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Writer's pictureAn Idiot and aBroad

Discovering Traditional Munich


Munich, the capital of Germany's Bavaria region, is best known among tourists for its infamous Oktoberfest, but there is much more to offer apart from their beer-fuelled holidays.


We had a little over a week to discover its many highlights and hidden treasures from its beautiful historic city-center to huge parks and gardens full of beer halls and hearty Germany food. Travelling around Munich gives you a different look at Germany culture and with this guide-you'll be sure to hit every spot worth visiting in this beautiful city.


Munich is the one place that we would stress you find a hotel/hostel or Air BnB close to the city center. Transportation can be a little tricky and everything outside of the city is actually really far!


Augusten Hotel

The Augusten Hotel is located right in the Munich City Center with a modern design and trendy furniture, this hotel gives off a special ambiance.


King’s Hotel Center

A reasonably priced hotel in the Munich city center, the King’s Hotel offers you a 3-star superior luxury with royal comfort. A canopied bed is provided in each room with amenities that make your overnight stay a comfortable experience.



Public Transport

Munich has an efficient public transport network run by MVV, consisting of the U-Bhan, S-Bahn suburban trains, trams and buses.


Get the 3 day travel pass to save you money and time!


The MVV website has a timetable information, a route planner and online ticket sales.


Taxi/Ride Services

Uber is widely used in Munich but if it not really your thing..taxis can be found at stands dotted around the city, or hailed on the street if the rooftop sign is lit.


Want to rent a car? Download the SIXT and/or DriveNow app. The app will show you available cars that are parked around the city for you to use! They charge you by the minute and you can save loads of money!


Walking + Biking

Walking is the best way to explore Munich as the city center is flat and large areas are pedestrianized. Many of the major sights are within easy walking distance of Marienplatz in the city center.


Munich’s compact size, mostly flat terrain, and more than 1,200 km of bike paths make it popular with cyclists. The expansive Englischer Garten and paths along the banks of the Isar are best explored by bike or on foot.


Bikes can be rented at MVG Rad Stations all around the city, at a cost of around 8 cents per minute.



Munich National Theatre

The National Theatre is a historic opera house, home of the Bavarian State Opera, Bavarian State Orchestra and the Bavaarian State Ballet. If you get the chance, you should see a performance!


Siegestor

The Siegestory is a three arched triumphal arch crowned with a statue of Bavaria with a lion-quadriga.


New Town Hall

The New Town Hall, located at the northern part of Marienplatz, hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors and a small portion of the administration. The Town hall provides panoramic views of the city if you visit the top of the tower!


Feldherrnhalle

The Feldherrnhalle is a monumental loggia on the Odeonsplatz. It was commissioned in 1842 to honor the tradition of the Bavarian army and in 1923, it was the site of the brief battle that ended Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch. During the Nazi era, it served as a monument commemorating the death of 16 members of the Nazi party.


Old Town Hall

Known for its pedestrian streets lined with global flagship stores and boutiques selling traditional Bavarian costume, crowds gather on central Marienplatz to watch life-size figurines emerge from the neo-Gothic new Town Hall’s bell tower.


Munich Residenz

The Residenz in central Munich is the former royal palace of Wittelsback monarchs of Bavaria. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections.


The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and displays 130 rooms! The wing houses the Herkulessaal, the primary concert venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

The place is comparable to the Palace of Versailles and is well worth the price for some jaw dropping, awe inspiring architecture and landscape.


Maximilianeum


Situated in the bank of the river Isar before the Maximilian Bridge, Maximilianeum is one of Munich’s royal avenues which is framed by neo-Gothic palaces influenced by the English Perpendicular style.


St Boniface’s Abbey

St Boniface’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1835 by King Ludwig I Bavaria as part of his efforts to reanimate the country’s spiritual life. The abbey is constructed in Byzantine style and was destroyed during WWII and only partly restored.


Bavarian Statue

Bavaria is the name given to a monumental, bronze 19th century statue in Munich. It is a female personification of the Bavarian homeland by extension its strength and glory.

The statues is part of an ensemble which also includes a hall of fame and a stairway. An internal circular staircase leads up to a platform in the head, where four openings in the helmet provide a view of the Theresienwiese and downtown Munich!



Victuals Market

The Viktualienmarkt is a daily food market and a square in the center of Munich. The Viktualienmarkt developed from an original farmers market to a popular market for gourmets. The shops offer flowers, exotic fruit, game, poultry, spices, cheese, fish, juice, bakeries and restaurants…and a biergarten!


