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When you think of Munich, Oktoberfest and beer halls probably come to your mind, but there is so much more to the city! In my opinion, Munich is the perfect example of a European city that seamlessly blends historic sites with green spaces and nature, indoor and outdoor activities, as well as amazing patio dining. The city is incredibly clean and feels very safe. The only complaint I have is the public transit system can be extremely confusing and archaic.
Here are six fun things to do in Munich! To find out where to eat in Munich, check out my blog post here.
STROLL THROUGH THE ENGLISH GARDEN
The famous English Garden in Munich is a huge park in the middle of Munich city center. It’s one of the largest urban parks in the world, providing ample green space near the trendy Maxvorstadt neighbourhood with the Isar River running through the park. This is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike and the large stretches of grass under large trees makes it the perfect spot for a picnic. You can easily spend over an hour here walking around and enjoying the scenery.
Location: Click here for the map.
WATCH THE SURFERS AT EISBACH RIVER
Within the English Garden runs the Eisbach River, where you can watch surfers ride the waves. The Eisbach River is a man-made, two-kilometer-long river that is frequented by local surfers in Munich. It’s quite the sight as surfers have to jump into the river with their board and the waves flow quite quickly. It’s not for the faint of heart and only recommended for skilled surfers.
Location: Click here for the map.
GO SHOPPING AT MARIENPLATZ
Marienplatz is one of the main squares in Munich city center, easily accessible by public transit. You can see a great mix of historical Neo-Gothic buildings and modern ones, with international retailers like H&M and Zara. There are also street vendors selling artisan goods and snacks, like delicious roasted nuts. Every day at 11am and 12pm, the Rathaus-Glockenspiel clock rings, with many bells and figures dancing around as the cuckoo clock sounds. During the holidays, Marienplatz is the venue for one of Munich’s most famous Christmas markets.
Location: Marienplatz, 80331 München, Germany. Click here for the map.
EXPLORE A BAVARIAN ROYAL PALACE
The Residenz in Munich was the royal palace of Bavarian monarchs Residenz is the largest palace in any city center of Germany. If you enjoy architecture and admiring antique sculptures, then you would enjoy walking through the Residenz. This can take over two hours depending on how quickly you go through and which tour you take. Tours are available in multiple languages. It’s quite amazing that this beautiful historical site is found in the city center, just outside of Max-Joseph-Platz.
Location: Residenzstraße 1, 80333 München, Germany. Click here for the map.
RIDE FALKOR AT BAVARIA FILMSTADT
One of my childhood dreams was to ride Falkor, the dragon from the Neverending Story. I never thought this dream would come true, but I was thrilled to discover that Bavaria Filmstadt, a film studio and tourist attraction has a life-sized version of Falkor. My boyfriend and I toured the film studio, which took approximately 1.5 hours and included a 3D simulated ride and interactive activities. However, the tour was conducted in German so my boyfriend had to translate for me, but I didn’t mind. I was just there to ride Falkor!
During the tour we learned about various movies that were filmed in the studio, including The Neverending Story and Das Boot. The film studios are just a 20 minute drive away from Munich city center, or one hour via public transit.
Location: Bavariafilmpl. 7, 82031 Grünwald, Germany. Click here for the map.
DINE AT A TRADITIONAL BAVARIAN BEER HALL
You can’t go to Bavaria without experiencing a traditional Bavarian beer hall or garden! Some beer halls in Munich have stood the test of time, with some having history as far back as the 1500s. One of my boyfriend’s favourite spots from when he lived in Munich is Wirthaus in Der Au, one of Munich’s oldest alehouses. We enjoy feasting on traditional Bavarian dishes here like spaetzle, schnitzel, knoedel and schweinebraten.
Location: Lilienstraße 51, 81669 München, Germany. Click here for the map.
