Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper)

The basics

The home of the Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian State Ballet—The National Theater Munich—is best visited independently to watch a live show. Alternatively, to learn about the building’s history and highlights, it features as a stop on multiple guided tours of Munich, including small-group and private walking tours. To speed up sightseeing, it’s also possible to visit The National Theater Munich on Segway tours, hop-on hop-off bus tours, or guided bike rides.

Things to know before you go

• The National Theater Munich is wheelchair-accessible and there’s a side entrance on Maximilianstrasse which has an elevator. There’s also a barrier-free bathroom.

• If watching a show, please be punctual as late arrivals won’t be admitted. You can enter the venue 1 hour before your performance is scheduled to start.

• Photo and video recordings are prohibited during performances.

• Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue.

• If you want to buy souvenirs, there’s an on-site opera store you can visit before the performance or during the intermission.

• If visiting with children, you can hire a seat pillow to help improve visibility for little ones.

How to get there

Most of the Bavarian State Opera’s performances take place at the National Theater Munich, which is on Max-Joseph-Platz. It’s easy to get there by public transport; you can get the #19 or #21 trams to the nearby Nationaltheater stop. Alternatively, get the S-Bahn S 1–8, or the U-Bahn U3–U6 to Marienplatz, which is a 5-minute walk away.

When to get there

The Bavarian State Opera organizes a jam-packed event calendar for opera, ballet, and concert events throughout the year in both matinee and evening slots. The afternoon performances are typically just after lunchtime and evening shows start between 5pm and 8pm. For special annual events, look out for the Ballet Festival (usually in April) and the Munich Opera Festival (usually June through July).

What to wear at the Bavarian State Opera

Don’t worry about putting on formal attire to attend a Bavarian State Opera performance. Despite being a formal venue, there’s no official dress code —organizers would prefer that guests feel comfortable for the evening. Unusual outfits, jumpsuits, and jeans are welcomed, as well as those who want to dress up in more formal outfits.