5 Nights in munich
Munich is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a big heart and a long tradition. BMW and beer gardens, culture and the arts and sleepy nooks, baroque and modern architecture. Munich is a city with its own style – all contrast, but no contradictions. The Bavarian capital has so many fantastic attractions that it's hard to know where to start. So the most important thing to take on a trip to Munich is plenty of time. Marienplatz square is the beating heart of Munich, with its cosmopolitan vibe, hustle and bustle and buildings of historic importance on all sides. Communal experiences and spaces are central to life here. he Viktualienmarkt (produce market) on the edge of the old city is a focus and a mirror of the seasons: pallid asparagus was piled everywhere during my visit. The beer culture is deep-rooted: groups of friends have scheduled get-togethers in their favourite beer hall or garden. In the famous Hofbräuhaus, with its racks of personal steins like shells stacked in an arsenal, enamel plaques denote the tables of particular drinking clubs. One of the world’s oldest public art galleries, the Alte Pinakothek, is now the centre of a series of superb museums taking you from high medievalism to Joseph Beuys’s felt suits. Green spaces are on a huge scale: the English Garden to the east of the city is several miles in length. The Frauenkirche, or the Church of Our Lady, is the city's main landmark, not only visually but also acoustically, with its distinctively jubilant bells pealing out their enthusiastic message. Munich may well be blessed with a host of wonderful churches, but its true cathedrals are in the open air. These are the beer gardens, of course, where an eclectic crowd lives life to the full in the shade of ancient chestnut trees. The beer gardens came to be called cellars or keller – such as in Salvatorkeller, Löwenbräukeller and Hofbräukeller – because the brewers kept their beer underground to keep it cool and soon hit upon the idea of selling it on the spot. Munich's theatres also enjoy an international reputation. The Kammerspiele, Deutsches Theater, Residenztheater and the Bavarian State Opera... The choice is overwhelming, with the city's official website alone listing 89 stages. Impressive simply doesn't do justice to what's on offer here.For many, the Deutsches Museum (German Museum) is a reason in itself for visiting Munich. One of the most visited museums in Europe, it is the world's largest exhibition of technology and science. Somewhat smaller but all the more loveable is the Valentin Karlstadt Museum. Munich Airport was voted Europe's best airport at the 2010 World Airport Awards.
Within City Walls
City Tour
No trip to Munich is complete without visiting these top ten attractions and sights – many of them are in the center of Munich's Old Town and you can easily walk from one landmark to the other. Marienplatz (the central square in the heart of Munich), Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady), The English Garden (Munich's largest park), Hofbräuhaus (Beer Hall), Viktualienmarkt (Victuals Market), Nymphenburg Palace, Munich Residenz, Allianz Arena, Deutsches Museum (Superlative science), Neue Pinakothek (Art Gallery, masterful European paintings) |
For the kids
Attractions like “Fairytale Fun Park” are designed with kids in mind. Visit theme parks devoted to Lego or Playmobil or visit to one of Bavaria’s real fairytale castles and palaces. Munich tourist office sells a Münchener Familienpass with discounts on heaps of kid-friendly sights, playgrounds and swimming pools. Sights include Sea Life, Fairytale fun park, Zirkus Krone, Obletter Spielwaren Toyshop, Munich Zoo, Hirschgarten Beer Garden (petting zoo), Deutsches Museum (World’s biggest science and technology museum), Explore the natural world at Museum of Humankind. |
Brandhorst Museum
In conjunction with the collection of the Pinakothek der Moderne, the Brandhorst Museum has added a fresh new dimension to the Munich Art Quarter with its impressive architecture and artworks. Its paintings, sculptures and installations offer an aesthetic experience that few other collections can match: 700 milestones from the world of art since 1945 are on display in three exhibition spaces with an average floor-to-ceiling height of nine metres. Among the items on display are works by Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys, Damien Hirst, and Bruce Nauman. |
Munich Art Quarter
A must for any art lover. It comprises the three Pinakotheken galleries (Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne), together with the Brandhorst Museum, the Antiquities Collections, the Greek Glyptothek museum and Roman sculptures and Municipal Gallery in the Lenbachhaus. The Alte Pinakothek is one of the world's biggest museums for art from the Middle Ages to the mid-18th century. The Neue Pinakothek features works from the 19th and early 20th centuries, while the Pinakothek der Moderne next door features collections of contemporary art. |
BMW Welt
