Behind Munich’s Residenz palace, the Hofgarten is a formal court garden of gravel paths, clipped hedges and shaded benches. Its central Diana Temple, an open-sided pavilion, gives the garden a focal point and often draws musicians whose playing carries across the paths.
Laid out in the early seventeenth century under Duke Maximilian I, the Hofgarten reflects the Italian Renaissance style favoured at the Bavarian court. Arcades frame parts of the garden, while the Bavarian State Chancellery stands at its eastern edge. The result is a calm, orderly contrast to the sprawling English Garden nearby.
Come in spring for the flower beds or in early autumn for a quieter stroll beneath the trees. Summer mornings are a good time to find a peaceful bench before lunchtime visitors arrive. Allow time to pause at the Diana Temple, especially if a musician is playing.
The Hofgarten is free to enter and easy to pair with a visit to the Residenz or a walk into the English Garden. Odeonsplatz U-Bahn station is a short walk away, with connections on the U3, U4, U5 and U6 lines.