Munich has a lot to offer no matter the season. There’s Oktoberfest in the fall, Christmas markets in winter, fewer crowds in the spring.

But what about summer?

Summer is one of my favorite times to visit Munich. The weather is at its best and everyone is out and about.

Keep reading to find out what to expect and what to do in Munich in summer!

What to do in town

You won’t run out of things to do in the summer. Warmer temperatures mean this is the time for outdoor activities, but if you need a quick escape from the heat, there are indoor options as well.

Here’s a look at some of the best things to do in Munich in the summer.

Beer Gardens

Munich is nearly synonymous with German beer culture. Beer gardens were said to have originated in 1812, when King Maximilian I of Bavaria signed a decree permitting brewers to serve beer and food.

Summer is the best time to experience Munich’s beer gardens. Alongside beer, most will also serve traditional Bavarian dishes. Some popular options include:

Hirschgarten. The largest beer garden in Munich, seating over 8,000 guests.

Viktualienmarkt Biergarten. Located right in the historic Viktualienmarkt.

Chinese Tower in the English Garden. Located in the heart of the English Garden, it is the second largest beer garden in Munich.

Augustiner-Keller. My personal favorite beer garden in Munich, near the Hauptbahnhof.

Parks

Summer is a lovely time to be outside in Munich. Temperatures are high but for the most part not unpleasant. Some of the most popular parks include:

English Garden. There’s lots to see and do in the English Garden. Enjoy a beer at the beer garden next to the Chinese Tower, rent a small boat in the Kleinhesseloher See, take in the view from the Monopteros (Greek-style temple), watch the surfers at the Eisbach, or just have a picnic or sunbathe on the grass. (If the clothes-optional part of the English Garden is for you, more power to you.)

Olympiapark. The site of the 1972 Munich Olympics Games now offers a lot for the community, including a public swimming pool and fantastic views of Munich and, if you’re lucky, the Alps. Personally, I love ziplining across the stadium.

Nymphenburg Palace Gardens. You’ll need to pay to go inside the palace and the mini palaces that litter the grounds, but the actual park is free. Admire the palace from the outside and see if you can spot the swans as you walk through the extensive grounds.

Festivals and outdoor concerts

Munich’s most famous festival is without a doubt Oktoberfest, which takes place during the last two weeks of September.

But the party isn’t just relegated to the fall. There are lots of amazing festivals in and around Munich in the summer. Some notable ones include:

Tollwood Festival: Taking place in the Olympiapark, this nearly month-long festival includes concerts, side shows, and stalls where a variety of handcrafts are sold.

Kocherlball: In the 1800s, domestic workers would gather in the early mornings at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden to dance, before heading back to work. Since 1989, people dressed in 19^th century clothing and uniforms come every July to the same place to waltz, polka, and perform other traditional dances.

Auer Dult: If you love antiques, you won’t want to miss this festival. Flea markets, traditional food, and carnival rides collide in the usually sleepy Mariahilplatz.

Kaltenburger Ritterturnier: Every July, a medieval knights’ tournament takes place on the grounds of Kaltenburg Castle, a 45-minute drive from Munich. The castle is run by one of the heirs of the Wittelsbach dynasty, Prince Luitpold.

Landshuter Hochzeit: In 1475, George, heir to the Dukedom of Bavaria-Landshut, married Hedwig Jagiellon, daughter of the King of Poland. The medieval wedding celebration is commemorated every four years with an elaborate reenactment in Landshut, a 40-minute train ride from Munich.

On the Isar River

Many people have heard of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Fewer people have heard of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, which aim to safeguard the living heritage of the world.

One such cultural heritage? Timber rafting in Germany and other central European countries. Since the Middle Ages, wood rafts were created using specific skills and techniques and used transport people and goods.

There’s no better way to celebrate the time-honored tradition of timber rafting than by floating down the Isar River on a wooden raft. Staring outside of Munich, join friends and strangers as you make your way leisurely along the river with beer in hand and German music in your ear.

Where to cool off

Munich doesn’t get excessively hot, but if you want to beat the heat, there are a few places to do so.

