The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs in the heart of Munich, now housing the Residence Museum, Treasury, and Cuvilliés Theatre. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. Current admission rules confirm all children under 18 are admitted free, more generous than the under-12 or under-6 thresholds common at many European palaces.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Residence Museum & Treasury: daily 9am–6pm (28 Mar–19 Oct), last entry 5pm. Closed only 1 Jan, Shrove Tuesday, 24/25/31 Dec |
| Ticket prices | Museum or Treasury €10/€9. Combined €15/€13. Cuvilliés Theatre €5/€4. All three combined €20/€16. Under-18s free |
| Address | Residenzstraße 1, 80333 Munich, Germany |
| Nearest transport | U-Bahn/S-Bahn Marienplatz, U-Bahn Odeonsplatz, or tram to Nationaltheater |
| Typical visit length | 2 to 3 hours |
Munich Residenz opening hours
The Residence Museum and Treasury are open daily, from 9am to 6pm between 28 March and 19 October (last entry 5pm), and from 10am to 5pm between 20 October and 27 March (last entry 4pm).
The Residenz is closed only on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday, and 24, 25, and 31 December.
The Cuvilliés Theatre keeps separate, more complex seasonal hours; from 1 August to 14 September it is open daily 9am to 6pm, but reverts to shorter, day-dependent hours either side of that window, so check the current period before visiting.
The Court Garden’s fountain machinery operates April to October, daily 10am to 2pm.
Five great things to do in Munich
- 🏛️ On a Third Reich walking tour – learn about the rise of Hitler where it happened.
- 🚂 Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial – by train from Munich.
- 🥨 Take a foodie walking tour – tasting 10+ Bavarian specialities.
- 🏰 Combine Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace – on a classic Bavarian day trip.
- 👻 On an evening walking tour – hear tales of Munich’s ghosts and spirits.
Munich Residenz ticket prices
A ticket to the Residence Museum or the Treasury costs €10 regular or €9 reduced. A combined Museum and Treasury ticket costs €15 regular or €13 reduced.
A Cuvilliés Theatre ticket costs €5 regular or €4 reduced. A combined ticket covering the Museum, Treasury, and Cuvilliés Theatre costs €20 regular or €16 reduced.
The Court Garden and its fountain machinery are free to visit.
Children under 18 are admitted free, and Bavarian students over 18 with a valid school ID are also admitted free, though this doesn’t extend to language school or “second chance” school students.
Tickets are sold at the museum cash desk or online; the Cuvilliés Theatre and full combination ticket are sold specifically at the Cuvilliés Theatre cash desk. Reduced and free tickets require proof of eligibility on-site, and tickets cannot be returned or exchanged.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
How to get to the Munich Residenz
The Residenz is in central Munich, close to Marienplatz, served by both S-Bahn and U-Bahn.
U-Bahn Odeonsplatz is also nearby, along with the Odeonsplatz bus stop and the Nationaltheater tram stop.
There is no dedicated visitor parking at the Residenz itself; the nearest option is the chargeable underground car park at the Nationaltheater (Max-Joseph-Platz).
Parking near the Munich Residenz
The Residenz has no on-site parking for visitors.
The nearest chargeable parking is the underground car park at the Nationaltheater, on Max-Joseph-Platz.
How long to spend at the Munich Residenz
Most visitors need 2 to 3 hours to see the Residence Museum, and longer if also visiting the Treasury and Cuvilliés Theatre.
A free audio guide, available in nine languages, is offered for the Residence Museum and Treasury, and can add useful context to your visit.
Accessibility at the Munich Residenz
The Residenz publishes detailed accessibility information for visitors with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments.
Pushchairs are not permitted in the exhibition rooms for conservation reasons, though free buggy hire is available for the duration of your visit.
Inside the Munich Residenz: what to see
Built up over centuries from the 16th to the 19th, the Residenz served as the seat of the Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings until 1918.
Highlights of the Residence Museum include the Antiquarium, one of the largest Renaissance halls north of the Alps, and the Ancestral Gallery and Porcelain Cabinet.
The Treasury displays the crown jewels and regalia of the Wittelsbach dynasty, including works by Renaissance goldsmith Wenzel Jamnitzer.
The Cuvilliés Theatre, a Rococo court theatre designed by François Cuvilliés, is renowned for its elaborately gilded and carved interior.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Bring your own water bottle, since only water in bottles up to 0.5 litres is allowed inside, and there’s no café within the Residenz itself. |
| Leave large bags at the free supervised cloakroom, since bags over 35 x 30 x 12 cm aren’t permitted in the exhibition rooms. |
| Download or collect the free audio guide, available in nine languages, to get the most from your visit. |
| Check the Cuvilliés Theatre’s specific seasonal hours separately, since its schedule differs from the main Museum and Treasury. |
| Leave dogs at home, since animals aren’t permitted inside the Residenz (though they can be kept on a lead in the Court Garden). |
Frequently asked questions about the Munich Residenz
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Munich Residenz suitable for children? | Yes, and children under 18 are admitted free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not required, though online tickets let you skip the cash desk queue. |
| Is the Residenz open on Mondays? | Yes, it is open daily, with very few exceptions. |
| Are large bags allowed inside? | No, but a free supervised cloakroom is available for bulky items. |
| Is the Munich Residenz wheelchair accessible? | Detailed accessibility information is published for mobility, visual, and hearing impairments; check the official website for specifics. |
Things to do near the Munich Residenz
Marienplatz, Munich’s central square, with the Glockenspiel and New Town Hall, is a short walk away. The Nationaltheater, home of the Bavarian State Opera, stands directly next to the Residenz.
Odeonsplatz and the Feldherrnhalle monument are a short walk to the north. The English Garden, one of the world’s largest urban parks, borders the Residenz’s own Court Garden.
Alternative attractions
Nymphenburg Palace, the Wittelsbachs’ former summer residence, offers a comparable palace experience with extensive gardens. The Schleissheim Palace complex, on the outskirts of Munich, includes three separate palaces with formal gardens.
Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II’s fairy-tale castle, is a day trip from Munich into the Bavarian Alps. The Deutsches Museum, Munich’s science and technology museum, offers a very different kind of large-scale collection nearby.
More Munich travel
Other Munich travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Exploring Bavarian beer culture in Munich.
- What to expect on a Third Reich tour of Munich.
- 19 reasons to visit Munich.
- Why it’s worth visiting the Museum Brandhorst in Munich.
- What to know before visiting the Frauenkirche – Munich’s cathedral.
