3 Days in Munich During Oktoberfest: 39+ (More) Awesome Things to Do Here

Oktoberfest is absolutely a reason to spend 3 days in Munich (or longer, if you’re like me) but there’s plenty more to do in Bavaria’s capital city while you’re here. Party at Oktoberfest, obviously, but also take a break now and then.

I always recommend spending at least 2 or 3 days in Munich outside of your time at Oktoberfest. Munich is beautiful, full of things to do, and is such an easy town to get around in. So to help you plan your 3 days in Munich during Oktoberfest, here are 39 of the most fun things you can see and do in Munich this fall (and then some).

Best places to eat & drink during your 3 days in Munich

I know eating and beer drinking are large parts of the whole Oktoberfest experience already, but there are more fun (and delicious) “culinary” experiences you should also make room for during your 3 days in Munich. I know you’re not looking to dry out completely, right?

1. Check out Europe’s only airport brewery

Upon landing at the airport, begin your 3 days in Munich at Airbräu, Europe’s only full-scale airport brewery and beer garden. The food here is fantastic and especially welcome after a long flight. The beers are especially delicious too and all have adorable air-themed names.

They have cool indoor seating areas as well as a huge outdoor beer garden. And they even offer brewery tours! Right here at the airport! For everything you need to know about Airbräu, Munich’s airport brewery, check out my full post on it in that link!

2. Stop by the famous Hofbräuhaus

When in Munich, you must at least have a beer at the world famous Hofbräuhaus. This is one of Munich’s oldest beer halls (opened in 1589) and it’s such a great time.

Not to be confused with the Hofbräu Festzelt (the Hofbräu tent at Oktoberfest), the Hofbräuhaus is located in Munich’s old town near the city center. They have a full menu of amazing Bavarian food, live music, and a super fun atmosphere all year long.

Also check out: 26+ Things You Don’t Know About Oktoberfest (But Definitely Should!) and these 20 things you should NEVER do at Oktoberfest

3. Have a beer at the Chinese Tower

Over in Munich’s English Garden you’ll find the Chinesischer Turm, a giant wooden Chinese pagoda surrounded by a fun beer garden. This is a great place to hang out, enjoy a liter of Hofbräu and a giant Bavarian pretzel, and people watch the day away.

After you’ve done all there is to do here, consider one of these amazing day trips from Munich next.

4. Take a Munich beer and food tour

I’ll say it again – the food and beer in Munich is some of the best anywhere! And I’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to eat in Munich.

5. Enjoy a meal at the Augustiner Keller

If you’d rather have a great sit-down meal in one of Munich’s most delicious beer halls, stop by the Augustiner Keller. I can’t say enough great things about this place and I visit it on every trip to Munich. If you have one meal outside Oktoberfest during your 3 days in Munich, make it here.

Augustiner is Munich’s oldest brewery so they know exactly what they’re doing. It has a bunch of cool indoor spaces as well as a big beautiful beer garden. (Underground in the lager keller is my favorite!) Walk-ins welcome, but you should probably go ahead and make a reservation.

7. Tour a Munich brewery*

I put an asterisk because, well, just read my post on how NOT to tour the Spaten brewery in Munich, then plan your brewery tours accordingly.

Munich has six historic breweries and some of them do offer guided tours and tastings, including Spaten, one you probably already know. Afraid to make the same mistakes as me though? Book this guided tour of Munich beer halls and breweries and let someone else handle the logistics for you. You’ll get to learn how delicious Munich beer is made and taste some of the freshest lager of your life.

8. Visit the world’s oldest brewery

Just a short train (or taxi) ride north of the Munich airport is the Weihenstephaner brewery, the oldest brewery in the world. It opened in the year 1040 and they’ve been brewing delicious beer ever since.

They offer English-language tours on Tuesday mornings so, if you’ll be in Munich during the week, I recommend a visit. (You’ll need to reserve your spot ahead of time.) Otherwise, you can still visit their bräustüberl every day of the week for great food and the chance to try all the beers they brew.

Also check out: 26 Truly Awesome Things to Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: An Expert’s Guide

Cool Munich sites to see during your visit

Now that you’ve got your eating and drinking out of the way, you can concentrate on seeing some of the most popular sites in town during your 3 days in Munich (and some lesser-known ones as well).

10. Stroll the Marienplatz

Without a doubt the most well-known part of Munich is the Marienplatz and surrounding area. Munich’s main square and town hall are the most recognizable aspects of this city and definitely worth a visit.

Here you’ll find tons of restaurants and bars, shopping, cool architecture and history, gorgeous cathedrals, and lots of other ways to pass the time.

