Tips · Germany
Munich in Spring: What to Prepare for March to May
Munich is liveliest May-September, beer-garden season. March-May normals, what to wear, the Glockenspiel, Neuschwanstein, transport, budget, checklist.
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The short answer
Late spring to early autumn (May-September) is Munich's liveliest time, when beer gardens are in full swing. March is still cool, with average highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C; April reaches highs of 15°C, and May 19°C.
Oktoberfest is an autumn event, not a spring one (18 September to 3 October in 2027). For a spring trip, plan around old-town walks, the English Garden and its beer gardens, and a Neuschwanstein Castle day trip.
March-May weather at a glance
The figures below are rounded 1991–2020 normals from Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), München-Stadt station. Each line shows average high / average low / monthly precipitation.
From March to May, average highs climb from 10°C to 15°C to 19°C and average lows from 2°C to 5°C to 9°C. Monthly precipitation is 61 mm in March, 56 mm in April and 107 mm in May.
- March: 10°C / 2°C / 61 mm
- April: 15°C / 5°C / 56 mm
- May: 19°C / 9°C / 107 mm
What to wear
March means highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C, so bring a warm coat and a scarf. April runs from 5°C in the morning to 15°C at midday, so a light jacket and layers work best. In May, with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C, one light outer layer is enough.
May's 107 mm of precipitation is more than March or April, so pack a folding umbrella. In the old town, Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, the Residenz and the Viktualienmarkt are all within walking distance, so wear shoes you can walk in all day.
Card payment is increasingly common, but some small shops, market stalls and beer gardens still prefer cash, so carry a little.
Good to know in spring: hours, sights and events
The Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall tower officially plays daily at 11 a.m. and noon, with an extra show at 5 p.m. from March to October, so a spring visit can include the 5 p.m. show; it is silent on Good Friday. Nymphenburg Palace is open daily with seasonal hours. For other sights, check each one's official information for spring opening hours before you go.
The English Garden is a huge park in the middle of the city with walking paths and beer gardens. In traditional beer gardens you may bring your own food (Brotzeit) as long as you buy your drinks there; tables with tablecloths and waiter service are the exception. Whether surfing is allowed on the Eisbach wave at the park's southern tip has changed since a 2025 accident, so check official information; swimming and bathing in the Eisbach are prohibited.
Check official information for spring events and festival dates before you go. Check official info around Easter, and note that according to the city of Munich, all shops except petrol stations and bakeries close on Sundays, so shop on weekdays or Saturdays.
Planning a spring itinerary
Munich suits 3 to 4 nights. The day-by-day route is in the first-trip post and the Munich travel guide's itinerary, so this section only covers what to keep in mind when fitting it into a spring trip.
- First day: if you follow the Glockenspiel at Marienplatz (11 a.m. and noon, plus 5 p.m. March-October) → Frauenkirche → Viktualienmarkt, avoid Sundays, when the market is closed.
- English Garden and a beer garden: after the Residenz and the Treasury in the morning and the streets of Maxvorstadt, pick the afternoon walk day after checking the weather forecast.
- Neuschwanstein Castle: entry is by guided tour only. Buy a timed tour ticket in advance from the official online shop (hohenschwangau.de), then take an early train to Füssen and a bus of about 15 minutes. The on-site Ticket Center sells same-day tickets only and often sells out by late morning, and photos and filming are not allowed inside the castle.
- Last day: tram to Nymphenburg Palace and gardens, then the U3 to the Olympic Park before heading to the airport. The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site (daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free, closed 24 December) is reached by S2 and bus 726; allow a separate half day, and the exhibitions are not recommended for children under 12.
Airport, city transport and daily budget
According to the airport, the S1 and S8 alternate, giving a train roughly every 10 minutes between the airport and the city, and the ride to Hauptbahnhof takes about 40 minutes. The airport is in MVV zone 5, so the Airport-City-Day-Ticket, valid all day across zones M-5 (from about €17.50, check official), is the easy choice. An airport bus also runs every 20 minutes between Hauptbahnhof and the airport, taking about 45 minutes (depends on traffic).
Munich's public transport is priced by MVV zone, and the city center is zone M. A single ticket starts at about €4.20 and a zone M single-day ticket at about €10.10, valid until 6 a.m. the next day. Buy tickets in the official MVV app or at station machines, and stamp paper strip tickets (Streifenkarte) in the validators before riding. S-Bahn services change on some days due to construction, so check official notices.
The guide's daily budgets are "about €90-120 per day - hostels, market and bakery food, public transport", "about €200-280 per day - mid-range hotel, restaurant meals, one or two paid sights" and "about €500+ per day - luxury hotel, fine dining, day tours (higher during Oktoberfest)".
Pre-departure checklist
Go through these points one by one before you leave.
- Entry requirements: check official sources such as the official EU website before travel
- Clothes: a warm coat and scarf for March, layers for April, a light outer layer and a folding umbrella for May, and shoes for long walks
- Neuschwanstein Castle: buy a timed tour ticket in advance from the official online shop (hohenschwangau.de)
- Transport tickets: buy in the official MVV app or at station machines, stamp paper strip tickets before riding, and remember the airport is in zone 5
- Sundays: shops and the Viktualienmarkt are closed; carry a little cash
- Events and Easter: check dates and opening in official information before you go
- Safety: check your government's current travel advice for Germany
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FAQ
When in spring is best for Munich?
Late spring to early autumn (May-September) is the liveliest time, when beer gardens are in full swing. March still has average highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C, so bring a warm coat.
What is the weather like in Munich from March to May?
In normals of average high / average low / monthly precipitation: March 10°C / 2°C / 61 mm, April 15°C / 5°C / 56 mm, May 19°C / 9°C / 107 mm.
How do I visit Neuschwanstein Castle in spring?
Take the train to Füssen, then a bus of about 15 minutes. Entry is by guided tour only, so buy a timed tour ticket in advance from the official online shop (hohenschwangau.de).
Can I see Oktoberfest in spring?
No. Oktoberfest runs from mid-September to early October (18 September to 3 October in 2027). Check official information for spring event dates before you go.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- Koko-en Garden · Drivephotographer / CC0
- Lisbon and the Tagus from São Jorge Castle · NorbertNagel / CC BY-SA 4.0