The people of Munich are proud of their city – for good reasons: The capital of Bavaria has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to cultural highlights and interesting landmarks. The most charming feature of Munich is, however, it’s unique way of life. Munich’s lifestyle is a lively mix of tradition and modernity, of bavarian „gemütlichkeit“ and fast-paced urbanity. Munich itself is an interesting combination of modern architecture and baroque buildings, of traditional breweries, beergardens and trendy cafés. Munich’s cultural landscape is just as diverse: Opera houses and theatres, museums and parks just wait to be discovered. Take a stroll around Munich with us and find out what makes Bavaria’s beautiful capital so unique.
THE FRAUENKIRCHE
THE RATHAUS
NATIONALTHEATER / BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER
With just a few minutes walk from our hotel Europäischer Hof München, you find Munich’s historical city centre with it’s beautiful allyes, squares and parks.
Arriving from Central Station, you can enter the old town through the city gate on Karlsplatz. By the way: The square’s nickname „Stachus“ comes from an innkeeper named Eustachius, who built his inn right here in the 18th century. Today, a large fountain stands on the place of the old inn.
Entering the pedestrian street through the city gate, visitors find a large variety of stores and boutiques. But Munich’s largest shopping district also features architectural gems like the Church of Saint Michael.
Spaking of churches:
Munich’s famous landmark, the Church of Our Lady with her two onion shaped spires, soars high above the old town and lies in just about one kilometre distance from our Hotel Europäischer Hof. The gothic dome was built in 1494 and is the highest building in Munich’s old centre.
Another famous landmark is Munich’s City Hall in new-gothic style, which was erected in the 19th century. The City Hall’s world-famous glockenspiel is one of the most charming sights of the city and a landmark you must not miss.
Not far from the City Hall on Marienplatz, you find Odeonsplatz with it’s yellow baroque church Theatinerkirche and the Royal Residency. The Opera House and Residency Theatre are also close by.
JEWISH CENTER JAKOBSPLATZ
KARLSPLATZ, STACHUS
BAYERISCHE STAATSKANZLEI
Right next to Odeonsplatz, you can explore Hofgarten, a baroque park with a circular temple in it’s center. Diana’s Temple, as it’s called, serves as an informal dance floor during the summer months: Come and watch couples dance swing and tango on summer evenings and enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of italian coffee in one of the cafés near by.
The English Garden is one of the largest city parks of the world and a beautiful oasis in the heart of Munich. Wide lawns, creeks and oak groves form the perfect environment for long walks and picnics.
Not as huge but just as gorgeous is Nymphenburger Park that can easily be reached with Tram 16 from Central Station. The baroque park encloses Nymphenburg Castle that used to be the summer residency for Bavaria’s princes.
The perfect place for sports is Munich’s Olympia Park. Built in 1972 for the olympic summer games, the park and stadium are still a famous landmark and known for the stadium’s tent-shaped roof. During the summer months, there are many sports- and cultural events in Olympiapark, as well as concerts and festivals.
Munich’s lifeline, though, is certainly the river Isar. Coming from the Alps as a wild mountain creek, the stream cuts Munich in two halfs. The broad shores and meadows are a popular place for recreation, reaching from the zoo in Thalkirchen to the German Museum near Haidhausen.
OLYMPIAPARK MÜNCHEN
SCHLOSS NYMPHENBURG
ENGLISCHER GARTEN
Munich’s rich cultural heritage can be explored in it’s many art-, science- and history museums.
One of Munich’s most popular museums is Deutsches Museum which is located on an island in the middle of the river Isar. From ancient sailing ships to windmills, from diesel locomotives to space crafts – an abundance of scientific achievments can be found at Deutsches Museum.
Museum Mensch und Natur near Schloss Nymphenburg also serves as a scientific learning museum and is great for excursions with children.
When you love the arts, make sure to visit Munich’s art museums. The Old Pinakothek is one of the oldest and most important art galleries in the world. It features more than 800 masterpieces by European artists from the Middle Ages to the end of the Rococo period. New Pinakothek shows the works of artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. If you’re into modern art, Museum Brandhorst or Lenbachhaus are the places to go.
A must-do for every historically interested visitor is a walk through the National Museum. Sculpures and handicraft of five centuries can be found in Germany’s most significant history museum.
Munich’s darkest period deserves a museum and memorial of it’s own: The NS Documentary Centre provides historical analysis of the Third Reich and Nazi reign. Thus, the centre serves not only as a place of remembrance, but also as a learning centre that promotes tolerance and human rights.
When visitors think of Munich, two names come to mind: BMW and the FC Bayern. Naturally, two of Munich’s most popular landmarks are the BMW Museum and Allianz Arena, the home of Munich’s famous soccer club FC Bayern. Don’t miss it!
DIE GLYPTOTHEK
MAXIMILIANEUM / BAYERISCHER LANDTAG
MUSEUM BRANDHORST
Apart from Munich’s „usual“ sights and landmarks, there are a few hidden gems that catch the eye.
Hardly any tourist ever wanders into the yard of Ganghoferstraße 29, the adress of a local consultant agency. However, this unobtrusive courtyard hosts one of Munich’s most unusual artworks: Artist Olafur Eliasson has designed a huge infinite staircase that has no beginning and no end. This fascinating sculpture is one of Munich’s most instagrammed artworks and should absolutely be on your bucket list.
True, Munich is not a seashore city but it has a vivid surfer’s scene nevertheless.
On the edge of the English garden, right next to Prinzregentenstraße, Munich’s sufers gather around a standing wave in the river Eisbach. The wave, produced by concrete walls, doesn’t move and thus provides ideal surfing conditions all year round. And mind you – this means that surfing takes place even in the coldest days of winter.
Contemplative silence welcomes the visitor of Promendenplatz in front of Bayerischer Hof. There, a makeshift memorial for the late popstar Michael Jackson, is maintained by a group of loyal fans. After the King of Pop died in June 2009, mourning fans set up candles, flowers and posters at the base of a statue honouring the Renaissance composer Orlando de Lasso. To this day, the memorial is decorated with fresh flowers, letters and pictures, honoring the art and the humanitarian work of Michael Jackson. The superstar loved Bavaria and gave various charity concerts in Munich. Today his memorial is one of the most beloved and colorful sights in Munich’s old town.
If you want to go on a stroll through the city during your stay in Munich, don’t hesitate to talk to us. We’ll happily help you find the most interesting sights and walks through our beautiful city.