Munich is fun. And all the beer halls are just part of the story. This modern city has a small-town Bavarian temperament, funloving locals, a great location at the foot of the German Alps and an appealing low-key approach to life. The fact that it’s home to many universities doesn’t hurt, either. Its city center is easy to explore on foot, with plenty of pedestrian-only streets and distractions for foodies and shoppers. When your feet get tired, good public transportation makes it easy to get to most of Munich’s many attractions: palaces, museums, galleries, parks and (of course) beer halls. With an impressive number of annual festivals and events (some that last for weeks), it’s likely there will be at least one during your stay-just keep an ear out for the sounds of an oompah band. 3rd Reich Tour Munich is fun. And all the beer halls are just part of the story. This modern city has a small-town Bavarian temperament, fun loving locals, a great location at the foot of the German Alps and an appealing low-key approach to life.
The fact that it’s home to many universities doesn’t hurt, either. Its city center is easy to explore on foot, with plenty of pedestrian-only streets and distractions for foodies and shoppers. When your feet get tired, good public transportation makes it easy to get to most of Munich’s many attractions: palaces, museums, galleries, parks and (of course) beer halls. With an impressive number of annual festivals and events (some that last for weeks), it’s likely there will be at least one during your stay-just keep an ear out for the sounds of an oompah band.
Munich’s best views
St. Peter’s Church offers great views, perfect for photos. You can see Alps on one side, Frauenkirche and the Olympic tower on the other, but only when it’s clear. We took the alarmingly swift ride up the Olympic tower (Olympiaturm) at Olympiapark to catch the panoramic view of Munich. Even with the clouds, it was worth the ticket price. Neuschwanstein Castle lies about 50 miles southwest of Munich and is a mustsee. Go to the bridge behind the castle to get the most breathtaking views. A visit is worth the walk and the steep steps, as the views of the Bavarian Alps, castle and the surrounding lakes are incredible.~
Where to play
Families
Kids will enjoy riding the dragon from The Neverending Story and watching the famous stunt show at the Bavaria Film Studios.
The Munich Zoo “has a lovely children’s area. And it’s situated in a pleasant wooded area to walk around and see the animals. It has good eating and bathroom facilities.
We spent a long, rainy day inside the Deutsches Museum and had a great time. There is a Kinder Museum in the basement with water exhibits, things to climb and a bunch of musical instruments to pound on. Needless to say, that was the highlight for the kids.
Romance
For a bird’s-eye view of the glockenspiel, go to the Cafe Glockenspiel, which is on the fifth floor in the building directly across from the glockenspiel at Marienplatz. Have one of their coffees and the apple strudel- wonderful. If you can get tickets, take your true love to a romantic opera at the Bayerische Staatsoper Opera House. Walk, hand in hand along Lake Staffelsee and take in the dazzling view of the charming countryside.
Adventure
At Olympiapark, it is possible to swim in the Olympic pool if you are so inclined or even climb up on the roof of the stadium. There are many pathways around the grounds that are well-maintained and safe. Best known for hosting Oktoberfest, Theresienwiese is also home to the Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) and the Christmas Market, where, apart from mulled wine, you can also get a Hot Caipirinha, quite a good thing in December. Try not to get lost at Hirschgarten, the largest beer garden in Europe, with room for 8,000! It is a must visit for the beer, outside atmosphere and food.
Educational/historical
What a vast concentration of art and furniture and stunning rooms! We were allowed to take the Residenz Royal Palace at our own pace, no rushing through like on an organized tour. I would call this a must-see in Munich. Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek) is one of the finest galleries in the world. The early German works are outstanding. Ten miles from Munich, “the Dachau concentration camp was very educational and eye-opening. I would recommend anyone to go and see what really happened. It is now a quiet, peaceful place where you can hire a hand held guide and walk at your own pace.
Relaxation
Don’t miss the opportunity to saunter slowly through the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) and gaze at each of the sculptures. My only regret about the English Garden (Englischer Garten) was not spending more time there. There are miles of bike trails and walking trails and soccer games being played. The highlight of my trip was being allowed to join a game.
Seehaus Biergarten is one of my all time favorite places to relax and watch the swans on the lake.
Luxury
The absolutely top-notch and charming staff of the Mandarin Oriental-Munich will bend over backwards to serve you; they’ll even frequently walk outside with you to help you find your way to local restaurants or attractions. Le Meridien Munich is a modern and beautiful hotel with a convenient location in front of the main train station. Buffet breakfast and dinner a la carte are delicious. Very attentive staff. Excellent concierge. The Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten offers traditional elegance, a large room and perfectly central location on a great shopping street. But what we will always remember is the five-star service we received from every hotel employee we came across.
Hidden gems
The Torbrau Munich is a real find; the pictures do not do it justice. It’s perfectly located just inside the old city gate, an easy couple of blocks to everything. The rooms are updated with beautiful bathrooms. Koenigshof Hotel is one of the best-kept secrets in Munich, perhaps in all of Europe. Beautiful decor, attentive service, fabulous food, big rooms with elegant baths. The location is superb-there’s an escalator right outside the front door that leads to the train station. Perfect! Gastehaus Englischer Garten is a very nice little guest house, literally adjoining the English Garden. A small creek ran right past our window, and the view through the trees was very relaxing. It felt like we were way out in the countryside.
