Eight gravel paths run through the Hofgarten and all of them end at the same place. At the centre stands an open stone pavilion with arched sides and a copper-green dome. A bronze figure stands on top of the dome. That is the Dianatempel. The garden around it is laid out so that every route brings you here.
People don’t come for long. They walk through, stop under the dome, listen for a minute and leave. It’s worth giving it more time than that.
A garden pavilion from 1615
The Dianatempel dates from 1615. It was built when Duke Maximilian I had the Hofgarten laid out as the formal garden of the Residenz, the Wittelsbach palace next door. The design is credited to Heinrich Schön the Elder. It sits exactly where the garden’s axes cross, which is why the paths all meet here.
The bronze on the dome is a copy of the Tellus Bavarica, a figure representing Bavaria. The original is attributed to Hubert Gerhard and is kept inside the Residenz.
Despite the name, the statue on top isn’t Diana. The “Diana temple” name has stuck regardless, and locals use it without a second thought.
What the dome does to sound
Stand in the middle of the pavilion and say something at normal volume. The dome sends your voice straight back down to you. Street musicians have used this for years. On many days a violinist, a cellist or a singer plays under the arches, because one instrument here fills the space the way a small ensemble would elsewhere.
You can usually hear the music from the paths before you reach the pavilion. If someone is playing, sit on the steps or a nearby bench rather than standing in the doorway. The arches are narrow, and people walk through them all the time.
Summer evenings under the dome
On warm evenings the pavilion often becomes a dance floor. Informal groups bring a speaker and dance tango, swing or salsa on the stone floor. Passers-by stop at the edge to watch. These meetups aren’t official events, so don’t plan your trip around them. If you’re passing at dusk in summer, though, check the pavilion first.
The garden gates close at 10pm. That gives you time to watch for a while after sunset in early summer, but leave before the gardens shut.
Getting there from Odeonsplatz
The nearest stop is Odeonsplatz, served by U-Bahn lines U3, U6, U4 and U5. Take the exit signed for the Hofgarten or the Feldherrnhalle. You come up next to the Theatinerkirche, a church with an ochre-yellow front.
From there:
- Walk through the Hofgartentor, the arched gate on the east side of Odeonsplatz.
- Follow the main gravel path straight ahead. The pavilion is at its end, about two minutes’ walk.
- The official address is Hofgartenstraße 6, 80539 München-Altstadt-Lehel. You won’t need it once you’re inside the garden.
If you come from the Englischer Garten, walk past the Staatskanzlei, the Bavarian State Chancellery, and enter from the east. The dome is visible from there.
When to have it to yourself
This is still a quiet spot by Munich standards. There’s no ticket desk, no queue and no tour-group gathering point. The garden is open daily from 7am to 10pm, so you can visit at either end of the day.
On weekdays it’s quietest from 11am to 1pm. That suits a stop between the Residenz and lunch. On weekends the quiet window is short and early, from 7am to 8am. That’s when you might get the pavilion with only a few dog walkers and joggers around.
Try not to come on a weekend between 10am and 9pm if you want space. That’s the busiest stretch: the benches fill up, and you’ll share the dome with buskers and their audiences all day.
Sharing the pavilion with buskers and dancers
The Dianatempel is a public space. Its unwritten rules come from the people who use it most.
- Busking etiquette: if you stay to listen to a whole piece, it’s normal to drop coins into the open case. Have some change with you, because a card won’t help here.
- Don’t talk over the music. The acoustics carry voices as well as instruments, so a phone call in the arches can be heard all around the pavilion.
- Leave the floor to the dancers. On dance evenings, watch from the steps or the gravel rather than cutting across the middle.
- Respect the hedges and beds. The Hofgarten is a formal garden, and stepping off the gravel into the planted beds is frowned on.
- Take your rubbish with you. Bins are by the paths, and people who stay for a while are expected to leave the steps clean.
German is the default here, but nobody expects it from a visitor. A nod to the musician before you photograph or film them is polite.
Making a loop of it
The pavilion takes about 15 to 20 minutes, longer if there’s music. It fits easily into a half-day in the old town, because the main sights are close by.
- Residenz: the palace that runs along the south side of the Hofgarten. The original Tellus Bavarica is inside.
- Hofgarten arcades: the long arcades along the west and north sides of the garden, with old murals on the walls.
- Feldherrnhalle and Theatinerkirche: both on Odeonsplatz, just outside the gate.
- Staatskanzlei: the State Chancellery building at the garden’s eastern end.
- Englischer Garten: a short walk north-east. Continue to the Eisbach wave beside the Haus der Kunst to watch the river surfers.
A good order is Odeonsplatz first, then the Hofgarten and the Dianatempel, then east into the Englischer Garten. You go from formal Renaissance garden to open parkland in about ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the quietest time to visit the Dianatempel?
On weekdays it's quietest from 11am to 1pm. On weekends the quiet window is 7am to 8am. Avoid weekends between 10am and 9pm, the busiest period, if you want space.
How do I get to the Dianatempel?
Take the U-Bahn to Odeonsplatz (U3, U6, U4 or U5). Walk through the Hofgartentor gate and follow the main gravel path to the centre of the Hofgarten, about two minutes.
What are the opening hours?
The Hofgarten, where the pavilion stands, is open daily from 7am to 10pm.
How long should I spend there?
About 15 to 20 minutes for the pavilion, or longer if a musician is playing or dancers are using the floor on a summer evening. Combine it with the Residenz, Odeonsplatz and the Englischer Garten for a half-day.
Why do musicians play inside the Dianatempel?
The dome reflects sound back to the centre of the pavilion, so one instrument sounds much fuller there. That's why buskers choose it and why dance groups use it on summer evenings.
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