- The Munich Post
- Posts
- 18 (Affordable) Things to do in Munich in Winter
18 (Affordable) Things to do in Munich in Winter
Munich may seem cold and gray in the winter, but if you know where to look, you will find that winter can be a wonderful time to take advantage of all the other activities it has to offer.
There is nothing wrong with spending your winter drinking Glühwein and complaining about the cold. Should you be looking for a bit more of an adventure, however, we got you. Here is your weekend itinerary for every weekend from now until February.
Keep reading until the end for some of our favorite café recommendations, little escapes that are sure to warm you up from the inside.
To get you in a cozy mood, here is a walk through our city when it’s covered in snow.
1. Discover the best sledding hills
There are some great hills in Munich where you can take your kids without having to travel long distances.
Olympiapark
The highest sledding hill in Munich, that has a great variety of options – the Olympic Lake even offers a snow tubing track.
Westpark
This park also offers various hills, most of them are smaller, but there is a longer run in the west of the park.
Monopteros in the Englischer Garten
Sledding on this hill with its iconic colonnade is best combined with a warm drink and a winter walk in the park.
There are also some advanced options with longer runs, which are more fun, but require a bit of a drive out of the city.
Schliersee
When paired with a hike around the lake, this day trip is an amazing experience, and certainly worth the drive. There are different levels of difficulty for both the hike and the toboggan descent. You can read more about them here.
Tegernsee and Wallberg
Wallberg is the mountain beside the lake, which can be reached either by hiking or cable car.
You can hike down on foot or take the famous toboggan run called Naturrodelbahn.
Stay active with some indoor sports
There is no reason to hibernate just because the weather is cold and miserable. After all, Munich offers a great range of indoor activities. Here are some recommendations you may not have thought of yet.
Bowling
There are many bowling alleys in Munich, but our top recommendation has to be the Dream Bowl Palace in Unterföhring. This place offers billiards, bowling, and other table-top games. Its atmosphere is great and occasionally features DJs and laser shows.
⌚ Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 3pm - 11pm
Friday 2pm - 1am.
Saturday 11pm - 1am.
Sunday 12 Noon - 11pm.
Closed Mondays.
💵 Prices:
Bowling from 22€
Billiard from 12€
Minigolf from 10€
Laser tag
If you are looking for a unique activity for a birthday or special occasion, we strongly recommend laser tag. Once again, there are multiple options, but LaserZone is our favorite.
⌚ Hours
Monday - Thursday 3pm - 10pm
Friday 3pm - 12 Midnight
Saturday 10am - 12 Midnight
Sunday 10am - 10pm.
💵 from 22.90€ for 2 hours/4 games.
Escape rooms
Another option for the adventurers amongst you are the countless escape rooms around the city.
The original Exit the Room has two locations in Munich, and they regularly renew the themes of the rooms.
⌚ You can book your preferred time here. It takes about an hour.
💵 A minimum of 89.90€ for two players, up to 129.90€ for six players
4. Treat yourself to a spa day
There is no better refuge from the harsh cold weather than a relaxing dip in a pool, maybe paired with a drink, a face mask and if you are feeling particularly fancy, a massage. So, pack your pool bag and head to one of these great spas.
Therme Erding
Of course, this list would not be complete without mentioning the world’s largest spa. In terms of services, Therme Erding has no competition. You can pick from a range of options including a tropical spa, lounges, a vitality oasis, themed saunas,steam baths and so much more.
⌚ Hours:
Monday - Friday 10am - 11pm
Saturday 9am - 12 Midnight
Sunday 9am - 11pm
💵 from 24€ for two hours
MySpa
Are you looking for a more private and luxurious experience? Then you should pay a visit to MySpa in Schwabing. Their concept allows for complete privacy with minimal human interaction. Upon arrival, you receive your own room, pick your spa scent and then you are all set to relax without having to share the space with strangers.
⌚ Open daily 9:45am - 12 Midnight.
💵 from 20€ per person per hour
5. Get a cozy dose of culture at one of Munich’s many museums
Munich has countless options when it comes to museums, and no matter how often you visit, there is always more to see. So, why not take advantage of the long winter months to really take your time at one of Munich’s world-class museums?
It is up to you whether you want to go down the science route and visit a more knowledge-based museum, such as the Deutsche Museum. Or whether you want to look at something more visually stimulating and visit one of Munich’s art museums. Either way, we have some options outlined for you here.
Deutsches Museum
This iconic museum on Munich’s Museuminsel is not just for the science nerds amongst you. There really is something of interest for everyone, from fashion to boats to nanotechnology. This Museum is home to so much history and discovery, you could spend the entire winter here and still not get bored.
⌚ Open daily 9am - 5pm
💵 8€ - 15€
Glyptothek
This gallery is located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Munich, but the contents of the gallery are themselves truly unique. Ancient Greek sculptures adorn the rooms of this gallery to transport you to another time and place.
