Food Lover's Guide to Munich

Host of the world’s largest beer festival, Munich has long been a mecca for beer lovers. But it isn't only Oktoberfest that scores fans—Bavarian food is some of Germany's most renowned. Here are some can't-miss dishes and food tours in Munich.

Must-Try Dishes

Nothing says Bavaria quite like a giant salted pretzel, brown and crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. These treats are often served with a white sausage known as weisswurst and a cold beer. Meat lovers will drool over schweinshaxe, a roasted fall-off-the-bone-tender pig knuckle, typically served with a potato dumpling, red cabbage, or another must-try side dish, sauerkraut. Spaetzle, Germany's answer to pasta, are chewy dumplings tossed with cheese and fried shallots. No meal would be complete without dessert, and in Munich, that's often apfelstrudel, a traditional strudel made with apples and apple mousse.

Must-Do Experiences

• Take a day or nighttime food tour to sample some of Bavaria's best bites.

• Go behind the scenes at a Munich brewery to learn how the iconic German brew is made.

• Join in the festivities during Oktoberfest in autumn.

• Cycle the city in the morning and sip a cold beer in the evening with a combo tour.