Why Visiting Nymphenburg Palace Should Be On Your List
Discover how to spend a couple of hours or a full day exploring Nymphenburg Palace during your next visit to Munich.
We love old palaces and gardens!
Which is why visiting Nymphenburg Palace was one of the highlights of our last visit to Munich.
The stunning interiors and extensive park surprised us in such a good way!
What is the Nymphenburg Palace? Simply put, it was the summer residence of the royals of Bavaria between 1664 and the late 1800s.
The size of this palace is massive, and the gardens are beautiful. Especially during the spring and summer.
The exteriors are quite simple, which contrasts dramatically with the ornate interiors.
If you like gardens, architecture, or history, then you definitely want to spend at least 2-3 hours in Nymphenburg.
How to Get to Nymphenburg Palace from Munich’s Center
One of the best things about visiting Nymphenburg Palace is its proximity to the center of Munich. It’s very easy to reach by Public Transportation.
We stayed in a hotel in the city center, which made it easy to take the tram.
An unexpected benefit of taking the tram was that we were able to see parts of Munich we wouldn’t have explored otherwise.
Depending on your location in the city, it can take 45 minutes to an hour to get to the palace by tram.
However, if you’re driving or taking a taxi, it takes around 15 minutes to reach the Palace Park.
Be sure to consider this when planning your itinerary.
The easiest way to reach the Palace is to take tram Line 17, which stops in front of the Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg stop). As an alternative, Buses 41 and 51 also stop nearby.
If you’d rather drive, the palace has easy access from major roads, like the A8 (Stuttgart-Munich) or the A9 (Nuremberg-Munich).
If you’re driving, free parking spaces are available at the Palace Park.
What to do at Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace and Park are huge, so a little planning goes a long way.
Depending on your interests and time of year, make time to visit the palace interior, explore the park, and the gardens, or both. It’s up to you.
Here are some tips for your planning.
Visiting the Palace Interior
Although the outside of the palace is massive but unassuming, the interior is breathtaking.
With a mix of architecture from Italianate to Rococo to Neoclassical, it is stunning.
The chandeliers, the frescoes, and the finishings have all been beautifully preserved.
If you want to understand and learn about what you’re seeing in the context and politics that defined the times, we highly recommend you use the audio guides. It made our visit not only more enjoyable but also exciting.
Visit the Nymphenburg Palace Park website for online tickets and information to plan your visit.
Tip
Order your tickets online to secure a timed entry slot. The palace is very popular, and in peak season long waits and sold-out days are common.
Explore the Gardens and Park
The park and gardens are stunning both in size and beauty.
It is beautiful during any season, in full bloom during Spring and Summer, with changing leaves during Autumn, and quiet during Winter.
The gardens at Nymphenburg Palace reminded us of Versailles in Paris and Peterhof in St. Petersburg. They were all designed to impress.
You can wander through manicured gardens, stroll alongside man-made canals and fountains, or hike through the adjacent forest.
The park is always open and free to visit. So you can visit the gardens and stroll through the paths at leisure.
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Museums and Pavilions Worth Visiting
There are other buildings and smaller museums around the Park.
Of special note is the Porcelain Museum, which provides insight into the porcelain workshops that were built right on palace grounds.
Another hidden gem is the Carriage Museum with a variety of old carriages and even vintage sleighs!
A Cozy Break at the Nymphenburg Palace Café
One of our favorite activities was breakfast at the Palace Cafe in the Palm House.
It was a great way to take a break during our visit.
We had pancakes and eggs, and delicious hot chocolate. Perfect for sharing with a wonderful conversation.
If your visit is later in the day, they also have light lunches, ice cream, and desserts perfect for a light break.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Nymphenburg Palace
Since we love exploring old castles and museums, we spent almost a full day at Nymphenburg Palace.
We didn’t explore much of the gardens or park as it was winter, so we focused on the indoor activities.
But the variety of activities offered means you can adapt the visit to Nymphenburg Palace to fit your interests and available time.
Nymphenburg Palace Park offers a beautiful blend of history and nature just minutes from Munich, and it’s a stop we highly recommend.
I hope you’re inspired to visit Nymphenburg Palace.
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