What Munich Is Really Like (After Spending 9 Days There)

If you’re planning a trip and wondering what Munich is really like, we had the chance to experience it in a way that most shorter trips don’t allow.

We spent 9 full days in Munich in June, using it as both a home base and a place to really settle in and explore. We stayed right near Marienplatz, walked a lot, used public transportation constantly, and mixed in sightseeing with a few day trips.

Before going, I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. Munich isn’t talked about in quite the same way as cities like Paris or Rome, and I didn’t know if it would feel like a major destination or more of a stop along the way.

After spending that much time there, it ended up being one of our favorite places we’ve been in Europe. I also have a lot of German heritage on both sides of my family, which made visiting Germany feel a little more meaningful to me. If you’re trying to decide if it’s worth visiting, here’s what Munich is really like after spending 9 days there.

If you are planning a bigger Europe trip with kids, Salzburg pairs really well with cities like Venice, Rome, and Paris because they all combine history, walkability, and memorable experiences for families. You can also check out my Germany page for planning tips.

What Munich Is Really Like Overall

Munich feels different from a lot of other major European cities in a way that’s hard to fully explain until you’re there.

It’s incredibly clean, organized, and calm. Even in the busiest areas near Marienplatz, it never felt chaotic or overwhelming the way cities like Rome or Paris can feel at times.

What stood out most to us was how livable it felt. Honestly, it’s the kind of place I could see myself living in… if I spoke the language.

Instead of feeling like a city built around tourism, Munich feels like a place where people are actually going about their everyday lives, and you just happen to be there.

There’s a noticeable calm to the city. People sit longer at meals, spend time outside, and don’t seem to be rushing from one thing to the next.

There’s a good amount to see and do, but it never felt overwhelming or like we had to rush from one thing to the next.

Beer Gardens & the Social Culture

Going into the trip, beer gardens were actually a big part of why my husband had always wanted to visit Munich.

While beer is definitely part of the culture, what stood out more was how social and relaxed everything felt.

Beer gardens aren’t just for tourists. They’re a normal part of everyday life. People meet up after work, sit for hours, and actually slow down. It’s not rushed, and no one seems in a hurry to leave.

One of the things that stood out right away was how communal they felt.

It’s very normal to sit at long shared tables, even if you don’t know the people around you. At first it felt a little different, but it quickly became part of the experience. There’s something about it that makes everything feel more relaxed and social, even if you’re just quietly sitting there taking it all in.

We found ourselves doing the same thing, sitting longer than we normally would and just enjoying the atmosphere.

A lot of life in Munich seems to happen outside, especially in the warmer months. Between beer gardens, parks, and outdoor seating, it feels like people really take advantage of being out and together.

It’s one of the things that really defines the feel of the city once you’re there.

One of our favorite places to experience this was Viktualienmarkt in Munich, which ended up being one of our favorite places to wander.

Getting Around Munich

Getting around Munich ended up being very manageable overall, especially once we got the hang of it.

We walked a lot, especially since we stayed near Marienplatz, but we also used the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams regularly to get around the city and beyond. Most of what we loved was within easy walking distance in the historic center, and I break down the main highlights in Munich Old Town here.

Even with only knowing a few basic German phrases, the system is organized and reliable, which made it easier to navigate than I expected. That said, I wouldn’t say it was completely effortless for us. We definitely had a moment where we ended up a little lost one night in a train station.

My husband is much better at navigating public transportation than I am, so I mostly followed his lead, and once we got comfortable with it, it became a really cost-effective way to get around.

We also did day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich and Eagle’s Nest from Munich, which ended up being some of the biggest highlights of the trip.

We did both as guided bus tours, which made it really easy not having to figure out the logistics ourselves. There are a lot of similar tour options through GetYourGuide or Viator if you’re looking to do the same.

We also used taxis a few times. We took one from the airport to our hotel when we first arrived, but later realized how easy it is to take the train from the city center to the airport. We ended up doing that on the way back, and it was efficient.

One of the more unique parts of our trip was the €9 monthly transportation ticket that was available at the time. It gave us unlimited access to public transportation, and we used it for everything, from getting around the city, heading out on day trips, and even just hopping on and off when we didn’t feel like walking.

We also used it to take a day trip to Salzburg, and I shared more about our experience spending 2 days in Salzburg with kids.

Overall, it’s a very walkable city, and once we got comfortable with the transportation system, it made it easy to explore more without spending a lot.