Also check out: 49+ Super Detailed Oktoberfest Tips from an Oktoberfest Tour Guide

11. Watch the glockenspiel show

On the front of Munich’s town hall tower you’ll see the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, a dancing clock that puts on a show 3x a day.

From March to October, the glockenspiel puts on a show at 11am, noon, and 5pm. The figures “dance,” the bells ring, the whole thing tells a story (which you can read more about here). Pro tip: these “shows” last way longer than you think. Just keep that in mind.

13. Head inside the Frauenkirche

I take back what I said earlier, the Frauenkirche is probably Munich’s most recognizable feature. The huge two-towered church that dominates Munich’s skyline is also a worthwhile stop during your 3 days in Munich.

You can pop in when you’re nearby, check out the interior, take a guided tour, and even visit the south tower. Pro tip: not for visitors with claustrophobia. Frauenkirche visitor information here.

Check out my free Oktoberfest playlist to listen to while you prepare for your upcoming Munich trip!

14. Book the Munich hop-on/hop-off bus tour

As “touristy” as they may seem, I do love the hop-on/hop-off bus tours, in Munich and beyond. The BigBus Munich tours are such a great way to learn about the city but also a unique way to actually see the city’s sites. Open-air is the way to go, I’m telling you.

PLUS, these buses also double as your transportation around town since you can literally just hop-on and off whenever and wherever you want. You don’t even have to take the “tour” if you don’t want to.

BigBus Munich is by far the best and I’ve had such great experiences with them. Highly recommend! You can choose from a one-time tour ticket, a 24-hour option, or a 48-hour option. This is such a great way to get around in Munich during Oktoberfest.

15. Check out the Umschreibung

The Umshreibung is a permanent piece of modern art that’s in the atrium of an office courtyard not too far from the Oktoberfest grounds. It was designed by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson (2004).

“Umschreibung” translates to “circumscription” which essentially refers to a movement without a destination, a space defined by motion rather than walls, the restriction of something within limits. Hence, the staircase to nowhere.

Heavy as that description may be, the piece is very cool to see in person. (And worth that little extra bit of deep thought.)

16. Stop by Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory

Did you know the original movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) was actually filmed in Munich? Ja! It was! And though most of it was a set (you don’t say), the exterior shots of Wonka’s chocolate factory can still be seen in Munich today.

Though some of the fancy gates, the red carpet, and the fun signs are no longer here, you can still get the picture. Only in real life what you’re looking at is the Munich Gasworks, a municipal building. Womp, womppp. But still!  

Fun outdoor activities for your 3 days in Munich

Weather in Munich during Oktoberfest is never 100% predictable, but given that it takes place in September, it’s mostly agreeable! (That is why they moved Oktoberfest up to September, you know.) If this is the case, check out these fun outdoor activities during your 3 days in Munich:

17. Hang out in the English Garden

Munich’s English Garden is one of the largest urban parks in the world. It holds a number of beautiful beer gardens (as I’ve mentioned), tons of walking and biking trails, lots of scenic hangouts, and much more. It’s quite the breath of fresh air away from all the chaos of Oktoberfest.

Pro tip: On a nice weather day, why not do as the locals do and try out some nude sunbathing? Nevermind, I know why.

If you don’t want to just wander, check out this Munich Half-Day City and English Garden Bike Tour. See Munich and the English Garden from a bike on this 3.5-hour guided tour.

18. Watch the river surfers

Within the English Garden you’ll find the Eisbachwelle on the Eisbach river. At this particular spot, the river creates a legit surfable wave. On any given day of the year, this is where you’ll find Munich’s famous river surfers.

There’s a bridge that goes over the surfing spot so you can watch them with ease as they take their turns surfing on this urban river.

19. Spend some time in Olympiapark

On the north side of the city you’ll find Olympiapark, a massive greenspace created for the 1972 summer Olympics. There’s the Olympic Tower (more on that in a minute), Olympic Stadium where they still host concerts and other major events, an aquarium (Munich Sea Life), and lots of recreational activities like rowing.

It’s a beautiful space to just walk around and hang out in (or get your adrenaline pumping on the Olympic Stadium roof climb). Again, a nice change of pace from Oktoberfest’s noise and crowds. You can get here easily on the Munich BigBus tour!

20. Munich’s most awesome zipline

Another thing you can do at Olympic Park is the Flying Fox zipline. If the roof climb wasn’t enough adrenaline for you, you can continue your adventure with a zipline across the stadium. On Munich’s Flying Fox, you’ll soar almost 700 feet over 115-feet high above the grounds of Olympic Stadium.