Hofbräuhaus Müchen


This infamous beer hall in Munich was originally built by Bavarian Duke Maximilian I in 1589 as an extension of the Munich brewery. All of the rooms except the historic beer hall were destroyed in the World War II bombings and the reopening of the Festival Hall in 1958 marked the end of the post-ear restoration work.


Marienplatz

A central square located in the city center of Munich, Marienplatz is full of cafes, shops, restaurants and of course..traditional German pubs. Though it can be quite crowded in the summer time, Marienplatz is the perfect place to meet up with friends and enjoy the sites and night life of the city.


Karlsplatz


Karlsplatz is the large square in central Munich that is great for a hangout and a wonderful place to relax on hot summer days.


Rathaus-Glockenspiel

The Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich is a popular tourist attraction in Marienplatz. Every day at 11am and noon it chimes and re-enacts two stories from the 16th century to the amusement of mass crowds of tourists and locals. It consists of 43 bells and 32 life sized figures.


Odeonsplatz


The Odeonsplatz is a large square in central Munich which was developed in the early 19th century and is named for the former concert hall, the Odeon. The square was the scene of a fatal gun battle which ended the march on the Feldhernhalle during the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.


Müllersches Volksbad

Art nouveau-style public large and small swimming pools and bath houses open since 1901, it is an authentic German sauna and swimming building with several types of dry and wet saunas! It is a gem of bathing culture with beautiful halls, old cabins and an overall atmosphere that transports you back in time.



Theatine Church

The Theatine Church is a Catholic Church built in 1663. The church was built in Italian high-Baroque style and is absolutely magnificent.


Blutenburg Castle

Blutenberg Castle is an old ducal country seat in the west of Munich on the banks of river Würm. The castle is situated right on the riverside with a beautiful sculpture garden.


Nymphenburg Palace

The Nymphenburg Palace is a Baroque palace and the main summer residence of the former rulers of Bavaria of the House of Wittelsbach. This gorgeous piece of history is a must-see in Munich. The palace offers guided audio tours and the gardens are a great place for a jog, family stroll or just some peace and quiet.


Frauenkirch

This famous church serves as a cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It has become a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city.


Because of local height limits, the church towers are widely visible. The south tower is open to those wishing to climb the stairs, will offer a unique view of Munich and the nearby Alps!.


Saint Peter’s Church

St Peter’s Church is a Roman Catholic church is the inner city of Munich and is the oldest church in the district.


St Michael’s Church

St Michael’s is a Jesuit church and the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. The style of the building had an enormous influence on Southern German early Baroque architecture.


Heiliggeistkirche

This Gothic hall church in Muncih originally belonged to the Hospice of the Holy Ghost.


Asamkirche

A little bit of a different style in the architecture and paintings, when you step into this church you get major apocalyptic vibes. The Asam church is a Baroque church and is considered to be one of the most important buildings of the southern German Late Baroque.


St Luke’s Church

St Luke’s Church is the largest Protestant church in Munich and is the only preserved Luteran parish church in the historical area of Munich.


Munich Olympic Stadium

The Olympiapark was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Located in the Oberwisenfeld neighborhood of Munich, the Park continues to serve as a venue for cultural, social and religious events, such as events of worship.


Tollwood Summer Festival

If you are up for something a little different, Munich offers the infamous Tollwood Summer Festival. The festival is full of cultures from all over the world and is basically a worldly Smorgasbord. This multicultural festival lasts about 25 days and has redefined the street food movement.


Olympiaturm

The Olympic Tower in the Olympic Park has an overhall height of 291m! At a height of 190m there is an observing platform as well as a small rock and roll museum offering various memorabilia. At a height of 182m there is a revolving restaurant!


BMW Museum


The BMW Museum was the coolest automobile museum of BMW history located near the Olympiapark. The museum was established in 1973, shortly after the Summer Olympics opened.


The museum goes over the history of the company and the various models of cars and other models of cars and other modes of transit. The layout and design of the space is incredibly innovative


Allianz Arena

Allianz Arena is a football stadium in Munich with a 75,000 seating capacity. It is the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior and is the second-largest arena in Germany! If you can watch a match..we highly recommend it!


Beer and Oktoberfest Museum

The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum deals with the history of beer and the art of brewing. Displayed is the extensive information based on the beer culture of Germany. The history of the oktobergfest is presented on the upper floor. On the ground floor there is a beer stall.