If you’re trying to turn that into an actual plan, I break down our full 3 day Munich itinerary with kids step by step.

Since we stayed near Marienplatz, being in a central area made it much easier to walk, use public transportation, and head out for day trips. I shared the best areas to stay in Munich and what worked best for us here.

What Munich Is Really Like: What Surprised Us Most

There were a few things about Munich that really stood out to us once we were there.

One of the biggest was how quiet and calm it felt, especially at night. Even in central areas, things seemed to wind down earlier than we expected, and it never had that nonstop energy you feel in some other major cities.

Sundays were another adjustment. A lot of places are closed, including many shops and some restaurants, which isn’t something we’re used to. Once we realized that, we just planned around it, but it was definitely something that caught us off guard at first. If you want a few more small things like this that are helpful to know before you go, I shared them in my Munich travel tips guide.

It also felt incredibly safe. We were out at different times of day and night and never felt uncomfortable or on edge, which made it easy to relax and enjoy just walking around and exploring.

Another thing that stood out was how structured and orderly everything felt. There’s a strong sense of rules and organization, from transportation to public spaces, and people really seem to follow them. It gives the city a very predictable and easygoing feel once you settle into it.

Food in Munich (An Honest Take)

Food was probably the one area where our experience differed a bit.

My husband really enjoyed it. He was fully into the food and probably had a pretzel at almost every meal. He kept saying they were better than any pretzels he’d ever had and loved trying all the different traditional dishes, like schnitzel.

For me, it was a little different.

I do have gluten issues (not Celiac), and have been gluten free for the past decade, which made it more challenging at times. It was actually more difficult than I expected, especially compared to places like Italy where I’ve found it much easier to navigate.

There were definitely things I enjoyed. I still think about the potato soup, but overall, it just wasn’t my favorite type of food.

That said, it didn’t take away from the trip at all. It was just one of the few areas where our experiences were a little different.

Honestly, I ended up drinking beer in Munich, which I normally don’t do at home. For whatever reason, it didn’t seem to bother me the same way, so I tried it while keeping everything else as gluten-free.

Is Munich Expensive?

Overall, I wouldn’t describe Munich as cheap, but it also didn’t feel as expensive as some other major European cities.

Like most places, it really depends on how you travel.

Food and drinks can add up, especially if you’re sitting down at restaurants or spending time in beer gardens, but we also found it easy to keep things reasonable by mixing in more casual meals and not feeling like we had to constantly spend.

One thing that stood out was how much more affordable groceries were compared to home. It was easy to grab simple things and keep costs down when we wanted to.

Where Munich really felt worth it to us was in how easy everything was. Between how clean the city is, how safe it feels, and how well everything runs, it felt like we were getting a lot of value for what we were spending.

We also saved quite a bit by using public transportation instead of relying on taxis or private transfers, especially with the €9 ticket that was available at the time.

Overall, it felt like a place where you can spend more if you want to, but you don’t have to in order to have a really good experience.

What Might Not Be for Everyone

As much as we loved Munich, there were a few things that might not be the right fit for everyone.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced trip filled with nonstop major sights, Munich may feel a little quieter than cities like Paris or Rome. There’s plenty to do.

And depending on when you visit, things can feel especially quiet on Sundays when many places are closed. Once you know to expect it, it’s easy to plan around, but it can catch you off guard at first.

None of this took away from our experience, but it’s helpful to know going in so your expectations match what Munich is really like.

Would We Go Back?

We would absolutely go back to Munich.

It ended up being one of our favorite places we’ve been in Europe, and it’s a city that feels like it would be easy to return to and experience in a different way.

My husband, especially, loved it. It’s probably his favorite place we’ve traveled, and he would go back in a second. He’s also been wanting to experience Oktoberfest, which would be a completely different side of Munich.

For me, it’s the kind of place I could see us going back to again, especially because it felt so livable and easy. And since I have a lot of German heritage on both sides of my family, there was something about being in Germany that just made the trip feel even more meaningful.

If day trips are part of your plan, visiting places like Neuschwanstein Castle: What It’s Really Like (And Why It’s Worth It) and Eagle’s Nest from Munich: What It’s Really Like + How to Plan Your Visit ended up being some of the most memorable parts of our time in Munich.

Our family travel photography © Stack the Miles. All family and attraction photos were captured during our European vacations. Select scenic and landmark images courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

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