⌚ Hours
Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Closed Monday
💵4€ - 6€
Sunday - 1€
Alte Pinakothek
Munich has three Pinakotheken (from the Greek words pinax, for paintings and theke meaning box). The Alte Pinakothek is one of the oldest art museums of the city, started as early as 1528, making it the perfect combination of history and culture.
⌚ Hours
Tuesday & Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday - Sunday 10am - 6pm
💵6€ - 9€
Sunday - 1€.
Children FREE
Pinakothek der Moderne
Another one of the three Pinakotheken in Munich, this one is the most modern one and is home to amazing art of the 20th and 21st centuries.
⌚ Hours
Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Closed Monday
💵 7€ - 10€
Sunday 1€
Children FREE
6. Feel like royalty in one of Munich’s palaces
There is no better time and no better place to feel like a King (or Elsa) than in one of Munich’s castles during the winter time. You could even dress up and turn the trip into a cosplay photoshoot.
A lot of Munich’s castles are open to the public and truly stunning. They are grand and opulent and include everything you can imagine that fit the whims of our Bavarian royals.
We have outlined some (but not all) options, below. Munich’s official site for castles and palaces has even more options for you to discover.
Schloss Nymphenburg
Nymphenburg is the most famous castle in Munich, and for good reason. Though the garden is best visited when it blooms in the spring, you can enjoy the winter wonderland it turns into by taking a snowy winter stroll or from one of the massive castle windows.
⌚ Open daily 10am - 4pm
💵 Castle 7€ - 8€
Including Museum 10€ - 12€
The Residenz
The Residenz next to the Hofgarten at Odeonsplatz is the former home to the Bavarian royal family and today, it’s the single largest city palace in all of Germany. With that in mind, there is a lot to see and you will surely be kept busy a couple of hours perusing its halls and galleries.
⌚ 10am - 4pm
💵 12€ - 14€ (for museum treasury)
Alter Hof: The old court
This castle is one of the oldest in Munich and the first seat of the Wittelsbacher family. Even though it was quite damaged during WWII, its original medieval architecture has been restored. Take a free tour and get some great insights into Munich’s oldest tales and legends, including how the Monkey Tower got its name.
⌚ Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm
💵 Free
7. Go to the cinema
Winter’s slower nature is worth embracing. So why not relax and watch a movie at one of Munich’s many English cinemas?
(Some of my favorite Munich memories are movie dates with family and loved ones, to the point where it is now a tradition for us to watch new Marvel movies in English as soon as they come out -Alessia)
Though a lot of cinemas have “Original Verision” showings in English, only two of them are exclusively English-speaking.
Cinema Filmtheater München
Despite its German name, this cinema can be described as THE classic American theater. It has modern, well-equipped movie rooms with a snack bar that serves up large portions.
Museum Lichtspiele
Also in Maxvorstadt, this movie theater is the more theatrical Kino. The rooms and snacks are smaller but more unique and interesting.
8. Relive the Oktoberfest at the Hofbräuhaus
Don your best Stammtisch outfit and meet up with your friends or club members for a Helles at Munich’s oldest brewery.
Though this is often tailored to tourists, locals should also go back to their Bavarian roots once in a while and have a hearty and at the Hofbräuhaus.
⌚ Open daily 11am - 12 Midnight.
9. Get crafty
There is no better time than November and December to get your DIY hat on and start crafting some handmade gifts.
Though you can easily do this with some tutorials at home, Munich offers some wonderful opportunities for crafting gifts that are unique and useful.
Personalize ceramics at Paint Your Style
Grab a ceramic dish, mug, or bowl from their assortment of white bisqueware table settings and start glazing to your heart’s desire!
⌚ Hours
Tuesday - Friday 12 Noon - 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 8pm
💵 15€ - 35€
Sip and sew at SiRA
Schwabing’s SiRA (Sewing is Real Art) offers workshops for small groups; they last three hours, with wine and snacks included. They also sell sewing patterns, should you wish to work from the comfort of your home.
⌚ visit website for dates
💵 from 40€
Learn to paint with CoArt
Take a painting course: CoArt offers themed workshops and has one coming up about painting watercolor cards for Christmas.
⌚ The next workshops are on Sunday, November 19 & 26 2pm - 6pm
💵 Christmas workshop 69€
10. Sing your heart out at Karaoke
When it comes to finding fellow English speakers to socialize with, there is no better place than Munich’s Karaoke bars. (Not to mention that singing to your heart’s content is sure to warm you up, no matter the weather outside.)
Unsure about where to go and overwhelmed by all the Karaoke options in Munich?
Don’t you worry. We got you! Read our review of all Karaoke Bars in Munich.
11. Visit the botanical garden
Craving some tropical, summer vibes? Why not visit the exotic greenhouses in Munich’s Botanischer Garten? The botanic garden in Nymphenburg is open year-round, and it’s a great unexpected activity that you can do in winter too.
⌚ Hours
9am - 4pm
Outdoor gardens until 4:30pm
💵 5,50€.
