Marienplatz

Marienplatz is one of the most iconic landmarks in Munich and a must visit for any traveler. The historic charm and beautiful architecture are truly impressive. It’s the perfect starting point for exploring the Old Town and definitely a highlight of the city.

I recently visited Marienplatz for a site visit and some shopping, and it was truly a memorable experience. Located in the heart of Munich, this historic square beautifully blends old-world charm with vibrant city life. The architecture around the square is stunning, especially the impressive Neues Rathaus with its intricate Gothic Revival design. Watching the famous Glockenspiel performance was a highlight — it adds a unique cultural touch that brings the history of the city to life. Marienplatz is also a fantastic place for shopping. From well-known international brands to local Bavarian stores, there’s something for everyone. The streets around the square are lively, clean, and easy to explore on foot. Cafés and restaurants nearby offer great spots to relax and enjoy traditional German food or simply soak in the atmosphere. Overall, my visit to Marienplatz was a perfect mix of sightseeing and shopping. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Munich, whether for history, culture, or a great shopping experience.

Such a beautiful place! Traveling across Europe and this was an amazing site to see! The architecture as we all know from this era and before is just stunning. We also arrived on time to see the clock story. A knight's joust celebrating Duke Wilhelm V's marriage in 1568, and the Schäffler (cooper's) dance, symbolizing the end of the plague.

Always need to stop and see whats going on in the Marienplatz when in Munich. Was nice to listen to the live music in the courtyards. From the piano player to the orchestra on the other end, very nice to have a beer and listen.

Oh my goooooodnessss 🥰😍😍😍😍 what a lovely experience i was at the top of it the town looks great the nearby local market so rich in food choices and the history around emotional overflow, i just can’t explain in single breath - breathtaking - here you go that great if you are history & architecture lover this is heaven for ya; go visit make sure to visit that devil foot print so overwelmed.

Pretty happening place. ALOT of shops around. We did catch the show at 12pm which was fun. Saw around 3 to 4 HnM 🤣 Theres a nice christmas market pretty close to this location too

Beautiful architecture, pleasant atmosphere, quiet and not crowded on Sunday in February. Many sightseengs in a walking distance. Metro station on the square - very convenient access and easy to be reached even from remote areas in town

A beautiful square in the middle of the Old Town of Munich. I recommend it for all to see and eat in the many restaurants in the areas around it. If you like shopping, there is also good shopping close by.

I was there a few times while in Munich. It was super cold and busy as usual. The best way enjoying Marienplatz is sitting at Kaufhof Café by the window facing Marienplatz. This is my best recommendation! On Jan 2nd, we walked to Marienplatz after our dinner from Hofbräuhaus. It was snowing! Beautiful snow falling on our head, coat everything got white! So beautiful! It was magical! Everyones happy! Never forget that beautiful moment!

Great place to stay around in south Germany! They have Christmas markets all around here during the holidays and you have to catch the clock tower chime at 11 and noon.

Marienplatz is the main city square in Munich, Germany since 1158. Once you arrived you will mesmerize with beauty of the architectural design of the historical buildings. Lots of shopping, cafes, restaurants and Biergarten to taste. Wait for the cathedral bells to ring every 1 hour and watch the musical exhibition in the church pillars . Lots of people so be careful for pick pocket gang. Beautiful city.

If you visit Munich, you will probably/definitely see Marienplatz, as it's the town's main square, and as such is filled with so much to do and see! Mariensäule, or Mary's Column is one of the architectural aspects in Marienplatz, and is actually where the square gets its name. Mary is known as the Protector of Bavaria, so she's a very revered symbol of Germany. One of the two main buildings you'll see, and probably snap lots of photos of, are the New Town Hall (with cool Gothic-revival architecture) and the Old Town Hall (with late-Gothic style architecture). The square offers Christmas Markets, normal markets, walking tours, and several shops and eateries. Lots to keep busy with, including just walking around and window shopping. It really has an old world feel, with cobble stone streets and floral features everywhere. The center of the square is the best place to be, though, to just stand and see the thousands of people celebrating, shopping, sightseeing, and just hustling and bustling. You feel pretty small when you are watching all that activity. So however long you're in Munich for (even if it's only a day), definitely check out Marienplatz to see, eat, and experience so much of what Germany has to offer.

