There’s only one city on earth where you can eat a big hearty breakfast in a bustling square beneath a towering gothic spire, drink your way through Europe’s most famous beer festival, scoff a sausage plus a pretzel the size of your face for lunch, then head on down to the middle of a massive park to surf on a roaring river wave. Welcome to Munich, Germany! We wouldn’t recommend trying all that in one day – and definitely not in that order!
This guide covers everything you need to know about Bavaria’s beautiful (and occasionally rambunctious) capital of Munich before flying from London Southend Airport.
Book your flight to Munich from London Southend Airport.
Why visit Munich?
What sort of question is that?! It’s one of those perfect places that offers up everything you could want and throws in a few extras for good measure. Munich’s got grand architecture, sprawling green spaces, a brilliant café culture, legendary beer halls and Alpine views that sneak up on you when you least expect them. Days feel full without feeling frantic, and every neighbourhood has its own little surprises waiting around the corner.
Families love the parks and museums, couples love the palace gardens and cafés, group trips love the rooftops and beer halls, and solo travellers love how easy it is to explore. It’s hard to believe over 1.5 million people call Munich home – because it feels almost custom-made for every single person in it.
Getting around Munich
Munich is made for easy exploring. You barely have to think about where you’re going because the city seems to guide you there itself. Sleek trains, gliding trams, leafy cycle paths and wonderfully walkable streets give every day a pleasant rhythm – from the smell of fresh pretzels in the morning to street musicians drifting through Marienplatz by late afternoon.
The U-Bahn and S-Bahn get you almost anywhere quickly. Trams and buses fill in the gaps, and cycling is a joy, especially through the English Garden. Buy a day ticket, hop on board and follow your curiosity.
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What’s the best time to visit Munich?
The sweet spot for visiting Munich really depends on the kind of trip you’re craving, but most travellers agree the city shines brightest in early autumn. With London Southend Airport flights to Munich launching in September 2026, you’re touching down at exactly the right moment. Munich is absolutely electric during Oktoberfest, with huge tents, brass bands, fairground lights and that warm festival buzz that spills into every beer hall and square.
If you prefer things a little calmer, the weeks just after Oktoberfest are a great choice. The parks turn gold, the air feels crisp rather than cold, and the city settles into that mellow, peaceful rhythm that’s perfect for sightseeing.
Where should I stay in Munich?
Munich’s neighbourhoods each bring their own flavour, from elegant boulevards and tree-lined streets to lively squares and café-filled corners. It’s worth choosing a base that matches your travel style – whether you want to step straight into the action or start your mornings somewhere quieter and more local.
Altstadt (Old Town)
Munich’s historic heart, where every street feels like it’s been lifted from a storybook. You’ve got the Neues Rathaus towering above Marienplatz, the chatter and aromas of Viktualienmarkt drifting through the air, narrow lanes lined with traditional shops and cafés, and golden church towers peeking over the rooftops. If you want to step out of your hotel and instantly feel the pulse of the city, this is your base.
Schwabing
A leafy, elegant district with a slightly bohemian edge. Think art nouveau façades, terrace cafés buzzing with breakfast chatter, independent bookshops and galleries tucked along quiet streets. It’s also your gateway to the English Garden, meaning you can stroll from brunch to beer garden to riverside without ever needing a train. Relaxed, stylish and full of personality.
Maxvorstadt
This is Munich’s cultural engine – wide boulevards, grand museums and a steady hum of student life. Galleries sit shoulder to shoulder with university buildings, giving the area a creative, youthful feel. It’s perfect if you like wandering between exhibitions, grabbing a coffee in a sunlit courtyard or spending slow afternoons browsing bookshops and small design stores.
Gärtnerplatz and Glockenbachviertel
Bright, sociable and effortlessly cool. Around Gärtnerplatz, you’ll find colourful buildings, pavement cafés, independent boutiques and a theatre or two. As night falls, the neighbourhood shifts gears with wine bars, craft beer spots and lively restaurants drawing in both locals and visitors. It’s the place to stay if you enjoy evenings with a little atmosphäre.
Looking for winter getaways?
Best places to eat and drink in Munich
Munich’s food scene is all about comfort, character and a lot of flavour. Think warm wood-panelled taverns, bustling market stalls, cake counters stacked like jewellery displays and beer gardens humming with chatter under the trees. Here are five places that really show off what the city does best.
