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Ninety seconds on Marienplatz
The Glockenspiel on the New Town Hall plays daily at 11am and 12 noon. From March to October a third show runs at 5pm, as of October 2026.
About 15 minutes for the full daytime performance. Crowds start gathering on the square up to 25 minutes before it, and the centre of the square fills up fast.
Yes. Two lifts take visitors to the top. As of October 2026 the tower opens daily from 10am to 8pm, with the last lift at 7.40pm.
306 steps lead to the viewing platform of St Peter's church, known locally as Alter Peter. The tower stands on Petersplatz, and the platform gives a 360-degree view of Munich's old town.
From 20 November to 24 December 2026, closed on 22 November for Totensonntag. As of October 2026 it opens 10am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 8pm on Sundays.
Watch the town hall's Glockenspiel act out a 1568 ducal wedding and a joust from the square below, then go up for the view: the town hall tower and St Peter's church tower both have platforms.
The long front of the New Town Hall fills one side of the square, and its tower carries the Glockenspiel. 43 bells ring while two tiers of figures turn.
The upper tier shows the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V and Renate of Lorraine in February 1568, and the jousting tournament held on this square to celebrate it. The lower tier shows the Schäffler dance, the dance of the coopers.
Every night at 9pm the Glockenspiel plays a short evening show with different figures. The night watchman and the guardian angel appear, and the Münchner Kindl, the child from the city's coat of arms, is sent to bed.
In front of the town hall stands the Fish Fountain (Fischbrunnen). Every Ash Wednesday the mayor washes the city's purse in it.
Book a slot for the town hall tower online before you come. Then stand in the middle of the square, facing the New Town Hall, for a daytime Glockenspiel show, and do not stand directly under the façade.
Afterwards, walk round to Petersplatz and climb St Peter's tower. Its platform takes a limited number of people at a time and is tight, so climb straight after the show or half an hour before one, never during it.
Then come back to the town hall at your booked time and go up its tower for the view over the square. On the way out, stop at the Fish Fountain in front of the town hall.
The square, the Glockenspiel and both towers need no guide. The inside of the town hall is shown on a guided tour, held on Fridays at 6pm and lasting 90 minutes to two hours. Book it online, which the city recommends, or at the Tourist Information office.
Climb St Peter's with a small bag or none, because there are tight gaps on the way up.
The Krampuslauf, a parade of hundreds of costumed devil figures, is on 13 December 2026.
During Oktoberfest, take the U3 or U6 from Marienplatz to Goetheplatz or Poccistraße. Poccistraße is quieter than the Theresienwiese stop and about ten minutes' walk from the festival grounds.
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