Beautiful new town hall in the bustling old town of Munich. The clock will display a show if you stay to watch. The area is bustling and has an amazing atmosphere. It is easily accessible by public transportation.

Gorgeous Christmas Mart! So fun to walk around and explore especially with all the food and drink vendors. Highly recommended!

The central square of Munich since 1158. The main point of interest is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) with the Glockenspiel. The mechanical clock has characters that re-enacts scenes from Munich's history twice daily. We came here for Christkindlmarkt and it was festive, but crowded as expected.

I loved the Marienplatz. I enjoyed the traditional shops, the Biergarten, and the tented shops. There was something for everyone here. My only complaint was that I wish I had more time. Give yourself at least 1/2 day to see it all and relax over a pint.

Cool square in Center of Munich. You can find everything you need here from restaurants to street food to various stores and souvenir shops. I always find something new whenever I am here.

The Feel of the Middle Ages: the Glockenspiel and the Architecture! The Feel of the Present: the Crowds and the Boutiques & Restaurants! CHEERS!

7/6/2024, I've been here a few days and this is my start place. They play the bells and misc for about 5 minutes with the life size statues at 10am and 11am throughout the year. Summertime they add a 5:00pm show. Get there about 15 minutes early to grab your spot. It is like watching the masses jump up and down with wonders and look into the sky as they would be seeing Superman or a UFO. See photos or video.

This is a must-see while in Munich. Come at noon to catch the bells ringing and the large glockenspiel come to life. It's central to many nearby shops and restaurants.

Beautiful architecture! Especially loved the clock when the music plays. Super crowded though.

We got here in the early morning when it was quiet and absolutely loved our walk around the area. There are food and shopping places but it was pleasant even just for a morning walk. We ended up inside the church at one point but I didn't take photos out of respect for their religion.

Marienplatz was built in 1158 and is one of the largest and most important squares in the city, also served as Munich's "urban resort". It is now Munich's transportation hub and a place for cultural activities and public recreation. At 12 o'clock join the crowds watching the glockenspiel clock with its colorful mechanical figures dancing at the clock tower, reproducing the scene of the Bavarian king's wedding. As part of the Rathaus there is the 19th century restaurant Ratskeller Munchen, which specializes in Bavarian food and its classic decorations and very interesting, eating at inside of the Rathaus would be very unique experience, not for the food but for the history.

Beautiful center of the city in Munich. We went during Christmas time, this led to a very unique experience for the Christkindlmarkt, but that also meant it was VERY crowded. The old cathedral is stunning, and fun to watch when the tower goes off at 11am. Lots of shopping and easy to get to other places. Most of the trains will take you here. There was also free WiFi which was great as an international traveler.

Marienplatz is the heart of Munich. There is tons of cool gothic architecture. The focal point is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) with its iconic Glockenspiel, which draws crowds daily to watch the intricate figures reenact historical Bavarian events. Grab a coffee... the people watching is A+ right here.

Top attraction in Munchen and rightfully so. We were here at 4:30 on a Wednesday and there were a good amount of visitors. Check out the Glockenspiel (Clock Tower). If you go behind the tower using the entrance on the side, you are in the Rathaus area and get a different view with at least one Gargoyle low enough for a photo op. The City Center so plenty of stores/restaurants in the area. Luxury row where you have your pick of high end stores/Designers shops is just steps away. We didn't make it to the Cafe that has a great view of the Glockenspiel and area. Next time!

