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Food tours in Munich: what to eat and which tour to book
Munich eats Bavarian: white veal sausages before noon, crisp roast pork knuckle, Leberkäse in a bread roll, soft pretzels with obatzda cheese spread, and dumplings in rich gravy, washed down with beer from the city's big breweries. The beer garden is the heart of it: long tables under chestnut trees where, in the traditional self-service sections, you can bring your own food and buy only the beer. The daily food market, the Viktualienmarkt, sits next to Marienplatz. Munich is also an international city with good Turkish, Italian, Balkan and Asian food, especially around the main station.
Use this page to decide what to order and where: the dishes and areas below say what each part of the city does well and when the markets run. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the current price and details on the booking page.
What to eat in Munich
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| White sausage Weißwurst | Mild veal and pork sausage flavoured with parsley and lemon, heated in water and served with sweet mustard and a pretzel. Traditionally eaten before noon, and you peel off the skin rather than eat it. | Traditional taverns and butchers' snack counters; Viktualienmarkt stalls. | roughly €6–9 for a pair, pretzel extra |
| Roast pork knuckle Schweinshaxe | A whole pork knuckle roasted until the skin crackles, served with potato dumplings and dark beer gravy. | Brewery halls and beer gardens. | roughly €18–26 |
| Leberkäse roll Leberkässemmel | A thick slice of warm Bavarian meatloaf (finely ground pork and beef; no liver in the Munich version despite the name) in a bread roll with mustard. The city's standard snack. | Butchers (Metzgerei) and bakery counters all over the city. | roughly €3.50–5.50 |
| Soft pretzel and cheese spread Brezn with Obatzda | Large soft pretzels with an orange spread of soft cheese, butter, paprika and onion; the classic beer-garden snack. | Beer gardens and taverns. | roughly €3–5 for a pretzel, €6–10 for Obatzda |
| Roast pork with dumplings Schweinebraten mit Knödel | Slices of roast pork with crackling, gravy and a large potato or bread dumpling; Sunday lunch in Bavaria. | Traditional inns (Wirtshäuser) and brewery restaurants. | roughly €15–22 |
| Fish on a stick Steckerlfisch | Whole mackerel or whitefish grilled on a stick over charcoal; a beer-garden and Oktoberfest speciality. | Grill stands in larger beer gardens in summer. | roughly €10–16 |
| Shredded pancake Kaiserschmarrn | Thick, fluffy pancake torn into pieces, caramelised with sugar and served with apple sauce or plum compote. | Taverns and cafés; also at the Christmas markets. | roughly €10–15 |
| Munich beer Helles, Weißbier | Pale, mild lager (Helles) and cloudy wheat beer from the six large Munich breweries; served by the litre (Maß) in beer gardens. | Beer gardens, brewery halls and taverns. | roughly €10–13 a litre in beer gardens (more at Oktoberfest) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Viktualienmarkt
Daily open-air food market by Marienplatz with around 140 stalls: butchers, cheese, fish, fruit, spices and juice bars, plus a beer garden in the middle.
Elisabethmarkt (Schwabing)
Small, local market in Schwabing with produce, bakers and snack stands, plus a small beer garden; far fewer visitors than Viktualienmarkt.
English Garden beer gardens
The large park has several beer gardens, including the big one by the Chinese Tower; bring a picnic to the self-service areas.
Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz
Lively quarter south of the old town with modern restaurants, wine bars, cafés and international food.
Around the main station (Goethestraße and Schwanthalerstraße)
Dense area of Turkish, Middle Eastern, Balkan and Asian restaurants, grocers and bakeries; cheap and mostly halal.
Altstadt brewery halls
The big brewery halls and taverns around Platzl and Marienplatz serve the classic dishes. Touristy and loud, but authentic in menu and price.
Food tours in Munich compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munich: Viktualienmarkt Food Tour | 2.5 hours | from €43 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Munich: Beer and Food Tour with Dinner & Oktoberfest Museum | 3.5 hours | from €72 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Munich: Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Tastings, Beer & Pretzel | 3 - 3.5 hours | from €102 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Munich: Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour - Guided Tour in German | 2 hours | from €42 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Munich: Eat Like a Local! Food Tour with Beer & Dessert | 3.5 hours | from €89 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Munich: Authentic Street Food with Peter – Viktualienmarkt & Hidden Gems | 1.5 - 2 hours | from €19 per person | — | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
Munich: Viktualienmarkt Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Munich Walk Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €43 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 1,309 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Guide Walking tour Food tastings Hotel pickup (for private tour option only)
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.
