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This past August, I took my 15-year-old daughter on a girls’ trip to Paris and Austria before wrapping up with a few days in Germany. To be honest, we were there for the Eras Tour and didn’t really have much planned for our time in Munich. But we ended up taking a last-minute Third Reich Munich Walking Tour and really enjoyed it!
At first, it felt inappropriate to take a WWII tour in Germany. In 2023, our family visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and hearing about it from that side was a moving and educational experience. But what would it be like in Germany? Would I hear their “side of the story,” and did I even want to?
However, the reviews were good, and I quickly realized that this was an educational opportunity that Abby and I simply couldn’t pass up! So, we went in with an open mind and wide-open expectations. And I am happy we did because we were pleasantly surprised by how this Third Reich tour approached this topic head-on! In this Munich travel blog post, I am going to share all about the Third Reich Walking Tour we did in Munich, Germany.
Visiting Munich, Germany
Above all, we really enjoyed with city of Munich, Germany! We stayed at the Andaz Munich and spent a lot of time walking around and exploring on our own. It was fun to watch the Munich River Surfing, and we found the public transportation very easy to use!
We even got in a great biergarten and soft pretzels! I was surprised to see a group of high school boys at a table near us having beers. It turns out that the legal drinking age in Germany for beer and wine is 16. This is so different than our US culture! It’s even legal to drink beer and wine at age 14 with a parent in Germany. So, I did let Abby have a taste of my German beer in Munich!
Third Reich Munich Walking Tour
So, let’s dig into the Third Reich Walking Tour that we took while in Munich, Germany! We had a great guide named Josh and truly learned so much! Here is the exact Munich Third Reich Walking Tour we took:
There are a few different guides, and as you can see from the reviews, others also enjoyed this 2.5 to 3-hour Munich walking tour. We found it to be a great length and a nice slow walking pace, with numerous stops at important locations. It’s the most popular walking tour Munich has on Get Your Guide!
It meets at Marienplatz, right next to the public transportation. This is a great area to continue your Munich sightseeing before or after your tour. There is also shopping and plenty of food and drink in this area.
Why Take A Third Reich Walking Tour In Munich?
So, why take this Munich tour? I believe that what makes dark history even worse is when it’s ignored. I think acknowledging how terrible the Third Reich regime was and trying to understand what led to its power is very important.
This Munich walking tour did a great job addressing things head-on. It was evident that today’s Germans are typically as appalled as we are about these atrocities. I didn’t realize that for so long after WWII, people didn’t even wank to talk about it.
If you are considering this Munich walking tour for teens or school-aged kids, I think it is appropriate. It tackles some hard issues but is done tastefully. Out of respect for the other tour-goers, I would avoid taking such an emotional walking tour if you have small kids who might not be up for either the walking or the listening.
What We Saw On Our Third Reich Munich Walking Tour
You are probably wondering what you will see on this WWII tour in Munich, and the answer is a lot! From walking the gold-lined path that people took away from the Gustapo in quiet protest to standing in front of a bullet-laden building from the liberation, you will easily be able to envision yourself in these same places.
I could literally picture men storming down the stairs on that dark November night in 1938 on a mission to burn anything related to the Jews. Many of these businesses and property belonged to Jewish German citizens, too. It was surreal to know that this occurred right where we were standing!
Our tour had a great binder of large photos to show us as we walked along in downtown Munich. When we saw side by side the Munich of then and the Munich of today, it was almost surreal. We both got emotional on multiple occasions. And how can you not? This is such a significant subject. There is a reason this Third Reich Tour is one of the top-rated tours Munich offers.
On this tour, you will wind your way through the heart of Munich, seeing these places:
- Hofbräuhaus
- Feldherrnhalle
- Königsplatz
- Ewiger Flamme, or “Eternal Flame”
- and more
Standing in front of the Eternal flame memorial site was most moving to me. It is still just incredibly shocking to me that 6 million Jews and millions of others died during the Holocaust.
What I Found Most Interesting On Our Munich Tour
At the start of our Third Reich Tour, we stood afront an unassuming plaque. Josh translated it and told that it says, “On April 30, 1945, the US military freed Munich from Nazi tyranny.” It is a simple statement, but my understanding is that it was a powerful acknowledgment that was a long time coming. Josh told us that it took 40 years for the Germans to understand that and 47 years for them to say thank you.
Remember that not all Germans were loyal to the Nazi party, and many Germans suffered immensely as well. Many of the German-resistant members were not recognized or appreciated for even longer.
We also did not realize how long the Nazi party was brewing prior to WWII. Many used their “embarrassing defeat” in WWI to help gain support to show strength, and that would eventually lead to WWII. Likewise, it was interesting to hear about the pressure many German citizens felt to comply in order to remain safe.
I found it very interesting to hear about how important money was here. It baffles me that a handful of very rich men played such a role in this horrific movement. Our guide made a good point that without money, no idea, albeit good or bad, can become a reality.
Tips For Your Munich Tour
Make sure to wear comfy shoes and dress appropriately! Bring some water, too. This tour will take around 3 hours. So, if you take the mid-morning tour, make sure to have a hearty breakfast—plan to have lunch after the tour. Josh pointed us in the direction of a beer garden that was perfect for that sunny Summer day.
You also want to allow time to visit the Marienplatz square. This building is just so intricate!
Book This Third Reich Munich Walking Tour
If you want to book the exact walking tour that we did during our trip to Munich, here is the link: Third Reich & WWII Munich Walking Tour
You can use the following Get Your Guide widget to check availability. Most of the year, they operate just one tour per day, so I would book early to guarantee a spot!
More Europe Travel Tips & Inspiration
I hope you enjoy your Munich walking tour! The old town is so pretty and a starting point for many Munich tours. Honestly, there are also many tours in Munich that you may want to consider, including concentration camp tours (via day trips). Likewise, you can book private tours that focus on anything from Bavarian beer in an English Garden to bike tours, which are a great way to tour Munich.
Or, look online, and you’ll be able to find some free Munich walking tours and even a self-guided Munich walking tour map or two.
Click here for some more ideas for things to do in and around Munich, Germany!
If you are spending more time in Europe, make sure to read all of my Europe Travel blog posts. Or, you can use the menu to choose a particular county. Here are some general European travel tips that may help you!
- How To Plan A Europe Trip
- Top Europe Travel Tips
- Getting Into Airport Lounges
- Finding Europe Flight Deals
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