Marienplatz is such a beautiful area, it's no wonder that it is the heart of Munich! Home to not just the world famous Glockenspiel, there are tons of shops, little and big, for your shopping pleasure. It's also a great place for people watching. Plan on spending at least an hour and a half here....the Glockenspiel plays for about 15 minutes, and you definitely need to stop shopping and enjoy it! 8/2022

I come to the Marienplatz center about twice a year. It's a beautiful attraction in the city of Munich and a must go to. There are a bunch of great restaurants and shops close by.

This main center or plaza in Munich will leave you awestruck. While it may seem ages ago that we were all allowed to travel abroad, this place will stay with you for a lifetime. It's a must see if you visit Bavaria and most definitely if you are in Munich. Can't avoid it since it is the heart of Munich. The gothic architecture here is breath taking, a must see during at night and a during the day. The night views take on an allure and mystery unseen a day light. It's easy to imagine the Neues Rathaus or the plaza as whole as part of a location for a night thriller or murder mystery even.

Great busy plaza where everyone gathers for social event, to hang out, have food, enjoy the weather and do other things leisurely

Oh how I love Marienplatz. I came here basically every day for 9 days in a row! Seemed like even on the days I planned to do "something else" I would end up wandering through here for something or other. One day, I came to the markets and wandered over, one day my fiancee and I just wanted to walk off dinner and we came at night, another day, I met my tour guide here for a day-trip to Dachau, one day I came to buy some luggage, another just for dinner and coffee, to shop, once just to catch the train on the way "home" to the hotel from the English Garden.... etc. etc. This is the lively center of town where both the New and Old town halls are located and where three (probably more) beautiful old city churches are: Lady Church, Saint Peter's, and Ghost Church (I'm using some of the nicknames I learned as I visited). It's fun to shop here and find goodies to take back home, it's fun to go into the towers of the churches and view this bustling city center from afar, there are tons of places to dine here or enjoy a coffee and people watch, there is also a lot of quality shopping that begins here and stretches for several blocks where you can kill lots of hours (and your wallet). The S-bahn stops right here and you can easily hop on and off here to get basically anywhere the city in just a few minutes... something I sorely miss now that I am back in the USA where we do not have public transit as readily available. In short, this is where you need to be if you are coming to Munich. You will be impressed by the beauty of the buildings and the skyline here, you can watch and really see life, and if you have the luxury, as I did, of coming in the morning, in the day, at night, and at random other times, you can really see this beautiful spot in a different light as the sun first hits the golden Mariensäule, or listen to the famous Glockenspiel as it chimes 3x a day, watch the crowds disperse at night and see the New Town hall lit up at 8pm, grab a coffee and watch as locals bustle through on their way to and fro.... Can you tell I love Munich? Miss it already...

Lively square both day and night, the heart of old town. Can get a great view of the square from St. Peter observation deck (at time of this post 5 euro to go up)

This is a great place to enjoy the culture of Munich. Also a fun place to grab a coffee and people watch. Definitely a must stop place when visiting Munich.

Cool spot, great plaza, the old building with all the intricate designs was reminiscent of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona albeit much older and cooler. Love the dragon designs. It's Also in an area with upscale shops, restaurants and very walkable. I highly recommend swinging by and snapping some photos.

To be fair, we had an image in our minds as to how Marienplatz would look, feel and sound. It's because of Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within (and yes, I realize how nerdy that makes me sound!) At any rate, all the images we'd had in our heads went right out the window the second we stepped out of the Bahnhof and saw the millions of Christmas Market stalls in our faces. NOT that I'm complaining! I was in Christmas Market heaven. We visited Marienplatz several times over the course of our five-day stay. It was crowded - except for early in the morning, which was my favorite time to visit. We did visit some of the "local" type stores on the Platz, but avoided the chains we know from home. It was easy to get lost and turned around with all the stalls and the side streets, but it was an amazing adventure. Marienplatz served as a kind of "home base" for us while we were in Munich. It was comfortable, had a good variety of restaurants and shops, and had a wonderful vibe. I loved the history and the architecture, and how central it all was. I would love to go back in another season, to visit the Platz without the market stalls (did I really say that?), and to see the area in sun and warmth. To, you know, see it as it was depicted in Gabriel Knight. Nerd alert!

