Things to do in Munich in Winter

Due to its proximity to the Bavarian Alps, winter in the city of Munich is very cold and snowstorms are frequent, but this is not the only impediment to enjoy all the activities that the capital of Bavaria has to offer.

Munich changes during the months of December to March and offers numerous attractions. If your visit to the city coincides with the German winter, it's best to pack your snow cap and warm clothes and head out for some of Munich's best tours and excursions.

The Nymphenburg Palace is one of Munich' s great attractions and also a popular destination in winter, when the 500 square metre canal directly in front of it freezes over to become a huge ice skating rink.

Although you can only enter the front part of the Palace Gardens, as the back section is closed during the winter season, the chance to skate on the ice of a frozen canal is worth the visit. Access is also very easy, as it is close to the centre of Munich, and admission from October to March costs approximately €9.

Inside the Nymphenburg you can rent skates, if you don't have your own, and when night falls, the illumination of the Palace is a magical experience. Undoubtedly one of the best things to do with children in Munich and a must if you enjoy winter sports.

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission costs approximately €9.
• Opening hours: The gardens are open from 10am to 6pm.
• Location: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, Munich.
• How to get there: By tram 17 from Central Station, by taxi or private car, or you can book the Munich sightseeing bus and get double the benefit.

While you can visit Neuschwanstein Castle at any time of the year, seeing it covered in snow and with the nearby hills covered in snow can be a unique sight. Plus, it's easier to get tickets in winter and your visit is likely to be more enjoyable with a smaller group of visitors.

Located two hours from Munich, this is one of the most beautiful castles in Germany and probably the most famous in the country. Built by Ludwig II, it is known as the castle of the Mad King. The best way to visit it is to book an excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle so you don't have to worry about transport and entrance fees.

Visiting this castle will not only allow you to enjoy one of the most emblematic sites in Bavaria , which was the inspiration for many artists, but also to discover the secrets hidden in the surroundings of Munich.

Interesting facts

• Price: There are several alternatives to visit the castle. The best option is with an organised tour which starts at 48 euros.
• Opening hours: The castle is open daily from 9am to 6pm.
• Location: Neuschwansteinstrasse 20, in Schwangau.
• How to get there: The best way to get to the castle is with an organised tour. Other alternatives are by car, a journey of approximately two hours from Munich, and by train to Fussen and then transfer to bus 73 to the Neuschwanstein entrance.

A tour of the Hofbraeuhaus brewery and a beer in the old tavern is one of the must-do excursions during your visit to Munich. During the winter this activity makes even more sense, because all the open-air breweries in the city are closed, and Hofbrauhaus is one of the few that has ample space to receive thousands of visitors.

The brewery is an unmissable spot in Munich and you will be surprised by the festive atmosphere inside the tavern. No matter what time you visit, the beer garden is always full and you can always hear the music of the orchestra and the clinking of beer mugs. During the cold winter it is a perfect refuge.

If you book a food tour in Munich, Hofbrauhaus is usually included. It is also one of the six breweries that perform every year at the Oktoberfest, meeting the rigorous demands of beer quality imposed by the organisers.

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission is free. A one-litre mug of beer costs approximately €8. Meals start at €11.
• Opening hours: Open from 11am to midnight daily.
• Location: Platzl 9, Munich.
• How to get there: By Metro lines U3 and U6 from Marienplatz station; by train on lines S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7 and S8, and by bus on line 132.

The Zugspitze Glacier is the highest point in Germany and is also one of the best day trips in Munich due to its proximity to the Alps. There you can see the glacier, ski and toboggan, all just over an hour's drive from Marienplatz.

The best way to see the glacier is to book a day trip to the Zugspitze where you'll be taken by bus to the base of the glacier, take the cable car to the top and have lunch at one of the restaurants at the peak of the Bavarian Alps.

These tours usually last about eight hours and if you are interested in doing them I recommend you book in advance, as in winter they tend to sell out quickly.

Useful information

• Price... The excursions with return transfer and cable car ticket start at 119 euros.
• Time.... Excursions usually last about eight hours.
• Location... Bavarian Alps on the Austrian border.
• How to get there... By taxi, car or van or private bus.

This is one of the most interesting winter activities in Munich. The surroundings of Olympiapark offer the ideal setting for you to hurtle down the hill on your sled. It's a fun experience where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

The best place in Olympiapark to go sledging is around the lake next to the stadium. There you can have a long ride down, as well as direct access to the Olympiaberg viewpoint, an artificial mountain created in 1972 to give a perspective of the Olympic Park. At 565 metres, it marks the highest point in Munich, from where you can see from the Sea Life Aquarium. Another visit which, by the way, is a must. Don't hesitate to book your tickets for the Munich Aquarium.

This activity is also practised in other areas such as Westpark or the English Garden, the largest park in Europe and a constant site for bicycle tours in Munich, but in Olympiapark races are organised and its hills are the highest in a flat city, as well as being easily accessible and free of charge.

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: The park is open 24 hours a day.
• Location: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, Munich.
• How to get there: Metro lines U2 and U3 from Olympiazentrum station or bus 173.

Munich offers one of the most beautiful views during the winter season. As Bavaria's imperial city, it has medieval architecture that comes into its own when bathed in a blanket of snow, and while the city centre may not have very tall buildings, the 91-metre tower of St Peter's Church on the side of Marienplatz will treat you to a sweeping view of a snowy Munich.

The highest point of the church's observatory is reached by a spiral staircase that ends at the top. The entrance fee is around €3 and it is a very interesting activity in winter, because the crowds are less crowded and the visits are more pleasant. You can also make the most of your visit to St. Peter's Church by taking a tour of the interior, as it is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Germany.