Munich: Beer and Food Tour with Dinner & Oktoberfest Museum
On GetYourGuide · run by Radius Tours GmbH
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €72 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 1,206 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Munich: Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Tastings, Beer & Pretzel
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 - 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €102 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 188 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Schmalznudel – Munich’s famous fried doughnut Freshly baked Bavarian pretzel Weisswurst – traditional breakfast sausages with mustard Leberkäse – Bavarian meatloaf street food classic Selection of local cheeses Select…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Sebastianspl. 11, 80331 München, Germania
Munich: Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour - Guided Tour in German
On GetYourGuide · run by Servus Bavaria Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €42 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 15 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- An entertaining guided tour with a personal touch, passion, and humor Insider knowledge on current food trends and modern market stalls At least 5 tasting stations – fresh, innovative & delicious: Fine sausage special…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- We will meet at the fish fountain. Your guides will be wearing name tags and carrying bags with "Servus Bavaria Tours" written on them.
Munich: Eat Like a Local! Food Tour with Beer & Dessert
On GetYourGuide · run by Local Table
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 12 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Traditional weißwurst breakfast with a glass of locally brewed wheat beer Watch traditional Glockenspiel at Marienplatz Half of a freshly baked Leberkässemmel Shared cheese and charcuterie platter with a glass of mead…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- We meet in front of the Isar Gate (the side opposite to Hotel Torbräu). I will hold a green umbrella.
Munich: Authentic Street Food with Peter – Viktualienmarkt & Hidden Gems
On GetYourGuide · run by TourguidePeter
- Length
- 1.5 - 2 hours
- Price
- from €19 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 12 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- Depends on the selected option
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Munich's street food is butcher-counter food: Leberkässemmel, sausages and pretzels from Metzgereien and bakeries, plus market stalls at Viktualienmarkt. It's cheap, quick and eaten standing. In winter, Christmas markets add mulled wine and grilled sausages.
Sit-down meals
Taverns and brewery halls serve large portions of meat and dumplings at lunch and dinner. Beer gardens are relaxed: in self-service areas you fetch your own food and beer and can bring your own picnic; tables with tablecloths are waiter service only. Shared tables are normal; ask 'Ist hier frei?'.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Munich often focus on Bavarian classics such as pretzels, dumplings and Kaiserschmarrn, or on beer pairing. Beer tastings and brewery visits are a common alternative.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €35–50 (bakery breakfast, Leberkässemmel lunch, beer-garden dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €70–100 (two tavern meals with beer) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €160+ (Michelin-starred tasting menu with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easier than you'd expect. Spätzle with cheese (Kässpätzle), dumplings with mushroom sauce, Obatzda and pretzels are meat-free, and many beer gardens now offer vegetarian or vegan dishes. Watch for bacon in potato salads and dumplings and lard in gravies.
Halal: Good availability around the main station and in districts with large Turkish communities, where kebab shops, grills and bakeries are often halal. Traditional Bavarian food is heavily pork-based; ask before ordering.
Gluten-free: German awareness is good and allergens must be listed on menus. Pretzels, dumplings, breaded schnitzel, beer and gravies contain gluten. Some breweries sell gluten-free beer; ask staff.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Oktoberfest prices and tent reservations sold by resellers at large markups. Reserve tables only through the tents themselves; on weekdays you can often find seats without one, especially before noon.
- Being charged for an un-returned glass or jug deposit (Pfand) in beer gardens, or forgetting to reclaim it. Keep the deposit token and return the glass to the deposit counter to get your money back.
- Cash-only taverns and market stalls, which can surprise visitors who rely on cards. Carry some cash; card acceptance is improving but is not universal.
- Restaurants right on Marienplatz charging more for the view than the food. Walk a few minutes to the side streets or eat at the Viktualienmarkt stalls.
Top tours & activities in Munich
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Munich?
Service is included, but rounding up or adding about 5–10% is normal at sit-down restaurants and taverns. Tell the server the total you want to pay when they bring the bill, rather than leaving coins on the table. In beer gardens' self-service areas no tip is needed. Food tour guides appreciate €5–10 per person.
Why is Weißwurst only eaten before noon?
It's a tradition from the days before refrigeration, when the fresh veal sausage was made early and eaten the same morning. Many traditional places still serve it only until about noon. Eat it with sweet mustard and a pretzel, and peel the skin off; some locals suck the meat out of the skin.
Can I bring my own food to a beer garden?
In traditional Munich beer gardens, yes: the self-service areas (bare tables without tablecloths) allow you to bring your own food. You buy drinks from the beer garden. Tables with tablecloths are for waiter service and ordering from the menu. Clear up after yourself.
When is the Viktualienmarkt open?
It's open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and public holidays. Individual stalls set their own hours, roughly from 8:00 to early evening, and some close earlier on Saturdays. The beer garden in the middle opens in good weather. Check current hours before going.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about €35–50 covers a bakery breakfast, a Leberkässemmel or sausage lunch and a beer-garden dinner. A comfortable day with two tavern meals and beer is roughly €70–100. Prices rise during Oktoberfest, when a litre of beer in the tents costs noticeably more than in normal beer gardens.
Should I book food tours in advance?
Book several days ahead in summer, during Oktoberfest (mid-September to early October) and in the Christmas market season, when hotels and tours fill quickly. In other months a day or two is usually enough. Check that market tours don't fall on a Sunday or public holiday, when Viktualienmarkt is closed.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.