Marienplatz was the starting point of our 2 hour walking tour. It is a beautiful central square in Munich that has been in use since 1158. The buildings that surround the area are stunning and rich with history. There is a statue in the square of the Virgin Mary that sits on top of the Mariensaule. She is called the Queen of Heaven. The New Town Hall is in the northern area of Marienplatz. It was built between 1867 and 1909 and is 300 ft long. It has a hundreds of statues, arches and turrets. Every day at 11 am and 12 pm the watch tower chimes and there is a short show. There are 32 life sized figures that re-enacts historical Bavarian events. There is a gold bird that chirps three times to indicate that the show is over. The Old Town Hall was built around the 15th Century in the Gothic style. It was destroyed in WWll and later restored. The building is now occupied by a toy museum. There are lots of things to see and places to eat in the square. It's a fun place to be in both the day and in the evening.

Iconic Marienplatz... so photogenic and gorgeous. It's a city hall, available to take a lift up for great view of the downtown Munich. Take a lift to 5th floor, then purchase a ticket to ride another lift to the observation floor. This lift is so small, can accommodate 6 people the most (very uncomfortably tight). View from the top is amazing. Munich is one of my favorite city and I enjoyed a nice view from there. If you want to take pictures of the city hall, wide angle lens is recommended. My 16mm was just right.

One of the many things I love about Munich is going to Marienplatz, I love the buzz of the place, having a look in the shops, having a stroll or just seeing what entertainers are playing on the street. It's very central and you can get the U3, U6 or any S-Bahn line to Marienplatz. Or you can just cycle there :)

Marienplatz is Munich's city center. It has the town hall, which has that glockenspiel; a ton of shops; and a lot of restaurants. When you come out of the subway, which connects U lines and S lines, you get to see the amazing town hall. It's only a few hundred years old. Nearby is the old town hall, which doesn't look as impressive, but it's much older. The town hall has the famous glockenspiel. At 11 AM, 12 PM and 5 PM (during the warmer months), the glockenspiel plays. You get to see a neat show at the top of the town hall. There's a lot of shopping and eating to do here. Some of the higher end ones might be more near Odeonplatz, but there's plenty around Marienplatz. During December, close to Christmas, you'll see the Christmas Market in Marienplatz. It's a popular, touristy, busy area in Munich. But it's definitely a must go place to eat and shop.

Gothic details that is outlined on the exterior of the cathedral in the heart of the plaza! It is Munich's central community plaza, I would say. Many people were bustling about in the afternoon and throughout the day. Cafes, shopping stores, restaurants and so forth, is easily spotted here.

Gorgeous architecture very well renovated and maintained. There is historical clock here that I did not get to see in action, however has mechanical figurines that come out during certain ours of the day. Lots of shopping and restaurants a great place to visit in Munich.

Beautiful area filled with plenty to do. If you are in Munich, it will be very hard to miss this area. 100% have to see though. It is a beautiful square with restaurants, bars, shopping, and even things like a pharmacy. There are typically street performers and cafes. This is basically the main hub of Munich and you can spend hours here alone. The buildings are beautiful and the architecture is so cool. Great for a cool backdrop while you grab some coffee from the open air cafes.

interesting place to look around .. wish we'd had more than an hour short stop in Munich as apart of guided Europe tour .. we got less than an hour in the city and that was also our only opportunity to grab lunch and see the mechanized glockenspiel. Some impressive architecture. he carillon on the tower of the City Hall (the Neues Rathaus) is a very cute attraction for kids but also for adults. The carillon works all the days of the year at 11 and 12 in the morning and during the good season (early spring to late fall) also at 5 PM. Our tour was 44 people .. the tour was very rushed but we got to visit some amazing places.

