Where to Stay in Munich

Top Tips

MunichImage by wdreblow0 from Pixaba

Beer, an impressive range of local sausage, beautiful Bavarian architecture, and the latest in automobile technology, Munich is a fantastically varied centre. It’s wealthy, but also fun and laid back, and its neighbourhoods reflect all these facets of Munich - and probably more! with accommodation to match every kind of traveller, and plenty of variety when it comes to scale and price too.

Our Guide to the Neighbourhoods of Munich

Neighbourhood map of MunichMunich Map 360

Marienplatz in the Altstadt is still at the heart of central Munich. This is where you’ll find the imposing Residenz, former capital building of Bavaria, and now a museum — the Münchner Stadtmuseum. As the historic streets and passages of the Altstadt spread out you’ll come across a forest of grand Bavarian architecture, as well as the Asamkirche, and many of Munich’s museums. galleries, attractions, and other major sights. To the north is the Maxvorstadt neighbourhood, which is known for being arty and intellectual, as well as pretty. Maxvorstadt has several art museums, two major universities, and numerous lively beer gardens. This is also where you’ll find the leafy Englischer Garten, a casually landscaped civic park larger than both London’s Hyde Park, and New York’s Central Park.

On the further side of the Englischer Garten is Schwabing, known for Art Nouveau buildings and elegant boulevards. On the opposite side of the Isar River, which runs through Munich, is Bogenhausen, another upscale neighbourhood with a leafy atmosphere, elegant architecture and a village-y feel. Haidhausen and Au are just along the east bank of the river from Bogenhausen, and offer more leafy streets, boutique and cafe lined boulevards, and a smattering of great attractions. Au has the Deutsche Museum, Munich’s famed science and technology museum, and Haidhausen is often referred to as the ‘French Quarter’.

Munich’s livelier neighbourhoods are around Glockenbach, which is known for its theatre and art scene, as well as for its food, nightclubs and live music venues.

Altstadt

AltstadtImage by Michael from Pixabay

A stroll through Munich’s Old Town is an opportunity to take a series of snapshots of old, grand Munich, as well as feeling the life of this vibrant, contemporary city. Marienplatz, the central square, has marked the hub of Munich since the 12th century, and is a great place to start any explorations of Munich’s Altstadt. The neo-Gothic Town Hall is on one side of the square, with the Neues Rathaus - or new Town Hall, its neighbour on another side of the square. If you’re wondering what the tourists are waiting for, it’s probably the Town Hall’s glockenspiel - a cuckoo clock which has 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures, and was first heard here in 1908. The golden statue overlooking everything is Mary, and she’s the one who gives the square its name. Between Marienplatz and neighbouring Karlsplatz is a pedestrianised stretch, one of the best places to shop in town, with some good cafes, bars and restaurants too. Odeonsplatz is another important square in this neighbourhood, with the perfectly landscaped Hofgarten on one side, and the impressive Bavarian State Government offices on the other - in charming 19th century revival architecture. The Altstadt’s religious buildings are well worth seeking out to document too, from the Gothic domes of Frauenkirche to the photogenic views from the top of St. Peter’s roof. Munich’s Altstadt neighbourhood isn’t just for visitors, tourists and workers. The main market, the Vikualienmarkt, is still much used and loved, and there are plenty of un-touristy places to eat and drink, as well as boutiques and specialist shops. There’s a great range of accommodation in the Altstadt too, from fancy international hotels, to boutique charmers, and aparthotels.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: central; historic; incredible architecture; great choice of accommodation; lots of places to eat and drink; sights to see; great shopping
  • Cons: can be busy; can be expensive; can be touristy
  • Ideal for: city breakers; sight see-ers; first time visitors; families; couples; history lovers; architecture appreciators; foodies

Maxvorstadt

MaxvorstadtImage by Dieter from Pixabay

The Maxvorstadt is the place to stay if Munich’s famed museums are one of the main reasons you’re visiting. Maxvorstadt is home of the trio of Pinakothek art museums, the Alt Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek, and the Pinakothek der Moderne; plus the Brandhorst Museum; the Haus der Knust; the Bavarian State Library; and St. Ludwig’s Church. And just down the road is the Siegestor, the war-torn triumphal arch that you’ll recognise from many an advertisement for Munich. Beyond the Siegestor is the Englischer Garten. Right next door is the Augustiner-Kelleer beer hall, a huge beer hall - flagship for one of Munich’s oldest breweries, with a 5,000 seat beer garden! Much of Maxvorstadt’s grander is neatly arranged along the incredible Ludwigstrasse: a 1250 metre long street lined with majestic buildings and ending in the even grander Königsplatz, home to the Glyptothek, the Antikensammlungen, and the Propyläen. Maxvorstadt also has a botanical gardens, and it’s here you’ll find the Hofgarten. Maxvorstadt’s university help the neighbourhood fro feeling too grand: there are great secondhand book shops, laundrettes, copy shops and a myriad of cafes, bars and restaurants. Some of these establishments have been here for more than a hundred years - and the same can be said for some of the local hotels.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: central; lots of local attractions; lively university crowd; major landmarks
  • Cons: can be expensive; can be touristy
  • Ideal for: art lovers; cool kids; architecture lovers; families; couples, city breakers, sight see-ers

