AreaStays
Marienplatz in Munich, with the Gothic New Town Hall and the twin onion domes of the Frauenkirche behind it

Guido Radig / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Germany

Where to Stay in Munich

Munich pairs a compact, walkable old town with an easy-going, Alpine-adjacent pace that feels calmer than most big German cities. The Frauenkirche's twin onion domes and the New Town Hall's Glockenspiel anchor Marienplatz, the city's central square. Just north, the Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world — bigger than New York's Central Park — with beer gardens, a surfable river wave, and space to walk for hours. Munich is also a beer city at heart: the Hofbräuhaus has poured since 1589, and Oktoberfest, held on the Theresienwiese each September, has run since 1810.

Quick facts

Best time to visit
Visit in late spring (May–June) or early fall outside Oktoberfest season (September–October) for mild weather and thinner crowds. If you want the Oktoberfest experience, book accommodation many months ahead — the city fills up fast.
Renting a car
Skip the rental car. The old town is largely pedestrianized, parking is limited and expensive, and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn cover the rest of the city faster than driving would.

Where to stay

Rooftop view over Munich's old town, with the Frauenkirche's twin domes and the New Town Hall's tower rising above the red-tiled roofs

Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Altstadt-Lehel

Best for: First-time visitors, Architecture lovers

Gärtnerplatz square in Munich, seen from the theatre steps, with a fountain, gardens, and pastel-colored townhouses

Andreas Praefcke / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Glockenbachviertel

Best for: Nightlife

The wooden, pagoda-style Chinese Tower rising above the trees in Munich's Englischer Garten, on Schwabing's edge

Guido Radig / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Schwabing

Best for: Couples, Architecture lovers

Compare neighborhoods

AreaBest forAdvantageTrade-off
Altstadt-LehelFirst-time visitorsWake up steps from Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, and the Viktualienmarkt.The core streets are the most crowded and touristy in the city, especially by day.
GlockenbachviertelNightlifeMunich's best base for nightlife, independent bars, and a more local, less touristy feel.A 15–20 minute walk from Marienplatz rather than right in the old town, and can be loud on weekend nights.
SchwabingCouplesDirect access to the Englischer Garten and a quieter, more residential pace than the old town.A U-Bahn ride rather than a walk from Marienplatz and the main sights.

Our picks for Munich

A handful of editorial calls across every neighborhood above, not just the highest star rating — see each hotel's own card further down for the full case for and against it.

🏆 Our overall pickCortiina HotelAltstadt-Lehel💰 Best valueHotel IsartorGlockenbachviertel❤️ Best for couplesHotel Splendid-DollmannAltstadt-Lehel✨ Best luxuryAndaz Munich Schwabinger TorSchwabing📍 Best locationLouis HotelAltstadt-Lehel

A couple of hotels in Altstadt-Lehel

Altstadt-Lehel is the top-recommended area to stay in Munich.

Platzl Hotel

★★★★
  • 🧭 Best for first-time visitors

Our take A dependable first-timer's pick — polished rooms, a genuinely central address, and enough on-site amenities that you don't need to leave the block.

Good for

  • First-time visitors
  • Architecture lovers

First-time visitors who want a comfortable, full-service hotel right in the old town, with everything within a short walk.

Why we like it

  • Two minutes' walk from Marienplatz, the Hofbräuhaus, and the Viktualienmarkt
  • Soundproofed rooms, a real help given how central and busy the location is
  • A free spa area and steam room, unusual extras for a hotel this close to the main sights

What to know

  • Breakfast and spa access can add to the room rate depending on the package booked
  • Being this central means the surrounding streets stay busy well into the evening
  • Standard rooms are comfortable rather than spacious
Check availability on Booking.com

Louis Hotel

★★★★★
  • 📍 Best location

Our take The best-located hotel in this guide, full stop — you step out the door directly onto the Viktualienmarkt, with Marienplatz two minutes further.

Good for

  • Luxury travelers
  • Couples

Travelers who want the single most central address in Munich and are willing to pay for it.

Why we like it

  • Sits directly on the Viktualienmarkt, Munich's daily food market, a two-minute walk from Marienplatz
  • Rooftop terrace looking out over the market stalls and old-town rooftops
  • Air-conditioned rooms, still not a given at this price point in older Munich buildings

What to know

  • Market noise and foot traffic pick up early, worth knowing if you want to sleep in
  • Rooms are comfortable rather than large for a 5-star property
  • This is a premium price point relative to the other hotels in this guide
Check availability on Booking.com

Useful travel information

Germany uses the euro. Munich's U-Bahn and S-Bahn network is fast and covers every neighborhood in this guide, and most sights in the old town are an easy walk from each other. Validate your ticket before boarding — inspectors do check, and fines apply even for tourists. Many shops close on Sundays.

Tips

  • Book Oktoberfest-season hotels as far ahead as you can — prices climb and availability disappears months in advance.
  • Carry cash. Many small restaurants, beer gardens, and market stalls are still cash-only or prefer it over cards.
  • The Glockenspiel on the New Town Hall performs daily at 11am and noon (also 5pm from March to October) — arrive a few minutes early for a clear view.

Frequently asked questions

Where should first-time visitors stay in Munich?
Stay in Altstadt-Lehel to be steps from Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, and the Viktualienmarkt. It's the most walkable base for a first visit.
Is Munich walkable?
Yes, especially the old town, which is largely pedestrianized. For neighborhoods further out, like Schwabing, the U-Bahn connects everything in this guide in a few minutes.
Do I need to book far ahead for Oktoberfest?
Yes. Hotel prices rise sharply and rooms sell out months ahead of the festival, which runs from mid-September into early October.

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