Munich travel and leisure offer an abundance of history, vibrant cultural life, and modern shops, restaurants, and top art museums to discover.
Upgrade to a suite, and you’ll discover playful swan ornaments and breathtaking views of central Munich, Germany. Guests can relax in the spa’s heated spiral pool and steamy pinewood sauna.
Bookshops
No matter your taste in books or travel, Munich has something to offer everyone. This vibrant city oozes Bavarian tradition while offering contemporary museums and galleries full of world-class artwork; while ancient townhouses in Altstadt give an insight into life for Munich’s ruling families.
Munchen isn’t all history and culture: its focus lies just as strongly on food, drink, and leisure. Take a brewery tour to learn how beer is made or explore the city by bicycle; afterward enjoy the traditional Bavarian fare at Glockenbachviertel Restaurant Vollendung or enjoy sushi-sashimi dining at Roomers Japanese Fusion restaurant housed within what used to be a potato flour silo!
Words’ Worth in the university district or Munich Readery on Augustenstrasse in Schwabing offers excellent English-language bookstore options; other possibilities include Literature Moths which explores the relationships between books and art by using scrolling ladders that evoke Harry Potter to reach higher shelves, creating a store floor more reminiscent of an art gallery than retail space and hosting events and readings.
Hugendubel Bookshop in Munich is home to all types of literature – not only fiction and non-fiction – and offers a fantastic selection. While it may be more expensive than some bookstores, Hugendubel stands out with its location within Hypo Bank’s old main hall – something literary lovers might appreciate as well as make for a special shopping experience.
Beer Gardens
Munich’s best beer gardens provide the ideal blend of shade, dappled sunshine, and lakeside ambiance. Not only can you indulge in classics like Hofbrau but you’ll also discover regional specialties like strawberry and tonka bean spritzes from Berchtesgadener Land or sodas from Berchtesgadener Land!
At Mass beer halls, perfect strangers sit side-by-side, converse and make new connections while drinking large mugs of the local Mass beer. There is probably no other place in the world where so many foreigners and locals alike can congregate so happily!
Munich offers plenty of things to see and do, from luxurious new hotels to world-renowned museums. As it changes from an industrial city to a vibrant metropolitan center, yet retains its magical aura.
When it comes to beer gardens, there is an array of choices. Virtually any outdoor seating venue now qualifies as a beer garden; but for an authentic experience of this great tradition, visit one of the oldest and most traditional beer gardens.
Chinasischer Turm (Englischer Garten 3, 80538 Munchen). Munich’s second-largest beer garden can be found just outside of its 82-foot Chinese Tower and provides the ideal setting for picnicking or simply sipping on refreshing beer under the sun.
If you’re looking for an idyllic beer garden experience on your Munich travel and leisure trip, Zum Flaucher Isarauen could be an excellent option. Set among the Hirschau Park, it provides the ideal place to unwind with a beer and snack – there are even attractions for children here, making this destination suitable for a fun family outing!
Waldwirtschaft Grosshesselohe, or WaWi to its locals, is another well-loved beer garden located on high ground near the Isar River and offering stunning views. Accessible via a short walking distance from Max-Weber-Platz subway station, this venue features red seats with backrests to complete its cozy ambiance.
Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest is the world’s largest celebration of Bavarian culture and an excellent opportunity for visitors to gain more insight into this region. Spanning 16-18 days starting late September through the first weekend in October, this festival began when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese and invited all citizens outside city gates for a party known as Theresienwiese – now commonly referred to by its German name of Theresienwiese – before continuing every year since 1810.
If this is your first Oktoberfest, you might be taken aback to find that admission to the original festival is completely free of charge. While other commercialized “Oktoberfest” events require tickets for entrance, admission to the original Oktoberfest does not. There are however a few considerations when attending.
Make sure that you wear appropriate attire; Lederhosen (leather pants) and dirndls are traditional outfits to wear in Germany. Additionally, learning some basic German phrases will enable communication with locals; some useful ones include:
At Theresienwiese’s north end is the Ferris wheel – offering breathtaking views of the festival! Or visit Paulskirche church and its impressive observation platform that offers great Alp views.
Take a ride on the Crinoline, an old-fashioned beer car that winds its way around the grounds. From this unique ride, you can see amazing views of breweries, tents, and historical attractions such as an old-fashioned vaudeville theater and statue depicting an execution-style visitor.
Munich boasts some of the best public transportation in Europe, making it particularly helpful during Oktoberfest. There are buses, subways, and overground rail lines to get you from point A to B; Theresienwiese serves as the main subway station where trains arrive at three-minute intervals during rush hour rush. Although some train stations may become congested during busy times such as Oktoberfest weekend – their services remain fast and reliable!
Culture
Munich may seem conservative at times, but its energy can certainly come through its street art scene, a huge part of Munich travel and leisure. Graffiti artists create unique works in bike and pedestrian tunnels throughout Munich as well as walls of buildings or along the Eisbach river near its meeting with Isar (known as Germany’s Surf Beach where surfers gather despite often wearing more suitable clothing than in Hawaii).
The F.re. e-travel and leisure fair in Munich run for five days, featuring innovations across six subject areas – travel, health & wellness, caravanning & mobile leisure, outdoor, bicycles, and water sports. Attracting around 100,000 trade visitors from Germany and overseas each year. Additionally, exciting exhibition events take place as part of an extensive framework program.
Visit the Bavarian National Museum to gain an understanding of local culture. It features medieval German sculpture, tapestries, and paintings as well as its expansive collection. Situated in the Englischer Garten district of Munich. Additionally, Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) provides stunning panoramic views over both city and the Alps on clear days.
The BMW Museum is an essential visit for automobile lovers, offering fascinating cars and interactive displays as well as housing the largest collection of BMW memorabilia imaginable, as well as rare vehicles dating back to its founding days.
Munich is divided into 25 boroughs known as bezirke in German. Each has its own distinct character – you’ll find great independent bookstores, beer gardens and an assortment of museums in each one.
The Old Town is an ideal destination to discover on foot or pedicab. Many of its sites have witnessed some of Germany’s darkest moments – Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch and the destruction of synagogues being just two. Stay at the Platzl Hotel located right in the heart of Old Town for easy access to both locations – Hofbrauhaus, where Hitler delivered speeches, and the Dachau concentration camp memorial site.
