SIGHT SEEING IN MUNICH

Hilton Munich hotels – Local Attractions

From bustling beer gardens to historic castles and sprawling urban parks, the Bavarian capital of Munich is home to myriad cultural and historic attractions.

Check out the Residenz palace – home to the Bavarian monarchs for six centuries. Explore incredible churches and cultural treasures like the Alte Pinakothek – one of the world’s oldest galleries and home to masterworks from such luminaries as Albrecht Dürer, Peter Paul Rubens and Sandro Botticelli.

Explore the breathtaking Bavarian countryside and its fairytale castles and gorgeous lakes, which include the popular tourist destination of Starnberger See (Lake Starnberg). Hit the slopes at the renowned Alpine ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, or take in a Bundesliga game at the stunning Allianz Arena, home to powerhouse German football club FC Bayern Munich.

Pinakothek der Moderne

Pinakothek der Moderne in Maxvorstadt is home to one of the world's finest collections of 20th- and 21st-century art, with four major museums (art, graphics, architecture and design) under one roof.

Check out works by Magritte, Picasso, Warhol and Beuys. Paintings, sculptures, installations and new media works are on show in the Sammlung Moderne Kunst, which features a range of art movements including Modern Art, Art from 1950, Contemporary Art and Photography. Highlights include an important group of Beckmanns and other leading Modernists.

Take a look at graphic works on paper, which are on show in the museum's Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, one of the foremost exhibitions of its kind in Germany, with frequently changing exhibits.

Cost: €10; concessions €7; €1 on Sun

Open: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm (until 8pm Thu)

Nymphenburg Palace

Take a trip to the Nymphenburg Palace, which for centuries was the summer residence of the famous Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty. Situated in magnificent parkland in the Nymphenburg suburb, the Nymphenburg Palace features extravagant rococo interiors and eccentric follies in the lush, verdant gardens.

The palace’s massive Steinerner Saal (stone hall) features ceiling frescoes by Johann Baptist Zimmermann, and famous rooms include the birthplace of King Ludwig II, as well as the extraordinary Schönheitsgallerie (beauty gallery).

Cost: €6; concessions €5

Open: Apr-17 Oct daily 9am-6pm; 18 Oct-Mar daily 10am-4pm

German Museum

The German Museum (Deutsches Museum) ranks among the country’s most visited tourist attractions. Situated on an island in the centre of the Bavarian capital, The German Museum traces the development of science and technology from its origins, through fascinating hands-on models, experiments and audiovisual displays.

Founded by engineer Oskar von Miller in 1903, the museum's highlights include the recreation of coal-mining conditions, as well as an astronomy exhibition with an observatory, a planetarium and a solar telescope, and a collection of musical instruments from throughout the ages.

This family-friendly tourist attraction in Munich, Germany also includes a kids' corner, dedicated to bringing science to the young.

Cost: €8.50; concessions €3

Open: Daily 9am-5pm

Frauenkirche Church of Our Blessed Lady, Munich.

The iconic Frauenkirche (Church of Our Blessed Lady) in the centre of the Bavarian capital is Munich's cathedral, and a distinctive city symbol with its twin green onion domes.

The imposing interior includes the legendary 'Devil's Footstep' which, according to legend, marks the spot where the dark prince stood when surveying the cathedral and its glorious Gothic interior.

The cathedral’s south tower is open to those wishing to climb the stairs and offers a unique view of Munich and the nearby Alps

Cost: Free

Opening Hours: Sat-Thu 7am-7pm (Thu until 8.30pm); Fri 7am-6pm

English Garden

Schwabing's English Garden counts among the world's largest city parks and is popular for walking, boating, ice-skating, sailing, cycling and even skinny-dipping in the river. Visit the Chinese Tower beer garden and the classical Monopterus pavilion for magnificent city views. The garden was first established by the British physicist Sir Benjamin Thompson, better known as Count Rumford. He turned this area of Munich into military gardens, which were later landscaped into a park by Sckell in 1808.

Cost: Free

Open: Daily

BMW Museum

Munich's redesigned BMW Museum is housed in a futuristic steel bowl on the grounds of the BMW headquarters near Olympic Oark. Enter the glass-dominated, spaceship-like interior to see the engines, designs and cars that made BMW one of the world's best-loved brands.

Cost: €12; concessions €6

Open: Tue-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays 10am-8pm