21. Attend a soccer game at Allianz Arena

Allianz Arena is home to FC Bayern, Munich’s hometown soccer team. And almost every year (if not every year) they play a home game in Munich during Oktoberfest. If you’ve got a sports/soccer lover in your travel group, seeing a game here is a serious bucket list item. Get the full FC Bayern schedule here.

22. Tour Allianz Arena

If FC Bayern isn’t playing at home during your 3 days in Munich, you can take awesome guided tours of Allianz Arena instead. (I think it might be just as cool to visit this enormous stadium when you have the whole thing to yourself!)

Allianz Arena hosts a variety of tours themselves, or you can opt for this combination tour that covers some of Munich’s top sites and ends with a tour of Allianz Arena and the FC Bayern Museum.

24. Pop into the Justizpalast (Munich Palace of Justice)

Munich’s Justizpalast is the seat of the Bavarian Ministry of Justice. …And you can totally just walk right in and check it out for yourself. No arrest warrants required!

Really though, this is an active courthouse so you will need to go through airport-like security to get in here. But after you’re in, look how beautiful it is!

Besides popping in to simply admire the 19th-century baroque architecture, you can even head up to the 2nd floor to check out the (really well done) exhibit on the White Rose resistance movement–the student-led resistance movement during World War II. Highly recommend.

3 days in Munich for history lovers

Maybe Oktoberfest is what brought you to Munich, but if you’re a history lover, the city’s endless historical offerings are what’s going to keep you here. During your 3 days in Munich, don’t miss the many history-centered things to do in Munich.

Did you know I have another travel blog all about World War II destinations? If you’re a history geek like me, don’t miss my full guide to World War II sites around Munich.

25. Pay your respects at Dachau

Just one-hour from the center of Munich is Dachau Concentration Camp, the first Nazi concentration camp. You can tour the remains of the camp and go inside many of the buildings like the crematorium, the prisoner barracks, and more.

They have excellent guided and audio tours as well as a huge museum exhibition center that explains what happened at Dachau on a daily basis. Basically, there’s too much to even summarize here. And look, I know your 3 days in Munich are centering around Oktoberfest and good times, but this is, without a doubt, a side trip you NEED to take.

26. Take the Third Reich Tour

Definitely the most popular guided walking tour in Munich is the Hitler & the Third Reich Walking Tour. This 2.5-hour walking tour visits some of Munich’s darkest sites while explaining the city’s haunting World War II past. (Munich was the birthplace of National Socialism and Nazi headquarters.)

You’ll visit a number of historically important sites with an expert guide in a small-group setting. This is always a visitor favorite. (Traveling with your kids? Read this post on visiting WW2 sites with children.)

In fact, you can actually combine a trip to Dachau Concentration Camp with the Third Reich tour. Check out this combination tour to see if it fits into your 3 days in Munich.  

Being the WWII historian and Munich expert that I am, I also offer my own self-guided (full-day) WWII walking tour of Munich. Be sure to check it out here if this history interests you!

27. Dig deeper at the NS Documentation Center

If Munich’s Nazi history interests you, don’t miss a visit to the NS Documentation Center. This free museum opened in 2016 and tells the story of Munich’s descent into Nazism.

It’s located at the original Nazi headquarters. You can read all about visiting the NS Documentation Center here.

28. Explore Nymphenburg Palace

If opulent royal castles are more your historical thing, check out Nymphenburg Palace. This enormous palace was the birthplace and “summer home” to King Ludwig II (the guy who built Neuschwanstein Castle).

There are cool museums here like the carriage museum, plus fancy gardens, fancy bedrooms, fancy buildings galore actually. Lakes with swans, garden cottages with mirrored rooms, and so much more. You can visit on your own or book a private guided tour. Nymphenburg Palace is also a stop on the Munich BigBus tour.

Pro tip: Read this biography of King Ludwig before your visit to see what the man they call the “Mad King” was all about.

29. Tour the Munich Residenz

Right in the city center is the Munich Residenz, another former royal palace and currently the largest palace in Germany. You can also tour the rooms, gardens, and much more here.

30. Take the Munich Nightwatchman tour

This night tour through Munich is led by the medieval nightwatchman. He tells stories of the city’s dark and spooky past while taking you to some of Munich’s most notable locations.

Great Munich museums to visit

If immersing yourself in history isn’t exactly your idea of a great 3 days in Munich, there are other museums to check out (like if the weather isn’t great while you’re here). Try these on for size:

31. Tour the BMW Museum

Munich, Germany is the home of BMW and this museum “brings to life over 100 years of automotive fascination, innovation, dynamism and the joy of driving.”  If you’re a car lover, that probably means something to you.

