U.S. News Insider Tip: Head to the palace late in the day to enjoy fewer crowds and a peaceful sunset in the beautiful gardens. – Christie Dietz

Located in the northwestern district of Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) was built as a gift for the wife of Elector Ferdinand Maria, Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, on the birth of their long-awaited son. Designed by Italian architect Agostino Barelli, who also designed Munich’s Theatine Church (Theatinerkirche), the Baroque-style palace was completed in the 1670s. Over the centuries, it was extended and embellished with Rococo and Neoclassical elements.

Highlights

There’s plenty to see, including King Ludwig I's Gallery of Beauties (Schönheitengalerie), a gallery featuring more than 30 different portraits of beautiful women from the royal court and Munich’s upper classes. At the Royal Stables Museum (Marstallmuseum), you can admire more than 40 horse-drawn carriages, sleighs and riding equipment owned by the Wittelsbach dynasty, who used Nymphenburg Palace as their summer residence. The highlight of the collection is the magnificent coronation carriage of Emperor Karl VII. In the same building, the Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain (Museum Nymphenburg Porzellan) displays the private collection of Nymphenburg porcelain from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

Outside, Nymphenburg Palace is surrounded by nearly 450 acres of sprawling grounds featuring English-style landscape gardens, sculptures and water elements. There are pavilions to visit, including the Badenburg, which houses what is considered to be the first modern-day heated indoor swimming pool, and the exquisite Rococo Amalienburg, which was built as a hunting lodge and private palace.

Recent reviews

Visitors recommend a trip in spring or summer when the palace's grounds are in full bloom; the forest walks are particularly pleasant in the warm weather. Reviewers reported spending several hours touring the interior of the palace, and another hour or two strolling the grounds.

How to get to the palace

The palace can be reached either by taking the S-Bahn to the Laim station and then the bus to the Schloss Nymphenburg stop, or the U-Bahn to Rotkreuzplatz and then the tram to the Schloss Nymphenburg stop. The palace is open daily, although there are abbreviated hours in the wintertime. Generally, the palace is open from 9 or 10 a.m. to 4 or 6 p.m., depending on the season. Note that the park palaces are closed during winter.

Tickets

Combo tickets that grant access to all of the palace complex sites start at 12 euros (about $13) for adults. Check the website for specifics on hours and admission.