White Rose Memorial

This compact museum honors anti-Nazi resistance groups through photographs, biographies and leaflets.


Jewish Museum Munich

This Jewish Museum is a contemporary, multimedia museum for permanent and visiting exhibits on jewish history, life and culture.


Bavarian National Museum

The BavarianNational Museum is one of the most important museums of decorative arts in Europe and one of the largest art museums in Germany.


Staatliche Antikensammlungen

This museum holds Bavarian collections of antiques from Greece, Elturia and Rome.


NS-Dokumentationszentrum

This museum focuses on the history and consequences of the Nazi regime and the role of Munich in World War II.


Karlstor

Karlstor in Munich is what still exists from what used to be Munich’s famed city wall from the medieval ages until late into the 18th century. It served as a major defensive fortification and checkpoint.


It is located at the western end of Neuhauser Staße, a portion of Munich’s down town pedestrian xone which was part of the salt road and the east-wet thoroughfare of the historic town.


Eisbackwelle

There’s year-round surfing on this continuous wave on the Englischer Garten’s Eisback River. This is a really cool place and is at the beginning of a built river going through the whole English garden. Here at the beginning, there are people surfing all year round (both beginners and experienced!)


Rosengarten Untergiesing


This serene, grassy park is known for its colourful rose gardens that bloom in June and July. You can spot apple and peach trees quickly and there are streams flowing through the park.


Hofgarten


The Hofgarten is a garden in the center of Munich, Germany located between the Residenz and the Englischer Garten. Many artists come to play violin next to the restaurants near a gorgeous garden of roses and other flowers.


Isar Gate


The Isartor at the Isortorplatz in Munich is one of the four main gates of the medieval city wall. It served as a fortification for the defence and is the most easterly of Munich’s three remaining gothic town gates. The gate is located close to the Isar and was named after the river.


Fish’s Fountain

Located at the center of Munich, the Fish’s Fountain’s history can be traced back to he Middle Ages. In 1954 it was re-created from parts of Konrad Knoll’s neo-gothic fountain that was destroyed during Second World War.

Alte Pinakothek

The Alte Pinakothek is an art museum located in the Kunstareal area in Munich. It is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses a significant collection of Old Master paintings.


Königsplatz


Königsplatz is a square in Munich built in the style of European Neoclassicism in the 19th century. It is a center of cultural life and the area around Königsplatz is today the home to the Kinstareal, Munich’s gallery and museum quarter.


Pinakothek der Moderne


Huge museum of 19th and 20th century art situated in central Munich’s Kunstareal. It is one of the world’s largest museums for modern and contemporary art.

Neue Pinakothek

Modern museum for major 19th century art. It focuses on European art of the 18th and 19th century and is one of the most important museums of art in the 19th century in the world.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

A Nazi concentration camp memorial and museum with photographs, documents and reconstructed cell blocks. The history exemplified here is undeniably cruel and you can feel the place and its dark past. The museum is nice when it is explained properly and so a tour guide is recommended.


Thermal Erding


Therme Erding is the second largest thermal bath complex in Europe at 185,000 square meters.

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Rose Island

Rose Island in Lake Starnberg is the only island in the lake and site of a royal villa of King Ludwig II of Bavaria which had been commissioned by his father. He was particularly attached to this place and made frequent renovations and remodelings of the small garden and the villa. The villa is today a small museum open to the general public.


Possenhofen Castle


Possenhofen Castle is located in the town of Possenhofen on the western shore of Lake Starnberg in Bavaria. In the midst of the foothills of the Alps right on Lake Starnberg, you should definitely visit this castle during a stay in this region.


Deutsches Museum

This is the world’s largest museum of science and technology, with about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology.


For a period of time the museum was used to host pop and rock concerts including The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Elton John. It is the amazing technical museum with great collections of ships, submarines, planes etc.


Blomberg


The Bloomberg is a mountain 1,248m high in Bavaria and is the local mountain of Bad Tölz and a popular destination both with locals and visitors to the region. It is accessible on a short footpath which is steep in places or with the aid of a chairlift.


Schloss Berg


Berg Castle is a manor house situated on the east shore of Lake Starnberg in the village of Berg in Upper Bavaria Germany. It is famous as the site of King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s death. Today it remains the head of the house of Wittelbach, Duke of Bavaria.

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