This is Munich for people who want more than beer halls and Bayern jerseys — though there's nothing wrong with either. Over three to four days, you'll move through one of Europe's most architecturally and artistically ambitious cities, tracing the obsessions of the Wittelsbach dynasty: the rulers who spent centuries turning Bavaria into a stage for their grandest ambitions. That means baroque palaces, world-class painting collections, and a couple of unforgettable day trips into the Alps.

Start in the old town, where Marienplatz anchors everything and the Viktualienmarkt gives you a working sense of how Munich actually feeds itself. Walk to the Asam-Kirche — a small, astonishingly ornate baroque church that two brothers essentially built as a private chapel — then climb St. Peter's tower for the roofline view. Dedicate a morning to the Residenz, the Wittelsbachs' principal Munich palace, and another to Nymphenburg on the western edge of the city. The Alte Pinakothek, Lenbachhaus, and Pinakothek der Moderne sit within easy walking distance of each other and together cover five centuries of painting, including the Blue Rider movement the city helped launch. The English Garden handles your breathing room. Then, on your final days, head south: Neuschwanstein is the obvious choice for a reason, and Linderhof — smaller, stranger, more personal — rewards anyone who makes it out there. This itinerary suits curious, moderately active travelers who move between high culture and open landscape without needing a reason to justify either.