Bavaria's capital and gateway to the Alps: the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz, the Hofbräuhaus, surfers on the English Garden's river wave, the Deutsches Museum, BMW Welt. Day trips reach fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle, the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak) and Salzburg in Austria (Schengen — same visa). Oktoberfest in September–October, Christmas markets in December. MIAT flies Ulaanbaatar–Frankfurt non-stop, then it is from ~3 h 10 min to Munich by ICE train. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 13h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
#Alps#castles#Oktoberfest#museums#family#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel and the Frauenkirche
CityFree; Frauenkirche south tower €7.50 (children €3.50)Glockenspiel daily 11:00 and 12:00 (plus 17:00 March–October); tower Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 11:30–17:00
The heart of the city: the Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall tower, with 43 bells and 32 figures, re-enacts a knights' tournament and the coopers' dance. Steps away, the twin-domed Frauenkirche holds the 'Devil's Footprint'; its south tower looks over the city and, on clear days, the Alps.
FoodFree entry (a litre of beer at the Hofbräuhaus ~€11–12)
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goStart the Schengen visa early; book Oktoberfest stays and Neuschwanstein tickets early too.+
1
Schengen visa: German Embassy, VFS Global
Mongolian citizens need a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. Fill in the form online in VIDEX, book a VFS Global appointment and go in person to the embassy premises to give fingerprints. Fee €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus a 100,000₮ VFS service fee. Apply between 6 months and 4 weeks before travel; processing takes at least 15 days. If you spend the most nights in Germany, apply to Germany; the same visa covers Salzburg.
Tip: Buy the ticket after the visa is issued, or attach a refundable booking.
Medical insurance valid in all Schengen states with cover of at least €30,000 is mandatory. Attach a return ticket, hotel bookings, bank statements and an employment letter. Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months after you leave. The EES system records fingerprints and face at the border; ETIAS does not apply to visa holders.
Neuschwanstein is entered only with a timed ticket, and summer slots sell out weeks ahead — book on hohenschwangau.de (adults €21 + €2.50). Oktoberfest 2026 runs from 19 September to 4 October; hotel prices multiply then, so book half a year ahead.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityLand in Frankfurt with MIAT and take the train to Munich; via Istanbul or other hubs you land directly at MUC.+
1
From Frankfurt by ICE train
ICE trains from Frankfurt Airport's long-distance station (Fernbahnhof) reach Munich Hauptbahnhof from ~3 h 10 min (some change at Frankfurt Hbf). Book in DB Navigator or on bahn.de in advance for cheap 'Sparpreis' fares; Lufthansa flies in ~1 h.
Tip: Frankfurt is your Schengen entry point, so passport control happens there — leave 2–3 hours before your ICE.
S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run from Munich Airport to the centre (Marienplatz, Hauptbahnhof) in ~40 minutes. The airport is in zone M-5, so the 'Airport-City-Day-Ticket' (from €17.50, unlimited city travel until the next morning) is the best buy; there is a group version for up to 5 people. With a Deutschlandticket you pay nothing extra.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy and install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave: unlike a German SIM it needs no passport verification and works as soon as you land in Frankfurt. A Europe-wide plan also works in Salzburg (Austria).
Tip: Coverage drops in Alpine valleys — download Google Maps areas for offline use.
2
German prepaid SIM
German law requires Telekom, Vodafone and O2 prepaid SIMs to be verified with your passport — in store or by video ident in the app. Worth it for a long stay or if you need a German number; for a short trip an eSIM is enough.
🚇Getting around the city and BavariaS-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses all share one MVV ticket. There are no gates but frequent inspections — no ticket means a fine.+
1
MVV tickets
In city zone M a single ticket is from €4.20, a day ticket from €10.10, a group day ticket for up to 5 people from €19.70 and a multi-ride 'Streifenkarte' €18.70. Validate paper tickets in the blue machine before boarding; app tickets are valid at once.
