The Hofbräuhaus in Munich is one of the most famous beer halls in the world and a symbol of Bavarian culture. Founded in 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V as the royal brewery for the Wittelsbach family, it originally produced beer exclusively for the royal court before opening to the public in 1828. Since then, it has become a beloved gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
The building you see today was constructed in 1897 after the original brewery was demolished. Its grand halls, vaulted ceilings, and traditional décor create an authentic Bavarian atmosphere. The Schwemme, the main beer hall, can hold more than a thousand guests and is often filled with the sounds of live oompah bands, clinking steins, and hearty conversations. Traditional Bavarian dishes—like pretzels, sausages, roast pork, and sauerkraut—are served alongside the brewery’s signature beers, still brewed according to the 500-year-old Purity Law.
The Hofbräuhaus also holds historical significance. It was a meeting point for political groups in the early 20th century, though today it represents Munich’s festive side rather than its darker past. Many Munich locals have their own Stammtisch (regulars’ table) here, and some even rent personalized beer steins kept under lock and key.
Today, the Hofbräuhaus is both a cultural institution and a tourist highlight, welcoming millions each year to experience Bavarian hospitality, music, food, and, of course, beer in the heart of the city.
A visit to Munich offers a captivating blend of traditional Bavarian culture and a bustling modern city, where you’ll find eclectic architecture, plenty of green spaces and of course, one of the most celebrated beer scenes in the world. There is so much to see in Munich’s charming Old Town that our half-day private tour is a great way to make the most of your time in the city, embarking on a well-planned route around the most important sites to help you peel back the layers of the city’s past and get a feel for what makes it such a worthwhile stop on any European adventure.
On your half-day private tour, you will:
Discover Munich in depth on a private half-day walking tour that brings the Bavarian capital’s layered history vividly to life. Over the course of your time together, your expert local guide will lead you on a journey through the city’s medieval beginnings, royal grandeur, and turbulent 20th-century chapters, as well as the cultural traditions that still shape everyday life. The tour begins in Marienplatz, Munich’s historic heart, where the neo-Gothic spires of the New Town Hall dominate the square. Here, you’ll step inside the building to admire its ornate interiors and, if timing allows, watch the famous Glockenspiel chime and whirl above. You will then make your way into the Frauenkirche to explore its vast, light-filled nave and hear the enduring legend of the ‘Devil’s Footstep’ hidden in the stone floor.
As you make your way through the Old Town, your guide will draw connections between the elegant architecture and the events that have unfolded here. At Odeonsplatz, the grandeur of Munich’s neoclassical buildings is underscored by the memory of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, while the quiet Viscardigasse pays tribute to those who quietly resisted Nazi rule. The leafy Hofgarten offers a moment of serenity before the imposing Residenz Palace recalls the power and opulence of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Heading further back in time, you’ll pause at the Isartor, one of the city’s medieval gates, where original 14th-century frescoes survive. The route also brings you past the Oktoberfest museum, celebrating Munich’s world-famous festival, and inside the Hofbräuhaus itself to soak up the atmosphere of the world’s most iconic beer hall.
No orientation to Munich would be complete without a stroll through the Viktualienmarkt, where colourful produce stalls offer flowers, spices and traditional German treats. From there, the tour explores the New Jewish Quarter, home to a striking synagogue and cultural centre that symbolise the resilience and renewal of Munich’s Jewish community. Last but certainly not least, you’ll discover the exquisite Asamkirche, a jewel of Bavarian Baroque often considered one of Europe’s most beautiful churches.
By the end of this intriguing itinerary, you’ll not only have seen Munich’s most important landmarks but also gained a deeper understanding of the threads that have shaped the city across the centuries, ideal for travellers seeking a rich and nuanced introduction to Munich.
Munich is closely associated with the origins of National Socialism and with Adolf Hitler, who became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in 1921 and lived in the city throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, until he became Chancellor in 1933. Munich would serve as both his personal base and the headquarters of the Nazi party during its formative years and was dubbed the "Capital of the Movement" (Hauptstadt der Bewegung). On our private half-day history tour, you will delve into this turbulent chapter of Munich’s history, visiting important sites related to Hitler and National Socialism, learning about the circumstances around the movement’s rise to power, and uncovering the stories behind those who resisted them.
On this 3-hour private tour, you will:
Over the course of your time together, your guide, a local well-versed in Munich’s history, will lead you on a thoughtful private journey through the places where the Nazi Party emerged, rose to power, and left a lasting imprint on Munich’s identity.
The tour begins in Marienplatz, the city’s historic heart, where you’ll hear how the destruction and disillusionment that followed World War I turned Munich into a hotbed of political unrest. At the Alter Hof, once a medieval royal palace, you’ll learn about Adolf Hitler’s first years in the city as a struggling painter before his radicalisation in the aftermath of the war. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Sterneckerbräu, the beer hall where the German Workers’ Party was founded, and your guide will explain how this modest movement would evolve into the Nazi Party.
Nearby, the Hofbräuhaus reveals another part of the story: this world-famous beer hall was not only a social hub but also a meeting place for early National Socialist gatherings and the birthplace of the SA. At Odeonsplatz, you’ll retrace the route of the infamous Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, Hitler’s failed coup attempt that ended in bloodshed on this very square. From there, your guide will lead you into the Viscardigasse to tell a very different side of Munich’s story. You’ll learn how this unassuming alleyway became a discreet path of resistance for citizens unwilling to salute Nazi monuments.
As the walk continues, you’ll pause at the Square for the Victims of National Socialism, a solemn site of remembrance, before arriving at the Führerbau on Königsplatz. Once Hitler’s Munich headquarters, this is the site of the signing of the 1938 Munich Agreement, where Britain and France signed off on German plans to annexe the Sudetenland, thus emboldening Hitler to continue on his expansionist path. Your guide will illustrate how the building stands as a stark example of Nazi monumental architecture, and how it has since been repurposed as the University of Music and Performing Arts.
On Königsplatz itself, you’ll see how the neoclassical square that once staged Nazi rallies has been reshaped for modern Munich, a striking example of the city’s ongoing effort to confront its past. The tour concludes at the book burning memorial, a poignant reminder of how National Socialism sought to erase ideas and voices it feared, and how today’s Munich reflects openly on these events.
More than just a walk through history, this experience offers a nuanced exploration of how National Socialism took root in Munich, the impact it had on the city and the world, and the ways Munich has reckoned with its legacy in the decades since. For travellers with a deep interest in 20th-century history, it is both an orientation to key sites and an invitation to reflect on the lessons they hold today.
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