Visiting the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Germany
Whether you're in Munich on a hot summer day or on a cold winter day, visiting the Nymphenburg Palace should be on your list of must see things in Munich, Germany.
I happen to be in Munich during their winter season, so visiting the Nymphenburg Palace made total sense to me to stay inside and warm as much as possible.
Honestly though, if you have a choice on when to go, then I would recommend going in the spring or summer because their is so much to explore beyond the Palace and museums. The gardens are beautiful and they even have gondola rides on the central canal from April to October so keep that in mind. Plus during the winter the park palaces are closed.
The Nymphenburg Palace is an impressive and massive complex with lots to see so plan accordingly and take your time while there. The Nymphenburg Park covers an area of over 400 acres. It has four park palaces: the Amalienburg, the Badenburg, the Pagodenburg and the Magdalenenklause, but again these are closed during the winter.
Getting there
Getting to the Nymphenburg Palace is fairly easy by car and/or public transportation. I took an Uber to get there, but when I left I used the tram/metro to get to the Marienplatz without any issues. It was very quick and easy! Check out this link for more information on how to get there.
*Travel tip - download the MVG Farinfo Munich app it's a very useful and helpful app that helps you get around Munich. You can also pay for your fare through the app and has the current timetables for the buses, subway, S-Bahn and trams.
Once we got dropped off by our Uber, we made our way in through center of the palace where there is a large lake and fountain (which was not working at the time of our visit). We were greeted by a lot of geese, swans and ducks that were swimming in the water. At first, I wasn't impressed with the building. During my visit they were doing a lot of lawn work and restoration work on the outside of the palace, but once we got into the palace it was a different story though!
The admission fee for an adult combination ticket (includes museums and palace) is €8.50 during the winter. Children under 18 enter for free.
The Nymphenburg Palace is one of the largest palaces in all of Europe. Construction of the palace began in 1664; Elector Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy commissioned italian architect, Agostino Barelli, to build it. Over the years the palace was extended to what we see today. As you walk though the palace you can see the Baroque architectural style. The decoration of the palace is impressive to say the least.
We began our tour in the south wing of the palace at the Marstallmuseum (Museum of Carriages and Sleighs) and then made our way across to the Nymphenburg Porcelain Museum before making our way to the main part of the palace. The Marstallmuseum is located in what used to be the horse stables. Here you'll be able to see some of the most beautiful French Rococo style state coaches. It was really interesting to learn about the history behind them.
My favorite part of the palace was the Great Hall (Steinerner Saal) which is located in the center of the palace. The cool thing about this room is that is has remained unaltered since 1758. This beautiful hall is decorated in Rococo style and has huge ceilings that have some really spectacular frescos painted on them. The hall was cleverly designed with large windows to make good use of natural lighting. This hall truly shows the elegance of this European era.
Another interesting room that I enjoyed exploring was King Ludwig I's "Gallery of Beauties". The "Gallery of Beauties" is a collection of 36 portraits of women from all classes of society. King Ludwig I commissioned painter, Joseph Stieler to create a collection of portraits of beauty based off of the King's personal preferences. During this time period, beauty was thought to be a sign of external moral perfection.
In conclusion, I think the Nymphenburg Palace is a must see in Munich. It's a great way to spend a few hours before heading out to another one of Munich's attraction. I would definitely go back if I were there in the Spring or Summer season and explore more of this amazing place. Below are some photos that I took while visiting the palace.
Make sure you check back, I'll be posting my Nymphenburg Palace vlog here really soon. You can also see on my YouTube channel as well.
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