Andechs Monastery

The Basics

Visitors explore the Andechs Monastery on a self-guided basis, usually focusing first on the pilgrimage church. While the monastery boasts a 1,000-year-history, the church was constructed in the 1400s before being remodeled in baroque style in the 1700s. View its onion-shaped spire before its Rococo interior: a swirl of frescoes and gilded columns. Afterward, head for the monastery’s centuries-old tavern to enjoy its home-brewed beer, traditional local cooking, and scenic outdoor terraces.

While many people visit Andechs Monastery independently from Munich, make things easy on a private tour that can cover both the abbey and the city’s highlights on an itinerary tailored to you. Choosing a tour provides the advantage of a guide for insight into Andechs’ history and door-to-door private transport to eliminate travel worries.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Andechs Monastery is ideal for history and architecture fans; plus beer and food lovers.
• Parts of the grounds and church are wheelchair-accessible, including the tavern and beer garden.
• On-site facilities include restrooms, a shop, and a parking lot with a children’s playground.

How to Get There

Located southwest of Munich, the Andechs Monastery is easily accessible from the city. S-Bahn trains depart regularly from Munich Central Station to two nearby towns—Starnberg and Herrsching—taking about 30 or 50 minutes respectively. Frequent buses to the monastery run from both stations, although some people hire cabs or make the 1-hour walk. Drivers should follow the A96 from Munich before taking Exit 31 towards Herrsching.

When to Get There

The Andechs church is open every day from 9am-7pm, while its tavern opens from 10am-8pm daily, excluding December 24 and 25; January 1, and Good Friday. Different opening times apply to the monastery shop. If you’re here for the tavern, arrive before midday if possible: indoor and outdoor seating, and parking spaces fill fast, throughout the year.

Andechs Monastery Highlights

While you’re at Andechs, be sure to climb the monastery’s onion-domed “zwiebelturm” tower. While there’s a small fee and the stairway is steep and narrow, you’re rewarded with fabulous countryside views that, on a clear day, extend to the Bavarian Alps. Conclude with your choice of monastery beers and dishes such as delicious pork knuckle on the tavern’s open-air terrace.