The Best Viewpoints in Munich

Munich is a city that offers whoever visits the city a lot, and therefore it is no wonder that visitors tend to miss a thing or two. The amazing viewpoints in Munich are one of these things. While some of them offer you amazing views over the entire city, others even allow you to see the Alps in the distance. A truly stunning sight that no one should miss while on a wonderful weekend getaway.

Believe it or not, but it was not until my third or fourth trip to Munich, that I myself actually started exploring the viewpoints in Munich. Like most people, I simply did not know about most of them. And let me tell you that I quickly realized that I had missed out.

After moving to Munich for three years, I kept adding new places with a fantastic view to my list. Therefore, I hope that this list does include the very best viewpoints including some local secrets that you will likely not find in guidebooks.

New Town Hall – Neues Rathaus

Chances are, that the New Town Hall is a place every single tourist visiting the city sees. However very few know, that it is also home to one of the best viewpoints in Munich. The construction of the New Town Hall was finished in 1908 and today it is home to Europe’s 4th biggest carillon.

Located right in the 65 meters high tower, this popular tourist attraction of Munich grants you the most amazing view over Munich’s cityscape. It is the perfect place for everyone that wants a stunning view of the Frauenkirche and buildings like the Old Town Hall and St. Peter.

You have to take a lift to reach the viewing platform. From Monday to Saturday a tower ascent is possible from 10 AM to 7 PM. On Sunday’s the latest time is 5 PM. Adults have to pay 4€, while the fee for children is 1€ and 3€ for students and seniors.

How to get to the New Town Hall viewpoint: The New Town Hall is located on Marienplatz and therefore at a central location. Take lines 1 to 8 of the local S-Bahn or subway lines 1 to 4 and 6 to 8. Walk through the main gate in the center of the building and you will find the elevator on the left side.

St. Peter Tower

Another great viewpoint in Munich is the tower of the city’s oldest parish church St. Peter. But unlike the New Town Hall viewpoint, this one can only be reached via a staircase. You have to climb 306 steps to reach the top and it is well worth it if you want to have a great view of the New Town Hall and the Frauenkirche together.

Monopteros, English Garden

The Monopteros is located in the English Garden and worth a visit by itself. It is a round decorative temple built in the Greek style and was built on a man-made hill. Thanks to its location within the city’s biggest park, the view from here is different than at other viewpoints in Munich. Facing the southern part of the English Garden, this viewpoint allows you to see the perfect mix of greenery and the towers of Munich’s most famous buildings as a backdrop.

How to get to the Monopteros: There are several ways to get there, but the easiest one is to take subway line 3 or 6 to the university.

Bavaria Statue

The Bavaria is an 18,52 m high statue of the Bavarian patron saint and is located at the famous Theresienwiese. It is a wonderful example of a monumental statue of the 19th century and some call it the Statue of Liberty equivalent of Europe. In fact, it is 36 years older than New York’s famous statue.

The statue was commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria and constructed in 1850. To reach the viewpoint in the head, you have to walk up the spiral staircase with 116 steps after paying 3,50€. The viewpoint is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, with extended opening times during the Oktoberfest during which the statue is open until 8 PM.

Of all the viewpoints in Munich, this is the one you just have to visit if you are in Munich during the Oktoberfest. After all, it grants you a unique view of everything that is happening on the Theresienwiese and the many attractions. Hereby I recommend going early in the day.

How to get to this viewpoint in Munich: Take subway lines 4 or 5 to the Theresienwiese station. You will be able to see the Bavaria as soon as you are on the Theresienwiese.

Olympic Mountain

Located in the Olympic Park of Munich, the Olympic Mountain has a high of 60 meters. It is the place to go if you want to listen to concerts in the nearby Olympic Stadium for free while enjoying a great view. Out of all the viewpoints in Munich, this one is the place to go during New Year’s Eve if you want to see the fireworks over the city. It is an amazing sight!

How to get there: Take subway 3 to ‘Olympiazentrum’ station.

Olympic Tower

The Olympic Tower of Munich has a height of 291 meters and a viewing platform at a height of 190 meters. To go up the tower, adults have to pay 9€, while children under 16 years have to pay 6€ to enter the tower. Hereby you can opt to take the elevator like most visitors or walk up 1230 steps.

Fröttmaniger Berg

The ‘Fröttmaniger Berg’ is a former trash dump that is 75 meters high. And while this does not sound tempting at first glance, this viewpoint in Munich is a popular local recreation area. In winter it is a popular sledding site. Located close to the Allianz Area, this hill in Munich’s north offers a great view of it and if the weather is right, you can see the German Alps in the distance.

How to get there: To get to the Fröttmaniger Berg you have to take subway 6 to Fröttmaning.

Luitpoldhügel

The Luitpoldhügel is a hill in Munich’s north and has an amazing viewpoint. While the park it is located in dates back to 1911, the hill came to be in the 1940s when it was made up of rubble from World War II. If you visit the 37 meters high Luitpoldhügel, you get an amazing view over the rooftops of Schwabing and the Frauenkirche with the Alps as a backdrop. Therefore it is incredibly popular amongst photographers.

How to get to this viewpoint: Take subway line 3 to ‘Scheidplatz’ station located right at ‘Luitpoldpark’.

Café Vorhoelzer, TU Munich

Café Vorhoelzer is different than the other viewpoints in Munich as it is a bar, café, and restaurant instead of just a viewpoint. It is located on the rooftop of a building of the Technical University Munich (TUM) and is popular amongst students and locals.

Go here in the evening for a nice drink and some food while enjoying a 360° view over the rooftops of Munich. Visiting this rooftop bar allows you to see the famous building of Munich from a less commonly known angle, so it is definitely worth it.

Keep in mind, that Café Vorhoelzer is closed when the weather is bad. Otherwise, it is open from 9 AM to 10 PM from May to August and from 10 AM to 6 PM between November and February. In September, October, March, and April, this viewpoint bar is open from 10 AM to 9 PM.

Address: Rooftop of Arcisstrasse 21

If you are vegan or love vegan food, you will find one of the best vegan restaurants in Munich called ‘Frischfutter‘ really close to this viewpoint. Be sure to check it out!

Things to Do in Munich aside from Viewpoints

Obviously, Munich has a lot more to offer than these viewpoints, so try to see how they fit into your itinerary. If you want to two viewpoints in Munich that are close to each other, like the New Town Hall and St. Peter, I recommend visiting one during the day and the other during sunrise. After all, the city changes its appearance.

The Best Viewpoints in Munich

Did you already visit some of these incredible viewpoints in Munich?

I personally love all of them, but the New Town Hall and the view from the Monopteros are my personal favorites.