Lots of people! Great architecture and a lot of historic buildings here! The most notable thing to see here is the iconic town hall, which is indeed quite a town hall! It has a tower with little figurines that's really cool. It also just looks so unique and I haven't seen anything like this building before. You can even walk under the tower and they have a little entrance that goes into the building. There is also a cathedral across from the town hall that you can pay a couple euros and you have access to a clock tower that lets you see the town hall, square and plaza from a couple hundred feet up! But watch out, this tower has no elevator so you'll have to walk up the whole way. Marienplatz is the center of the old town, so there is a ton of stuff to do in the area outside of Marienplatz. So you should definitely check out this place and the surrounding area if you're in town.

A highlight "must-see" when visiting Munich, Marientplatz is the home of the famous Glockenspiel. While the clocks are all in sync, the movements don't start until a few minutes after the hour. Very easy U-Bahn station, right up into the plaza. A perfect spot to sit and watch the tourists, if you can find a table.

Marienplatz is the main town square of Munich and it is a lot of fun! This is where you will find many of the famous churches and breweries. It can get crowded, especially during the weekend, but I never once felt unsafe. There are a lot of stores, restaurants and street performers, which are entertaining! And after getting tired from all of the walking, how convenient is it to just stop at one of the breweries and have a cold beer?!! Loved it! Since the square is pretty large, I suggest setting aside an entire day to see all that it has to offer.

This is a very crowded place however, much to see. There is plenty of historical architectural beauty to admire and tons of shops to name a few. Restaurants, cafes and shopping seems to be quite common especially among tourists purchasing souvenirs.

The main square of Munich. Its a great place to people watch, take photos, or watch the Glockenspiel. Its also a meeting spot for the Munich walking tour, which is excellent! The square can get extremely crowded, especially if there's a demonstration going on. Its a pedestrian area, so parking can be a problem, but there are some car parks nearby, and is only a street or 2 away. Be prepared to pay for parking though, as its a big city!

Beautiful city center. Quite crowded with tourists of course but it's really close to everywhere. The Rathaus-Glockenspiel show is 10-15 minutes and it's quite interesting but you better be from a good vantage point because well it gets crowded. If you are looking for a good nearby tour company, the Sandeman's New Munich Tours stop right by here and are very, very good.

Munich's central city square "Marienplatz" is smaller in comparison to other major European cities, but its still very beautiful and interesting, though very touristy, but all central squares are. The whimsical Rathaus Glockenspiel mechanical clock tower makes it great though...not too exciting, but worth watching at least once in your life time. The Munich Glockenspiel recounts a royal wedding, jousting tournament and dance. At 11am and noon (and 5pm between March and October). The show lasts about 15 minutes and concludes with the golden bird up the top emerging and chirping three times. Not Disney, but still neat.

Marienplatz is the town square in the heart of Munich. Tourists, like myself, flock here to see the Rathaus Glockenspiel. Musical chimes play tunes while the mechanical contraption reenacts 16th century events: the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V to Renata of Lorraine, a jousting match, and a celebratory dance. Marienplatz appears to be a common staging point for guided tours of the surrounding area. Cafes and shops line the perimeter of the square. At the cafes, people enjoy their morning cup of coffee, tea, or glass of beer. Souvenirs like beer steins, cuckoo clocks, traditional Bavarian clothing, t-shirts, etc. are very easy to come by at the various shops in the immediate area surrounding the square. An S-Bahn and U-Bahn station underground enables convenient transportation. Many tourist attractions are a short walk away: Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt, Alois Dallmayr, etc. It's nearly impossible to be a tourist in Munich and not find yourself walking through Marienplatz a number of times during your visit.

