The big wide world in Munich
In the English Garden, the Chinese Tower and Japanese Teahouse will transport you to Asian climes. An Italian breeze blows in the magnificent Ludwigstraße. And Munich's city center is a must-see!
Hellabrunn Zoo is also an experience. The enclosures are arranged by continent, so you can stroll from Europe to the continents to the polar circles.
Tradition is very important in Munich
Nevertheless, the cosmopolitan metropolis on the Isar has always remained true to itself. Bavarian traditions, including traditional costumes and dancing, are not only to be found on festive days. The Viktualienmarkt is an ideal place to go in search of traces of Munich's soul. Here, the tempting aroma of Leberkäse (meat loaf) and farmer's crusty bread tickles your nose and you can hear many a gossip story. Marienplatz may be the parlor of the city, but Viktualienmarkt is the kitchen, the place where things are sociable, rustic and honest.
The Hofbräuhaus, which anyone who has ever googled "Munich sights" is likely to know, is also a world-famous address for Bavarian conviviality. Every day, musicians play folk tunes under the cross vaults of the Schwemme to sing along to. By the way, regulars are served their beer in their own stone mug. The so-called Keferloher are stored in a steel frame with lockable individual boxes when not in use.
Munich's very special beer garden culture
People-watching and getting to know people is great in the open-air months directly under the white-blue sky. Preferably in a cozy beer garden, which you absolutely must visit on a city trip to Munich. There are countless of them all over the city. See and be seen is the motto at Kufsteiner Platz in chic Bogenhausen. Towards evening, the casual, southern flair of Gärtnerplatz beckons. The atmosphere is casual. Everyone sits with everyone else in the beer gardens. True to the motto: "Grias aich. It fits. Cheers!" Sun-seekers unroll their colorful blankets on the banks of the Isar. The lawn in the English Garden resembles a cheerful patchwork carpet. This makes a city trip to Munich twice as much fun.
The revolving restaurant "181" in the Olympic Tower is a top location for admiring the sunset and then the city lights. If you then catch a day when the Föhn wind brings the Alps within reach and the striking silhouette of the city looms in front of you, you can experience the magic of Munich in all its glory.
On spring days with foehn weather conditions, the majestic white powdered peaks of the Alps seem to twirl into the sky just behind the towers of the Frauenkirche. The south is then very close. Then a city trip to Munich almost feels like a journey through the most beautiful regions of Europe. You may not be able to see the sea, but just knowing that it is glistening in the sun behind the mountains on the horizon is enough to create a feeling of Mediterranean lightness .
Plan your Munich city trip
Anyone who has only got to know Munich during the "Wies'n" will hardly recognize it beyond this exceptional time. The atmosphere in the state capital is much more relaxed. Anyone planning a city trip to Munich should take this into account when planning. The sun's rays really put Munich's sights in the spotlight. Florentine palaces, baroque residences, Roman churches and white Greek temples glow golden - who needs a fairground atmosphere? Munich's sights are just as inspiring!
Munich tips from insiders: These are the new in-places
Art & culture
BMW celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016. To mark this joyous occasion, the exclusive car, motorcycle and racing car collection of BMW Group Classic has been given a new home (www.bmwgroup-classic.com). The private Goetz Collection in Oberföhring is a gem of contemporary works of art. Registration required via website: www.sammlung-goetz.de.
Munich restaurants
If Tokyo looks enviously at Munich, perhaps it's because of Haguruma (Baaderstrasse 62). Landlady Ms. Mutsuko serves authentic Japanese delicacies here. In the Münchner Stubn (Bayerstr. 35-37) there's koa Sünd, but instead Bavarian delicacies such as homemade Obazder, warm Leberkäs, Bavarian tartare ... Pounding! Every morning from 6.30 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Breakfast Club in the Derag Livinghotel (Frauenstr. 4) invites you to breakfast in a relaxed XXL kitchen-living room atmosphere.
Nightlife
At the Kiddo Club (Thalkirchener Str. 2 near Sendlinger Tor), Munich students and the young at heart party to hip hop, charts and mixed music. At Sophia's Bar (Sophienstr. 28), bar manager Roman Kern serves excellent drinks and cocktails. Tip: "Sophia's Cocktail" is fresh and fruity with a tangy lemon twist.
events
See, smell, taste and feel: During a tasting at the brewery in the Eiswerk with a professional beer sommelier, you can really find out everything there is to know about barley juice (3.5 hours, 49 euros per person). Meanwhile, spectators in the theater tent are amazed by the shadow puppetry and acrobatic skills of international companies (www.tollwood.de).
Munich shopping
You always look smart in traditional costume. It doesn't have to be a dirndl. Although: if you see the models at Gössl (Residenzstr. 14), you'll be happy to grab one. Great second-hand pieces can be found at Vintage Love (Frauenstr. 22). The best Munich veal sausages to take home are available at the butchers Gassner in Zenettistr. 11 and Jais in Bajuwarenstraße 22.
Stay overnight
From the centrally located Aloft (right next to the main train station), Munich can be easily explored on foot. Opened in 2015, the hotel impresses with its modern design and super-nice service (www.aloftmunichhotel.com). Where one of Munich's largest cinemas once stood, the Arcona Living Hotel now invites you to dream (www.muenchen.arcona.de). For something more intimate and elegant, the Hotel Opéra in Lehel is a fine address (www.hotel-opera.de).