Munich surprises most visitors with how safe it feels. You can stroll through cobblestone streets at midnight, leave your phone on a café table while you grab milk for your coffee, and generally relax in ways that would make you nervous elsewhere. The Bavarian capital ranks as one of Europe’s safest cities, and that reputation holds up when you’re actually there.
But here’s what nobody tells you before you arrive. Safe doesn’t mean perfect, and knowing where not to go matters just as much as knowing your must-see spots. Some areas will drain your wallet without giving you anything authentic in return. Others might leave you feeling uncomfortable after dark. A few places are simply boring tourist traps masquerading as Munich experiences.
Let me walk you through the spots that locals skip and why you should probably do the same.
Places to Avoid in Munich
These locations won’t ruin your trip, but they might waste your time or money. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
1. Hofbräuhaus for Dinner (But Not for Beer)
Everyone’s heard of Hofbräuhaus. The iconic beer hall draws over a million visitors annually, and your friends back home will expect you to go there. Here’s the problem: the food ranges from mediocre to downright disappointing, and you’ll pay tourist prices for it. A schnitzel that costs €12 elsewhere suddenly becomes €22, and it probably sat under a heat lamp for 20 minutes before reaching your table.
The waitstaff can be borderline rude, which makes sense when you’re serving thousands of drunk tourists in plastic lederhosen every single day. Service is slow. The atmosphere feels manufactured rather than authentic. You’re basically eating in a theme park version of Bavarian culture.
That said, stopping by for one beer makes perfect sense. The building itself is impressive, the beer actually tastes good, and you can say you’ve been there. Grab a stein on the ground floor, soak in the scene for 30 minutes, then go eat somewhere that locals actually visit. The Augustiner Brewery restaurant on Landbergerstrasse serves food that’s twice as good for less money. Your taste buds will thank you.
2. The Red Light District South of Hauptbahnhof After Dark
Munich’s main train station area gets sketchy once the sun goes down, particularly on the southern side. This is where you’ll find adult entertainment venues, sex shops with pink neon signs, and a general atmosphere that feels distinctly un-Munich. The area isn’t dangerous by most city standards, but it attracts a crowd that includes intoxicated people, occasional drug users, and individuals who might hassle you.
Walking through alone late at night isn’t smart if you have other route options. The streets can feel genuinely uncomfortable around 11 p.m. or later, especially for solo female travelers. During the day, the area is perfectly fine, just a bit gritty and not particularly scenic.
If you’re staying in a hotel near the station, you don’t need to panic or switch accommodations. Just be aware of your surroundings after dark, avoid engaging with strangers who approach you, and consider taking a taxi back to your hotel if you’re out late. The actual train station itself is well-policed and safe, even at night.
3. Marienplatz Restaurants During Peak Hours
Marienplatz is Munich’s beating heart, and you absolutely should visit the square itself. The Glockenspiel performance is charming. The architecture is stunning. The energy feels quintessentially Munich. But eating at the restaurants directly on or surrounding the square is almost always a mistake.
These establishments know they have a captive audience of tourists who are tired, hungry, and willing to pay whatever’s on the menu. A simple meal that should cost €15 might run you €30 or more. The food quality doesn’t match the prices. You’re paying for the location, not the experience or the taste. Many of these places serve reheated dishes that were prepared hours earlier in bulk kitchens.
Walk literally two blocks in any direction from Marienplatz, and you’ll find better food at reasonable prices. The quality jump is dramatic. Those extra five minutes of walking will save you money and leave you actually satisfied with your meal. If you really want to eat near Marienplatz, check online reviews first and avoid anywhere that has menus in six languages with pictures of every dish.
4. Neuperlach After Sunset
This southern Munich neighborhood has struggled with its reputation for years. Past incidents of violence and theft have marked it as one of the few areas in Munich where locals actually exercise caution. The district isn’t constantly dangerous or anything close to rough neighborhoods in other major cities, but it has higher crime rates than the rest of Munich.
Most tourists have zero reason to visit Neuperlach anyway. There are no major attractions, no famous restaurants, and nothing particularly scenic. If you somehow end up there for work or to visit someone, just be more alert than you’d normally be in Munich. Don’t wander around alone after dark, keep your phone in your pocket rather than in your hand, and stick to well-lit main streets.
The daytime is generally fine, but there’s still no compelling reason to add Neuperlach to your itinerary. Munich has dozens of neighborhoods that are both safer and more interesting. Save your limited vacation time for those instead.
5. Tourist Ticket Sellers Near Train Stations
This scam specifically targets visitors who look lost or confused near transportation hubs. Someone approaches you, often dressed semi-professionally, and offers to sell you discounted train tickets or already-validated transport passes. The tickets are either completely fake, already used, or expired. If you get caught using one of these tickets, you’ll face a substantial fine from actual inspectors.
Real Munich transport tickets come from official machines, the MVG app on your phone, or staffed ticket counters inside stations. Nobody legitimate sells them on the street. If someone approaches you with this offer, just say no thanks and walk away. Don’t engage in conversation or try to negotiate.
Similarly, watch out for fake inspectors who flash convincing-looking badges and demand immediate payment for supposed fare violations. Real ticket inspectors never ask for cash on the spot. They’ll issue you a formal notice that you can pay later through official channels. If someone demands immediate payment, they’re running a scam. Ask to see their identification again, take a photo of it, and suggest moving to the nearest police officer to sort things out. Scammers will disappear immediately.
