When you only have one day to experience Munich, you should visit the main square at midday when it produces the best show of the day (you’d miss it if you visit first thing in the morning).
So, after starting your day with a traditional breakfast of bratwurst and sauerkraut, your itinerary starts in the city’s largest park.
Watch the River Surfers at Eisbachwelle
One of the most famous attractions in Munich is to watch surfers ride the never ending wave on the Eisbach canal.
It’s a really cool spot to watch for a few minutes (we stayed for 30 minutes).
There’s a concrete block under the bridge that creates the perfect, continuous wave for the surfers. Watch as they line up on either side of the water waiting their turn.
The best part is no matter what time of day you’re visiting, you should be able to catch the surfers.
They surf all year round, and most hours of the day. This is why I recommend going in the morning, as you’ll catch the die hards crushing a few waves before heading to work at the office!
Munich Residenz
Now a museum, this was once one of the most famous palaces in Germany where Bavarian rulers lived.
Experience the hundreds of rooms that can only be described by pure extravagance. The gold, porcelain, and chandeliers are a glimpse into a fascinating royal past.
The massively detailed dining hall is worth a visit alone. The palace gardens, Hofgarten, are equally stunning and not to be missed.
If it happens to be raining on your day trip to Munich, visiting the Residenz is a great indoor activity, as you could easily spend a couple hours here.
Nymphenburg Palace
Here, you will find a stunning palace in late-Baroque architecture, manicured grounds and swans! It’s almost like a mini-Versailles.
You can even tour the inside of the palace and view the gold ceilings and porcelain museum upstairs.
Most notable of all, it was a former concert venue for Mozart. Today, you can still experience classical concerts here, dinner included.
While this is a beautiful spot, if you’re short on time in Munich, choose to visit the Munich Residenz instead of the Nymphenburg Palace.
The English Garden (Englisher Garten)
This is one of the largest city parks in the world, and is way bigger than Central Park in New York City.
I recommend starting your day with a stroll through this park, because it’s one of the most famous spots in Munich and is the perfect introduction to the city’s vibe.
Now, this park is massive, so you won’t be able to see it all. Start somewhere closer to the southern end of the park and work your way south (towards the city center).