Glockenbach

Glockenbachcorno.fulgur75

Glockenbach is a fantastic neighbourhood to stay in if you want to be close to the buzziest nightlife spots in town. It’s in a central spot, within easy walking distance from many of Munich’s main sights, but it’s far enough off the tourist trails to offer a more authentic picture of Munich - especially of the local LGBTQ+ community. Glockenbach is a trendy neighbourhood, arranged around Gärtnerplatz which has some of Munich’s most popular theatres lining its edges - and fountains and flower beds within it. It’s a relaxed place to watch the world go by, with great cafes and bars, and restaurants scattered amongst the local boutiques and chic grocery stores. It’s especially lovely of a summers evening, and popular with families, as well as cool kids and older cool kids. Expect 50s and 60s design and architecture. When it comes evening time, there are a myriad of options in Glockenbach, from dance clubs to beer gardens - with live music or without, and there are just as many choices when it comes to dining. In fact, in the Glockenbach neighbourhood you can get a snack or drinks until 2 or 3am.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: friendly; lively; great places to eat and drink and people watch’ lively nightlife; walking distance too major sights
  • Cons: can be busy; can be loud and lively at night
  • Ideal for: party people; cool kids; night owls; cool families

Haidhausen

HaidhausenImage by Dieter from Pixabay

Haidhausen is one of Munich’s prettiest, and quietest neighbourhoods. It’s perfectly positioned, on the east bank of the Isar River, and lining the river and nearby squares and parks are a lovely collection of cafes, bars and restaurants - ideal places for watching people pass. Spreading out from the squares and parks are narrow streets lined with little local shops and delis. This grew up as a working class neighbourhood, so there are cottages as well as larger houses. Haidhausen’s pretty churches are a reminder that this used to be a village, and there’s still something of a village feel today. Some of the old inns have been carefully restored, and are now elegant places for visitors to stay. Haidhausen’s grander squares date from the 19th century, but the busiest square is Wiener Platz, which has a market with stands bulging with fish, wine, bread, fruit and vegetables, cheese, flowers… If you’re looking for more formal attractions look to the impressive Maximilianeum, seat of the Bavarian government; and Einstein and Gasteig, both cultural centres - the second is home to the Munich Philharmonic.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: central; peaceful; pretty architecture; friendly village feel; lots of places to eat and drink; great range of accommodation
  • Cons: can be expensive; can miss the point of a city break
  • Ideal for: living like a local; romantics; families; city breakers; first time visitors

Au

AuImage by Jakob Strauß from Pix

Au is Haidhausen’s neighbour heading outwards from Munich’s Altstadt, and the name actually means ‘floodplain’ or ‘meadow’. Though Au is pretty close to the centre of town by today’s scale of Munich. At one time Au was known for its many windmills and stately gardens - today it’s primarily the stately gardens that remain. The trendy Gärtnerplatz and Glockenbach neighbourhoods are on the other side of Au, so you’re close to plenty of cultural pleasures, and great nightlife, as well as the quiet and greenery of Haidhausen. One of Au’s headline attractions is the Deutsche Museum, Munich’s famed science and technology museum. Au may also be familiar to you from its two major festivals? the thrice yearly Auer Dult, market, folk festival and food fair; and the Starkbierfest - Strong Beer Festival. It’s a busy place during those times, but still worth considering as a base, because the atmosphere may be busy, but it’s friendly and fun.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros:central; local sights to see; exciting annual festivals; friendly; great location
  • Cons: busy during the festivals; can be expensive
  • Ideal for: living like a local; foodies; cool kids; families

Schwabing

SchwabingImage by Michael Siebert from

Schwabing is a desirable place to live, and to stay, away from the busiest and most touristy parts of Munich, and with a laid back and affluent air. It’s close to the Englischer Garten, a surprisingly large, informally landscaped green space, complete with meadows of grass and mature trees, bike trails and little streams and rivers - which you can swim in. Schwabing also has a couple of very elegant boulevards, Leopoldstraße and Hohenzollernstraße, which are ripe for strolling, and people watching, with great boutiques, plus cafes, bars, restaurants that spill out onto the streets in fine weather. Schwabing had one of its heydays around the turn of the 20th century, when it was home to artists and writers - including Kandinsky and Werefkin, whose work can be seen locally at the Lenbachhaus.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: historic charm; great shopping; great people watching; green space; lots of places to eat and drink
  • Cons: off centre; can be expensive; gentrifying
  • Ideal for: cool kids; luxury lovers; arty types; couples; romantics; shoppers

Bogenhausen

BogenhausenImage by Dieter from Pixabay

Like Schwabing, Bogenhausen is another upscale district. It started out as a farming village, and despite the number of elegant old Art Nouveau villas and grand shopping streets, Bogenhausen’s many green spaces lend it something of a village feel still, though close to the Herzopark the villas are grand enough to be listed - and to have acres of their own gardens- so it would be a very grand village indeed. One of Bogenhausen’s most famous landmarks is its cemetery, a place where many of Munich’s best known sons and daughters were/ are laid to rest. Another is the Prinzregentenbad outdoor swimming pool, and the Prinzregententheatre, which is known for hosting a very wide range of theatre - including opera and cabaret. Bogenhausen is also known for its graffiti - there’s a lot it alongside the Isar, if you’d like to take a closer look.

Pros and Cons

  • Pros: historic architecture; historic atmosphere; elegant surrounds; lots of green space; friendly
  • Cons: can be expensive; off centre
  • Ideal for: history buffs; luxury lovers; couples; romantics