12. Practice some good old ice skating
It’s probably a classic for a reason, right?
After all, there is nothing that describes winter in Munich more than going ice skating. The background music makes for a cozy atmosphere and it doesn’t matter whether you are a figure skating champion or a total beginner, ice skating is truly fun for everyone.
Olympiapark
The biggest ice skating rink in Munich is at Olympiapark, and it’s also the one that happens to be under a roof.
Even if you can’t skate on ice, you can attend a game here. Ice hockey has gained popularity in the city in the last 10 years and the Munich team has been very successful.
⌚ Times vary, see website
💵 7€
Ice magic at Stachus
This seasonal ice rink is the best one to pair with the Marienplatz Christmas market. It is right downtown and has the most Christmassy atmosphere.
⌚ from November 24
Open daily 10:30am - 10pm
💵 7€ - 11€
13, Be mesmerized by a light show
Are you looking for an activity that will put you right in the Christmas spirit?
With its combination of music, nature and most importantly, lights, the Lumagica show is a wonderful option. Bring someone special, as it is certain to be a magical and fantastic evening.
⌚ Visit their website for show times
💵 19€ - 25€
14. Visit one of Munich’s lakes
It is an unfair misconception that lakes are only worth visiting in the summer. Some of the most breathtaking views and most memorable hikes happen when the lakes freeze over and snow coats the Alps.
Bavaria’s lakes are worth visiting all year round and if you want to experience a real winter wonderland, they should not be skipped.
Pick your favorite lake off this list we compiled for you.
15. Admire Munich from above
View the city from up high by taking advantage of some of Munich’s most famous steeples and towers.
You will really get to know the city anew and admire the snow-covered rooftops when you visit some of our favorite sites in town.
Photo by @franzneumeier
The Rathaus
Probably Munich’s most famous building, the “new” Gothic style Rathaus is open to the public, who can access the tower for a bird’s eye view of the old city center.
Definitely worth a stop and perfect in combination with the Christkindlmarkt that happens right under the Glockenspiel.
⌚: 10am - 9pm
💵 2,50€ - 6,50€
St Peter’s Church
Also at Marienplatz, St. Peter’s is an excellent pick for a central option that is less crowded than the touristy Rathaus.
⌚ Hours
Monday - Friday 9am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am to 7pm
💵 2€ - 5€
The Olympic Tower
Munich’s Olympiaturm is another iconic landmark that is a must-see. And in winter, you can combine your visit with the neighboring Christmas market. The advantage of the Olympic Tower is that it is taller (TK meters), so you get a whole different view of Munich and on clear days, you can see the Alps.
⌚ Open daily 9am - 11pm
💵 10€ - 13€
16. Visit a Christmas Market, of course
Munich takes Christmas very seriously, a fact you will discover the moment you step foot into one of its famous Christmas markets. They are magical and wonderful and we have already compiled a magical list to help you pick your choice.
You can read about our top picks here.
17. Attend one of Munich’s scheduled events
Munich is definitely not dormant during the winter time. On the contrary, it offers a lot of smaller open mics, comedy nights and author signings.
The city takes advantage of the seasons and traditions and offers up some wonderful themed activities. So take out your planner and get ready to schedule some important dates.
The Krampus Run
A little spooky and very folklore, the Krampus Run has been an alpine tradition for hundreds of years.
The stories and costumes vary from town to town, so Munich’s event is unique in its own way.
⌚ Sunday, December 10, 3pm
Fasching
A more cold and winter version of Carnival, but not less lighthearted and celebratory,Munich Fasching is another long-lasting tradition worth watching out for in February.
⌚ Faschingsdienstag (Mardi Gras) Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Naturally, the best way to stay tuned about events is to subscribe to the Munich Post, this way, you never miss a date worth noting.
18. Bonus: Warm up in one of Munich’s sweet cafés
Munich has a lot of cafés worth visiting, so we do not recommend limiting your options to only the ones we recommend.
But if you are tired from running around and discovering the city, here are three charming cafés you can duck into for a heartwarming break.
Tea at the Victorian Tea House
If you are looking for the perfect cup of tea, head to the University quarter and enjoy a cup of tea from the English Tea House.
They have a lot of options and each cup of tea, each customer is treated with special attention.
Cakes and Conversation at Bellevue di Monaco
This café near Gärtnerplatz really focuses on building community; there are always English speakers around and their cake selection never disappoints.
They also offer affordable lunch options.
Hot cocoa at the Backspielhaus near Schloss Nymphenburg
The interior design of this little café is so charming, it makes for the perfect break after visiting the Nymphenburg palace.
Their hot chocolate is sweet and decadent without feeling incredibly filling and without giving you a sugar rush.
Well, dear readers, we trust after reading this that you will be all set to have the most fun, activity-filled winter in Munich ever. We hope you enjoy our guide and look forward to feedback on your favorite activities.
Sincerely,
Aazar, Alessia, Arlene, Christina, and Heidi
The Munich Post team
Join the conversation