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Munich

Bavaria, Germany · Europe

About Munich

Munich works well as a base: 15 minutes from Unterföhring, right by Marienplatz & New Town Hall.

Munich is a major city located in Bavaria, Germany. With a population of 1,505,005, it is one of the largest urban centers in Europe.

On a road trip, Munich sits in Germany, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Berlin time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Munich to your route.

About Munich

Munich (German: München [ˈmʏnçn̩] , Bavarian: Minga [ˈmɪŋ(ː)ɐ] ) is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is not a state of its own,

Read more and it ranks as the 11th-largest city in the European Union (EU). The metropolitan area has around 3 million inhabitants, and the broader Munich Metropolitan Region is home to about 6.2 million people. It is the third largest metropolitan region by GDP in the EU. Munich is located on the river Isar north of the Alps. It is the seat of the Upper Bavarian administrative region. With 4,500 people per km2, Munich is Germany's most densely populated municipality. It is also the second-largest city in the Bavarian dialect area after Vienna. The first record of Munich dates to 1158. The city has played an important role in Bavarian and German history. During the Reformation, it remained a Catholic stronghold. Munich became the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806 and developed as a centre for arts, architecture, culture, and science. The House of Wittelsbach ruled until 1918, when the German revolution of 1918–1919 ended their reign and saw the short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic. In the 1920s, Munich became a centre of political movements, including the rise of the Nazi Party. The city was known as the "Capital of the Movement". During World War II, Munich was heavily bombed, but much of its historic architecture has since been restored. After the war, the city's population and economy grew rapidly. Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1974 FIFA World Cup final. Munich is a major centre for science, technology, finance, innovation, business, and tourism. It has a high standard of living, ranking first in Germany and third worldwide in the 2018 Mercer survey. It was named the world's most liveable city by Monocle's Quality of Life Survey 2018. Munich is the wealthiest city in the EU by GDP per capita among cities with over one million inhabitants and is among the most expensive German cities for real estate and rents. In 2023, 30.1% of residents were foreigners, and 19.4% were German citizens with a migration background from abroad. Munich's economy is based on high tech, automobiles, the service sector, information technology, biotechnology, engineering, and electronics. Multinational companies such as BMW, Siemens, Allianz SE, and Munich Re are headquartered there. The city has two research universities and many scientific institutions. Munich is known for its architecture, cultural venues, sports events, exhibitions, and the annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest Volksfest.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Munich

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Munich?

Munich offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Munich?

Plan your road trip to Munich with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Munich as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Munich located?

Munich is located in Bavaria, Germany, Europe. The coordinates are 48.1374 latitude, 11.5755 longitude.

What is the population of Munich?

Munich has a population of approximately 1,505,005 people, making it a major city in Germany.

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Quick Information

Population
1,505,005
Continent
Europe
Country
Germany
Region
Bavaria
Timezone
Europe/Berlin
Coordinates
48.1374, 11.5755

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Germany

Police
110
Ambulance
112
Fire
112
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.

Full driving guide for Germany

Tags

EuropeGermanyBavariaMajor City

Worth the detour from Munich

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Marienplatz & New Town Hall

Munich's central square dominated by the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall whose Glockenspiel chimes daily with jousting knights and dancing coopers.

0 km · about 5 min drive

museum

Deutsches Museum

The world's largest science and technology museum, with hands-on exhibits spanning mining, aviation, and physics.

1 km · about 5 min drive

landmark

English Garden

One of the world's largest urban parks, where Münchners surf the Eisbach wave, sunbathe, and relax at the Chinese Tower beer garden.

4 km · about 5 min drive

landmark

SEA LIFE Munich

Bavarian aquarium in the Olympic Park showcasing freshwater and marine habitats from local rivers to tropical seas.

4 km · about 10 min drive

museum

BMW Welt

Spectacular delivery and experience center where visitors explore current BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models in a striking double-cone building.

5 km · about 10 min drive

museum

BMW Museum

A futuristic bowl-shaped building tracing BMW's evolution from aircraft engines to iconic automobiles and motorcycles.

5 km · about 10 min drive

cafe

Motorworld München

A premier automotive lifestyle centre in Munich with classic car dealers, event spaces, and automotive art galleries.

10 km · about 20 min drive

landmark

Andechs Monastery

A hilltop Benedictine monastery above the Ammersee famous for its potent monk-brewed beer and pilgrimage church.

34 km · about 40 min drive

Driving roads near Munich

  • 54 kmDeutsche AlpenstrasseGermany's oldest holiday road winding 450km along the Bavarian Alps past lakes, castles and mountain passes from Lindau to Berchtesgaden.
  • 60 kmKesselberg RoadBavaria's most celebrated driving road: the B11 climbs in tight switchbacks from Kochelsee to Walchensee over the 858 m Kesselberg, a historic hillclimb course beloved by motorcyclists since the 1900s.
  • 62 kmSudelfeld PassThe 1,123 m summit of the B307 between Bayrischzell and the Tatzelwurm gorge, part of the German Alpine Road and one of Upper Bavaria's favourite weekend driving and biking loops.
  • 63 kmSylvenstein ReservoirA vivid blue reservoir crossed by a graceful bridge on the German Alpine Road, gateway to the Karwendel mountains.
  • 79 kmGarmisch-PartenkirchenA renowned winter sports and mountaineering hub at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak.

Driving in Germany

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.78/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Munich.

Bogenhausen

🇩🇪 Germany

3 km awayPop. 77,542

Unterföhring

🇩🇪 Germany

8 km away

Unterhaching

🇩🇪 Germany

8 km awayPop. 20,852

Pasing

🇩🇪 Germany

9 km awayPop. 35,728

Neubiberg

🇩🇪 Germany

9 km awayPop. 12,717

Pullach im Isartal

🇩🇪 Germany

9 km awayPop. 8,589

Neuried

🇩🇪 Germany

10 km awayPop. 7,469

Taufkirchen

🇩🇪 Germany

10 km awayPop. 17,791

Plan a trip around Munich

Germany road trip plannerBerlin → Munich drive · 5 hr 54 minMunich → Frankfurt drive · 3 hr 54 minMunich → Innsbruck drive · 1 hr 59 minMunich → Prague drive · 3 hr 58 minMunich → Salzburg drive · 1 hr 36 minMunich → Venice drive · 6 hrMunich → Vienna drive · 4 hr 25 minMunich → Zurich drive · 3 hr 35 min

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence