Munich/Maxvorstadt

🌍 Hauptbahnhof the city's main railway station is at the south edge of this district, so you'll probably transit through it. See Munich#Get in for its long-distance connections and facilities.

S-Bahn suburban lines skim the south edge of the district but don't cross it. S1 and S8 come from the airport, and these plus S2, S3, S4, S6, S7 and S27 track along the south edge of Maxvorstadt with stops at Donnersbergerbrücke, Hackerbrücke (for ZOB the central bus station), Hauptbahnhof and Karlsplatz (Stachus). They cross Altstadt to Ostbahnhof then diverge to eastern suburbs.

U-Bahn underground lines run north-south across the district. All of Maxvorstadt is within the inner city fare zone.

•  U1  and  U7  run from the southeast via Hauptbahnhof to Königsplatz (for Kunstareal), Stiglmaierplatz and Maillingerstraße, then out to Rotekreuzeplatz and Olympia.
•  U2  starts from Messe trade centre way out east. It's joined by  U8  at Sendlinger Tor, then they run north to Hauptbahnhof, Königsplatz, Theresienstraße and Josephsplatz. U8 terminates at Olympia while U2 continues to Feldmoching, change for S1 to the airport.
•  U3  and  U6  start in the southwest and run north via Sendlinger Tor, Marienplatz (for Altstadt), Odeonsplatz and Universität. U3 turns west to Moosach (for S1 to the airport), U6 continues north to Fröttmaning (for Allianz Arena) and Garching.

• Lines 16 and 17 run from Nymphenburg along Arnulfstraße to the bus station and Hauptbahnhof, then turn south to Sendlinger Tor and circle Altstadt.
• Lines 20, 21 and 29 run north from Hauptbahnhof to Stiglmaierplatz and up Dachauer Straße.
• Lines 27 and 28 run from Sendlinger Tor to Karlsplatz (Stachus) and north up Barer Straße via Karolinenplatz and the Kunstareal district.

🌍 Munich Central Bus Station (ZOB: Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof) is south edge of this of district next to Hackerbrücke S-Bahn station. All long distance buses arrive and depart here, see Munich#Get in for connections and station facilities.

It's easy to reach this area by car outside of rush hour, just follow signs for city centre and Hauptbahnhof. But parking is notoriously scarce for non-residents, check ahead with your accommodation.

By bicycle from outlying parts is straightforward, many streets have bike lanes. The trick is to avoid getting stuck in tramlines.

This is a quarter of grand museums and galleries, near Königsplatz and reached by that U-Bahn station.

• Königsplatz itself is a wide-open square surrounded by classicist buildings. Planned as the "Athens on the Isar", it was framed on three sides by the Doric Propylaea (Propyläen), the Ionic Glyphothek, and the Corinthian Antikensammlung. During the Third Reich in Germany several structures were added on the once open side of the square, some of which still exist today. The square is now used as a venue for open-air concerts and an open-air cinema during summer.
• 🌍 Glyptothek, Königsplatz 3 (U-Bahn U2: Königsplatz), ☏ +49 89 286100. Tu W, F-Su 10:00-17:00, Th 10:00-20:00. This houses King Ludwig I's huge collection of Greek and Roman sculpture: he was determined to make Munich into a new Athens, if necessary by removing the original Athens piece by piece. The principal sculptures are the Aeginetes, excavated in the 19th century from the temple on the island of Aegina. The building, in neo-classical style of course, was completed in 1830. It was bombed out during the Second World War but the sculptures had been taken to safety. There's an attractive courtyard with cafe. Adult €6, concessions €4, Sundays: €1. (updated Oct 2022)
• State Collections of Antiques (Antikensammlungen), Königsplatz 1 (facing Glyptothek), ☏ +49 89 599 88830. Tu Th-Su 10:00-17:00, W 10:00-20:00. This began as an exhibition venue but is now effectively an annexe of Glyptothek, housing yet more of Ludwig I's vast collection. The focus here is on "minor arts" and it has huge numbers of Greek and Etruscan vases. Same ticket as Glyptothek. (updated Oct 2022)
• Lenbachhaus, Luisenstraße 33 (U-Bahn U2: Königsplatz; next to Glyptothek), ☏ +49 89 233 96933. Th 10:00-20:00, F-Su, Tu W 10:00-18:00. A large Italianate villa completed in 1891, with a striking modern extension of metal tubes, this houses modern and contemporary art. They take up the story in the mid 19th century with Gothic and romantic paintings, moving on to the Expressionists, with a strong showing by the Der Blaue Reiter group which included Kandinsky. And lots more from later, such as Beuys. Adult €10, concessions €5. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Palaeontological Museum, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10 (U-Bahn U2: Königsplatz), ☏ +49 89 218 06630. M-Th 08:00-16:00, F 08:00-14:00. Lots of fossils including Archaeopteryx, Triceratops and Saber-toothed Cat. The museum itself is an interesting building, on three floors but an hour is plenty to see it all. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Geological Museum is shown separately on some maps, but it's simply the east wing of the Palaeontological Museum, facing Königsplatz.
• Richard-Wagner-Straße from Lenbachshaus past the Palaeontological Museum is one of the few central streets relatively unscathed by wartime bombing, so its houses are 1890s originals in "historicism" style. One casualty however was Wagner's own villa at the foot of the street, corner with Brienner Straße, his home from 1864 to 1871. That got bombed and was not rebuilt.
• 🌍 Alte Pinakothek, Barer Straße 27 (Tram 27, 28: Pinakotheken), ☏ +49 89 238 05216. Tu W 10:00-20:30, F-Su 10:00-18:00. Contains hundreds of great European masterworks dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including the largest Rubens collection in the world. Café Klenze is its pleasant bakery cafe. Adult €7, concession €5, Sundays €1. (updated Oct 2022)
• Museum of Egyptian Arts (Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst), Gabelsbergerstraße 35 (opposite Alte Pinakothek), ☏ +49 89 289 27630. W-Su 10:00-18:00, Tu 10:00-20:00. Museum with classical Egyptian antiquities. Adult €7, concessions €5, Sundays €1. (updated Oct 2022)

• Neue Pinakothek, Barer Straße 29 (next to Alte Pinakothek), ☏ +49 89 238 05195. Closed. Wonderful collection including 19th-century big-name European paintings and sculptures. Closed for renovation until 2025. (updated Oct 2022)
• NS-Dokumentationszentrum, Max Mannheimer Platz 1 (Tram to Karolinenplatz), ☏ +49 89 233 67000. Tu-Su 10:00-19:00. Documenting the deeds of the Nazis in Munich - it's a sort of inverse Yad Vashem, ensuring that the names and acts of the perpetrators are faithfully chronicled for all time. It's text-heavy, with translations, so it's an immersive collection if you're comfortable with that style. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Pinakothek der Moderne, Barer Straße 40 (Tram 27, 28: Pinakotheken), ☏ +49 89 238 05360. Tu W, F-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00. Huge display of 20th and 21st century art and design. Adult €10, concessions €7, Sundays €1. (updated Oct 2022)
• Die Neue Sammlung, Barer Straße 40 (same building as Pinakothek der Moderne), ☏ +49 89 272 725560. Tu W F-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00. Museum of industrial design. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• State Mineralogical Collection (Museum Reich der Kristalle), Theresienstraße 41 (next to Pinakothek der Moderne), ☏ +49 89 218 04312. Tu-Su 13:00-17:00. A collection of minerals including gemstones and meteorites. Adult €5, concessions €3. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Museum Brandhorst, Theresienstraße 35a (Tram 27, 28: Pinakotheken), ☏ +49 89 238 052286. Th 10:00-20:00, Tu W F-Su 10:00-18:00. Opened in 2009, this has a permanent collection of modern and contemporary paintings, sculptures and installations, especially by Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly. Adult €7, concession €5, under 18 free, Sunday €1. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 St Boniface's Abbey (Abtei St Bonifaz), Karlstraße 34 (U-Bahn U2: Königsplatz). Su 10:00-12:00, M-F 08:00-17:00. This Benedictine abbey was founded in 1835 by King Ludwig I to renew his realm's spiritual life, while in no way impeding his liaison with dancing girls. Bombed during World War II, it was only partially rebuilt. The church holds regular services and the king is buried here, as is his queen Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. His favourite girl lies dead of syphilis in Brooklyn NY. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Karolinenplatz (Tram 27, 28: Karolinenplatz) is the circle at the intersection of Brienner Straße and Barer Straße. The 29 m black obelisk commemorates the 30,000 Bavarian soldiers killed during Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia.

Ludwigstraße is the boulevard forming the east boundary of this district, with Universität U-Bahn station midway. Another 200 m further east is the English Garden.

• 🌍 Odeonsplatz the south terminus of the boulevard is described as part of Altstadt, along with the nearby Hofgarten, Residenz and Wittelsbacherplatz. The grand statue of Ludwig on horseback was created in 1862.
• 🌍 St Ludwig, Ludwigstraße 22 (U-Bahn U3, U6: Universität), ☏ +49 89 287 7990. Daily 08:00-20:00. This Roman Catholic church is opposite the main building of the University of Munich. It's in Romanesque style, and features the second largest altar fresco in the world. No, they didn't sanctify the king, the dedication is to Saint Louis IX of France, patron saint of Bavaria, and "Louis" in German is Ludwig. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 100 m north of Universität U-Bahn station is a circular plaza with two large fountains, surrounded by the university main campus.
• 🌍 Siegestor is a triumphal arch originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army, completed in 1852. Seeking to outdo Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, the chariot-hauling quadriga are lions not horses. Arch, city and army were all smashed in World War II, so it was reconstructed as a monument to peace. The arch marks the north terminus of Ludwigstraße: beyond is Leopoldstraße, described as part of northern Munich, with its giant Walking Man.
• 🌍 Georg-Elser-Platz (U-Bahn U3, U6: Universität) commemorates the man who almost wiped out Hitler and the Nazi High Command on 8 Nov 1939. That was the anniversary of the founding of the Party, and Hitler came to give a speech at the beerhall where it all started. Elser placed a bomb near the speech podium, but Hitler concluded his speech early and left - fog had grounded his return flight to Berlin so he needed to start back early by private train. The bomb killed 8 and injured another 62, but the Nazi inner circle escaped by ten minutes. Elser was later caught trying to cross into Switzerland. The Gestapo tortured the plot out of him and it appears he acted alone. He was sent to Dachau but only shot when Germany's defeat was imminent.

• 🌍 Old Botanic Garden is 100 m north of Hauptbahnhof and Stachus stations. It was established in 1809, but in 1914 the botanic collection moved out to Nymphenburg (where it remains) so this area became a park. Its Glass Palace exhibition centre burned down in 1931 but there remains the neo-Classic gate, the Fountain of Neptune, and Kunstpavilion a small art exhibition hall. There's also a restaurant Kriminal Dinner and Park Cafe.
• Justizpalast is the pompous building south side of the garden, the chief law courts.
• 🌍 Old North Cemetery ("Alter Nordfriedhof") was in use 1869-1944 so it has many turn-of-the century funerary monuments.
• St Josephs is by the north tip of the cemetery near Josephsplatz U-Bahn station. It's neo-baroque and was completed in 1902.
• 🌍 St Benno's, Ferdinand-Miller-Platz 1 (Tram 20, 21, 22: Hochschule München). Daily 08:00-19:00. This neo-Romanesque church was completed in 1895, one of a trio commissioned for the expanding district of Maxvorstadt. It was bombed in wartime but rebuilt to the original design. Outside, St Benno himself teeters on a column, and the statue of a fish with a key in its mouth recalls his days as 11th century Bishop of Meissen. He kept siding with the wrong king and the wrong pope, and when ousted hurled the cathedral keys into the Elbe. But later they turned up in his fish supper, whereupon regal order, apostolic succession and church access were serenely restored. Free. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 Augustiner-Keller, Arnulfstraße 52 (100 m north of bus station), ☏ +49 89 594393. Daily 11:00-23:00. This brewery was first documented in 1328, within the Augustinian monastery next to Frauenkirche, where they nowadays run a restaurant. The monastery was dissolved in 1803 (no, not in the beer) and the business has mostly been in private ownership since, on various near-centre sites - they've not followed the modern trend of an edge-of-city industrial park. Their beers are popular in south Germany but little is exported, so tuck in here. Augustiner took over an existing beer garden here in 1862 and expanded it into a 5000-seater: this is open April-Oct, while the beer hall and restaurant are year-round. No brewery tours, they no longer use an ox-driven winch to hoist the beer barrels, and there are no more public hangings of army deserters, so you'll just have to gawp at your phone if conversation fails. (updated Nov 2022)
• 🌍 Löwenbräukeller, Nymphenburgerstraße 2 (U-Bahn U1, U7: Stiglmaierplatz), ☏ +49 89 998 209185. Daily 11:30-00:00. This brewery was founded in 1383, perhaps on Löwengrube near Frauenkirche - "Löwen" means lions. From 1826 to 1851 production migrated to its present site, with the Bräukeller across the street opened in 1883. The company grew by acquisition and has always exported strongly, with some brewing under license elsewhere, so it's the best-known German brand abroad. The traditional beer garden and beer hall seats 2000 and draws many foreign visitors. Brewery tours available, see "Do". (updated Nov 2022)

• Bar Sehnsucht, Amalienstraße 26 (Tram 27, 28: Pinakotheken; opposite Leonardo Hotel). Tu-Th 18:00-01:00, F Sa 18:00-03:00. A bar with a unique interior - motorcycles on the wall, red velvet couches in the corners and bras hanging from the ceiling lights. It fills up fast at weekends, so get here early. (updated Oct 2022)
• Cafe Kosmos, Dachauerstraße 7 (100 m north of Hauptbahnhof), ☏ +49 89 552 95867. M-F 12:00-01:00, Sa Su 18:00-03:00. Lively friendly cafe-bar, popular with those staying in the nearby hostel strip, and it gets very full after dark. (updated Nov 2022)
• Home Munich, Amalienstraße 23 (U-Bahn U3, U6: Universität; next to Leonardo Hotel), ☏ +49 174 5706487, info@home-munich.bar. Tu-Th 18:00-01:00, F Sa 18:00-03:00. Cozy retro bar decorated with living room and industrial items. Some staff think "cool" means unpleasant. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Moejo 91, Schellingstraße 91 (U-Bahn U2: Theresienstraße), ☏ +49 89 200 90691, mojo91@gmx.de. Sa 20:00-03:00. Themed on a dockland pub. It's mostly an event venue, booked out to private parties, individual visitors have variable experience. (updated Nov 2022)
• 🌍 Salon Irkutsk, Isabellastraße 4 (U-Bahn U2: Josephsplatz), ☏ +49 152 597 15418. Su-Th 17:00-01:00, F Sa 17:00-03:00. The bar is a blend of a live club with an art gallery, with Russian snacks. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Alter Ofen, Zieblandstraße 41 (U-Bahn U2: Theresienstraße), ☏ +49 89 527527. Daily 18:00-01:00. Pub with a vintage interior and inexpensive food and drink. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Stadion an der Schleißheimer Straße, Schleißheimer Straße 82 (U-Bahn U2: Theresienstraße), ☏ +49 89 529736. Tu-F 18:30-00:00, Sa 12:30-00:00, Su 13:00-22:00. Lively football pub, mobbed when Bayern Munich or UEFA Champions League games are on. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 Rote Sonne, Maximiliansplatz 5 (S1,S2,S3,S4,S6,S7,S8, U4,U5: Karlsplatz (Stachus)), ☏ +49 89 552 63330, info@rote-sonne.com. F Sa 23:00-08:00. Legendary techno club, many complaints of aggressive bouncers. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Pacha Munich, Maximiliansplatz 5 (same building as Rote Sonne), ☏ +49 174 314 1114, club@pacha-muenchen.de. W-Sa 22:00-06:00. This fashionable techno and house club is the Munich franchise of the Pacha brand. (updated Oct 2022)
• Call Me Drella, Max-Joseph-Straße 1 (same block as Rote Sonne), ☏ +49 89 599 888969. Tu-Sa 22:00-05:00. Arty club with live performances all night long. Dress to impress, age minimum 22. There's a quieter outside area for conversation. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Drunken Monkey, Lenbachplatz 1 (U-Bahn: S-Bahn & U-Bahn U4, U5: Karlsplatz (Stachus)), ☏ +49 1575 1593881, booking@enter-the-dragon.com. Closed. Small and cozy electronic music club decked with hundreds of colorful light bulbs in the basement of Enter The Dragon Vietnamese restaurant. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Lost Weekend, Schellingstraße 3 (U-Bahn: U3,U6 Universität; opposite St Ludwig), ☏ +49 89 287 01881, post@lostweekend.de. M-Th 09:00-00:00, F 09:00-02:00, Sa 11:00-02:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Daytime this is a coffee shop, vegan cafe and bookshop. Around 20:00 it morphs into a live performance venue with jazz, rock, blues and electro. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 Minna Thiel, Gabelsbergerstraße 1 (U-Bahn U1, U2, U8: Königsplatz; opposite Alte Pinakothek), ☏ +49 89 452 15063, minna@bahnwaerterthiel.de. Tu-Th 16:00-00:00, F 16:00-02:00, Sa 14:00-02:00, Su 12:00-22:00. Small canopied beer-garden centred on an old railbus, along with a cargo container and telephone booth, with live music and DJs. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Palais Club, Arnulfstraße 16-18, 80335 München (north side of Hauptbahnhof), ☏ +49 89 500 73131, info@palaisclub.de. F Sa 20:00-10:00. Popular techno club with plushy red charm. Free entry until midnight, and it only starts getting populated then. (updated Oct 2022)
