Munich 1-day itinerary

Start at Marienplatz — Munich's central square dominated by the New Town Hall's Gothic facade. The Glockenspiel chimes at 11am and noon with mechanical jousting knights and dancers (5 minutes, worth seeing once). Walk to the Viktualienmarkt — Munich's daily open-air food market since 1807. Grab a Weisswurst (white sausage, €4–5) with sweet mustard and a pretzel — the traditional Bavarian breakfast, served only before noon.

Walk to the Munich Residenz (€9, or €17 combined with Treasury) — the former royal palace with 130 rooms spanning Renaissance to Baroque. The Antiquarium hall is staggering. Then to the English Garden — one of the world's largest urban parks. Watch the surfers riding the Eisbach wave (a standing wave in a canal), then rent a bike or walk to the Chinese Tower beer garden (6,000 seats, Maß €11).

The Hofbräuhaus (since 1589) is touristy but an essential Munich experience — a Maß of beer (1 litre, €11–12), a Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle, €18), and live oompah music in the vaulted beer hall. For a less touristy alternative, Augustiner Bräustuben (Landsberger Str.) serves Munich's most beloved beer in a traditional beer hall at local prices. Augustiner Helles is the Munich favourite.