Unlimited regional trains and buses for a day to Neuschwanstein (Füssen), the Zugspitze (Garmisch) and Salzburg: €34 for the first person, €10 for each extra, and up to 3 children aged 6–14 travelling with their parents ride free. Valid from 9:00 on weekdays and from midnight at weekends. Not valid on ICE trains.
A monthly ticket for unlimited local transport and regional trains across Germany for €63 (since January 2026), valid on MVV too. It is a subscription, so remember to cancel before the end of the month; not valid on ICE trains.
💳Money and taxes+
1
Card or cash
Most shops and restaurants take cards, but cash is still common in Bavaria: beer gardens, Viktualienmarkt stalls, Oktoberfest tents and mountain huts sometimes take cash only. Withdraw euros from bank ATMs (Sparkasse, Stadtsparkasse München); tourist ATMs charge high fees.
Tip: If the ATM offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose euros.
2
VAT refund (Tax Free)
Non-EU visitors who spend more than €50.01 on one receipt in one shop can reclaim the 19% VAT. Ask the shop for a Tax Free form, get it stamped by customs at the airport where you leave the EU, then collect the refund.
🍜FoodBavarian food is hearty, and sharing long tables in a beer garden is part of the city's culture.+
1
What to eat
Weißwurst (white sausage, eaten before noon with sweet mustard), Schweinshaxe (roast pork knuckle), pretzels, Obatzda (cheese spread), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded sweet pancake) and apple strudel. With children, schnitzel, chips and pretzels are everywhere.
Tip: In beer gardens you may bring your own food — just buy the drinks there.
2
Oktoberfest
In 2026 it runs from 19 September to 4 October on the Theresienwiese. Entry to the grounds and tents is free; weekday mornings give the best chance of a seat. With children, go in the daytime and head for the rides. Large bags are not allowed.
From late November to late December, Christmas markets fill Marienplatz, the Residenz courtyard, the Chinese Tower in the English Garden and more: Glühwein, roasted almonds, gingerbread and crafts, with rides for children. Crowds are big, so mind your pockets.
Police 110; ambulance, fire and mountain rescue 112 — free, 24 hours, answered in English. For non-emergency illness call the out-of-hours doctor service on 116117.
Pickpockets work Marienplatz, Hauptbahnhof, Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets — carry your bag in front. Oktoberfest beer is strong, so know your limit. Alpine weather turns quickly: check the mountain forecast and bring proper shoes, water and warm layers. The Eisbach and Isar have strong currents.
3
Hospitals and the Mongolian Embassy
The LMU Klinikum and TUM Klinikum rechts der Isar university hospitals have emergency departments. A pharmacy is an 'Apotheke'; a duty pharmacy is open at night. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact the Embassy of Mongolia in Berlin.
The Dachau Memorial is a place where many thousands of people were killed: be quiet and respectful, no jokey selfies, and think carefully before bringing young children. Showing Nazi symbols or salutes, even as a joke, is a crime in Germany.
2
Beer halls and Sundays
In beer gardens and halls it is normal to share long tables with strangers — ask 'Ist hier frei?'. Tables marked 'Stammtisch' belong to regulars. Shops close on Sundays and apartments stay quiet. Sort your rubbish and return deposit (Pfand) bottles to the supermarket machine.
3
Everyday contact
In Bavaria people greet with 'Grüß Gott' and say 'Servus' or 'Pfiat di' when leaving; 'Guten Tag' and 'Tschüss' work too. Germans are direct — don't take it as rudeness. In restaurants you pay at the table and say the total including the tip. Don't cross on a red light.
📱Useful apps+
1
Transport
MVV app — Munich routes and phone tickets. DB Navigator — the ICE from Frankfurt, the Bayern-Ticket, regional trains to Füssen, Garmisch and Salzburg, and delay information.
Buy timed Neuschwanstein tickets on hohenschwangau.de and Allianz Arena tours on allianz-arena.com. Google Translate's camera mode translates German menus and signs on the spot. For city events, Oktoberfest and Christmas markets, use muenchen.de.
