Munich is repeatedly ranked as one of the most expensive cities in Germany. However, a holiday in the state capital does not have to drain your wallet, as there are plenty of inexpensive or even free activities. We have put together some tips for you!
You can explore Munich's most famous attractions without spending a dime, for example Marienplatz (main square) and the Glockenspiel (Carillon) in Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). You can also visit Frauenkirche (cathedral) for free and only pay admission if you choose to climb the southern tower. Unlike many other major cities, access to all churches is free in Munich, including the Theatinerkirche on Odeonsplatz (square), Asamkirche in Sendlinger Strasse and Heilig-Geist-Kirche at Viktualienmarkt (market). A visit to Munich's most famous market is also free of charge, and if you want to save money on site, simply bring your own food to the beer garden at Viktualienmarkt!
Other exciting sights that you can visit for free are Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshall's Hall), the courtyard of the Residenz (city palace), Königsplatz (square) and the Hofbräuhaus (beer hall) – unless you decide to stay for a meal or a “Mass” (1 litre of beer). Here's a lesser-known tip for budget-conscious travellers: The BMW Museum requires an admission, but you can explore BMW Welt for free. Well-known vantage points such as the Friedensengel, the Olympiaberg or the Monopteros in the Englischer Garten (park) do not cost an entrance fee either.
If you want to take a delightful and budget-friendly sightseeing tour, you can hop on city tram line 19. This line leads right across Munich past numerous significant attractions, such as the Karlsplatz-Stachus (square), the Nationaltheater (Opera House), Maximilianstrasse or Maximilianeum (seat of the Bavarian State Parliament). Find out more about this route in our interview with Bettina Gundler, the head of the Verkehrszentrum (transport museum) at the Deutsches Museum. For travellers to Germany and those planning a longer stay, the Deutschlandticket is a top tip: For just 49 euros per month, you can comfortably explore Munich and the surrounding area.
For visitors under the age of thirty, the Münchner Kammerspiele (theatre) and Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera) offer tickets for just 10 euros. These special tickets are available on the first Monday of each month, but with a bit of luck, you might also secure discounted remaining tickets at the box office by presenting your ID. At these venues, you can also get remaining standing-room tickets with discounts up to 50 percent. At the Münchner Philharmoniker in the new Gasteig (cultural centre), young guests up to 29 years of age can purchase tickets for 11 to 14 euros. Also good to know: These tickets include free public transport to the concert.
Don't worry if you're over thirty. There are still affordable ways to enjoy opera and theatre in Munich: The Bayerische Staatsoper offers classical music enthusiasts a monthly ticket for 50 euros, which is also available at a reduced price of 25 euros. Twice a year, open-air operas are staged at Max-Joseph-Platz (square) or Marstallplatz (square) as part of the “Opera for All” event and admission is free. Another noteworthy event to mark in your calendar is the Munich Summer Theatre: Since 1990, a troupe of free actors has been performing a different play every year in the amphitheatre in the English Garden. These performances are free of charge.
Munich offers various free summer festivals. These include several concerts as part of the Theatron-Festival at Olympiapark (Olympic Park), backstage at the Free & Easy festival, the Isarinselfest on Steindorfstrasse and Isarflux in the Gasteig. In any case, it is worth taking a look at the Gasteig events calendar every now and then: It features a separate section exclusively for free events, such as lectures, exhibitions and workshops. Additionally, you can visit the popular Tollwood festival with the Market of Ideas and the child and youth programme, without paying an entrance fee.
If you cannot secure a ticket for your favourite band in the Olympiahalle (Olympic hall), you can listen from the neighbouring Olympiaberg (Olympic hill), and the live performances in the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium) can be heard far beyond the park. A list of free concerts and festivals is available in Calendar of events of the KulturRaum München (event calendar of KulturRaum München).
On Sundays, admission to many of the city's museums costs just one euro. These include all Pinakothek museums, but also the Brandhorst Museum (art gallery), the Fünf Kontinente Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Glyptothek (art gallery), the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Staatliche Antikensammlung (State Collections of Antiques), the Museum Mensch und Natur at Nymphenburger Schloss (palace), as well as the Schack Collection (art gallery). If you cannot make it on Sundays: On Tuesdays, you only pay half the regular entrance fee at Kunsthalle München (art gallery)! Haus der Kunst (art gallery) offers free admission every last Friday of the month from 4 pm and Villa Stuck (art gallery) has free opening hours every first Friday of the month from 11 am.
Admission to some smaller museums and galleries in Munich is completely free. These include the Rathausgalerie (art gallery), the MaximiliansForum (art passage), the NS-Dokumentationszentrum (Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism), the ESO Supernova exhibition, the Palaeontological Museum, as well as the Geological Museum, Munich's Imperial Castle in the Old Courtyard and the Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke (plaster casts of antique sculptures) on Königsplatz. Many of the city's young art venues also provide free exhibitions, such as Lothringer13 in Haidhausen, Farbenladen, Kösk in Westend district or Kunstarkaden in the Old Town.
