Free Things To Do In Munich
Churches, squares and parks, each with the rule that comes attached. Plus 18 pay-what-you-want walking tours with local guides.
Every entry here costs nothing.
- NS Documentation Centre Munich open Tuesday to Sunday
- Marienplatz public square
- English Garden open all year
- Asamkirche church entry free
- Hofgarten court garden
- Isar Banks and Flaucher public riverbanks
- 18 free walks, 16 on GuruWalk and 2 on freetour.com
- 50 places, each with the rule that applies to it
- No price anywhere: reserve free, tip at the end
What Counts As Free Things To Do In Munich?
27 free places across Munich, numbered to match the list beside the map.
Tap or click the map to pan and zoom. Numbers match the list.
BMW Welt
Admission to BMW Welt is free (bmw-welt.com).
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicHofbraeuhaus
The beer hall is open daily from 11:00 to midnight and the operator describes free seating on the first floor; no entry fee is mentioned
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicAlte Pinakothek
Regular admission is EUR 9, but on Sundays it is EUR 1 per museum (Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst, Sammlung Schack); children and young
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicPinakothek der Moderne
Regular EUR 10; Sunday EUR 1; under 18 free.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicGlyptothek and Staatliche Antikensammlungen
One ticket covers both museums; under 18 free; Sundays EUR 1 per house.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicBavarian National Museum
Sundays EUR 1 (EUR 2 with the multimedia guide); children and young people under 18 free.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicLenbachhaus
Free admission every first Thursday of the month from 18:00 to 22:00 (extra+); the Kunstbau stays closed through 2026.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicHaus der Kunst
Free admission every last Friday of the month from 16:00 to 22:00; Wed to Mon 10:00 to 20:00, closed Tuesdays; exhibitions close 15 minutes
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicMunich City Museum interim exhibition
The main exhibitions have been closed since 8 January 2024 for refurbishment.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicNS Documentation Centre Munich
Entrance is free of charge for all visitors; no tickets needed or bookable.
Free walk from here: English Third Reich, Three HoursFrauenkirche
"Visiting the interior is free, climbing the south tower is not" (muenchen.de).
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicSt Peter's Church and Alter Peter Tower
"Der Eintritt in die Kirche ist natuerlich kostenlos"; the tower climb is paid and cannot be reserved in advance.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicAsamkirche
Entry is free ("Kostet die Asamkirche Eintritt?
Free walk from here: Architecture Hidden Gems WalkEnglish Garden
Open all year, entry free (muenchen.de: "ganzjaehrig geoeffnet, Eintritt: frei"); 376 hectares.
Free walk from here: Two-Hour English StrollMonopteros Hill Viewpoint
Open hilltop temple in the English Garden, reachable at any time; no admission.
Free walk from here: Two-Hour English StrollChinese Tower Beer Garden
The beer garden (about 7,000 seats per muenchen.de) sits inside the free English Garden; nothing is charged to walk in or sit at your own
Free walk from here: Two-Hour English StrollHofgarten
Court garden beside the Residenz; the Residenz operator states "Hofgarten + Brunnwerk: Eintritt frei".
Free walk from here: Walkative! Old Town IntroMarienplatz
Public square, freely accessible ("oeffentlich und frei zugaenglich" per muenchen.de).
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicGlockenspiel at the New Town Hall
Free to watch from Marienplatz: daily at 11:00 and 12:00, plus 17:00 from March through October; the Nachtspiel at 21:00 puts the Muenchner
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicViktualienmarkt
Open food market and beer garden in the old town; walking through is free, you pay for what you buy.
Free walk from here: Bilingual Old Town ClassicOdeonsplatz and Feldherrnhalle
Open public square and loggia, no admission.
Free walk from here: English Third Reich, Three HoursKoenigsplatz
Open public square in the Kunstareal; the museums on it (Glyptothek, Antikensammlungen) charge separately.
Free walk from here: English Third Reich, Three HoursTheresienwiese
Open meadow, free to enter outside events.
Free walk from here: Pick-Your-Price Old Town WalkOlympiapark and Olympiaberg
The park grounds and the Olympiaberg hill viewpoint are open public space; the Olympic Tower, the stadium tours and events are separate
Free walk from here: Architecture Hidden Gems Walk
All The Free Things To Do In Munich, In One List
All 18 walks are free, pay what you want. Reserve on GuruWalk or freetour.com, then value the walk yourself at the end.
All 18 free walks
Fun English Old Town Walk
9.7/10 · 1,205 freetour.com reviews
See this free tour
Reserve free on freetour.com
How Do The Free Things To Do In Munich Match Your Day?
Sort by neighbourhood, language, walking time or theme and the right walk surfaces fast.
Here is a starting shortlist of well-reviewed walks. Tap an answer below and the list rebuilds around your choices.
