Sure, Oktoberfest is great, but that's not all Munich and the surrounding area has to offer. Here are some of the sights you should not miss:

 

• Marienplatz
• The heart of the city, Marienplatz: always a nice place to visit and always something going on. In winter, it is home to the city's largest Christmas market. City rallies, the city anniversary, and the FC Bayern championship celebrations are also held here.

 

• English Garden and Eisbach Wave
• The English Garden is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The park is five and a half kilometers long. Here you can sunbathe in the summer or jump into the Eisbach and let yourself drift to the small Eisbach wave. A highlight of the English Garden is definitely the Eisbach Wave, where surfing fans and spectators from all over the world meet.

 

• Olympic Park
• The Munich Olympic Park offers everything at once: relaxation, nature, events and concerts, plus sights such as the Munich Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Hall and the Olympic Tower. In the summer, it is highly recommended to have a beer on the Olympiaberg and enjoy the view. From here you can also listen to the concerts that take place in the Olympic Hall.

 

• Munich's Pinakothek Museums
• You can spend rainy days and Sundays in Munich's Pinakothek museums and become enchanted with the most famous paintings. The Pinakothek, the Alte Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne are among the most prestigious museums in Munich and are the perfect place for all art lovers.

 

• German Museum
• The German Museum in Munich is one of the largest, most important, and most traditional science and technology museums in the world. Everything that man has invented, from mining, to the stars, to the planetarium, can be found in approximately 16 km and on six floors. The size and variety of the museum is simply amazing. In the halls, there are ships with rigged sails and airplanes with their full wingspan. With its interactive design, the museum is fun and educational for young and old.

 

• Lake Starnberg
• When the big city gets to you, take the suburban train to Lake Starnberg. It takes about 30 minutes from the city center to reach Bavaria's second largest lake. Perfect for swimming, biking, hiking, sailing, boating, or just relaxing.

 

• Lake Ammer 
• You can also easily reach Lake Ammer in the southwest of Munich with the S-Bahn line 8. Similar to Starnberg Lake, it is also known for the many activities you can do in the summer.

 

• Munich's local mountains
• Numerous peaks in the surrounding area of Munich are known as Munich's local mountains. Whether you are a beginner or a professional mountaineer, here you can find numerous hikes of varying degrees of difficulty.

 

• Zugspitze
• Even though it is not one of Munich's local mountains, it deserves a mention here. Located about 90 kilometers from the Bavarian capital, the Zugspitze is easily accessible by car or train. Whether you climb the 2962-meter peak on foot or comfortably by cable car or cogwheel train, a breathtaking panorama awaits you at the top.

 

• Neuschwanstein Castle
• We couldn't help but mention Neuschwanstein Castle, a fairytale castle in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. The best way to get there is by car, but it is also easy to reach by Flixbus or train. Combine your trip to Neuschwanstein with a trip to the charming old town of Füssen.