A day in Munich

Munich, Germany

Dawn - Nymphenburg palace gardens

Pale light lies cold on the manicured lawns here. I cross the gardens toward Schloss Nymphenburg, small under the Baroque palace. This summer residence of the Wittelsbach family sits in vast gardens, a peaceful escape from the city centre.

Morning - Ludwigstraße university avenue

Stone fronts rise in even rows along the wide avenue. I stroll toward the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, small before the main campus. Ludwigstraße runs north from the centre as a showcase of Neo-Romanesque and Renaissance architecture, with St Ludwig's Church beside the university.

Midday - Residenz palace courtyard

Warm sun falls across the courtyard stone. I cross between the wings of the Residenz, small under the palace walls. The Residenz was the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs and remains a sprawling complex of museums and courtyards.

Afternoon - Odeonsplatz

Open air moves cool across the wide paving of the square. I cross Odeonsplatz, a small figure in the gateway to the city. The Feldherrnhalle and the ornate Theatinerkirche stand here, reflecting Munich's deep architectural ties to the Italian Renaissance.

Afternoon - Königsplatz monuments

A cool wind crosses the open square at the end of the royal promenade. I pass the monuments of Königsplatz, small among the stone. Briennerstraße, lined with galleries, cafés and boutiques, leads here past the black obelisk that honours the Bavarian Army.

Afternoon - Deutsches Museum island

River water sounds against the island bank. I approach the Deutsches Museum, small beside the Isar and the long building. It is the largest museum of science and technology in the world, with exhibits from mining and shipping to aerospace.

Golden Hour - Nymphenburg garden canals

Gold light sits warm on the canal water. I follow the garden canals in a navy dirndl, small in the long landscape. Schloss Nymphenburg's gardens and canals show the sheer scale of Bavarian royal ambition, a peaceful escape from the centre.

Night - Frauenkirche twin domes

Cold stone underfoot meets the open square. I cross beneath the Frauenkirche in my dirndl, tiny under the twin domes. The Cathedral of Our Dear Lady defines the city skyline and stands a short walk from the New Town Hall in Marienplatz.

Night - Neues Rathaus

Bells sound clear from the lit Gothic Revival hall above me. I watch the glockenspiel in my dirndl, small before the New Town Hall. It performs daily in bustling Marienplatz, a short walk from the Cathedral of Our Dear Lady.