Munich 1-Day Itinerary: Karlsplatz & Marienplatz Guide

Munich, the capital of Bavaria in southern Germany,

is surrounded by charming little towns

and boasts incredible infrastructure, making it a fantastic stop

on any European adventure.

From Karlsplatz and Marienplatz to hidden local favorite spots,

here is a curated, easy-going Munich itinerary

perfect for exploring on your very first day.

Munich, Germany Itinerary & Route

Local Eats, Marienplatz, Karlsplatz

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1️⃣ Karlsplatz

2️⃣ Monastery Schweinshaxe

3️⃣ Marienplatz

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Karlsplatz

After dropping off our bags at the hotel, our first stop was Karlsplatz.

It was the perfect start to our Munich itinerary.

My friend who lives in Germany warned me that in Munich,

most shops and stores are closed on Sundays,

so there might not be much to see or do.

I thought, "Well, surely the main tourist spots will be open!"

But to my surprise, even the basic souvenir shops were completely closed.

The only places open were restaurants, bakeries, and a few cafes.

Still, since it was our first day, looking up at the clear blue sky and beautiful buildings

filled me with pure excitement!

If you're planning a trip to Munich and it includes a Sunday,

I highly recommend taking a day trip to a nearby Austrian city

rather than trying to sightsee in Munich.

My personal recommendation is Salzburg!

You can check out our 2-day, 1-night itinerary from Munich

in the post linked below.

The area around Karlsplatz is filled with the kind of architecture

you'll see a lot of when traveling through Germany and Austria.

I loved how many buildings had beautiful flowers blooming on their windowsills.

It made for a lovely, peaceful stroll through the square, admiring the views.

#MunichItinerary #MunichTravel #MunichGermany

Andechs Monastery Schweinshaxe

Our next stop was highly recommended by my local friend:

eating Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) at Andechs Monastery!

During a previous trip to Germany, I had some really disappointing pork knuckle,

so I used to think it just wasn't a very tasty dish.

But my friend insisted that the Schweinshaxe at Andechs Monastery is on another level

and promised to take us there.

It takes about an hour by public transit from downtown Munich,

but the scenic views from the S-Bahn train are absolutely gorgeous.

Plus, on the bus ride from the last S-Bahn station to the monastery,

we passed by an incredibly beautiful lake. If we had more time,

I would have loved to get off and just relax by the water for a bit.

We ordered Schweinshaxe, potato salad, and sauerkraut (pickled cabbage).

They have both indoor and outdoor seating.

While the antique interior cozy vibe was quite charming,

the sky was so clear and the weather so perfect that we had to sit outside.

The moment I carved into the pork knuckle and took a bite,

I realized that whatever I'd had before wasn't real Schweinshaxe at all!

It was the ultimate crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside perfection!

The outer crackling was roasted to a beautiful golden brown,

so crispy it almost felt like eating a savory chip.

Yet, it wasn't tough or hard to chew at all.

The meat inside was incredibly tender and completely free of any gamey smell.

The sauerkraut we ordered had a refreshing, tangy taste similar to white kimchi,

making it the absolute perfect pairing to cut through the richness of the pork.

After a satisfying meal, it's the perfect place for a light stroll.

If you walk just a little way up the hill,

you can see the snow-capped Alps peaking in the far distance.

Munich is actually incredibly close to the Alps compared to other German cities.

If you want to catch a glimpse of the Alps during your Munich trip,

setting aside a day to visit Zugspitze is also a fantastic idea.

#MunichGermanyTrip #MunichItinerary

⬇️ How to get to Andechs Monastery & Schweinshaxe Review ⬇️

Marienplatz

Munich's most iconic square, Marienplatz

Marienplatz is famous not just for its stunning Town Hall building,

but also for the Glockenspiel performance in the highest tower

which plays at designated times.

Munich Marienplatz Glockenspiel Show Times

11:00 AM, 12:00 PM

You can also pay an admission fee to go up to the clock tower observatory.

If you wander just a little further inside, you'll spot scenes straight out of a medieval European movie.

There are countless squares all over Europe,

but Munich's Marienplatz has been the beating heart of the city since 1158.

It's a place steeped in history.

With sights like the New Town Hall, Old Town Hall, St. Peter's Church,

and Frauenkirche all clustered here,

I highly recommend adding this to your Munich travel itinerary!

The day we visited was an autumn day, but it was raining

and incredibly windy, making it super chilly.

We needed a warm spot to thaw out with a cup of coffee,

but since it was a Sunday, quite a few cafes closed early.

Even when we looked up spots labeled as "cafes,"

some turned out to be bars focusing on alcohol rather than coffee or tea,

making it surprisingly tough to find the right spot.

Shivering in the cold, we finally stumbled upon this warm haven:

Spanning three floors, it's incredibly spacious with plenty of seating.

They serve all the classic coffees and teas.

A medium coffee, cappuccino, or latte

costs 5.4 euros, which is over ~$5.

Tea options like Rooibos, Peppermint, and Darjeeling

are also 5.4 euros, the same as the coffee.

The drinks taste pretty standard,

but since it's one of the few cafes near Marienplatz that stays open late,

it's a great place to sit back, relax, and warm up

during your Munich adventures.

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