Bilingual Old Town Classic
4.55 · 6,564 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Fun English Old Town Walk
9.7/10 · 1,205 freetour.com reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on freetour.com
Two-Hour English Stroll
4.94 · 816 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Walkative! Old Town Intro
4.82 · 686 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Architecture Hidden Gems Walk
4.95 · 268 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Small Group, Max 16 Guests
4.94 · 97 GuruWalk reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour
Reserve free on GuruWalk
Free Things To Do In Munich That Really Cost Nothing
Every venue sets its own rule, so the cards keep free and paid apart. A EUR 1 Sunday ticket is a price, not free entry, and no tower here inherits its church's free status.
Free For Everyone, Every Day
No ticket and no time window.
- NS Documentation Centre MunichNothing to pay.
- Munich City Museum interim exhibitionFilm museum screenings are separate (not priced on the page read).
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial SiteAudio guide EUR 5 regular, EUR 4 reduced, with a deposit; guided-tour price unresolved.
Alte Pinakothek
EUR 1 on SundaysRegular EUR 9, reduced EUR 6; combined ticket EUR 12 for the Pinakotheken, Brandhorst and Schack (museum ticket office only).
Pinakothek der Moderne
EUR 1 on SundaysRegular EUR 10, reduced EUR 7; combined ticket EUR 12.
Museum Brandhorst
EUR 1 on SundaysRegular EUR 7, reduced EUR 5.
Sammlung Schack
EUR 1 on SundaysRegular EUR 4, reduced EUR 3.
Glyptothek and Staatliche Antikensammlungen
EUR 1 per house on SundaysEUR 6 regular, EUR 4 reduced (one ticket, two museums).
Bavarian National Museum
EUR 1 on SundaysAdults EUR 7, concessions EUR 6 (permanent and special exhibition).
Lenbachhaus
Free first Thursday, 18:00 to 22:00Regular EUR 10, reduced EUR 6; audioguide included in the admission.
Haus der Kunst
Free last Friday, 16:00 to 22:00Hausticket Large EUR 15 / 11 / 5 (students and pupils 12 and over), Hausticket Small EUR 10 / 8 / 5; under 12
English Third Reich, Three Hours
4.89 · 36 GuruWalk reviews · 3 hours · English
Reserve free on GuruWalk, free, pay what you want
Free To Enter, Paid To Climb: Where Does The Line Sit?
| Place | Free or ticketed | What is free | What you still pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Welt | Free | Admission to BMW Welt is free (bmw-welt.com). Opposite it, the BMW Museum is ticketed. | Nothing to enter BMW Welt. The BMW Museum, tours and some events are paid. |
| Frauenkirche | Free to enter, paid extras | "Visiting the interior is free, climbing the south tower is not" (muenchen.de). The church cannot be visited during services. | South tower EUR 7.50 adults, EUR 5.50 for ages 7 to 16 and reduced, free up to age 6, family EUR 21; Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday and holidays 11:30 to 17:00, last ascent 16:30. |
| St Peter's Church and Alter Peter Tower | Free to enter, paid extras | "Der Eintritt in die Kirche ist natuerlich kostenlos"; the tower climb is paid and cannot be reserved in advance. | Tower EUR 5 adults, EUR 3 reduced, EUR 2 for ages 6 to 18, free under 6. Summer (April to October) 9:00 to 19:30; winter (November to March) Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:30, weekends and holidays 9:00 to 19:30; Christmas and New Year's Eve 9:00 to 14:00. |
| Olympiapark and Olympiaberg | Free to enter, paid extras | The park grounds and the Olympiaberg hill viewpoint are open public space; the Olympic Tower, the stadium tours and events are separate paid products. olympiapark.de lists a free audio guide for the grounds. | Olympic Tower, stadium and roof tours and event tickets are paid; current prices are on olympiapark.de. |
| Nymphenburg Palace Park | Free to enter, paid extras | The operator's admission page lists no ticket for the park itself, only for the palace, the Marstallmuseum and the Parkburgen; the Parkburgen (Amalienburg, Badenburg, Pagodenburg, Magdalenenklause) are closed in the winter half-year. | Palace EUR 10 / 9; Marstallmuseum with Nymphenburg Porcelain EUR 8 / 7; Parkburgen card EUR 6 / 5; combined Gesamtkarte EUR 20 / 18 in summer (1 April to mid-October) and EUR 16 / 14 in winter (mid-October to 31 March). |
| Nymphenburg Palace | Ticketed | Ticketed palace. | Palace EUR 10 regular, EUR 9 reduced (2026 prices). Combined Gesamtkarte EUR 16 / 14 in winter (mid-October to 31 March), EUR 20 / 18 in summer. |
| Residenz Munich | Ticketed | Museum, treasury and theatre are ticketed; the Hofgarten and Brunnwerk next door are free (see Hofgarten). | Residenzmuseum EUR 10 / 9; Schatzkammer EUR 10 / 9; combined EUR 15 / 13; Cuvillies Theatre EUR 5 / 4; all three EUR 20 / 16. |
| Neues Rathaus Tower | Ticketed | Lift to the town hall tower platform; ticketed (the Glockenspiel below is free to watch from the square). | Tickets from EUR 7 for a 20-minute slot; daily 10:00 to 20:00, last ascent 19:40. |
Free Things To Do In Munich This Season
What Munich Walkers Post In Reviews
Quoted reviews on this page were posted by walkers on GuruWalk or freetour.com. They describe the guides and the walks, never this site, and nothing here is edited into praise.
