A city rich in culture, Munich is the largest city in southern Germany and one worth visiting. Combining nature with art, culture, history, and of course great beer, it is truly WUNDERBAR!
We have always wanted to go to Germany since it is a country neither one of us had been to. The hubs and I have both been pretty close when we visiting Austria, but didn’t quite make it to Germany. So this year with our sights set on Europe, we finally made it happen.
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a city of history, beer and sausage. A place showcasing old architecture and new design, with a natural touch of Bavarian countryside. And this fall, we were lucky enough to have spent 5 lovely days in Munich, just the two of us, kid-free!
The 5 day duration of our trip was a perfect amount of time for us. It allowed us to visit all the sites, museums, beer halls, parks and markets we wanted to, while still giving us time to take strolls around the city and relax in our hotel. Enough to experience Munich life and leave feeling satisfied.
Let me start by confirming that the stereotype of German’s food offerings is completely true. Beer, sausage and pretzels are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. And absolute dream for pork and beer lovers. For me this was a unique experience, especially since I haven’t been eating very much meat for some time now. But my view here is, you can’t experience a place without trying the food. So when in Munich, it’s all about traditional Bavarian foods.
Among the many things to do in Munich, we loved the beer hall culture and atmosphere. Dating back to the 1600s, the traditional beer establishments are friendly fun places to eat, drink and meet people. Then when we wanted to get out of the city, we headed to the Englischer Garten (giant public park in Munich) to relax, watch the changing fall colors and sip on some Bavarian beer in one of the many beer gardens. Last but not least, on a rainy day, the Deutsches Museum (worlds largest science and technology museum) was our activity of choice. With many interactive exhibits, it is easy to spend hours there.
In the end, I definitely recommend Munich as a fabulous city to explore, learn about and taste. So next time you plan a Eurotrip, consider stopping in Munich, grabbing a beer, and seeing the sites with the help of my Munich travel guide.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Highlights and Places to Visit
Dachau Concentration Camp: Located 30 minutes from Munich by train, this is an important part of history that I feel every human should experience. Powerful beyond belief. A place that shows the evil in man kind and the will of people to survive and overcome.
Hofbräuhaus (HB): Built in 1607, it is the world’s most famous beer hall! A grandiose building with countless giant rooms, an amazing outdoor beer garden and live music! We loved HB so much we visited twice! Phenomenal food including the pork knuckle, sausage platter, sauerkraut, and the best pretzel I have ever had. Our favorite place to share a table with locals or foreigners and live the German good life.
Englischer Garten: A beautiful 900 acre sprawling park oasis with paths, lakes, large grassy areas and of course multiple beer gardens. We caught it right as the leaves were turning and WOW. Our favorite activity was to stroll through the park and then relax under the Chinese Tour beer garden with a beer and snack. We definitely recommend bringing your walking shoes as it is a huge park.
Café Frischnut: Quaint unassuming café located in Marienplatz near Viktualienmarkt market. Here they serve up the most traditional local pastry – Schmalznudel! A round fresh, deep-fried dough with an almost transparent dough center, sprinkled with sugar served alongside an incredible cappuccino. Heaven! We became regulars and made friends with the staff over our 5 days in Munich! They also have other incredible pastries including a pastry with a whole plum on the inside.
Viktualienmarkt: An amazing daily outdoor market with everything from picture perfect produce to spices to food vendors. Get your cheese, bread, sausage, wine and here too! Our favorite thing to do was to pick up cheese, bread, freshly made juices and a sweet treat for a picnic or late night snack. Also don’t miss the cool group of locals hanging out and drinking beer near the central fountain in traditional German dress.
Olympia Park & the BMW Velt: An activity that is free and surprisingly awesome. The site of the 1972 Olympics is a vast complex with uniquely designed stadiums, areas, fields, an observation tower and beautiful park. A place you could easily spend all morning exploring, walking and snapping photos. Right next door is the BMW Velt or BMW factory which is a blast for any car or motorcycle lover. Everything from high end Rolls Royces, electric cars, old classics and cool motorcycles.
Augustiner Keller: The oldest German beer hall. The brewery and beer garden dating back to 1812 serving up some of the best beer in Munich! They also make delicious authentic German food with a true Bavarian ambiance. Our recommendation, sit outside with a stein if it’s nice or enjoy the sausage platter with a beer in one of their Bavarian dining rooms.
Travel Tips:
- Hotel prices – It is possible to find decent hotel room (4-star) for about 70-90 euro during fall as long as it is not during Oktoberfest (Sept 16-Oct 3). During this time frame prices double or triple. There are also apartment rentals that are reasonable on Airbnb.
- Food – As long as you are not eating at very high end places, you can enjoy fabulous meals for under 18 EUR. Lunch menus are normally a great way to try the best food at discounted prices. Another fun options is buying food at the local market or grocery stores. And don’t forget the beer halls are a great place to share delicious dishes. Munich has tons of food options outside of sausages and pretzels. We recommend exploring Indian food, Turkish kebabs and the famous Viktualienmarkt Münchner Suppenküche (soup kitchen). Another favorite was the Eilles chocolate shop for chocolate souvenirs and the best hot chocolate EVER! One thing to be aware of is that many places take reservations for dinner.
- Transportation – Munich has an excellent public transport system with buses, trams, and a S and U-Bahn network. We mainly used the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn for going to Dachau. Tickets are roughly 12 EUR for a group day pass (2-5 people).
- Language – Everyone speaks English. However people normally lead with German so learn at least a few words to get by like hello, bye, please, thank you, and how to order. It is a nice gesture to try to speak the local language.
Originally posted 2016-11-18 07:00:13.
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