Munich 2022: Marienplatz and New Town Hall

Every city has a place from which distances are measured. In Munich— it is Marienplatz.

The square is a popular meeting place and is a Schelling focal point for Munich, just as the Grand Central Station is for New York City.

A must for every visit to Munich is the Glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall. With its 43 bells is not only one of the largest in Europe, but also is the most popular sight in the city. The figures dance daily at 11 am and 12 pm; between March and October, the carillon takes place at 5 pm.

The dancers’ six waltzes to four songs which change monthly. Around 9 pm each evening, the Glockenspiel plays Richard Wagner’s “Meistersinger von Nürnberg” and Johannes Brahms’ “Lullaby”, honoring a well-established Bavarian tradition of going to bed at 9 pm. (Just kidding!)

With its Neo-Gothic facade, the New Town Hall looks slightly older than it is. The initial construction took place between 1867 and 1905 after the neighboring Old Town Hall became too small for Munich’s city council.

There is an observation deck, which is the best publicly accessible viewpoint in the city. After the elevator takes you to the 85 meters rooftop, you will see the highlights of the city: directly opposite is the Alter Peter (church), on one side of the tower is the Frauenkirche (church), the Altes Rathaus (old town hall) and to the north there is the Italian-looking Theatinerkirche (church). On the good weather day, you will see the most…