Munich is a city full of history, culture and great food and drink. The best way to get to know the capital of Bavaria is a walking tour – here are five of the best on offer:
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
Munich is the third-largest city in Germany but it couldn’t feel more different to the other two big metropolises, Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is a place where millionaire tech workers drink in centuries-old beer halls, where cutting-edge fashion boutique stand side-by-side with late baroque architecture – the rundown 48hr clubs and maritime glam of the north feel very far away. With a city so full of history, recent and ancient, it pays to get a walking tour of Munich. There’s a huge variety, from ghost stories to food excursions – here are five of the best Munich guided walking tours:
Third Reich & WWII Tour Walking Tour
One of the darkest moments in Munich’s history is the role it played in the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party. This walking tour examines the establishment of the Third Reich, against a backdrop of hyperinflation and poverty, from the first mass meeting at the Hofbräuhaus to the failed attempt to seize power at the Feldherrnhalle. Of course the ripple effect of these chilling moments in time are still felt across Germany today, and this tour makes a good attempt at unravelling it in two hours, with a local insight and details that you might not have already read in history books. From €22.00.
Book at getyourguide.com
Beer Tour & Bavarian Dinner with a Local Beer Expert
Think Munich and you’d be forgiven for thinking about beer. The city is famous for its dozens of breweries and beer halls that are as much part of the city’s architecture as libraries and churches. To find the best places to worship all things hops and barley, take this tour with Munich local Alex, who has a thirst for the city’s beer culture, sharing tastings, knowledge on the best drinking holes, and a love of Bavarian culture. The 3.5 hours walking tour is based around the Old Town and ends with a Bavarian dinner at a lesser-know but highly recommended local restaurant. From € 69.00.
Book at getyourguide.com
Walking Tour Old Town and Viktualienmarkt
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
This walking tour hits the sweet spot between seeing the city and keeping the foodies happy. You’ll start at Marienplatz and head for St. Peter’s, the oldest church in Munich, with a broad overview on the Old Town, before heading to Viktualienmarkt, a farmer’s market right in the centre of the city. Open all week, the market has a constant stock of fresh fruit and vegetables, souvenirs and local delicacies. The tour finishes with a walk through the medieval Platzgassen alleys, past Schuhbecks Cooking School, and on to the famous Hofbräuhaus and the most expensive shopping street in Germany, Maximilianstraße. From €160 per group up to 30.
Book at getyourguide.com
Munich Ghosts and Spirits Evening Walking Tour
Munich isn’t all jolly old farmers markets and Weißwurst, oh no. It’s actually packed full of ghosts and ghouls – if you speak to the right people – and has parts which rank as the most haunted in Germany. If your idea of a walking tour is recreating Ghostbusters, minus the Ectomobile, boiler suits and backpacks (OK you might have a backpack), then this is the tour for you. Following your local guide, you’ll hear scary stories and wild tales of the city’s dark side, plus you’ll come into contact with three real spirits. Yep, there are three shots of ‘liquid courage’ thrown in. From €49.00.
Book at viator.com
Munich Macabre Group Walking Tour
Another edgier tour than pottering round the Old Town looking at statues, this excursion also delves into Munich’s dark side. Instead of chasing ghosts however, this is about gruesome takes of real-life events that happened in the city, such as witch trials, burial rites, and The Black Death. Created by a British archaeologist, this is more than just giving everyone the heebie jeebies, there is some proper history and research here, with a real insight into what it was like to live in Munich hundreds of years ago. Plus, you get to find out (and drink) a beer too – what’s not to love? From €27.00.
Book at viator.com