Marienplatz, where the main pedestrianised streets converge, is the undisputed centre of the city, and the location of the impressive town hall, the Neues Rathaus. Many of the city's main attractions are in the immediate vicinity, so sightseeing can easily be done on foot or by hopping on and off trams. Be sure to see the Stadtmuseum just south of Marienplatz, on the fringe of Munich's famous market, the Viktualienmarkt.

Nearby are some of the city's most impressive churches, including the cathedral, Frauenkirche, with its distinctive Italian Renaissance style onion domes. Also worth seeing are the 16th-century Michaelskirche, with its imposing barrel-vaulted interior, and the Asamkirche, considered a masterpiece of south German rococo architecture.
The oldest part of the city is just east of Marienplatz, including the Alter Hof (the original royal residence) and the world-famous Hofbräuhaus. The palatial Residenz complex lies to the north.

The wide boulevard and grand palatial architecture of Ludwigstrasse and Leopoldstrasse stretches north of Odeonsplatz to the Siegestor. These grand building schemes were commissioned by Ludwig I, as were those around Königsplatz, in the part of the city known as Maxvorstadt - home to some of Munich's most important museums and galleries, including the celebrated Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne - a fascinating gallery complex spanning art from late medieval times to the present day.

From the Siegestor, Leopoldstrasse forms the central artery of the popular district of Schwabing. The former artists' quarter is now considered the most fashionable part of the city, with numerous cafes, bars, restaurants and nightlife venues.

To the east of Leopoldstrasse, side roads lead off to the Englischer Garten, a quiet retreat from the busy city.

Munich Tourist Office
Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz 2
Tel: (089) 2339 6500. 
Website: www.muenchen-tourist.de

A second tourist information office is located in the Neues Rathaus, on Marienplatz. Both offices provide a hotel reservation service.

The Munich CityTourCard (available from selected hotels and ticket machines at rail, S-Bahn, tram and U-Bahn stations) entitles the holder to free travel by MVV transport in the designated area and to the castles at Schleissheim, as well as up to 50% reduction on admission fees to 35 attractions. Cards are available for one or three days, for both central Munich and the surrounding area. Cards for families or small groups (up to five people) are also available.