Munich combines the best of both worlds: the lively flair of a big city and quiet retreats in the heart of nature. The city’s parks offer recreation and a change from the daily grind, inviting you to relax between wide meadows, shady forests and idyllic lakes.
In this article, we present a few of the most beautiful and diverse parks in Munich, which create a harmonious balance between urban life and pure nature – perfect places to leave the daily grind behind and recharge your batteries.
Nymphenburg Palace Park
The Nymphenburg Palace Park is one of the largest and most impressive parks in Munich and surrounds the baroque Nymphenburg Palace with majestic gardens and ornate ponds. Covering an area of around 180 hectares, the park combines Baroque garden architecture and English landscape design and is perfect for long walks. Highlights include the impressive central axis with fountains, the large lake with its small island, and hidden garden pavilions such as the Amalienburg and the Badenburg. The Nymphenburg Palace Park is a place where art and history come to life.
Chinese Garden
The Chinese Garden in Munich’s Westpark offers visitors an authentic taste of traditional Chinese garden design. This garden was created as a gift from Munich’s Chinese partner city of Beijing for the 1983 International Garden Show and combines typical elements such as artistically designed pavilions, curved bridges and an idyllic pond that radiates peace and harmony. The centerpiece of the garden is the “Garden of the Setting Sun,” which offers insights into Chinese philosophy and aesthetics through its symbolic details.
Hirschgarten
Munich’s Hirschgarten is not only the largest beer garden in the world, but also an idyllic park with a unique deer enclosure where deer and roe deer live. Originally laid out as a hunting ground for the Bavarian nobility, today the deer park offers a relaxed atmosphere with extensive meadows, shady trees and playgrounds. Visitors can sit under the chestnut trees and watch the animals while enjoying a cool beer – an experience that particularly appeals to families. The deer park combines typical Bavarian beer garden culture with the enjoyment of nature.
Bavaria Park
Bavaria Park is a small park with a long history near Theresienwiese, which is often referred to as the “green oasis” next to the lively Oktoberfest grounds. Originally laid out for the Bavarian State Exhibition in 1908, the park today offers a tranquil atmosphere in which to relax, with its old trees, extensive meadows and shady paths. Bavaria Park is adjacent to the Deutsches Museum Transport Center, which makes it particularly attractive for visitors interested in culture. A beer garden also invites you to linger.
Hofgarten of the Residenz
The Hofgarten, located near the Munich Residenz, is an elegant, historic park in the Renaissance style and offers a quiet oasis in the heart of the city. Originally laid out in the 17th century for the Bavarian electors, the Hofgarten captivates with its symmetrical paths, well-tended flowerbeds and the central Temple of Diana, where street musicians often perform. The arcades with their historic frescoes invite you to take a stroll and offer protection from the weather. The Hofgarten is not only an ideal place for a relaxing walk, but also a popular meeting place for locals and tourists who want to enjoy Munich’s historic atmosphere.
Olympic Park
The Olympic Park is one of Munich’s most famous and impressive parks, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. With its striking tent-roof architecture, the Olympic Lake and the famous Olympic Tower, the park continues to shape the cityscape to this day. In addition to the sports facilities, the Olympic Park offers extensive green spaces, hills and paths that invite you to take walks, go jogging or on bike rides. It is also a popular venue for concerts, festivals and sporting events. The Olympic Park combines architectural modernity with leisure activities and nature experiences, and is a place where history, culture and recreation come together perfectly.
Old Botanical Garden
The Old Botanical Garden is a green oasis right in the heart of Munich and offers a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Originally laid out as a botanical garden in the 19th century, it is now a popular meeting place and retreat for locals and visitors alike. The park is characterized by its venerable giant trees, well-tended flowerbeds and picturesque Neptune Fountain. Especially in summer, the Old Botanical Garden attracts many people seeking relaxation with its laid-back atmosphere and charming beer garden.
Englischer Garten
The Englischer Garten is one of the most famous and largest inner-city parks in the world and the green heart of Munich. It extends over more than 370 hectares from the city center to the north of Munich and offers an impressive variety of nature, culture and leisure activities. The park landscape is characterized by extensive meadows, idyllic streams, old trees and iconic places such as the Monopteros temple and the Chinese Tower, which is also home to a popular beer garden. The Eisbach, with its famous surfing wave, attracts athletes and spectators all year round.
Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden in Munich’s Westpark is an idyllic oasis that brings a touch of Far Eastern culture and aesthetics to the city. This garden was designed by Japanese landscape architects for the 1983 International Horticultural Exhibition and combines traditional design elements with a harmonious plant world. A small pond spanned by an elegant wooden bridge, stone lanterns and artfully laid gravel paths create an authentic ambience and invite you to meditate and find peace. The Japanese Garden is the perfect place for those seeking a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden in Munich is a true flower paradise and an oasis of calm. Nestled near the western bank of the Isar, this park is particularly impressive for its variety of rose species, which are in full bloom in summer and enchant visitors with their scent. Originally designed as a show and educational garden, the rose garden today offers not only a colorful backdrop, but also numerous seating areas where you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Ideal for romantic walks or a relaxing break in the middle of the city, the rose garden is a real insider tip among Munich’s parks.
If you would like to see more of Munich’s parks, check out our video “5 Tips in Munich: Beautiful Parks” on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. You can also find more information about Munich’s green side and other great sides of Munich in our following articles:
- 10 Reasons why you should study in Munich
- Munich’s Beer Garden Highlights: Our Top 10 Tips
- Adrenalin and Nature at its best: Sporting Highlights in and around Munich