The church was severely damaged during World War II, so it is also a must-see if you book a tour of the Third Reich.

Interesting facts

• Price: The entrance fee is approximately €3.
• Opening hours: The church is open daily from 7.30am to 7pm.
• Location: Rindermarkt 1, Munich.
• How to get there: By underground lines U3 and U6 from Marienplatz station or by train on lines S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, S8, S27, SP1 and SP2.

Munich is a city full of green spaces. The English Garden is not only the largest park in the city, but in the whole of Europe. Visiting it in winter when it is covered with snow is an incredible sight. The Kleinhesseloher lake, which is located in the middle of the park, often freezes over and turns into a skating rink.

The English Garden also has the Chinese Tower beer garden, although as it is a high-rise, open-air space it is closed during the winter. Instead, during the months of December and January, you'll find one of the best places to go if you're in Munich for Christmas, a fantastic Christmas market.

Strolling through the English Garden enjoying the snow and the tranquillity of one of the most beautiful spots in the city can be a great experience. You might even end up making a snowman in the meadows of Burgfriedensäule while listening to the squawking of geese. Just don't forget to bring your coat!

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: The park is open 24 hours a day.
• Location: On the west bank of the river Isar: On the west bank of the river Isar.
• How to get there: Metro lines U2 and U3 from Universitat station, tram line 18 or bus line 154.

The Tollwood festival is organised every year in December on the Theresienwiese field and becomes a huge event dedicated to cultural, political, climatic and environmental issues.

But this alternative festival is not only home to cultural tents, there are also more than fifty food stalls, children's attractions, music shows and a wide range of activities, most of which are free of charge. In addition, on New Year's Eve, Tollwood hosts one of the best parties in town.

The festival, which attracts around 500,000 visitors every year, has been a city landmark since its first edition in 1991. Since 1999 it has been held on Theresienwiese, the same field that every year, between September and October, hosts the famous Oktoberfest.

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission to the festival is free and to most of the shows as well.
• Opening hours: You can enter the site from 2pm to midnight on weekdays and from 11am to midnight on weekends.
• Location: Theresienwiese 1, Munich.
• How to get there: By U4 and U5 to Theresienwiese station or by U3 and U6 to Goetheplatz and Poccistrasse stations; by bus on lines 53, 58, 131, 132 and 134, and by train on the S1-S8 service to Hackerbrücke.

At Olympiapark you can not only enjoy a toboggan run, but it is also the perfect place for skiing. Munich is a flat city and therefore has no professional ski slopes, so if you want to ski during the day you can do so on the winding hills. You won't reach the heights of the Alpine resorts, but you're sure to have a fun experience.

The ideal ski area within the park is the same area where sled races are held or where visitors go snowboarding, around the lake next to the stadium and making the most of the long run that starts at the Olympiaberg viewpoint. With a 565-metre drop down the hill you have more than enough space to have a good time with your boards and poles.

The viewpoint is also a good excuse to get to the top and, before dropping down, contemplate the city skyline that starts at the Olympiastadion ghost station and disappears into the horizon.

Interesting facts

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: The park is open 24 hours a day.
• Location: The park is located at Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, Munich.
• How to get there: By underground lines U2 and U3 from Olympiazentrum station or by bus line 173.

This is the ideal activity if you're looking to relax your body in Munich. There you can enjoy heated pools, steam baths and saunas that will make you forget that it's below freezing outside. You can also use the water slides and thermal pools.

Müllersches Volksbad also offers a spa treatment service in a salon called Therma Erding. This excursion is ideal to escape for a few hours from the cold of Munich or to rest and relax your body after a long walk through the city.

Please note that the general admission is only for the use of the main heated pool and sauna. The rest of the services must be contracted separately.

Useful information

• Price: General admission costs approximately €15.
• Opening hours: Open daily from 7.30am to 11pm.
• Location: Rosenheimer Strasse 1, Munich.
• How to get there: By Metro lines U4 and U5 from Max-Weber-Platz station, by train on lines S1, S2, S4 and S8 and by bus on line 132.

Temperatures in Munich in winter are not so low, but it does snow quite often. In December and January, the coldest months, the maximum temperature is 5°C and the minimum is -4°C.

In February and March, temperatures reach a maximum of 9°C and a minimum of one degree, with frequent rain and snowfall.

Because of the low temperatures, the number of visitors drops substantially, making it a good time to explore the city at your leisure and enjoy the attractions that are crowded with tourists during the summer months.

The cost of accommodation and some excursions also drops, and it's an ideal time to book excursions from Munich to the surrounding area, such as a tour to Rothenburg, a trip to Berchtesgaden or a trip to Salzburg.

During the winter, the temperature in Munich drops substantially and the city has beautiful scenery, so you may spend a lot of time outdoors, which is something you should bear in mind when packing your suitcase. Here's a list of items you shouldn't leave without when visiting Munich in winter:

• Winter coats.
• Waterproof and comfortable boots.
• Warm socks.
• Waterproof and tactile gloves.
• Woollen hats.
• Woollen scarves.
• Sunglasses.
• Woollen jumpers.
• Fleece trousers.
• Thermal fleece.

If you're visiting Munich in winter, you probably already know that you'll need to wrap up warm to keep out the cold, and you're probably willing to do so because many of the things to see and do in Munich are outdoors, but they also have other alternatives for when you need to escape the wind and snow for a while.

You can visit cafés, beer gardens, restaurants and bars in the Marienplatz area, where they abound. You also have the option of museums. Among them, I recommend the BMW and the Munich Pinakothek. And my favourite plan is to book tickets for a classical music concert.

And, of course, there are many palaces, castles and tours of film and production companies that can be great fun to get off the city's street circuit. Are you ready to tour Munich in winter?