6. English Garden’s Isolated Areas Late at Night
The Englischer Garten ranks among Munich’s most beautiful spaces. During daylight hours, it’s absolutely worth your time. You can watch surfers ride the Eisbach wave, relax in beer gardens, or simply wander through one of Europe’s largest urban parks. The atmosphere is relaxed, safe, and thoroughly enjoyable.
After dark, though, parts of the park become pitch black with minimal lighting. Groups of young people gather in certain areas, and the lack of visibility combined with alcohol consumption can occasionally create uncomfortable situations. The park is massive, and if something did go wrong, help might be far away.
This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an evening stroll through the English Garden. Just stick to the well-lit paths near the main entrances and avoid wandering deep into wooded sections after 10 p.m. If you’re visiting in summer and want to experience the park at sunset, go with a friend rather than alone. The park’s popularity means there are usually other people around until fairly late, which naturally increases safety.
7. Sketchy “Authentic” Beer Gardens Far From the Center
Munich’s beer garden culture is legendary, and experiencing a real one should absolutely be on your list. The problem comes when you venture out to places that claim to be “undiscovered” or “where the real locals go” based on some random blog recommendation. Some of these spots are legitimately great. Others are just far away, difficult to reach, and not particularly special once you arrive.
Bad beer gardens typically share certain characteristics. They’re poorly maintained. The food tastes like it came from a supermarket freezer section. The atmosphere feels forced rather than naturally convivial. You’ll know within 10 minutes if you’ve made a mistake, but by then you’ve already invested an hour of travel time getting there.
Stick to established beer gardens that have been operating for decades. Places like Augustiner Bräu, Löwenbräukeller, and Viktualienmarkt’s beer garden have earned their reputations honestly. They’re accessible, reasonably priced, and deliver the genuine experience you’re seeking. You don’t need to travel to the outskirts of Munich to find authenticity. The best spots are often hiding in plain sight near tourist areas.
8. Overpriced Souvenir Shops in Pedestrian Zones
The pedestrian shopping streets near Marienplatz overflow with souvenir shops selling identical cuckoo clocks, beer steins, and dirndl dresses at inflated prices. These stores rely on impulse purchases from tourists who convince themselves they need a €40 decorative plate with “München” painted on it.
The quality is usually poor. That beer stein will likely chip within a year. The “traditional” clothing was manufactured in China. The chocolate costs three times what you’d pay at a regular grocery store. You’re essentially paying for convenience and location rather than value or authenticity.
If you want legitimate Bavarian souvenirs, visit the Viktualienmarkt for specialty foods or look for actual traditional clothing stores away from the main tourist corridors. Better yet, bring home local products like Bavarian mustard from a supermarket, high-quality pretzels from a real bakery, or craft beer from smaller breweries. These items cost less and represent Munich far better than mass-produced tourist kitsch.
9. Oktoberfest Accommodation Price Gouging
Oktoberfest itself is a fantastic experience if you go prepared and know what to expect. The festival runs for about two weeks starting in late September, and hotel owners treat this period like winning the lottery. Room rates triple or quadruple. A hotel that normally charges €100 per night suddenly wants €300 or more for the exact same room.
If you must visit Munich during Oktoberfest, book your accommodation six months or more in advance. Even then, expect to pay premium prices. Alternatively, consider staying in nearby cities like Augsburg or Ingolstadt and taking the train into Munich. The commute adds time but saves substantial money. Some travelers even stay as far as Nuremberg and day-trip to the festival.
Munich hosts many other festivals throughout the year that offer similar experiences without the insane crowds and prices. The Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) happens in April and May. The Tollwood festivals in summer and winter feature music, food, and beer in more relaxed settings. You’ll get the Bavarian festival experience you’re seeking while actually being able to afford it and enjoy it without fighting through thousands of extremely drunk tourists.
10. Restaurants with Picture Menus in Multiple Languages
This tip works in almost any city, but it’s especially relevant in Munich where tourist traps have been perfected over decades. When you see a restaurant menu displayed outside with full-color photos of every dish and text in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and German, walk past it. These establishments exist solely to extract money from tourists who don’t know any better.
The food will be mediocre at best. Dishes are prepared in bulk and reheated throughout the day. Prices are inflated. The experience feels completely sterile and transactional. You might as well be eating at an airport food court. Real local restaurants don’t need picture menus because they’re serving people who already know what Schweinshaxe is.
Look for places where the menu is in German with perhaps a small English section. Check if actual Munich residents are eating there, not just other tourists. Read recent online reviews from multiple sources. Ask your hotel staff for recommendations and specify that you want places where locals eat, not tourist restaurants. A little research saves you from wasting a meal on forgettable food that doesn’t represent what Munich’s culinary scene actually offers.
Wrapping Up
Munich deserves its reputation as one of Europe’s most welcoming and safest cities. The places I’ve mentioned here won’t necessarily ruin your trip, but avoiding them helps you experience the real Munich rather than the manufactured tourist version. You’ll save money, eat better food, and actually see how locals live.
Trust your instincts while you’re there. If something feels off or overpriced, it probably is. Munich has so many genuine gems that there’s no reason to settle for second-rate tourist traps. The best experiences often happen when you wander away from the guidebook recommendations and find your own favorite spots.
Stay alert, be smart with your money, and don’t be afraid to walk an extra five minutes to find something better. That’s how you get the Munich trip you’ll actually want to tell your friends about.
