The Munich Residenz was the city-center palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled Bavaria as dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918, and it is regarded as the largest inner-city palace in Germany. Growing from a moated castle (the Neuveste, 1385), it accumulated Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical wings over more than four centuries; it was heavily bombed in World War II and painstakingly rebuilt afterward. As of 2026 it operates as three ticketed attractions — the Residence Museum (about 130 rooms), the Treasury (Schatzkammer) and the Cuvilliés Theatre — and its location just north of Marienplatz makes it easy to fold into a walk through Munich's old town.
The Antiquarium: a 66-metre Renaissance hall completed in 1571, the largest of its kind north of the Alps, lined with antique busts beneath a ceiling of dense frescoes.
The Treasury (Schatzkammer): around 1,250 objects spanning 2,000 years of art history, including the Bavarian crown jewels and the celebrated statuette of St. George.
The Rich Rooms (Reiche Zimmer): dazzling Rococo interiors designed by François de Cuvilliés, awash in gilding and mirrors.
The Ancestral Gallery (Ahnengalerie): a golden gallery hung with more than 100 portraits of the Wittelsbach forebears.
The Cuvilliés Theatre: a jewel-box, four-tier Rococo court theatre in red and gold, entered as a separate, separately ticketed section.
Good to know
RulesThe Residence Museum, Treasury and Cuvilliés Theatre are sold as separate tickets or a combined day ticket (Gesamtkarte). Prices and opening/closing days should be re-checked on the official site just before your visit.
SeasonHours are seasonal: roughly late March–mid-October (summer) daily 9:00–18:00, and late October–March (winter) daily 10:00–17:00, with last admission one hour before closing. Summer mornings can bring long queues.
RulesClosed on 1 January, Shrove Tuesday (Faschingsdienstag) and 24 / 25 / 31 December. Under-18s enter free but should carry ID to confirm age.
MannersFlash and tripod photography are restricted indoors, and some areas such as the Treasury are stricter still. Large backpacks usually must be left in the cloakroom at the entrance.
SafetyPickpockets work the tourist-dense zones nearby — Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz and the U-Bahn/tram. Wear bags in front and keep your wallet and phone out of open outer pockets.
CautionBeware of people approaching with clipboard petitions or surveys, and of unlicensed guides or resold tickets near the sights. Buy only at the box office or the official website.
SeasonA full visit takes 2–3 hours across a large complex with stairs and long galleries, so wear comfortable shoes. Some sections have limited step-free access, so wheelchair and stroller users should check ahead.
Practical info
The nearest station is U-Bahn Odeonsplatz (U3/U4/U5/U6); Marienplatz (U-/S-Bahn) is also a 5–7 minute walk. The main entrance is at Residenzstraße 1, on the Max-Joseph-Platz side, and an MVV day pass or tram 19 makes the approach easy. Confirm current prices, opening hours and closure dates on the official website right before visiting.
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