Rathaus-Glockenspiel

Watching the Glockenspiel show is completely free and requires no tickets. The carillon performs daily at 11 am and 12 pm throughout the year. From March to October, an additional performance takes place at 5 pm to accommodate the summer crowds. At the end of each show, keep an eye out for a small golden rooster at the very top that chirps three times to mark the conclusion. In the evening at 9 pm, a smaller, quiet performance takes place where a night watchman and an angel put the city's symbol, the Munich Child, to bed to the sound of Brahms' Lullaby. The show is entirely outdoors and accessible to everyone standing in the pedestrian zone of the square.

The square fills up very quickly, especially for the 11 am performance, so it is best to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early to find a good vantage point. For the best view of the upper and lower stages, stand slightly back from the town hall facade toward the center of the square or near the Fish Fountain. Since you will be standing still for about fifteen minutes, be prepared for the weather; there is little shelter from rain or sun in the middle of Marienplatz. Note that the clock is powered by solar energy but is still operated manually by staff who ensure the mechanism runs smoothly. If you want a higher perspective, the tower of St. Peter's Church across the square offers a great view of the clock at eye level.

The Glockenspiel is located at Marienplatz 8, the absolute center of Munich. It is the easiest site to reach via public transport as the Marienplatz station is located directly beneath the square. You can take any S-Bahn line from S1 to S8, or the U3 and U6 underground lines. If you are coming from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), any S-Bahn heading toward the city center will get you there in just three minutes. Tram line 21 also stops nearby at the Theatinerstrasse station. Because the entire area is a pedestrian zone, taxis and buses can only drop you off at the edges of the historic center, making a short five-minute walk through the shopping streets the final part of your journey.