Augustiner-Keller
Near Hauptbahnhof, this iconic beer garden feels like its own little world. Huge chestnut trees cast dappled shade over long wooden tables, the air hums with conversation and clinking steins, and the smell of roast chicken drifts from the open kitchen. It’s the kind of place where you settle in for a quick one and end up staying for hours, happily grazing through Bavarian classics while soaking up that unmistakable Munich warmth.
Hofbräuhaus
In the heart of the Altstadt sits Munich’s most famous beer hall – and it earns the title. Vaulted ceilings echo with brass-band melodies, servers weave between long benches with armfuls of foaming steins and the whole room buzzes with a kind of joyful chaos that never tips into overwhelming. It’s loud, it’s lively and it’s the perfect place to feel the city’s festive spirit any night of the week.
Viktualienmarkt
Just a short stroll from Marienplatz, this open-air market is a feast for the senses. Colourful fruit stands, freshly baked breads, sizzling sausages, herbs, flowers and cheeses line every path, and the scent alone could convert you into a snacker. In the centre, a beer garden sits beneath mature trees, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch surrounded by the sights, sounds and flavours of Munich at its most local.
Dallmayr
Dallmayr in Alstadt is Munich’s most elegant food institution. Downstairs, polished counters showcase pristine chocolates, delicacies and beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Upstairs, the café feels like stepping into a quieter era – crisp tablecloths, soft lighting and cakes so immaculate they look designed rather than baked. Ideal for a refined lunch or an impeccably made slice of afternoon indulgence.
Schneider Bräuhaus
A short walk from Isartor, this cosy, wood-panelled tavern has all the warmth of a Bavarian living room with the added bonus of excellent wheat beer. Expect the comforting aromas of dumplings, sausages and rich sauces drifting from the kitchen, locals catching up at corner tables and a friendly, unhurried mood that makes it easy to settle in after a full day of exploring.
P.S. Wherever you go, save some room for dessert – Munich’s strudels and tortes aren’t to be trifled with!
Top things to do in Munich
Munich is full of experiences that stay with you long after your flight home – iconic landmarks, peaceful parks, surprising sights and views that make you pause for a moment.
- Wander the English Garden: A vast urban park – one of the largest in the world – stretching across the city. Expect open meadows, shady woodland paths, riverside trails and the Eisbach wave, where experienced surfers take on a powerful standing river wave.
- Visit Nymphenburg Palace: Munich’s grand Baroque palace, once the summer residence of Bavarian royalty. Its frescoed halls, mirrored lakes and beautifully landscaped gardens make it ideal for slow, scenic wandering.
- Step inside the Munich Residenz: The former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs and the largest city palace in Germany. Inside you’ll find lavish staterooms, intricate courtyards and treasures that reveal centuries of Bavarian history.
- Discover the Deutsches Museum: One of the world’s biggest science and technology museums. With hands-on exhibits, giant aircraft, historic machines and interactive displays, it’s brilliant for families, curious minds and rainy-day adventures
- Explore BMW Welt and the BMW Museum: A sleek, futuristic exhibition centre and museum celebrating one of Germany’s most famous engineering brands. Expect shiny new models, concept cars, design stories and plenty of photo-worthy architecture.
- Walk around Olympiapark: A huge park built for the 1972 Olympic Games, known for its tent-like roofs, shimmering lakes and wide paths perfect for scenic strolls. Head up the Olympic Hill for a panoramic sunset over the city.
Get ready for your trip
Top tips for your stay in Munich
A few practical details can make a great trip feel effortless. From travel requirements to seasonal quirks and easy day trips, these tips will help you arrive feeling prepared rather than overloaded.
- What do I need to enter Munich from the UK?: Just a valid passport – you’ll go through the EU’s new biometric border checks on arrival, and from 2026 you may also need to complete an ETIAS form before you travel.
- What language do they speak?: German, with English widely understood. Hallo, Bitte, Danke and Prost will always help.
- What currency is used?: Euro (EUR). Cards work almost everywhere, though markets and smaller stalls may prefer cash.
- Should I book ahead?: Yes during Oktoberfest, Christmas markets or major football matches – hotels and restaurants book up fast.
- Are there any easy day trips from Munich?: Absolutely. Tegernsee, Ammersee and the edge of the Bavarian Alps are simple, scenic trips that feel like a holiday within a holiday.
Whether you’re planning palace-hopping, café-hopping, beer-garden-lounging or all the above, Munich is more than ready for you – and it’s closer than you think when you book your flight to Munich from London Southend Airport.
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