You can't visit Munich without a stop in Marienplatz. Over a weekend, I ended up here more times than I can count -- to catch the metro, to look at the sites, or just passing through. It's a beautiful area no matter the time of day, but also obviously very crowded. If you're a fan of architecture, you'll LOVE it here. I honestly don't have much else to say. It's a cool area, albeit touristy...but whatever. If you're in town for Oktoberfest, you'd be remiss to skip over this slice of pretty history.

Amazing place to visit when in Germany. The views were incredible. For 3 euros, climb the clock tower and get a bird's eye view of the area. Well worth the money. Tons of shops and restaurants in the area. Try them all.

This is a tourist spot with a lot of attractions and restaurants. There are at least 3 pretty cathedrals within minutes of walking away from each other. The plaza is full of activities and great for people watching. This is a must visit if you are in Munich.

I think I practically live in Marienplatz whenever I spend my time in Munich. Marienplatz is the city centre of Munich. It is touristy, the main shopping central, and packed with endless array fascinating history. Marienplatz is special, for obvious reasons. During winter season the city is completely decorated in holiday festivities where several themed Christkindlmarkt are stationed with speciality foods and entertainment, and people of all ages get together to celebrate the fun. Most visitors probably come to Marienplatz for shopping, sightseeing, or for a bit of history, but the old cobblestone streets and some of the old architecture are enough reasons to why visiting Marienplatz is a must on anyone's must-visit bucket list. The must-see: Neus Rathaus (new town hall): here is the amusing thing about the Neus Rathaus; it looks much older than the Alte Rathaus. Gather around the appropriate times for the Glockenspiel; you will know when you see a large crowd gathered before the Neus Rathaus. Viktualenmarkt: I can spend endless days at the daily food market of Munich. This is the original farmer's market for the people here and it is most popular of gourmet treats. The shops have typical farmer's market treats such as sweets, jams, wine, and some special trinkets. This is a great place to get a small bite of everything if you desire. Viktualenmarkt can be found just at the entrance and to the right of the Alte Rathaus. Kirchen (churches): there are several baroque style churches with a mass amount of history; some kirchen are built as early as 1500! There many fashion stores and boutiques I would highly recommend: Hallhuber Pimkie Reserved Konen Galleria Kaufhof Tom Tailor Ludwig Beck TK Maxx (US version of TJ Maxx) My favourite cafes & coffee bars: STEREO Cafe Maelu Cafe Glockenspiel Rischart

The Marienplatz was very close to our Airbnb and lucky for us is the main center for the Christmas markets! We arrived later in Munich so we hopped over to grab a bite and see the market. The Christmas market was very impressive, rows of vendors, many different mulled wine spots and all sorts of food booths. There are a lot of vegetarian options at the food spots, a few vegan. The mulled wine is delicious, you pay a deposit for the cup and are given that back once it's returned. We got to experience a Christmas parade and see KRAMPUS (I was hoping to see Krampus) it was very exciting. On our way out we heard a band playing with a large crowd so we checked it out, the band was hilarious and so fun, they provided a lot of entertainment. The architecture is stunning, hearing the historic clock go off was fun, it was so beautiful to experience during the day and at night. The markets don't go until past 8-9PM and are open on Sunday! The Marienplatz is the main train station, too, that was very useful for our way out of Munich. This is the city center of Munich, very touristy and historic.

The Rathaus Glockenspiel is: A) a convincing sales pitch to sell you a gun. B) a sausage consisting of pork, cheese, and potato salad. C) a daily attraction commemorating the marriage of Duke Wilheim V and dancers who danced during a plague to keep everyone's spirits up. D) the proper way to order a round of beers at a beer garden. Answer: C I was magnetically drawn to the Marienplatz every day. Its Gothic architecture will force you to take countless pictures from every angle (the best vantage point is from Alter Peter), you can reach any attraction since it's centrally based, there are plenty of stores/restaurants around it, and you can literally feel Munich's pulse/lifeblood. There's also a daily 15 minute show, the Rathaus Glockenspiel, at 11am (as well as 12pm and 5pm in the summer).