Very informative, fun and dynamic. Tom made a great combination of entertainment and historical context covering the main locations . Altogether a great time.
4.55 across 6,564 GuruWalk reviews
The guide Patrick was amazing!! His tour of the historic center of Munich was so much fun. It was timed perfectly to see the church bells/performance at 12!! Truly recommend for a morning in Munich!
4.94 across 816 GuruWalk reviews
Great tour & the guide was very informative & personable. Would prefer shorter stops & more checking inside places of interest.
4.82 across 686 GuruWalk reviews
Really interesting. A good antidote to the grand buildings in the old town.
4.95 across 268 GuruWalk reviews
Philipp's tour is perfect who wants to have a greater understanding of Munich through its beautiful architecture. A highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide!
4.94 across 97 GuruWalk reviews
Birgit was an amazing guide, our best so far. Went on longer than expected and amazing local knowledge
4.89 across 36 GuruWalk reviews
So much more fun than listening to a device spewing facts. Kevin brought humor and charm, as well as facts, to the group. Would highly recommend !!
4.76 across 29 GuruWalk reviews
An excellent tour Charlie was a brilliant guide. He was very informative but also lighthearted. Not only did we learn about Munich but we learned a lot about Germany as a whole and the beer culture and things that will be useful for us on our weeks trip in Bavaria. Thoroughly recommend this tour.
9.7/10 across 1,205 freetour.com reviews
Free Things To Do In Munich: The FAQ
What Are Some Free Things To Do In Munich?
Marienplatz is a freely accessible public square, and the Glockenspiel is free to watch there at 11:00 and 12:00, with an extra 17:00 show from March through October, while the Town Hall tower lift is a separate paid ticket. The English Garden, Hofgarten and the Isar banks are free to enter, as are BMW Welt, the NS Documentation Centre and the Asamkirche, which welcomes donations, while the BMW Museum is ticketed.
Is The Frauenkirche Free?
Visiting the Frauenkirche interior is free, though the church cannot be visited during services. Climbing the south tower is not free: tickets cost EUR 7.50 for adults, EUR 5.50 for ages 7 to 16 and reduced, EUR 21 for families, with free entry up to age 6. The tower runs Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday and holidays 11:30 to 17:00, last ascent 16:30.
Are Museums Free On Sundays In Munich?
No. On Sundays the Bavarian state museums charge EUR 1: that price applies at the Alte Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, Museum Brandhorst, Sammlung Schack, the Glyptothek and Antikensammlungen at EUR 1 per house, and the Bavarian National Museum. It is a reduced price, not free admission. Children and young people under 18 are free every day in the state museums, and students and over-65s pay reduced prices.
Is Olympiapark Free?
The Olympiapark grounds are open public space and free to walk, as is the Olympiaberg hill viewpoint, and olympiapark.de lists a free audio guide for the grounds. The Olympic Tower, the stadium and roof tours and event tickets are separate paid products. The park is therefore partly free, with paid attractions inside it.
Is The English Garden Free?
Yes, the English Garden is open all year and entry is free across its 376 hectares, and events inside it such as the Kocherlball are free. Watching the Eisbach wave from the bank is free all year; surfing is allowed again since 8 May 2026 under an amended city order, for experienced surfers only. At the Chinese Tower beer garden nothing is charged to walk in, but beer and food cost money.
Is The Dachau Memorial Free?
Yes, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside Munich is free to enter, and the NS Documentation Centre in Munich is also free of charge. The memorial is open daily 9:00 to 17:00, closed 24 December, and the former crematorium area closes at 16:30. English tours run daily at 11:00 and 13:00, and the audio guide is a paid extra at EUR 5, EUR 4 reduced, with a deposit.
Is The Nymphenburg Palace Park Free?
The operator's admission page lists no ticket for the Nymphenburg Palace park itself; tickets are sold only for the palace, the Marstallmuseum and the Parkburgen. The palace costs EUR 10 regular and EUR 9 reduced, while a combined Gesamtkarte costs EUR 20 and EUR 18 in summer from 1 April to mid-October and EUR 16 and EUR 14 in winter. The Parkburgen close in the winter half-year.
How Much To Pay For A Free Walking Tour In Munich?
There is no fixed price to state. Every free walking tour in Munich is free to join, and each guest decides at the end what to pay the guide. The directory lists 18 such walks on GuruWalk and freetour.com, with GuruWalk ratings shown out of 5 and freetour.com ratings out of 10.