The ICE from Munich to Frankfurt Airport takes from ~3 h 10 min and German trains are often late — plan an hour of buffer on top of being at the airport 3 hours before the MIAT flight, or stay the night before in Frankfurt. Allow time for the EES exit check and the customs stamp for your VAT refund.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. Carry Tax Free goods unopened in your hand luggage and show them to customs before check-in.
An open-air food market since 1807: Bavarian sausages, cheese, fruit and a beer garden. Nearby, the Hofbräuhaus is the famous 16th-century beer hall with a brass band, long tables, roast pork knuckle and giant pretzels. Children get soft drinks and food.
A city park bigger than New York's Central Park: surfers ride the standing wave on the Eisbach all year, the Chinese Tower beer garden, rowing boats on the lake. Great for picnics, cycling and playing with children on summer days. The current is strong — no swimming.
CultureCombined ticket €20 (16 Oct–31 Mar €16); free under 181 Apr–15 Oct daily 9:00–18:00; 16 Oct–31 Mar 10:00–16:00
The baroque summer palace of the Bavarian royals: the Gallery of Beauties, the room where Ludwig II was born, and the gilded coaches of the Marstallmuseum. Behind it a vast park with canals, swans and small pavilions — the park is free.
CultureMuseum €10; with the Treasury €15; free under 18Summer daily 9:00–18:00, winter 10:00–17:00 (last entry one hour before closing)
The Wittelsbach rulers' city palace, built over 500 years: more than 130 rooms, the long Antiquarium hall, a Treasury of crowns and jewels, and the rococo Cuvilliés Theatre. A half-day for a rainy day.
KidsBMW Welt and Olympiapark free; BMW Museum €17BMW Museum Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; BMW Welt daily
At BMW Welt you can sit in the newest cars and motorbikes for free. The bowl-shaped museum next door tells 100 years of car history. Across the road is the 1972 Olympic Park — tent-like roofs, a lake and a hill with city views. The Olympic Tower is under renovation until early 2027.
Kids€16; ages 6–17 €9; family €33; under 6 freeDaily 9:00–17:00
One of the world's largest science and technology museums: aircraft, a submarine, a mining tunnel, high-voltage demonstrations and the 'Kinderreich' for small children. On an island in the Isar; with children, give it a full day.
Kids€25; ages 6–13 €11; family €59; under 6 freeTours daily (changed on match days)
FC Bayern's glowing stadium: the dressing rooms, players' tunnel, the dugout and the museum of Germany's biggest club. Walk from Fröttmaning U6 station. Book match tickets early on fcbayern.com.
Culture€21 + €2.50 online fee; free under 18 (fee still applies)28 Mar–15 Oct 9:00–18:00; from 16 Oct 10:00–16:00; closed 24, 25, 31 Dec and 1 Jan
Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle, the model for Disney's. Entry is only by guided tour with a timed ticket — book on hohenschwangau.de weeks ahead. From Munich it is ~2 h by train to Füssen, a bus to Hohenschwangau, then an uphill walk. The best photo is from Mary's Bridge.
A 2,962 m summit reached from Garmisch-Partenkirchen by cog railway and glacier cable car, or by cable car from Lake Eibsee. Views of 400 peaks in four countries, with snow even in summer, and skiing in winter. Regional trains run from Munich to Garmisch; bring warm clothes.
CultureFree (audio guide and guided tours are paid)Daily 9:00–17:00; closed 24 Dec
The first Nazi concentration camp (1933–1945), where over 41,500 people died. The barracks, crematorium and permanent exhibition explain its history; visit with respect. Take the S2 to Dachau, then a bus. Not recommended for children under 12.
CultureBayern-Ticket €34 (+€10 per extra person; children 6–14 free)Trains from Munich every hour
Mozart's birthplace and the city of 'The Sound of Music': Getreidegasse, Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Mirabell Gardens — UNESCO. Austria is in Schengen, so the same visa covers it; bring your passport. Regional trains on a Bayern-Ticket are the cheap way there.
