Munich’s Aldstadt, or Old Town, is a highlight for first-time visitors, with pedestrian zones, grand old buildings, and landmarks that tell the city's story since its founding in 1157. Once here, head to historical squares like Marienplatz or Karlsplatz, look up at the twin domes of the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady (Frauenkirche), window shop on Maximilianstrasse, or see the town through a local’s eyes.

The Munich Residence (Residenz München), located on the outskirts of Old Town, served as the palace of an old Bavarian dynasty (the Wittelsbach monarchs) between 1385 and 1918. After the monarchy dissolved, the palace was turned into a museum, where you can see how the royals lived, admiring their art collections and interior design skills. Because each generation of royals added its own touch to the palace, walking the halls of the Residence is like peeling back a layer of time.

There’s a German saying that three beers equal one schnitzel, so stop for a “snack” at one of Munich’s beer gardens. The beer-friendly city is home to six main breweries, including the famous Hofbräuhaus, which was commissioned by Duke Maximilian I in 1589 for the royal family and then opened to the public in the 19th century. No first-time visit to Munich is complete without a stop at the Hofbräuhaus (kids are welcome, too), but you can also make it just one destination on a beer hall crawl.

Munich is dotted with parks like the English Garden (Englischer Garten), stretching from the center out toward the northeast corner of the city. Covering more than 900 acres (364 hectares), it is one of the world’s largest urban parks, offering a vast lawn where locals hang out. View the pagoda-like Chinese Tower, a Greek-inspired temple, and the Eisbach Wave (Eisbachwelle), where surfers come to practice their skills on the Eisbach River.

The Viktualienmarkt has been held in the center of Munich daily since 1807, with more than 100 stands selling everything from fruits and vegetables to Bavarian pretzels and sausages, draught beer, and more. Eat like a local with a guided market tour, grazing the many goods on display, or check out the market’s fountains dedicated to important figures in Munich's history. It’s also a great place to take a break from exploring the city—hang out for a while at the Viktualienmarkt’s beer garden.

At the Deutsches Museum, check out exhibits on science and technology, or if cars are your thing, glimpse vintage models at the BMW Museum. Gain a new perspective on Munich’s beer culture at the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum; admire classic and modern art at the Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek) or New Pinakothek (Neue Pinakothek); or marvel at FC Bayern Munich’s record-breaking soccer history during a guided tour of the team’s Allianz Arena.

With thousands of cycling routes crisscrossing the city, Munich is certainly bike-friendly, and renting a bicycle is a great way to experience the area like a local. If you’re looking for more structure than pedaling around the city yourself, join a bike tour that passes by city highlights like Wittelsbacher Brunnen. Otherwise, head to one of the city’s parks, explore Munich’s most interesting neighborhoods, or cycle dedicated bike paths along the Isar River.

Several viewing platforms and towers around Munich offer sweeping views over the city, many of which are accessible by elevator. So if you don’t mind heights, head to the New City Hall Tower to look over St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) and the Frauenkirche, take in the Olympic Tower’s vista, climb up to the viewing platform at St. Peter’s, or check out the Hackerbrücke bridge overlooking the city’s main train station. (Some of these viewpoints require tickets.)

Since the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, Munich has transformed its Olympiapark into a destination for outdoor recreation. The park has swimming pools, the Olympic Lake, tennis courts, Nordic walking tracks, a sledding hill, event venues, and more. A Munich hop-on hop-off city bus tour stops at the park where you can tour the grounds, play sports, catch an event, or dine at one of the many on-site eateries. For an added thrill, visit the Olympic Tower for views of the park, the city, and the Alps.

Take an excursion into the mountains for hiking in the summer, or try nighttime sledding in the winter at Obere Firstalm. But don’t miss out on guided day trips from Munich​​ to other important sites. Ride the train 30 minutes out of the city to Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), where you’ll find impressive grounds, ceiling frescoes, and all the other spoils of a baroque palace. Alternatively, visit Neuschwanstein Castle or Linderhof Palace or take a combo tour of both landmarks.