Go to a museum. Most of the major museums are air-conditioned. The Residenz, the Alte Pinakothek, and the Deutsches Museum are among the most popular.

Karlsplatz. One of Munich’s most historic squares – it’s located right outside the medieval western gate – Karlsplatz has a huge fountain during the summer months. It’s a particular favorite for kids to run around in the water.

Surf the Eisbach. You don’t need to be by the ocean to catch a wave. On the south side of the English Garden is a standing wave where you can surf year-round. Knowing how to swim is a must.

Day trips

There are several day trips you can take from Munich. Many of them are even accessible via public transportation!

Historic sites and cities

There are loads of historic places around Munich that are worth a visit. Here’s a sampling:

Neuschwanstein Castle. My favorite day trip from Munich is to Mad King Ludwig’s fairytale castle. Easiest to access with this tour, which offers skip the line access.

Salzburg. Just an hour and a half from Munich by train, the Austrian town of Salzburg is famous as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music.

Nuremberg. 1-2 hours from Munich by train, Nuremberg has a long and rich history. It is best known as the site of the famous war crime trials after World War II and where the Nazis held their massive propaganda rallies.

Regensburg. An hour and 45 minutes from Munich by train, the historic center of Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Head to the mountains or lakes

One of my favorite things to do in Munich in summer is take a day trip to the Alps. They’re only an hour or so away by train but feel a world apart.

The Alps are a perfect place to go hiking, canoeing, paragliding, or rafting. Looking for a place to start your adventure in the Alps? Check out Bad Tölz and Lenggries.

If a more leisurely visit to the mountains is more your pace, you can still enjoy fabulous views from mountaintop restaurants. Hitler’s former Eagle Nest retreat at Berchtesgaden (open only during the warmer months) and Bayrischzell (a little over an hour from Munich by train) are both good options.

If a day by the lake is more your speed, Starnberger See is a popular retreat for Muenchners. Lake Chiemsee is another favored lake; for history lovers, it’s also the location of Herrenchiemsee, Mad King Ludwig’s answer to Versailles.

Where to stay

Germans don’t like air conditioning.

They think it makes you sick. I’ve literally had Germans turn off the air conditioning in a room I’m in as soon as they enter. Some of them have told me unironically that the summer cold they were suffering from was a direct result of being exposed to air conditioning.

What this means is…not all accommodations have air conditioning.

If I’m staying in Munich in the summer, I always make sure to book a place with air conditioning. It can get hot in the city and after a long day, the last thing I want to do is not be able to sleep because I’m in a stuffy room.

I’ve personally stayed in the following hotels and recommend them. They’re all located in the Altstadt (old town), and yes, they all have air conditioning.

Also, you may be sweating, so if you’re looking for laundry facilities, a couple of these hotels offer that as well.

Living Hotel Das Viktualienmarkt – Located right off the south side of the Viktualienmarkt, this modern hotel has 24 hour front desk, free mini bar, and laundry services. Apartment-style rooms (with kitchenettes) are also available.

Boutique Hotel Falkenturm – Located in an out-of-the-way street off Maximilianstraße, this hotel updated hotel offers small but cozy rooms. They use self-check-in but staff are available during the day and evening hours to help.

Koos Hotel & Apartments – City Aparthotel – Located within a 10-minute walk from Karlsplatz and the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), Koos is a modern hotel with 24-hour front desk. Apartment-style rooms (with kitchenettes and in-unit laundry) are also available.

Other things to consider about visiting in summer

Temperatures

Temperatures are at their hottest in summer in Munich. Averages temperatures are a high of 24 degrees C (75 degrees F) and lows of 13 degrees C (55 degrees F).

The summer months are the rainiest in Munich, with sudden thunderstorms being not unusual. I’ve seen people caught off-guard and get absolutely soaked through, as if they’ve just walked through a waterfall.

Daylight

Being in the northern hemisphere, daylight hours are long in the summer.

In June and July, daylight can be around 16 hours. Sunrise is a little after 5:00am and sets after 9:00pm on the longest days.

By late August, daylight goes down to around 13.5 hours, with sunrise around 6:30am and setting around 8:00pm.

Are you planning a visit to Munich in the summer? Let me know in the comments!