Travel Guide to Munich, Germany
Travel Guide to Munich, Germany
By Jose Duty Peter
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. 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.~ Car Hire In Munich
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.
Budget
The legendary Staatliches Hofbrauhaus is an absolutely brilliant place to visit. We were a group of lads from England, and we met up with several nationalities and drank and sang songs all afternoon. A definite must for all tourists, and I still have the headache to prove it! Visit the Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum) on Sunday, when the entrance fee is only one euro. We were just enthralled with the wood sculpture by Tilman Riemenschneider from the 15th century. The Marienplatz is a pedestrian-only area in old Munich. We sat at an outdoor cafe and enjoyed snacks and a beer, while waiting for the glockenspiel to perform.
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.
Where to eat
Families
Have dinner at Peterhof, a very nice family-type restaurant with excellent food, especially the breads and house-made, fresh mustard. Yum! The Hofbrauhaus was good fun, and the menu items were reasonably priced. The daily specials are great bargains and can be quite good. My kids enjoyed the 'pretzels as big as steering wheels' (their description) which are sold at the kiosk on the ground floor. We ate dinner and the famous Munich breakfast at Weisses Brauhaus, one of the oldest German restaurants in Munich.
Romance
If you want to splash out, go to Tantris. It's European/French up-market with a fantastic menu. But take your credit card! We went for our anniversary, and it's great for a special occasion.
I was invited by a native to a wonderful 'undiscovered' Italian restaurant, Dal Vecio. It's very romantic with excellent food (not so easy to find in Munich). It is in the Embassy neighborhood, one of the most exclusive and beautiful in Munich. Worth the trip! Try the amazing La Bouche. Make sure you book ahead. It's intimate and romantic and serves delicious food, while being quite pricey!
Budget
Ratskeller is worth a visit for dinner. Prices range from normal to cheap, but it's good quality and a great experience to eat in the cavernous halls. Hundreds of open-air stalls make up Viktualienmarkt, the city's most prominent food market, a few minutes' walk south of the Marienplatz. The market sprawls over a wide area and can't be missed. Come here to experience a plethora of local and global delicacies. Lowenbrau has the same basic fare of roasted or fried pork, boiled or salad potatoes, numerous fried or boiled pork/ veal/beef sausages. Cost will be 8 - 12 euro per entrée. Remember the pretzels are NOT free, but go well with 'ein grosse Bier.
Health-conscious
For a refined and trendy 100% vegan restaurant, try the Zerwirk. A Munich institution for fish lovers is Austernkeller on Stollbergstrasse. You may need to book in advance. Prince Myshkin has an Asian emphasis. It is a nice restaurant for evening with a good, all-veggie menu.
Hidden gems
Franziskaner Fuchsenstubn is a venerable and rustic restaurant serving real Bavarian specialties. You must try the original 'Weisswurscht,' Bavarian veal sausage, or the suckling pig roasted with malt beer. Try Bratwurstglöckl for bratwurst. They are finger-size and very tasty. I enjoyed them with my sauerkraut, pretzels and beer. I was enjoying my meal outside when the bells of the Dom were ringing. Wow! Won't forget that. The locals like the Italian restaurant Vinaiolo.
Where to stay
Families
The Admiral Munchen was a wonderful beginning to our trip! We are a family of four, and the family suite was exceptionally roomy. Both bedrooms had their own bathroom, with a privacy door in between. The hotel was nicely appointed, with a lovely little courtyard. The airport Kempinski was an oasis of comfort and calm after a very long flight with our three young boys. Our adjoining regular rooms were spacious and quiet (you cannot tell you are at an airport); the beds, very comfortable; and the bathrooms, large and immaculate (American-style). Hotel Uhland is family-friendly, a great value and has an excellent location across the street from the Oktoberfest fairgrounds and within walking distance of major sights, shopping, etc. It's in a quiet neighborhood.
Romance
Absolutely brilliant. We stayed at the Dorint Sofitel Bayerpost Munchen to celebrate our anniversary. Our room overlooked the courtyard area and was peaceful. We had a large king bed, and the room was extremely spacious. My wife and I spent only one night at the Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel (during Oktoberfest), but we both wished that we could have stayed longer! Its facilities are great, and it has a 'peaceful' location. My boyfriend upgraded our hotel from a three-star to the Bayerischer Hof. Little did I know, he had big plans-he asked me to marry him! It was the perfect hotel, with the perfect setting, in the perfect location. Our room was beautiful; our reception was greeted with champagne; and my specially requested vegetarian meal was delicious.
Budget
The Pension Westfalia is a no-frills hotel and is a good option in expensive Munich. The beds are comfortable, and the location is great; the subway is just a block away. This 'budget' category hotel exceeded all my expectations. The Jedermann should surely be categorized more highly, as it was immaculately clean, with modern facilities, excellent, friendly staff, good food, and it was very accessible. Can't fault the Royal Hotel for the price. Excellent location, right in the center of town, but on a not- too-noisy street. The room was nothing special, but clean and warm and absolutely fine.
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.
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