Munich

Munich

Cafe Rischart am Marienplatz

Stop into this beloved Munich bakery chain for an afternoon Brotzeit of freshly baked pastries, Bavarian cream slices, and hot chocolate before heading back to your hotel. The Marienplatz branch has seating upstairs with a view over the square.

Munich

Mangostin Asia Restaurant

This well-regarded restaurant on the edge of Olympiapark serves a broad menu of Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese dishes in a tropical garden setting that feels completely unlike anywhere else in Munich. The menu has plenty of mild, kid-friendly options and the outdoor terrace is relaxed enough for families.

Munich

Chinesischer Turm Beer Garden

The beer garden surrounding the five-story Chinese Tower is one of Munich's oldest and most famous, and it is extremely family-friendly with a large traditional carousel and children's playground on site. Parents can enjoy a Mass of Augustiner while kids get roasted chicken and soft drinks at the self-service food stalls.

Munich

Street Food Market at Eataly Munich

The Italian food hall near the main train station is a relaxed spot for a self-assembled farewell lunch with something for every family member, from pizza al taglio to fresh pasta to Italian pastries at the counter. It is easy to reach on foot from the Altstadt and conveniently close to the Hauptbahnhof for families catching an afternoon train.

Munich

Viktualienmarkt

This open-air food market has been running since 1807 and is the ideal spot to build a no-fuss family lunch from market stalls. Pick up fresh Obatzda cheese, giant soft pretzels from a vendor, and a box of Bavarian strawberries when in season.

Munich

Leopoldstrasse Evening Stroll and Gelato at Sarcletti

Walk south down Schwabing's main boulevard as the evening crowds come out, then detour to Sarcletti, a Munich institution since 1879 serving scooped gelato and sundaes from a window counter on Nymphenburger Strasse. The portions are generous and the lines move fast.

Munich

Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus Glockenspiel

Arrive at Munich's central square by 11am to catch the famous Glockenspiel carillon show, where 32 life-sized figures re-enact a 16th-century royal wedding and jousting tournament from the tower. Kids under 10 are usually mesmerized; grab a spot near the fountain for the best sightline.

Munich

Residenz Munich and the Treasury

The former royal palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty contains 130 rooms and a treasury full of crowns, swords, and jeweled curiosities that feel like props from a fairy tale. The Treasury is the highest-payoff stop for kids and takes about 45 minutes at a relaxed pace.

Munich

Deutsches Museum

The largest science and technology museum in the world sits on its own island in the Isar River and could genuinely absorb two full days, so pick two or three floors based on your kids' interests. The mining tunnel, aeronautics hall with real spacecraft, and the kids' Kingdom section for ages 3 to 8 are consistently the biggest hits with families.

Munich

Museum Island Picnic on the Isar Banks

Walk across the bridge to the grassy Isar riverbanks with sandwiches from the museum cafe or snacks picked up at Viktualienmarkt the day before. The pebbly riverside is a Munich institution for locals, and kids love throwing stones into the fast-moving green water.

Munich

Mullersches Volksbad

This stunning Art Nouveau public swimming hall built in 1901 is five minutes from the Deutsches Museum and offers both a Roman-style pool and a smaller pool suitable for younger swimmers. It is a genuinely beautiful building that doubles as one of the most affordable and fun afternoon activities in the city.

Munich

Nymphenburg Palace and Park

The summer palace of the Bavarian kings sits at the end of a long canal and is surrounded by 500 acres of formal gardens, fountains, and woodland that are free to enter. Kids can run the lawns, peek into the royal carriages in the Marstallmuseum, and spot swans on the palace canal.

Munich

Olympiapark Tower and Sea Life Munich

Take the U-Bahn from Rotkreuzplatz to Olympiazentrum and ride the glass elevator up the 291-meter Olympic Tower for a panoramic view across the city to the Alps on a clear day. Directly below in the park, Sea Life Munich has a walk-through shark tunnel and an Amazon River section that younger kids find thrilling.