See, hear, feel and experience mobility. A car collection point and themed attraction unlike any other in the world, BMW Welt brings this prestigious brand to life. With a prime location close to the BMW corporate headquarters, museum and factory, BMW Welt is not just for car buffs and lovers of all things technical. It also offers a wide range of activities and regular special exhibitions, combining engineering, design and innovation with lifestyle, enterprise and culture, in a stunning, state-of-the-art building. Motorhead or not you'll love it. |
Gärtnerplatz
The area between Müllerstrasse, Frauenstrasse, Thalkirchnerstrasse and the river Isar, which also includes the Gärtnerplatzviertel, is known as the Isarvorstadt. This is Munich's trendiest district with its artists, alternative lifestyle, gay and lesbian community and music scene – everything is done differently in this über-cool part of the city. Munich's funnest district has something to suit all tastes and budgets – from rock to house music and from chill-out zone to party, with bars and clubs lined up one after another. |
Viktualienmarkt Market
Nowhere else in Munich offers a more exclusive and varied selection of specialities. Visitors will find a whole host of stalls selling spices, game, fish, local and exotic fruit, flowers and plants, and much more. Home to the most central beer garden where you can enjoy local beer and traditional Bavarian fare together with people from all walks of life. A number of traditional events such as the raising of the maypole, the brewer's day, summer festival and the 'Dance of the Market Women' are also held here. |
Hofbräuhaus beer hall
Unmissable Bavarian experience awaits at the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall at Am Platzl in the old quarter. Originally a brewery, today it is an internationally acclaimed 'beer temple'. Locals can be seen dressed in traditional costume, drinking Munich beer from the famous Mass, a one-litre tankard, and enjoying traditional hearty specialities served up with a good dose of Bavarian hospitality. Probably the largest beer hall in the world serving some 30,000 guests every day, it is always noisy and full of beer-fuelled cheer. |
Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg Palace was built in 1664 for the Bavarian Elector Ferdinand Maria as a gift to his wife Adelheid von Savoyen on the birth of the much longed-for heir to his throne, Max Emanuel. Once the summer residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty, it now forms a harmonious ensemble with the magnificent palace park and gardens and splendid smaller buildings such as Amalienburg hunting lodge and Badeburg House, and ranks among the foremost royal palaces in Europe. State rooms, banqueting hall, Gallery of Beauties and palace park, one of the largest and most influential examples of landscape art in Germany, can still be seen today. |
Allianz Arena
For all fans of the beautiful game, the chance to soak up the atmosphere at the awe-inspiring Allianz Arena is one not to be missed. Whether it's a Bundesliga battle, Champions League thriller or an international game, any match held in this masterpiece by star Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron is sure to be an unforgettable experience. If you wish to enjoy the ultimate buzz, deafening chants and goosebumps galore along with 65,000 other spectators, this is the ideal place. Guided stadium tours offer a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into one of Europe's most modern and, as many would have it, beautiful stadiums. |
Bavaria Filmstadt
For a great day out with your children visit the Bavaria Film Studios, where "Das Boot" was shot as well as many successful German films and TV series. The stunt show with its special effects is exciting entertainment for the whole family, children can have a ride on the dragon "Fuchur" from the "Neverending Story", while parents might be more interested in a walk around in the submarine of "Das Boot". The ultimate highlight is the Bavaria Stunt Show, a breathtaking spectacle both for action-film fans and everybody else. A visit to the 4D cinema with its sensational sound system is another experience not to be missed. |
Oktoberfest
Munich is Germany's beer capital – and the Oktoberfest is a byword for beer all over the world. When the first Oktoberfest was held back in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, nobody could have dreamt it would go on to become such a famous event. Since that time, the world's biggest beer festival has been held every year in September/October on the Theresienwiese grounds, bringing smiles to people's faces in classic Bavarian style with oompah bands, beer fresh from the barrel and plenty of good cheer. Anyone interested in the history of the festival can find out more on a guided tour of the famous Wies'n site, available in several languages. |
Mountains, lakes, spas, and medieval towns lie within an hour of Munich, and the landscape is dotted with castles, villas, and Alpine resorts.
