Did you know that Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world? Begun more than 200 years ago, this two-week celebration of Bavarian beer, food, music and folk traditions brings millions of people to Munich each year.

Even if you’re not into big, raucous events, Munich is a place worth seeing. It’s a beautiful and historic city with a friendly, small-town vibe. Stroll Marienplatz and the old town. Rent a bike and explore the enormous English Garden park. We have a few suggestions for planning your adventures in Munich—and, of course, for protecting your trip!

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Germany

1. Insurance can cover the costs of covered emergency medical care. While high-quality medical care is available in Germany, it is not free for visitors. “If you are not a resident of Germany, doctors and hospitals will expect immediate payment in cash,” the U.S. Department of State warns.¹ You need to have travel insurance with emergency medical benefits and emergency transportation benefits, which can reimburse the cost of covered medical care and pay to transport you home, if necessary.
2. Insurance can save your trip from unexpected delays. A canceled flight. A lost suitcase. A railworkers’ strike. When life throws a wrench in your trip plans, Allianz Travel Insurance can help. Travel delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible expenses, such as food and accommodations, during a covered delay. Baggage benefits can reimburse you for essential purchases or replacing lost items if your suitcase is delayed, lost, or stolen.
3. Insurance can protect the money you spent on your trip. What if you have to cancel your trip to Munich at the last minute because of a reason out of your control? Travel insurance with trip cancellation/interruption benefits can reimburse your nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Germany

1. For international vacations, our most popular plan is OneTrip Prime. You get a full slate of essential benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, emergency medical and baggage protection. Plus, kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
2. For travelers on a budget, OneTrip Basic provides solid and affordable trip protection. It includes up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $50,000 in medical transportation benefits, plus trip cancellation/interruption benefits and more.
3. For anyone who travels often, AllTrips Premier is a smart choice for year-long protection. Once you buy your plan, all your eligible trips are covered for 365 days—overseas or domestic.

See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Munich

1. Experience the beer scene. Even if you don’t visit Munich during Oktoberfest, there are abundant opportunities to taste local beer culture. You can visit the Hofbräu Munich brewery and learn how beer is crafted, bottled and stored. Or, sign up for a walking tour of local beer gardens.
2. Shop Munich’s many markets. The city is home to more than 40 open-air street markets. The biggest and best known is Viktualienmarkt, where 100+ vendors sell produce, bread, cheese, snacks and souvenirs. Smaller markets are open just one day per week, but they’re well worth a visit. Buy some pastries or bread and cheese and find a nearby park for a picnic.
3. Spend a Sunday at the museum. Did you know that on Sundays, many Munich museums charge only 1 euro for admission? Your first stop should be the Pinakothek der Modern, one of Europe’s largest museums of modern art. Stop to peek at the UFO-like Futuro House on the lawn.

3 of the best boutique hotels in Munich

The DO & CO Hotel München is “utterly amazing,” as one recent guest put it. This chic modern hotel has it all: a central location steps from Marienplatz, staff that anticipate your every need; and quiet, spacious rooms.

If you like your hotel to have some character, then book a room at the Hotel Cocoon Hauptbahnhof. Every part of the hotel has a playful Alpine theme: from cow murals and milk can lights in the guestrooms to an elevator that mimics a ski lift. Don’t expect much luxury, as the rooms are petite and services limited, but it’s definitely fun.

The Hotel Laimer Hof is a bit off the beaten track—it’s next to Nymphenburg Palace on the west side of Munich— but for many guests, the quiet neighborhood setting is a bonus. This boutique hotel in a turreted neo-Renaissance villa is beloved for its gracious staff, cozy rooms, and romantic vibes.

3 of the best restaurants in Munich

No trip to Munich is complete without experiencing a traditional pub and beer garden. We recommend Görreshof Wirtshaus, which dates to 1893. It’s a beloved spot for Bavarian specialties, like grilled sausages, wiener schnitzel and cheese spätzle. If you want a little taste of everything, get the Bayerisches Brotzeitbrettl snack platter with smoked meat, bacon, smoked ham, butter, gherkins, freshly grated horseradish and brown bread. The best days to go are Tuesdays and Thursdays, when there is beer on tap from a wooden barrel.

Find a fresh take on traditional cuisine at Pfistermühle, a restaurant in a charming, vine-covered mill that dates to 1573. “Fresh fish from Ammersee, cheese made from Tegernsee hay milk, meat from Upper Bavarian pasture veal... at the Pfistermühle, every dish contains a piece of home,” the restaurant promises. The dinner menu is pricey, but you can score a four-course lunch for around 25 euros.

What if beer and meat really aren’t your thing? Munich, like many cities in Germany, is a fantastic destination for vegan cuisine. Try Max Pett das vegane Restaurant, which serves plant-based takes on Bavarian food. Favorites include stuffed eggplant with sunflower seeds and mushrooms, soy schnitzel, and vegan keesespätzle. There are non-alcoholic beers as well.

What do I need to travel to Munich?

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