A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sydney vs. Munich for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sydney or Munich?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Munich, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Sydney

Sydney is a glamorous , diverse, and energetic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. With stunning beauty, Sydney attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Sydney travel costs.

Munich

Munich is a bustling, high energy, and multicultural city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music. See Munich travel costs.

Sydney and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sydney or Munich?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sydney than Munich. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Sydney is very popular for its museums and attractions, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Munich attracts visitors for its music. Sydney is famous for its iconic buildings, world-renowned beaches, colorful nightlife, and cosmopolitan restaurants. It is also well known for the Sydney Opera House. Munich is famous for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles.

How is Sydney different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich and Sydney. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sydney or Munich?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Sydney on the map. The city is filled with iconic and world famous landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There's also the famous Royal Botanic Garden and the Sydney Tower Eye.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Munich. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

Is the Food Better in Sydney or Munich? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Sydney and Munich can be an enjoyable experience.

Dining out in Sydney is an experience not to be missed. There are international restaurants offering impressive dishes from around the world. You'll also find some local Australian favorites around town. Seafood is abundant, as are a number of Asian cuisines. Barramundi is a local fish that you'll find on many menus. Oysters, prawns, and John Dory (a local fish) are also popular.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Sydney and Munich.

The nightlife in Sydney is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The city is filled with nightclubs and DJ hosted dance parties. There's a huge young crowd that brings together residents, students, and backpackers in a vibrant nightlife scene. Some of the best areas for nightlife are Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Surry Hills or Darling Harbour.

Munich is a world class party destination. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Sydney is not a live music destination.

In Munich you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Sydney is not a live music destination.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sydney is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Munich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Sydney has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There's some good snorkeling and diving nearby with a diversity of marine life and interesting ecosystems. Some of the best snorkeling spots are at Palm Beach, Shelly Beach, and Clifton Gardens.

Munich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Beaches?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Munich is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Sydney are among the best in the world. There are more than 100 beaches near the city with everything from hidden coves to world famous destinations. Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in town and it has all of the tourist sights and activities that you could need. Surfers often head to Bronte Beach, which isn't too far away. Divers and snorkelers love Gordons Bay. Manly is also a nearby suburb with family-friendly beaches that can be reached by ferry.

Munich is not a beach destination.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Hiking?

Sydney is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Munich is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Sydney. The city offers a number of coastal and inland trails that are easily accessible from town. There are short paths as well as multi-day routes not far and pass by stunning landscapes and viewpoints.

Munich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sydney or Munich?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Munich and Sydney.

Sydney is a world class destination for shoppers. There's a wonderful mix of shopping streets, modern malls, and boutique vendors who sell local fashions. For souvenirs or local art, go to The Rocks, which is not far from Sydney Opera House. The Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade are also popular shopping areas.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Munich. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

Is Sydney or Munich More Beautiful?

Sydney is well known for its scenery and beauty. However, Munich is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Sydney attracts visitors from all around. The waterfront setting and grand buildings make this a truly beautiful city. It also has a lot of natural beauty with impressive beaches and nice green spaces.

Munich is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Families?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Sydney is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. The city has great beaches where kids can learn to surf, zoos and aquariums with local wildlife, and outdoor activities that take advantage of the city's waterfront location. There's everything from whale watching to visiting the Olympic Park, all of which will fascinate kids of all ages.

Munich is a very family-friendly destination. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Couples?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Sydney has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's a romantic city that's filled with iconic landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. There are also award winning restaurants and world class beaches. Wander around the botanical gardens or take a sailing cruise on the harbor. There is an endless supply of romantic activities to choose from.

Munich is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sydney and Munich are amazing places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Sydney is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. It's popular for its adventure sports, active beaches, and vibrant nightlife. While it's not a particularly cheap city to visit, there are plenty of hostels around town and no shortage of backpackers to hang out with.

Many backpackers frequent Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Students?

Sydney and Munich are amazing places to visit for students.

Sydney is a great destination for students. Students love the energy and plethora of outdoor activities in this beautiful city. Many international students come not only for the excellent universities but also for the diverse environment and many things to do.

Munich is a very popular city for students. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Is Sydney or Munich Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Sydney and Munich.

Visitors in Sydney can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. There are a variety of types of public transit in town including buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

Munich has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Is Sydney or Munich a more walkable city?

Sydney and Munich both are superb when exploring on foot.

Sydney is a very walkable destination. The city center and nearby suburbs are relatively easy to walk around. On the western side of the city, the suburbs are much less walkable.

Munich is very walkable. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Sydney Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Munich or Sydney?

How long in Sydney or Munich?

In either Sydney or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Sydney than Munich because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Sydney, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

Families should spend more time in Sydney than Munich. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sydney, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sydney than Munich. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sydney that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sydney than Munich if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sydney.

One day in Sydney or Munich?

Sydney is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the big city destination of Munich. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sydney or Munich?

Sydney is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Munich is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Sydney or Munich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sydney. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Munich. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Sydney or Munich?

Sydney is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the high energy big city of Munich. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Munich, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Munich much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific and Munich is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Munich would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Munich and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney than you might in Munich.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sydney Expensive? and Is Munich Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sydney or Munich?

Sydney has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Munich. When comparing the sizes of Sydney and Munich, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Sydney or Munich?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Munich has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sydney or Munich in the Summer?

Both Munich and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Munich this time of year.

Sydney is a little warmer than Munich in the summer. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Munich. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sydney. Sydney usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Munich during summer. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Sydney. In January, Sydney usually receives more rain than Munichin July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sydney or Munich in the Autumn?

Both Munich and Sydney during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sydney this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Munich for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In the autumn, Sydney is much warmer than Munich. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sydney in April average around 19°C (65°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (52°F)in October.

In the autumn, Sydney often gets more sunshine than Munichin October. Sydney gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sydney. Sydney usually gets more rain in April than Munichin October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sydney or Munich in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Munich. Many travelers come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Munich can get quite cold in the winter. In July, Sydney is generally much warmer than Munichin January. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 12°C (53°F), and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

In Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Sydney usually receives more rain than Munichin January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sydney or Munich in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Munich. Many visitors come to Sydney in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the activities around the city during these months.

Sydney is much warmer than Munich in the spring. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (53°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sydney this time of the year. In the spring, Sydney often gets more sunshine than Munichin April. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.

Sydney usually gets more rain in October than Munichin April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Munich and Sydney