If you're a fan of motion pictures, be sure not to miss cinema days: They usually take place on Mondays and Tuesdays in Munich cinemas. On these special days, you can enjoy reduced ticket prices ranging from 7 to 8.50 euros and watch films in almost all cinemas across the city – including the Arena Kino, Museum Lichtspiele, Mathäser Filmpalast, City Kinos and the Neue Maxim in Neuhausen district. For a comprehensive overview of film festivals and film days in Munich, you can visit the Filmstadt München website and explore the full programme of budget-friendly cinematic experiences. The Film Museum in the Munich Stadtmuseum offers great art-house cinema at a low price: for only 4 euros you can see selected classics and exciting film series. You can find the programme here.
Munich beer gardens are often sub-divided into two areas – one, where food is served and one with self-service. In the latter, it is permitted to bring your own snack, as stipulated by the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance. The so-called Brotzeitrecht (right to bring your own snack) is over 200 years old and dates back to the beginnings of the beer garden tradition. So if you don't want to spend too much money on your next beer garden visit bring your own food, only the drinks must be bought at the beer garden.
Munich boasts an astonishingly high density of Michelin-starred restaurants and the list keeps getting longer almost every year. If you want to go out for fine dining without breaking the bank, you should definitely make a lunch-time reservation: During these hours, several gourmet and Michelin-starred restaurants in Munich offer reduced menus. Young people don’t have to strain their wallets in Munich's star-rated restaurants either: For instance, at the Tantris, you can savour a meal for less than 35 euros. Menu Jeune offers dining experiences starting at 90 euros, and the Mountain Hub Gourmet at Munich Airport provides a four-course menu for under-thirties for 93 euros.
Especially on Shrove Monday, many Munich pubs offer their traditional Weisswurst sausages for just one euro. Apart from certain holidays, there are a few spots where you can enjoy an affordable and delicious Weisswurst breakfast. One popular option is Wirtshaus Drei Mühlen, where you can enjoy a pair of Weisswurst from the butcher Magnus Bauch, served with pretzels for less than four euros. Alternatively, on weekends, you can head to Sendlinger Augustiner and get the Bavarian speciality for about 5.50 euros.
The Eisbachbrücke (bridge) with its iconic surfers, is a popular attraction, and you can always just drop by and watch. Experienced surfers can of course join in for free, while beginners may prefer the smaller wave further back. Following the surf spectacle, you can enjoy your brought-along picnic at the Englischer Garten or at one of the other beautiful parks in Munich, for example Hofgarten (Court Garden), Schlosspark Nymphenburg (palace park), or Olympiapark. The Isar river offers numerous beautiful walks, green spaces and activities that don't cost a cent.
Anyone who wants to exercise is welcome to join the free "Fit in the Park" sports programme run by the City of Munich. Between May and September, courses for yoga, Zumba, volleyball and more take place here in the open air. The salsa evenings at the Diana Temple in the Hofgarten are also popular: On Wednesdays and Sundays in summer you can simply dance along!
And even in winter there are nice activities you can do for free in Munich: Admission to the Botanical Garden's open space is free during the colder winter months. When the neighbouring Nymphenburg Canal freezes over, it offers opportunities for ice skating and sledding on the hills in the English Garden, Isarauen, or the Olympiapark. Cross-country skiers often use the trails along the Isar river. Those interested in tobogganing or ski touring, can head for Munich’s surrounding countryside, for example Tegernsee or Schliersee (lakes).
Munich's surrounding area offers a variety of fantastic hiking trails and excursions at any time of the year – and apart from the transportation costs, you do not need much money. In summer, the inviting bathing lakes in the Munich environs are perfect for swimming. In spring and autumn, you can embark on excellent hikes in the surrounding mountains, all the way to the Ammergauer Alps. Many of the excursion destinations are conveniently reachable via public transport and we recommend our Excursion Tips with the Deutschlandticket.
There are also great free activities for families that you can do at any time: Munich boasts over 760 public playgrounds, all of which are accessible free of charge. These include the fantastic water playground in Westpark, or the playground in the Hirschgarten, which is adjacent to a wild animal enclosure. The Ping Pong Map lists all table tennis courts in the area where you can play for free. For those ready for an outdoor exploration, Walderlebniszentrum Grünwald (forest adventure centre) is open all year round free of charge. Between May and October, you can enjoy free guided tours every Sunday and on public holidays.
For those who prefer indoor activities: Children and young people up to the age of 18 can enjoy free admission to the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst and the Lenbachhaus (art galleries). In the other Munich museums, admission is usually free for children up to 6 years of age, while many museums offer reduced prices for older children. The cargo-bike initiative for Munich provides free cargo bikes on its website, which can be booked online with short advance notice. For more great tips on what to do in Munich with kids, see our Munich Guide for Families.
