Situated in the rolling hills and picturesque forests of southern Germany, Munich is a beautiful place for a city break. Enjoy great cuisine, fascinating history, and world-class shopping and culture, all wrapped up in one of Europe’s prettiest and most tourist-friendly cities. And for visitors who enjoy a beer or two, there’s always Oktoberfest…
Munich is a stunning city. Spend a day in the Altstadt-Lehel to appreciate the beautiful architecture.
If you want to be within easy reach of the tourist sites, book an apartment in the beautiful Altstadt-Lehel (Old Town) area. It is the district within the old city fortifications, and contains the Glockenspiel, the Nationaltheater and many other historic buildings. Culture vultures might enjoy staying in Maxvorstadt, just north of the historic city centre, and crammed with museums and galleries - for this reason the neighbourhood is known as “the Brain of Munich”. For a different look at the city, while still remaining central, consider the Ludwigsvorstadt district, which is close to Munich’s Hauptbahnhof (main train station) and is great for Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants. This area also contains the Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest takes place, so consider an apartment in this area if you’re travelling for that event. Sociable night owls should take a look at apartments in the Au-Haidhausen area, with its Kultfabrik area containing over 30 bars and clubs.
For millions of people, Munich is synonymous with Oktoberfest, the world-renowned beer festival, and for those visiting Munich during the end of September or beginning of October then of course it is a must-see. However there is far more to the ancient Bavarian capital than Lederhosen, brass bands and Bier. The city has an outstanding and wide-ranging cultural scene, and its museums and art galleries are considered to be on a par with those in Berlin. Its status as Germany’s wealthiest city is evident in the luxury shopping districts around the Maximilianstrasse and Neuhauser Strasse areas, which are also home to many upmarket restaurants, bars and cafes. However, beyond fine dining and shopping, Munich is also a great place to relax - it is packed with beautiful and well-used green spaces, including the River Isar which flows through the city centre and is sprinkled with beaches and pretty swimming areas.
Munich is a large and wealthy city, and so has a wide range of cuisines (including a great selection of Italian places due to the wave of Italian Gastarbeiter - guest workers - in the 1960s), but a trip to the Bavarian capital would not be complete without trying some of the local specialities. A traditionally Munich breakfast is the pairing of a Münchner Weisswurst (white sausage) with a pretzel and sweet mustard - and a Weissbier if you can handle it. Practice your German by ordering a tongue-twisting local soup such as Leberknödelsuppe or Grießnockerlsuppe. This being Germany, the pig is a staple on the menu of any traditional restaurant - try Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) or Spanferkel (roasted suckling pig), usually accompanied by potatoes or bread dumplings, and a tasty gravy. Local beer is the perfect way to wash everything down. Helles (a refreshing lager) Dunkels (malty and dark) and Weissbier (wheat beer) appear on all menus, although there are many varieties to explore.
Munich is Germany’s wealthiest city, and the efficient, easy to use transport system reflects it. An “MVV” ticket will allow you to use the U-Bahn (underground trains), S-Bahn (overground trains), trams and buses, and the tickets can be bought for various periods of time between a day and a month. There are also options for single, partner and group tickets. The city centre can be easily covered with an inner district day ticket but get a whole network day ticket to explore the four zones in Munich. Don’t feel trapped into using public transport, however: the centre of Munich is easily navigable on foot - and of course this increases the possibility of stumbling upon a hidden gem of a cafe, shop or park. Another good way of seeing the city is to hire a bicycle - Munich boasts over 200 km of bicycle lanes and you can rent bikes from Munich Hauptbahnhof station which come with a map. Alternatively, join one of the many bicycle guided tours available to get a “local’s eye view” of the city.
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