up excellent quinoa salads and chocolate mousse. Max Pett creates vegan versions of classic Bavarian dishes like schnitzel and potato salad.

Go to the Opera

Thrill to virtuoso performances of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” at the National Theater, the Bavarian State Opera‘s home since 1818. Each season, more than 40 operas take place here, in addition to ballet and symphony concerts. Daily tours of the neoclassical edifice on Max-Joseph-Platz are available.

Celebrate at a Classic German Beer Hall

Whether or not you visit Munich during Oktoberfest, the world’s most famous beer festival, you can always indulge at a classic German beer hall. Guzzle a liter (about two pints) of Münchner Weisse, the signature hefeweizen at the three-level Hofbräuhaus, whose past patrons included Mozart and Lenin.

Or party at the Augustiner am Dom, next to Munich’s landmark Gothic cathedral, where diners enjoy roast sausages with house-made grainy mustard, plus traditional lagers and dark ales.

Explore Germany’s Scientific Heritage

Home to more than 100,000 scientific and technological artifacts, the sprawling Deutsches Museum can keep you engrossed for hours. Highlights range from Karl Benz’s 1886-patented motor car to a U1 submarine. Children love the Kids’ Kingdom with its giant guitar and oversized Lego pieces.

Visit the Airport Brewery

If you haven’t done so already, before you leave town sample authentic Bavarian food and beer at Munich Airport’s Airbräu, Europe’s largest airport brewery. Sitting beneath leafy chestnut trees, you can wash down roast pork, pretzel dumplings and cabbage salad with FliegerQuell, a hoppy golden ale.