Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and the capital of the state of Bavaria. The city derives its name from the old German word “munichen”, which means “created by the monks”, and gives credit to an ancient monastery that originally existed where Munich would eventually be founded. Today, Munich is a buzzing hub of art, business, and tourism in addition to its rich history.
Weather
Winter in Munich spans between December and March. The city is known to experience cold winters, but heavy rainfall is rare. January is typically the coldest winter month. In contrast, summers in Munich are comfortably warm, spanning from May to September and achieving a maximum of 23 degrees Celcius. One feature unique to Munich is the Föhn, which is a warm wind that comes down from the Alps and can cause temperatures to quickly rise with little notice. This can suddenly turn even the coldest winter day to a comfortably warm temperature, so it is advised to dress in layers that you can remove if needed.
What to see
Viktualienmarkt – One of the most famous food markets of the world is located in the heart of Munich since more than 200 years. The Viktualienmarkt offers an unbelievable variety of fruits & vegetables, as well as flowers, spices, cheese and more than you can imagine.
The Munich Residenz – The Residenz is a former royal palace, which was home to Bavarian monarchs and is located in the centre of Munich. It is the largest palace in Germany and is currently open to the public as a museum.
Englischer Garten – This is a large green space in the heart of Munich, which is larger than both Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York. There is no fee for entry and it’s a great place to relax in one of many beer gardens.
Alte Pinakothek – This art gallery is located in Munich and is one of the oldest art galleries in the world. It houses a variety of paintings and other arts from Germany and other European countries, ranging from the 14th to 18th century. It’s part of three art museums that comprise the Pinakotheken, along with the Neue Pinakothek featuring 19th – 20th-century art, and the Pinakothek der Moderne which features 20th-century art.
Allianz Arena – This is a must-see for any football fans. Both of Munich’s professional football clubs play their home games in this stadium and provide a truly world-class football experience.
Oktoberfest – What else needs to be said?
What to Eat
Or should we say, what to drink! Over fifty percent of the beer produced in Germany is made right within the city of Munich. Germany, in general, is a very beer-friendly country, but Munich is truly a beer lover’s paradise.
To accompany their many beers, food in Munich (and Bavaria in general) tends to feature a greater consumption of meat than the rest of the country, particularly beef, as well as a focus on cooking with lard.
The most common traditional Bavarian sausage is the Weisswurst (literally, “white sausage”), which is typically accompanied by bagels or large salted pretzels. Other common Bavarian dishes are knödel (boiled dumplings made from flour or potatoes), apfelstrudel (apple strudel, often served with a vanilla sauce), as well as common German staples such as sauerkraut.
Fraunhofer is one of the most popular restaurants in Munich, featuring an assortment of traditional Bavarian foods as well as vegetarian options.
Transportation
Being such a large and modern city, transportation within Munich is quite easy with many options available.
Munich International Airport is the second busiest airport in Germany and handles approximately 38 million passengers every year.
Between cities, Munich Central Station is only a brief walk from the city centre and provides train service to most major German cities. Bus travel from Munich is also surprisingly cheap and easy. Long-haul buses are also available for travel to other areas of Germany or other nearby European countries. See Munich’s Central Bus Station (ZOB) for schedule details.
For within the city itself, travelling by underground train or streetcar is the most efficient way to get around. All public transportation uses a single ticket system called MVV, which is interchangeable between the S-Bahn & U-Bahn trains as well as streetcars and buses within the city. These tickets can be purchased as daily, weekly, or monthly passes. A day ticket will cost you around 10 euros for a single person. Other options such as taxi, bike, or car travel are also possible if you don’t want to rely on public transportation. Depending on how far you are travelling, walking is always an option as well.
Visit Munich
Munich is a world class city that has much to offer. Germany has many great cities to offer for tourism such as Berlin, Cologne, and Frankfurt. Munich is no exception and is certainly a one-of-a-kind place that you simply have to visit to understand. Whether you are interested in its rich history and architecture, want to cheer on FC Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, or simply to relax and enjoy a pint in a beer garden, Munich is definitely a must-see when visiting Germany.
