Marienplatz & New Town Hall
Marienplatz / Neues Rathaus
Munich's central square, where the neo-Gothic New Town Hall's clock tower stages a famous mechanical figure show every day, one of the best-known in Europe.
Marienplatz has been the heart of Munich since the city was founded in 1158. The central Mariensäule (Column of Mary), erected in 1638, commemorates the city's escape from destruction by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War. On the north side stands the neo-Gothic New Town Hall, built between 1867 and 1909. Its facade, nearly 100 meters long, is covered with statues and spires. The Glockenspiel on its tower has 43 bells and 32 life-size figures. At 11:00 and 12:00 (and at 17:00 from March to October), it performs the knights' tournament and coopers' dance from the 1568 wedding of Duke Wilhelm V, lasting about 12 to 15 minutes. An elevator takes you up to the town hall tower observation deck, about 85 m high (ticket about €6 to €7), with views of the twin towers of the Frauenkirche and the distant Alps. The Old Town Hall on the east side houses a Toy Museum. Beneath the square is the Marienplatz station for the U3, U6 and S-Bahn, the starting point for exploring the Old Town. Just to the south are St. Peter's Church and the Viktualienmarkt food market. The square is very crowded during show times, so watch out for pickpockets.
Opening hours
Square open all day; town hall tower approx. 10:00–20:00 (seasonal)
Nearby sights
- St. Peter's Church (Alter Peter)
- Viktualienmarkt
- Frauenkirche
- Hofbräuhaus am Platzl
- Odeonsplatz & Theatine Church
- Munich Residenz
- Asam Church (St. Johann Nepomuk)
- Karlsplatz (Stachus) & Kaufingerstraße