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Munich guide

From the Maximilianeum to the Prinzregententheater: Munich's East Bank in Two Hours

A two-hour walk along Prinzregentenstraße on the east bank of the Isar: the Maximilianeum, the Bavarian National Museum, the golden Friedensengel and Villa Stuck. It suits first-time visitors who want Munich beyond the old town; avoid Mondays.

Most visitors never cross the Isar, and that is a pity. On the east bank the kings of Bavaria and a wealthy painter built on a grand scale, and the buildings are far easier to enjoy without a crowd.

This walk climbs from the river through Lehel and Haidhausen into Bogenhausen, following one long avenue. Five stops: a parliament seen from outside, two museums, a golden angel and an opera house modelled on Bayreuth's.

Maximilianeum

Start at the Maximilianeum, the long arcaded palace that closes the end of Maximilianstraße above the river. King Maximilian II began it in 1857, Friedrich Bürklein was its architect, and it was not finished until 1874. Since 1949 it has housed the Bavarian parliament, so treat it as a building to look at, not to enter. Take in the facade, with its arches, mosaics and rows of busts. Then walk north-west into Lehel until you reach Prinzregentenstraße.

Maximilianeum
MaximilianeumAttractionLook at it from the front and move on. The Landtag sits inside, and the historic rooms are open only on special open days, so don't plan on going in.Photo: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de

Bavarian National Museum

The Bavarian National Museum was founded by the same king in 1855, and its present building by Gabriel von Seidl went up between 1894 and 1900. Inside is the applied arts of Europe over a thousand years. Look for the carved figures by Tilman Riemenschneider, the Nymphenburg porcelain figures by Franz Anton Bustelli and the rooms of nativity scenes. Come out and follow Prinzregentenstraße east.

Bavarian National Museum
Bavarian National MuseumMuseumChoose one wing rather than the whole building: Riemenschneider's sculptures and the nativity scenes repay an hour. Closed Mondays, and open late on Thursdays. Some galleries have only just reopened after restoration.Photo: Fentriss, CC0

Friedensengel

At the far end of the avenue, a gilded figure stands on a tall column above the Maximiliansanlagen park. The Friedensengel was unveiled in 1899 to mark twenty-five years of peace after the war of 1870 to 1871, and the angel is a copy of the Nike of Paionios, the Greek goddess of victory. Walk up to the terrace at its foot, turn round and look back along the avenue you have just climbed.

Friedensengel
FriedensengelLandmarkClimb to the terrace by the column for the view back over the city, then walk on east along Prinzregentenstraße.Photo: Sirabder87, CC BY-SA 3.0

Villa Stuck

The painter Franz Stuck finished his house in 1898, classical outside and decorated by him in Art Nouveau style within. Villa Stuck is now a museum, and the house itself is half the exhibit. It reopened in 2026 after a long renovation.

Villa Stuck
Villa StuckMuseumGo in for the painter's own interiors, then see what exhibition is on. Step-free access. Closed Mondays.Photo: M(e)ister Eiskalt derivative work: User:Regi51, CC BY-SA 4.0

Prinzregententheater

The last stop is the Prinzregententheater, which opened on 21 August 1901 with Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Max Littmann designed it on the model of the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth. It stands on Prinzregentenplatz, a little further east, and it is still a working theatre.

Prinzregententheater
PrinzregententheaterTheatreAdmire the facade from the square. Inside is open for performances, and the theatre academy offers tours on request.Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0

That is the east bank: a parliament, a king's museum and a painter's house along one avenue, ending at a theatre. If a performance is on, finish the day inside.