Weihenstephan

Brewing on the same hill for centuries

Weihenstephan is a hill above the Isar river town of Freising, north of Munich. It's home to the Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, a brewery that has operated for nearly 1,000 years and claims the title of oldest in the world. Its roots are in a Benedictine abbey on the hill. The state owns it and it brews 16 beers, including wheat beers, a helles and a dark lager. Visitors can book a guided tour with a tasting on certain weekdays or skip the tour and sit in the Bräustüberl. A visit fits easily into half a day from Munich, since Freising is on the S1 line.

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Brewery in Germany

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Safety: 8.8

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4/5

In Weihenstephan, most locals speak basic English, especially around the brewery and tourist sites. However, deeper conversations often require German; having a phrasebook or translation app helps bridge gaps.

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Last update: 22 Oct 2026

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Weihenstephan Summary

World-renowned for historic brewing. Tour brewery facilities, taste traditional beers and learn about centuries of brewing history.

Germany – Quick facts

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Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cards are widely accepted, especially in urban areas, but small establishments may prefer cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in restaurants, typically 5-10%. For taxis, it is customary to round up to the nearest euro. Tipping in cash is more common than adding it to card payments.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in most parts of Germany, especially in beer gardens and public events, but some local regulations may restrict it in specific areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public places such as restaurants, trains, and buses. Designated smoking areas are available outside many buildings.

Oktoberfest (September)	Huge crowds in Munich. Expect high hotel rates and crowded transport.
Christmas (December)	Christmas markets are popular, expect crowded cities and higher prices.
Labour Day (May)	Many shops are closed, and there are celebrations throughout the country.

Emergency contact:	Police: 110, Emergency Number: 112 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Free Now, myTaxi
Other:	Germany is well-equipped for tourists, with good public transport and high-quality facilities. However, be prepared for language barriers in some rural areas.

Best times to travel

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for Weihenstephan, Germany

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High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.

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Climate details

Beer garden season roughly May to September, brewery tours and tastings by advance booking

Don't miss

🍺 Tour the world's oldest brewery, Weihenstephaner
🥨 Sample traditional Bavarian pretzels at local market stalls
🏰 Stroll through historic town center and admire baroque architecture

You've been here?

The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan sits on the Weihenstephaner Berg, a hill above Freising. The brewery describes itself as the world's oldest. Its beginnings lie with the Benedictine monks who lived on the hill. The oldest part of the site is surrounded by a historic brick wall. The buildings were destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The Free State of Bavaria owns the brewery, which is why the name includes Staatsbrauerei, meaning state brewery.

The visit most people book is the guided brewery tour. It starts at the brewery museum called Zum Ursprung des Bieres, which means to the origin of beer. It then follows the brewing process and ends with a guided tasting. German tours run on Mondays at 10:00 and Tuesdays at 13:30. English tours run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00. You must book in advance and you only have a place once the brewery confirms it.

Food and drink are on the hill too. The Bräustüberl is the brewery's own tavern on the hill with a restaurant, a taproom and a beer garden. The restaurant is open daily from 10:00 until 23:00. Groups can also book a beer tasting there with four beers and a beer expert in German or English. A brewery tour can be added beforehand.

The hill is also a university campus, so you'll pass students from the Technical University of Munich on the way up. The brewery tour, a walk around the grounds and a meal at the Bräustüberl fill most of a half day once you count the trip from Freising station. Closed, flat shoes are required for the tour.

Why travel to Weihenstephan?

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Residenz
2 Concentration camp Dachau
3 Wieskirche

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 English Garden

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Knowledge before you go

Book your brewery tour in advance, because walk-ins aren't accepted.
Tours run only on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the brewery is closed on public holidays.
Children under 6 can't join the tour and anyone under 16 needs an adult with them.
Combine the tour with a meal, because the Bräustüberl kitchen closes by 21:00 and earlier on Sundays.

How to travel to Weihenstephan

The town to head for is Freising, which is about 15 km from Munich Airport (MUC) and reached from central Munich by the S1 line. From Freising station, bus 638 goes towards Weihenstephan and buses 637 and 639 also serve the hill. Some buses stop only at the foot of the hill, so check that yours runs to Weihenstephaner Berg. Walking from the station takes about 20 to 25 minutes uphill. From the airport, MVV bus 635 goes to Freising station and the ÜFEX airport express also serves Freising. A taxi takes roughly 20 minutes. By car, take the A92 to the Freising-Mitte exit and follow the signs for Weihenstephan. Parking is at the foot of the Bräustüberl. For the brewery tour, go to the entrance of the administration building at Alte Akademie 2.

Access summary

From Munich Airport (MUC): S-Bahn to Weihenstephan station, 30–35 min.
From Nuremberg: Regional train to Ingolstadt, then bus to Weihenstephan, 45–55 min.
By bike from Ingolstadt: 20 km ride, 1.5 hours.

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Where to stay near Weihenstephan

The best base is Freising itself, which has hotels and guesthouses in the old town and around the station. Staying near the station keeps you on the S1 line and puts the buses to Weihenstephan within reach. The old town sits on its own hill, the Domberg, which is pleasant to walk through in the evening. Munich has far more choice and is a short S-Bahn ride away, so many visitors treat Weihenstephan as a day trip and sleep in the city. Hotels near Munich Airport suit an early flight, because the airport is only about 15 km from Freising. Rooms in the region get tight during Oktoberfest and large trade fairs in Munich, so book early for those dates.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hilton Munich Airport

9.0

Novotel Muenchen Airport

8.6

Sunday Hotel München Airport Freising

8.1

Munich Airport Marriott Hotel

Ibis Styles Muenchen Airport - new opening

8.6

Gasthof Lerner

8.9

Explore more accommodations

Food around Weihenstephan

Eating on the hill centres on the Bräustüberl at Weihenstephaner Berg 10. It has a restaurant, a taproom called the Schänke and a beer garden with its own menu of summer dishes. The kitchen is open from 11:30 until 21:00 Monday to Saturday and until 20:00 on Sundays. The restaurant itself stays open until 23:00.

The menu follows the seasons and covers Bavarian classics. Autumn menus have included roast duck dishes, pumpkin soup and a homemade apricot pancake for dessert. The Bräustüberl also claims that the Bavarian cheese spread Obazda started here. Order it with a pretzel and a wheat beer. The beers poured are the brewery's own, which include Hefeweißbier, Helles, Dunkles and Vitus.

Packing recommendations for Weihenstephan

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Camera

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Comfortable walking shoes

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Sun cream

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Reusable water bottle

Foldable shopping bag

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Cash in small denominations

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Map or GPS device

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Guidebook with offline map

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Travel insurance

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Local transport card

Universal travel adaptor

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Prescription medicines

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Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

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Safety information overview

General safety

Weihenstephan is a safe place to visit and sits in the university district of Freising. The main risks are practical ones. The walk up from the station is uphill and the brewery tour has many steps, so wear sturdy flat shoes.

Accessibility

The brewery says its tour isn't barrier-free because it involves many steps, so it doesn't suit wheelchair users. The Bräustüberl's website gives no details on building access, so call ahead. The walk from the station is uphill, though buses serve the hill.