The Munich Residence (Residenz München) on Residenzstraße, beside Odeonsplatz in the Altstadt, is Germany’s largest city palace. It was the seat of Bavaria’s Wittelsbach rulers from 1508 to 1918. Today the Residence Museum, the Treasury and the Cuvilliés Theatre occupy its wings, and visitors come for some of Europe’s finest surviving palace interiors.
The tour opens dramatically in the Antiquarium. This barrel-vaulted Renaissance hall was built in the 1560s and 1570s for Duke Albrecht V’s collection of antique sculpture. From there, the route passes through more than 130 rooms, including the gilded Rich Rooms, the Ancestral Gallery and the Reliquary Chamber. The Treasury displays the Bavarian royal crown and the jewel-encrusted St George reliquary statuette. Next door, the rococo Cuvilliés Theatre, where Mozart’s Idomeneo premiered in 1781, still hosts performances. Families should note that visitors under 18 enter free (Planet Whitley).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Opening hours: 9am–6pm from April to mid-October, and 10am–5pm in winter. Last entry is one hour before closing (Euro Landmarks).
Tickets: The combination ticket costs about €20 and the museum alone about €10. Confirm current prices on the official site.
Timing: Arrive at opening or after 3pm to avoid tour groups. Allow at least three hours for the full circuit.
Getting there: Take the U3, U4, U5 or U6 to Odeonsplatz, which puts you at the Feldherrnhalle and Theatinerkirche. Afterwards, walk through the free Hofgarten or head five minutes south to Marienplatz.
