500 Years of Munich Architecture

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Where a Romanesque chapel once stood now rises the nearly 100-meter-tall Gothic Frauenkirche – Munich’s most iconic church. We’ll also take time to step inside and explore its impressive interior.

   15 min

2. The Renaissance church is not dedicated to the Archangel Michael by coincidence. It tells a rich story about the Reformation, the salt trade, and the Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria.

   10 min

3. Thanks to the vision of a remarkable woman, Munich was spared from destruction in the 18th century. How exactly? Let’s find out as we explore the baroque Church of the Holy Trinity (Dreifaltigkeitskirche). Along the way, we’ll compare elements of Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

   10 min

4. The first Rococo palace in Munich is a must-see and is located right next to the Residenz — Germany’s largest inner-city palace.

   10 min

5. Greece in Munich: King Max I Joseph had a Greek temple of music built for himself. Five of Richard Wagner’s works premiered in this neoclassical masterpiece — including Tristan and Isolde.

   10 min

6. King Maximilian II, grandson of Bavaria’s first king, commissioned this magnificent boulevard leading toward the Isar River. The “Maximilian style” is a unique form of historicism, blending elements of the Renaissance and Gothic with floral motifs and arcades.

   10 min

7. Disguised as a grand Catholic church, this building is actually Munich’s third Protestant church. Until 1801, Protestants were not even allowed to obtain citizenship in Munich.

   10 min

8. This Art Nouveau bridge leads us to Munich’s most beautiful riverside bathing spot on the Isar. Fittingly nestled among trees and spanning the water, the bridge reflects key elements of the Jugendstil style—drawing inspiration from nature, climbing plants, water (symbolizing the subconscious), and animals.

   10 min

9. Two superlatives side by side: This Art Nouveau bathhouse was the largest in the world when it opened. Right next to it, we’ll see what is likely the longest tandem bicycle in the world – a street art masterpiece by the artist Miriam Frank.

   10 min

10. Tucked between old chestnut trees on the high banks of the Isar along the Auermühlbach, the Sudeten German Museum is a modern architectural masterpiece with a thoughtful concept.

    10 min

11. If the weather is nice, we’ll end your tour at Dachgarten, Munich’s coolest rooftop bar. From here, we’ll enjoy the famous 18th-century Canaletto view, with a perfect line of sight to the towers of the Frauenkirche—your starting point. It’s the ideal spot to unwind after the tour, surrounded by palm trees, with drinks and food available.

    10 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 4 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Munich

• Its from-price is 54% below the median of the 176 city tours we list in Munich.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 64 of 176.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Munich

Munich is the Bavarian capital, with a rebuilt old town, beer gardens, royal palaces and the Alps visible on clear days to the south.

Marienplatz, the main square, is overlooked by the neo-Gothic New Town Hall, whose Glockenspiel chimes with mechanical figures, and by the twin onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche. The Viktualienmarkt close by is a food market with a beer garden. The Residenz, the former home of Bavaria's rulers, has lavish halls and a treasury, and Nymphenburg Palace stands in a park to the west.

Top-ranked sights in Munich: Neuschwanstein Castle, Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz.

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