I personally haven’t visited the BMW Museum but I do hear from people on my Oktoberfest tours that it’s a great museum. Report back!

32. Geek out at the Deutsches Museum

Munich’s Deutches Museum is the largest science and technology museum in the world. Yes, you could totally spend all 3 days in Munich exploring this museum… but you can also focus on certain areas that may interest you. I spent just an afternoon here and felt I didn’t even scratch the surface.

Where to get the best views during your 3 days in Munich

One of my favorite things to do when I go to any new city is to get as high as I can and find the best views. And Munich was (and still is) no different. If you’re anything like me, here is where you can find the best views in Munich:

34. Climb the tower at St. Peter’s

For just 3€ you can climb the 299 steps up the tower at St. Peter’s Church to get the absolute best views in and of Munich. St. Peter’s is located just across the plaza from the Old Town Hall. You’ll get 360° views of downtown Munich, the residential suburbs, the faraway Alps, and even Oktoberfest!

35. Head up to the top of Olympic Tower

Back over in Olympiapark you’ll find the Olympic Tower. At almost 1,000 feet high, Olympic Tower is the tallest building in Munich. At the top is a panoramic viewing platform and a revolving restaurant.

36. Take in the best views of Oktoberfest

Some say the best views at Oktoberfest are the ones inside the beer tents from behind your glass. I mean, yeah, that’s not wrong. But you can actually find some great views of Oktoberfest as well.

For a list of all the best views of Oktoberfest, check out my full post in that link! It includes the best views of Oktoberfest as well as the best places at Oktoberfest to take your Instagram photos.

Oktoberfest-y things to do in Munich

And since you have obviously based your 3 days in Munich around Oktoberfest, there are some Oktoberfest-related things you can do besides drink beer and eat your weight in schnitzel. For instance:

37. Shop for trachten

Despite whether or not you came to Germany with dirndls and lederhosen all ready to go, shopping for trachten in Munich is still a fun experience and a Munich-bought set makes a great souvenir.

You can find dirndls and lederhosen of all kinds and to fit all budgets here in Munich. You can find cheap stuff in the train station, and luxury items all around town. Check out my post on Where to Buy Lederhosen and Dirndls in Munich for a list of some of my favorite places to buy outfits for Oktoberfest around town.

39. Visit the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum

Munich’s Bier und Oktoberfest Museum is located in one of the oldest buildings in Munich. It won’t take you long to visit and tickets are cheap. You can even drink a beer while you explore the museum. Check out my quick guide to the Beer & Oktoberfest Museum here for all the info you need!

Maybe visit here first, then school all your friends when you get to the beer tents. Check out this winning combination: This Bavarian Beer and Food Evening Tour in Munich includes a visit to the Oktoberfest Museum.

Where to stay during your 3 days in Munich

Munich has so many great neighborhoods in which to base yourself during your 3 days in Munich. But, if you are only visiting for such a short time, some work better than others.

Hotels near Oktoberfest

If you’ll be spending your 3 days in Munich during Oktoberfest, I highly recommend staying as close to the festival as possible. Getting to and from the Wiesn is then one less pain you have to worry about, and you can still walk to many of Munich’s top sites.

For everything you could possibly want to know about booking a hotel for Oktoberfest + about 30 more hotel suggestions in all different parts of the city (+ budget options!), click that link above for my full post.

Of course, there are plenty more great hotels in Munich. If none of those work for you, you can check out all available Munich hotels here. (And don’t forget to check out my guide to picking the perfect hotel every time!)

Pro tip: If your 3 days in Munich are during Oktoberfest, I’d steer clear of Airbnb. They are notorious for ripping people off during the festival and/or canceling their reservations at the last minute to accept better offers, leaving people stranded during the city’s busiest time. It’s not worth it! Check out my guide to popular Oktoberfest scams for more info.

How to get around during your 3 days in Munich

Munich is a wonderfully walkable city if you stay in a centrally-located hotel (like the ones mentioned above). Beyond those areas, Munich’s S-bahn and U-bahn train systems and trams are also easy to use and can get you just about anywhere you want to go. Take a look at Munich’s train schedules and buy tickets here on Bahn.com (Germany’s official train network).

I have also rented cars in and around Munich and have also found this an easy way to get around the city as well as for day trips to places like Neuschwanstein and Salzburg, Austria. If you think you’d like to go this route, check out the best Munich rental car deals here.

And as I’ve already said, the Munich hop-on/hop-off bus is also a great way to see the city and get carted around to the most popular areas. Tourism + transportation = perfection!

Like this post? Have questions about what to do in Munich, Germany? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great time in Munich!

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