The Hofgarten is the free public garden beside the Munich Residenz. Enter through the Hofgartentor on Odeonsplatz and follow the paths to the Diana Temple. The garden makes a useful outdoor stop before or after the palace, with benches, gravel paths and covered arcades around parts of it. Munich tourism’s Hofgarten guide
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What should you look for in the Hofgarten?
Start with the eight arches of the Diana Temple. The paths line up with the openings, so you can see the shape of the garden from the pavilion. The bronze figure on top is a copy of Tellus Bavarica. The original is kept inside the Munich Residenz. Bavarian Palace Administration’s Court Garden history
Maximilian I had the garden laid out from 1613, and Heinrich Schön the Elder designed the pavilion in 1615. Elector Karl Theodor opened the garden to the public in 1780. The postwar restoration drew on the old path layout. The fountain machinery has its own visiting season, from May to the beginning of October, daily from 10 am to 2 pm during that period. Court Garden history, Munich tourism and fountain machinery hours
How do you get there, and is the garden step-free?
Take the U-Bahn to Odeonsplatz and look for the gate near the Feldherrnhalle. Odeonsplatz and Galeriestraße have step-free garden entrances. The approach from Marstallplatz is steep. The access guide also links to accessible parking and toilets. Odeonsplatz and the Hofgartentor and Court Garden accessibility
Where can you go next?
For a longer walk, continue east past the Bavarian State Chancellery towards Haus der Kunst and the English Garden. The Chinese Tower is a possible stop farther into the English Garden. For an indoor visit, the Bavarian State Library is up Ludwigstraße and lists its exhibitions separately from its reading-room hours. City walking connections