Ammersee
The third biggest lake in Bavaria. Like other lakes in Bavaria, it was created by melting glaciers during the end of the Ice Age. It is fed by the river Ammer which runs out of the lake as the river Amper. Along with its neighbour, Starnbergersee, it is a popular place for sailing and other water sports. During winter, the edges of the lake can freeze, however due to its size and depth the lake almost never freezes completely. There are many Beer Gardens along the banks of the river, which can be quite full if the weather is nice. In addition, there are a number of traditional Bavarian churches around the lakes edge. Combined with a trip to Ammersee, a side trip to Andechs, a Bavarian monestary, is well woth while. |
Dachau
In 1933, what had once been a quiet little artists' community just 16km (10 miles) from Munich became a tragic symbol of the Nazi era. Shortly after Hitler became chancellor, Himmler and the SS (Nazi special police) set up the first German concentration camp on the grounds of a former ammunitions factory here. The SS abandoned the camp on April 28, 1945, and the liberating U.S. Army moved in to take charge the following day. In all, a total of 67,000 living prisoners -- all of them on the verge of death -- were discovered at Dachau and its subsidiary camps. Explore Dachau's historic core, including its Schloss Dachau, a hilltop Renaissance castle that dominates the town at Schlossplatz. |
Kehlsteinhaus
The Eagles Nest was commissioned for Hitlers 50th birthday and took 13 months to build. It lies on the tip of the Kehlstein, 1834m above sea level and is one of the most popular attractions in southern Germany. The house was built as a quiet retreat for Hitler. However, Hitler only visited the site a few times, as he found it too insecure. Today the historic building houses a restaurant serving traditional Bavarian food. From the restaurant, visitors can get a good view of Königsee and the surrounding mountains. Reached by bus on a six and a half kilometer road bored into the side of the mountain. Many regard this as an engineering feat in its own right and many years ahead of its time. |
Berchtesgaden
It's history dates back to the 11th century, and has been ruled by a number of different regimes over this long history. It is only a few miles away from the Königssee, a spectacular glacial lake with steep mountains on each side. Hitlers Berghof, where he spent much of his time entertaining foreign dignitaries and relaxing, was built in this area. The Berchtesgaden National Park is also a popular spot for people in the region. In winter, it is possible to ski on the mountains around the town. Berchtesgaden is located very close to the Austrian border, and a day trip to the town can easily be done from Salzburg as well as Munich. Love this little town. Beyond friendly people and so much history. |
The Fairy Tale Road
Visit the country of the Brothers Grimm: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and the Bremen Town Musicians are some of their most famous fairy tales. Fairy tales, sagas and legends are brought to life in many places, since the Brothers Grimm were at home along the German Fairy Tale Route, and this is where they gathered the narratives for their world-famous stories. Immerse yourself in the world of fairy tales, visit museums and fairytale houses or go to one of the many enchanting fairytale-related events: there are fairytale theatre shows, fairytale musicals, fairytale weeks and storytelling hours for old and young. In many places you can personally meet up with real live figures right out of fairy tales and legends, for instance during a guided tour or at the welcome greeting of a tour group. Everything is as enchanting as a fairy tale on the German Fairy Tale Route. Whether they are placed along beautiful rivers or simply placed on top of high mountains surrounded by ancient forests, the German castles are the most vivid expression of romantic times when chivalry and beautiful damsels inspired the bards and story tellers to create what the kids today are calling fairytales. Almost all the towns you visit offer family-friendly activities, such as puppet shows, storytelling events, and theater plays (in German, but with universal appeal), parades, concerts, fairy tale museums, historic Christmas markets, and lovely statues of your favorite fairy tale characters. Follow The Fairy Tale Route. |
- Steinau: Visit the half timbered Museum of the Brothers Grimm where Jacob and Wilhelm grew up, then stroll through the picturesque old town of Steinau.
- Schwalm Region: The region along the Schwalm River is the setting for Little Red Riding Hood's adventure. Hike through forests dark and deep, and visit the museum of Ziegenhain, where you can see the traditional costumes that might have even belonged to Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.
- Göttingen: The Brothers Grimm worked at the University of Göttingen; visit the central square of the romantic old town and look for the statue of the little goose girl - some say it's the most kissed statue in the world (for luck).
- Trendelburg: Climb up to the medieval castle of Trendelburg, Rapunzel; from one of these towers, she let down her long blond hair so the prince could climb up and save her.
- Castle Sababurg: This 650-year old castle was where Sleeping Beauty slept for 100 years before a kiss saved her. You too can spend the night here: The castle is now home to a romantic hotel, surrounded by a lush park with ancient oak trees and tall ferns. In summer, there are theater performances in the castle's courtyard.
- Hamlin: The picturesque town of Hamlin was the setting for the folk tale of the Pied Piper, a rat catcher who lured the town's children away, never to be seen again. Visit the rat catchers house, enjoy the cute rodent shaped cookies from the local bakeries, and marvel at the old Glockenspiel at the "Hochzeitshaus" that reenacts the legend of the Pied Piper.
- Neuschwanstein: Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, is the most famous German castle, Ludwig II of Bavaria constructed this fairy tale castle in 1869, with the help of a stage designer, for pure pleasure; he built it as a fantastic summer retreat. Despite the castle's medieval appearance, Ludwig built in modern technologies of the day, such as flush toilets, running hot and cold water, and heating. It was the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland. Neuschwanstein is the highlight of the scenic drive Romantic Road.
- Bremen: This is
the last stop on the Fairy Tale Road and home of the Bremen town
musicians, the witty animals that outsmarted the thieves. Visit their
statue on the central town square.