Walking tour in Munich

We took the "Hitler's Munich" walk with Levi from Munich Walks and highly recommend it. The meeting spot was very convenient for us - right under the glockenspiel in Marienplatz. Levi was incredibly knowledgeable. We would definitely take another walking tour with Munich Walks. I've heard good things about Radius tours too, but never gone on one. If I remember right they meet at the train station, so if that's more convenient for you, then I'm sure they'd be fine too. You probably can't go wrong with either one.

On our recent trip, my husband and I did the free walking tour by New Munich Tours. The guide was excellent and you paid whatever you thought was appropriate at the end of the tour.

Do be aware that the guides on those "free" Sandemann New Europe tours have to pay the owner, the heir to the Sandemann sherry fortune, a fee for each tour participant who begins the tour. This is why they take your photo at the beginning of the tour. They are counting how many people started the tour. Let's say it starts pouring and half the people leave during the tour. Too bad for the guide, they still have to cough up between 2.50-3 € per participant.

Read what Rick has to say about them in his books. They are illegal in some countries, and in Germany they are wanted for tax evasion and employee abuse. Big time!
There was a blog entry here on the RS website about this a few years ago. Not sure if it is still available with the website upgrade. It was pretty revealing. They do not have a good reputation in Germany with the expat community, due to the way they mistreat their employees. I did one of their tours in Edinburgh and this was the absolute worst tour I have ever gone on, and I go on lots and lots of tours.

Check Trip Advisor to read up to date reviews of all the tour companies in Munich. Sandemanns is way down the list at #12.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187309-Activities-c42-Munich_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html

Here is that blog post on "free tours". Also check out Rick's self-guided Audio Tour, matching the book.

I did one of the 'free' tours in Munich and I was very disappointed. I well understood the situation about how they have to pay per head and though I left the tour about half way through because it wasn't any good I did give the guide a tip that would cover their 'head tax' - about half what I would have given a guide on a better tour. I have to say the guide was very upfront about how it worked and there was not a lot of pressure regarding the tip amount, at least not while I was still with the tour.

In defense of 'free' walking tours, I did take two in Budapest and they were excellent (I paid the guides each the equivalent of €10). I believe they are not part of Sandeman's, but if they were they were worth the price.

I can only say I took a Munich Walks tour of "Third Reich Sights" and it was very good. I haven't taken any other walks in Munich to compare it with.

Here is a great trip report from someone who did 3 of the Munich Walk tours. Maybe this will be helpful. You can also contact them by personal message to ask them questions.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187309-i118-k7683972-Trip_report_Munich_21_June_26_June-Munich_Upper_Bavaria_Bavaria.html

In April I took the Munich Walk and was very happy at how much of Munich was covered and the variety of sites.

A few years ago I took the Sandeman "free" tour. I had a good guide and found the tour fun. It covered some different things than the Munich Walk and was a little more superficial.
Whatever tour you choose, I think you will have a great time in Munich.