• Sauna, Marsstraße 22 (100 m north of Hauptbahnhof next to Kings Hotel Center), ☏ +49 170 4712311. W-Sa 22:00-05:00. The clue's in the name: it's hot and steamy, with people packed together. Music is 1980s and 90s. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Tumult, Blütenstraße 4 (Tram 27, 28: Schellingstraße), ☏ +49 89 289 32343. M-Th 20:00-01:00, F Sa 20:00-03:00. Underground punk club, a rarity in Munich, with clientele to match the music. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 The 4You, Hirtenstraße 18 (100 m north of main railway station). Clean well-run hostel in good central location. The hostel has its own bar and bike rental. Dorm bunk €21. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 A&O Hostel München Hackerbrücke, Arnulfstraße 102 (Tram: Marsstraße), ☏ +49 89 452359 5800. Basic but well-run chain hostel, good value for what you're paying. Dorm bunk €22. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Hotel Pension Am Siegestor, Akademiestraße 5 (U-Bahn U3, U6: Universität), ☏ +49 89 399550. Great reviews for comfort and welcome at this B&B next to the Siegestor. B&B double €110. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Hotel-Pension Theresia Regina, Luisenstraße 51 (U-Bahn U2: Theresienstraße), ☏ +49 89 521250. This remains closed in 2022. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 Leonardo Boutique Hotel München, Amalienstraße 25 (U-Bahn U3,U6: Universität), ☏ +49 89 287870, info.boutiquemuc@leonardo-hotels.com. Older hotel near the university, some fittings tatty or broken. B&B double €130. (updated Oct 2022)
• Hotel Antares, Amalienstraße 20 (facing Leonardo), ☏ +49 89 2800200, hotel@antares-muenchen.de. Small hotel convenient for the university. B&B double €100. (updated Oct 2022)
• Carlton Astoria is another mid-price option at Fürstenstraße 12, next to Antares and Leonardo.
• 🌍 King's Hotel Center, Marsstraße 15, ☏ +49 89 515830. Excellent place by the main railway station, saves you when you're stranded. B&B double €100. (updated Oct 2022)
• ibis Munich City, Dachauer Straße 21 (50 m north of King's Hotel First Class), ☏ +49 89 511930. Reliable Accor chain hotel 150 m north of the main railway station. B&B double €100. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Erzgiesserei Europe (formerly Top Hotel), Erzgießereistraße 15 (U-Bahn U1, U7: Stiglmaierplatz), ☏ +49 89 126820. This comfy four-star gets good reviews. With underground car park. B&B double €150. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Citadines Arnulfpark, Arnulfstraße 51 (Tram to Marsstraße), ☏ +49 89 9400800. Modern, comfortable and reasonably priced aparthotel. Parking is expensive, but that's inevitable this close to the city centre. Double (room only) €90. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 King's Hotel First Class, Dachauer Straße 4 (200 m north of main railway station), ☏ +49 89 551870. Clean friendly place a short walk to Old Town. Not to be confused with King's Hotel Center 100 m further west. B&B double €120. (updated Oct 2022)
• 🌍 Charles Hotel, Sophienstraße 28 (200 m north of main railway station), ☏ +49 89 5445550. High standards at this Rocco Forte luxury hotel and spa, facing the Old Botanical Garden. B&B double €550. (updated Oct 2022)