Munich’s Marienplatz (which translates to “St. Mary’s Square”) is the most famous square in the city. Located in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town), it is the best place to start a tour of Munich with many interesting things to see and do, and is within walking distance of even more must-see attractions in Munich. Here is how to start your trip to Munich at Marienplatz.
Story
Marienplatz dates from the 12th century and was founded by Henry the Lion, Duke of Bavaria. It used to be home to medieval markets, celebrations, and tournaments.
Various monuments were erected throughout the centuries, such as the Mariensäule in 1638 to signify the end of the Swedish invasion during the 30 Years’ War. And other changes, such as the renaming of the square from Schrannen to Marienplatz to plead with the Virgin Mary to protect the city from a cholera epidemic, also marked the evolution of the square. It remained a market until 1807 when the market moved to Viktualienmarkt. During the 1972 Munich Olympics, the square was turned into a pedestrian zone.
Today, the square is still in the center of the action and is a popular meeting point for locals and tourists alike.
How to get there
Marienplatz is in the center of Munich, in the Altstadt. The actual address is 80331 Munich, Germany.
It is well connected to the rest of the city by the S-Bahn (local trains) and the U-Bahn (underground) with its own stop: Marienplatz. On the S-Bahn, that includes the S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, and S8; while the U-Bahn connects via U3 and U6. The S8 leaves directly from the airport to Marienplatz.
What to see in Marienplatz
The first thing you see when you come to Munich’s Marienplatz is the impressive Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). It’s an elaborately decorated 300-foot-long facade with hundreds of statues, turrets, and arches dominating the plaza. Although the New Town Hall appears to date back to the Middle Ages, the building was built between 1867 and 1909 in the Flemish Gothic style. The New Town Hall is home to the city government and the Munich Tourist Office.
The Neues Rathaus tower houses the Rathaus-Glockenspiel. This watch has a show every day at 11am and noon. Hundreds of people gather in front of the tower to hear the Glockenspiel chime and watch the 32 life-size figures reenact Bavarian historical events. Look out for the golden bird that sings 3 times to mark the end of each show.
In the center of the Marienplatz, you will find the Mariensaule , the column of Saint Mary. Topped by the golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the plinth of the column has a figure in each corner that shows the overcoming of war, plague, famine and heresy of the city.
The Altes Rathaus (Munich’s Old Town Hall), located on the east side of Marienplatz, is the original town hall building dating back to the 14th century. In 1874, when the building became too small, the Munich municipality moved to the New Town Hall on the other side of the square. Completely destroyed in the Second World War, the Old Town Hall has been rebuilt according to the original plans in the neo-Gothic style and now houses the Spielzeugmuseum (toy museum) in Munich. The inexpensive and charming museum has a collection of unique historical toys from Europe and the US.
What to eat and drink at Marienplatz
As with most cities, this area can be quite touristy with higher than average prices and below average quality. That said, paying for the ease and atmosphere can be well worth it.
Also located inside the Neues Rathaus is the Ratskeller restaurant. It has the perfect atmosphere for a meal in Munich and offers all the Bavarian classics.
The Wildmosers restaurant offers a similar atmosphere and fairly cheap prices with tables right in front of the Glockenspiel in good weather.
The nearby Viktualienmarket is the main farmers market in the city with many fresh produce and prepared foods. The beer garden also caters for all the food and drink needs you may have in Munich.
What else to do nearby
Marienplatz is just the starting point for many other Munich attractions.
Munich’s main shopping avenues from Kaufingerstrasse start here.
The twin towers of the Frauenkirche define Munich’s skyline and are just a few steps from the square. It is the largest church in the city and presents rarities such as the Teufelstritt, the “Devil’s Pass”.
The English Garden is within walking distance and is the largest park in the city. You can rent a rowboat, stroll the wooded trails, watch the surfers, or visit one of its traditional beer gardens. Or you could get naked and enjoy the occasional sun.
At Christmas, Munich’s oldest Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) dates back to 1642. It stretches over the square offering handmade gifts and very cheerful presents. Listen to free Christmas concerts on the balcony of Munich’s Neues Rathaus.
