St. Peter's Church (Alter Peter)

St. Peter's Church in Munich, known to locals as "Alter Peter" (Old Peter), is the city's oldest parish church and home to one of the best viewpoints in town. Climb the tower right next to Marienplatz and you look straight down on the New Town Hall, across to the twin domes of the Frauenkirche and, on clear days, all the way to the Alps. The Baroque interior below is free to visit and well worth a few minutes too.

History in Brief

St. Peter's stands on a small rise called the Petersbergl, considered one of Munich's oldest settlement areas. A Romanesque basilica existed here by about 1225, and the Gothic church was consecrated in 1294. After a city fire in 1327 it was rebuilt and later remodeled in Baroque style. Heavily damaged by bombing in 1944–45, it was rebuilt by Munich residents from 1946, with the exterior finished in 1954 and the great ceiling fresco restored only in 2000.

What to See

• The tower climb: the tower rises about 91 meters (300 ft). A narrow staircase of 306 steps leads to a viewing gallery at about 56 meters (184 ft), passing the bell chamber with its eight bells.
• The view: the classic panorama of the Frauenkirche towers and the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall on Marienplatz, plus the Alps roughly 100 km (60 miles) away when the weather is clear.
• High altar: a Baroque altar (1730–1734) inspired by Bernini's Chair of St. Peter in Rome, with a late-Gothic figure of St. Peter. By tradition, its papal tiara is removed when a pope dies and replaced once a successor is elected.
• St. Munditia: the jeweled skeleton of this catacomb saint lies in a glass coffin, a striking sight for many visitors.

Tower Tickets and Opening Hours

As of October 2026, according to the parish:

• April to October: daily 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last entry 7 p.m.)
• November to March: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; weekends and holidays until 7:30 p.m.
• Closed on New Year's Day, Christmas Day and a few other holidays; short hours on December 24 and 31.
• Prices: adults €5, reduced €3, ages 6–18 €2, under 6 free.

Tickets are sold only at the tower entrance; reservations aren't possible. There is no elevator, and the stairs and platform are narrow, so the climb isn't suitable for visitors with limited mobility or a fear of heights. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.

How to Get There

The church is at Rindermarkt 1, just behind Marienplatz. Take the S-Bahn or U3/U6 to Marienplatz; from Munich Airport, the S1 or S8 gets you there in about 40 minutes. The Deutschlandticket is valid on all of these.

Is It Worth It?

Yes – for €5 it is one of the best-value views in Germany. Go up first to get your bearings, then explore what you've seen from above: the Viktualienmarkt right below, Marienplatz and its Glockenspiel, the Frauenkirche five minutes away, and the Hofbräuhaus and Munich Residenz about ten minutes on foot.