In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Three towers are open: Alter Peter (€5, 306 steps, no booking), the Neues Rathaus tower (a lift to 85 metres, a booked 20-minute slot, from €7) and the Olympiapark Skylift (€13). The Frauenkirche South Tower has been closed since 13 August 2026, when a break-in wrecked its lift, and no reopening date has been announced. The Olympic Tower is closed until about October 2027. The free views are the Monopteros hill in the English Garden and the Olympic Hill. Or book a tour: the city’s own two-hour Old Town walking tourad is from €22 (GetYourGuide) and takes in Marienplatz, the Neues Rathaus and the Frauenkirche.
The viewpoints compared
Prices are the adult rate from each operator.
| Viewpoint | Status | Price | Height or steps | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alter Peter | Open | €5 | 306 steps, no lift | No booking; the ticket is valid once |
| Neues Rathaus tower | Open | From €7 | Lift to 85 m | A booked 20-minute slot for 30 people; no backpacks |
| Skylift, Olympiapark | Open | €13 | 70 m gondola | Tickets only at the cash desk or machine |
| Frauenkirche South Tower | Closed since 13 August 2026 | 86 steps and a lift to 80 m | No reopening date | |
| Olympic Tower | Closed since 1 June 2024 | 291 m | Expected to reopen from October 2027 | |
| Monopteros, English Garden | Open, free | Free | A hill | The path has a slope over 6% |
Alter Peter
€5 · 306 steps · no booking · Marienplatz
Alter Peter is what Munich calls the tower of St Peter’s, the city’s oldest parish church. Its viewing platform looks over all of Munich and, on a clear day or in föhn weather, 100 km to the Alps. You can also see the eight bells at the level of the belfry, and watch them ring. The ticket is €5 (€3 reduced, €2 for pupils aged 6 to 18, free under 6), and valid once. There is no booking: you buy at the tower.
Marienplatz, the Neues Rathaus and the Frauenkirche from the Alter Peter tower. Photo: Herokk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Hours: April to October, daily 9:00 to 19:30, with last entry at 19:00. November to March, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:30, with last entry at 18:00, and Saturday, Sunday and holidays 9:00 to 19:30.
- Closed on 25 December 2026, 1 January 2027, Shrove Tuesday (9 February 2027) and Good Friday (26 March 2027). On 24 and 31 December it is open 9:00 to 14:00.
The Neues Rathaus tower
From €7 · lift to 85 m · 20-minute slots · Marienplatz
The tower of the Neues Rathaus is reached by lift, in a few seconds, to a platform at 85 metres, and the view takes in the Alter Peter and the Frauenkirche, with the Alps on a clear day. You book a slot on munich.travel or at the Tourist Information on Marienplatz. The slot is 20 minutes, with at most 30 people on the platform. Arrive punctually on the fourth floor, where the lift is in the passageway to the Prunkhof, and leave quickly at the end. Backpacks and large bags are not allowed, and the porter keeps them, with no lockers. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
The tower of St Peter’s, the Alter Peter, from the Neues Rathaus tower, with the Alps on the horizon. Photo: Muck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Hours: daily 10:00 to 20:00, with the last ascent at 19:40.
- With your booking confirmation you get the free city map and 50% off the official city guide at the Tourist Information.
- The Glockenspiel is on the same building, and Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel says when it plays.
The Skylift
€13 · 70 m · Olympiapark
The Skylift has four gondolas at the Olympic Action Sports Centre. An adult is €13, a child from 3 years to 1.40 m €8, and seniors, students and disabled visitors €11. The “On the Top” ride on the roof of the gondola is €16, takes up to six people and has no discounts. Tickets are sold only at the cash desk or the machine at the Skylift. It was back in service from 16 October 2026 after a season at the Oktoberfest. The Olympiapark page has what else is open there.
The Frauenkirche South Tower
Closed since 13 August 2026
Four men broke in overnight and wrecked the tower’s lift, and the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on 14 August 2026 that the tower remained closed for the time being. No reopening date has been announced, so there is nothing to book. When it was open, the climb was 86 steps of a narrow spiral staircase and then a lift to the viewing room at 80 metres. The cathedral’s nave is free and open daily from 8:00 to 20:00. The North Tower is not open to visitors.
The Olympic Tower
Closed since 1 June 2024
The 291-metre tower in the Olympiapark is expected to reopen to all visitors from October 2027, and its revolving restaurant reopens after the works. The tent-roof climb at the Olympic Stadium is not running either. See the Olympiapark.
The free views
The Monopteros hill in the English Garden is the free view in the centre, and the path to it has a slope of more than 6%. The Olympic Hill is in the free park at the Olympiapark. See the English Garden.
What to choose
What to skip: the two closed towers. The City Pass benefits list still names the Frauenkirche tower, which is closed. The order that works: for a first visit, take Alter Peter in the morning, before the Glockenspiel at 11:00 and 12:00, and book the Rathaus tower for the afternoon. In rain, the Rathaus lift is the dry one, and the Skylift is the way to see the Olympiapark.
Practical information
- Where: Alter Peter and the Rathaus tower are both at Marienplatz, which the S-Bahn and U-Bahn serve.
- Passes: the City Pass includes the Neues Rathaus tower, and the Munich Card takes 20% off it. See Munich City Pass or Munich Card.
- The one thing that ruins a visit: going up without a booked slot at the Rathaus. Alter Peter needs none.
Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel covers the square under both towers, and the Residenz is a short walk away. Free things to do in Munich lists the free views with the rest. What to book in Munich has the closed days for every sight, and 3 days in Munich places a tower in each day. For a bed with a view, see where to stay in Munich, and Munich public transport has the fares. The Munich old town walk climbs Alter Peter at stop 5 and passes the Frauenkirche.
Common questions
Which towers in Munich can you climb?
Alter Peter, the tower of St Peter's church, is €5 and 306 steps with no booking. The Neues Rathaus tower has a lift to 85 metres, with timed 20-minute slots from €7. The Olympiapark Skylift is €13. The Frauenkirche South Tower and the Olympic Tower are closed.
Is the Frauenkirche tower open?
No. The South Tower has been closed since 13 August 2026, when a break-in wrecked its lift, and no reopening date has been announced. The cathedral's nave is free and open daily from 8:00 to 20:00.
How many steps is Alter Peter?
306 steps to the viewing platform. There is no lift and no booking. The ticket is €5, valid once. You can see the bells at the level of the belfry, and on a clear day or in föhn weather the view reaches 100 km to the Alps.
Do I need to book the Neues Rathaus tower?
Yes. You book a 20-minute slot, from €7, for up to 30 people on the platform, on munich.travel or at the Tourist Information on Marienplatz. Arrive on time, with no backpacks or large bags: the porter holds them, and there are no lockers.
Is the Olympic Tower open?
No. It has been closed since 1 June 2024 and is expected to reopen to all visitors from October 2027. The Skylift in the Olympiapark is the paid view there.
What is the best free view in Munich?
The Monopteros hill in the English Garden and the Olympic Hill in the Olympiapark are free. The path to the Monopteros has a slope of more than 6%.
