SEKAI Explorer Guide Munich (2011)

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Table of Content:

• Districts

City Center

Schwabing Maxvorstadt University area

Olympic area or Olympia Einkaufzentrum

Haidhausen

Neuhausen and Nymphenburg

Thalkirchen

• Understand

• Get in

By plane

By train

By car

By bus

• Get around

By bike

Virtual Tour

• See

Museums and Galleries

Parks

Palaces and Castles

• Do

Festivals

Theater, Opera, and Music

Sport

• Learn

• Buy

Markets

Christmas Markets

Seasonal and Flea Markets

• Eat

• Drink

Beer gardens and beer halls

Beer gardens in the suburbs

Clubs and Discos

Other Munich barsorclubs

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Camping

• Stay safe

Respect

• Get out

Districts

- City Center (Marienplatz/Isartor/Karlsplatz/Odeonsplatz)- The city center is made up largely of the Karlsplatz (also known as "Stachus" by the locals) and the pedestrian shopping zone that leads down to Marienplatz square, which are the main tourist hangouts. However, for ease of use, the areas directly around these squares should be included in the city center. The city center is usually defined as the area within the old walled city, now most distinctly recognizable by the traffic loop known as the Altstadtring, although there are many portions of the historical walls still visible. Most notable are of course the old city gates at Stachus, Isartor and Sendlingertor (all located at U-Bahn/S-Bahn stations).

- Schwabing/Maxvorstadt (University area) - Schwabing (as well as the neighboring Maxvorstadt) is the upscale academic district. Its trendy but charming neighborhood immediately beyond the Ludwig-Maximilian Universität (try blue/orange metro stops Universität or Münchener Freiheit) is filled with small coffee houses, expensive but impressive shoe stores, bookstores and specialty restaurants from around the world. Schwabing has always been an "in" place to live, and looking at the shady tree-lined streets, it's not difficult to imagine why. Leopoldstraße (get out at Universität or Münchner Freiheit) also offers extensive sidewalk cafes including some famous internationally known American coffee emporiums.

- Olympic area/Olympia Einkaufzentrum - Built on Munich's former airport Oberwiesenfeld, this is the area of the 1972 Olympic Games. If you climb on the hills heaped up from the debris of the Second World War, you'll have a great overview of the site, especially worthwhile if there is a concert in the Olympic Stadium. The Olympic site itself is extremely beautiful and the ride to the top of the Olympic Tower is unmissable as it gives magnificent views of the city.

- Haidhausen - The district around the Ostbahnhof (Eastern Station) is well-known for its clubbing area, Kultfabrik (formerly known as Kunstpark Ost, most locals will be familiar with the old name), where you can party in more than 30 clubs and discos. Also check out the many bars and restaurants in the Optimolwerke right next door. There are also several quaint sidestreets in this quarter featuring small houses virtually unchanged in several hundreds of years.

- Neuhausen & Nymphenburg - One of the more relaxing districts, where the atmosphere causes residents and visitors alike to forget they are in a city of over a million. Take any tram with the end stop Romanplatz, for example the 12, and get out there, or get out at Rotkreuzplatz and relax in a beer garden or enjoy some ice cream or a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants. Both of these neighborhoods are virtually undiscovered by tourists even though Neuhausen is home to a popular night club and the world's largest beer garden. What's more astounding is that, while millions of tourists flock to Munich in the summer months and September and October for Oktoberfest, few find their way to the tranquil Schloss Nymphenburg gardens.

- Thalkirchen - This district around the banks of the river Isar is a recreational area for many residents of Munich. The zoo Hellabrunn is located here and in warm summer nights many bonfires are lit on the Flaucher, sand banks of the Isar.

Understand

When Germans are polled about where they would most like to live, Munich finds its way consistently at the top of the list. Within easy driving distance of the Alps, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, it's not surprising that everyone wants to live here! Add to its benefit the beautiful architecture, especially Baroque and Rococo, green countryside which starts a mere half hour away on the S-Bahn, the second largest university in Germany, and the greatest beer culture on the planet; could there be anything wrong with Munich? Yes and no. The Bavarians are very conservative (although, Munich itself traditionally has a Social Democratic municipal council), to the point of being reactionary. This can make it tough to get to know them, and at the very least, will lead to more than a few raised eyebrows at your ripped denim shorts.

There's a price to pay for living in a city where everyone else wants to be: Munich is the most expensive city in Germany. But all in all, its advantages make a visit more than worthwhile.

The people of Munich don't want their city to be recognized only as a city connected to beer and the Oktoberfest. In fact, the Bavarian Kings had their share to do with Munich becoming a city of arts and science in the 19th century. Its outstanding position among other German cities may have faded, especially due to Berlin becoming the German capital again in the 1990s, but Munich still remains Germany's number-one place for art, having been the home or birthplace of many famous writers, artists, architects, and musicians, including:

Egid Quirin Asam, François de Cuvilliés, Johann Michael Fischer, Albrecht Dürer, architects Barelli and Zuccalli (credited with bringing the Italian baroque style to Munich, a style that would become omnipresent throughout Bavaria), Leo von Klenze, Franz von Lenbach, Wassily Kandinsky and the artists of the Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) School of Expressionist art.

Thomas Mann and Lion Feuchtwanger are famous German writers that lived in Munich until they were driven out of the city by the Nazis because of their religion and/or political attitude.

Get in

By plane

Munich International Airport [2] (IATA: MUC; ICAO: EDDM) is the second biggest German airport and has two terminals. Terminal 2 is used by Lufthansa [3] and its partner airlines from Star Alliance [4]. All other airlines use the older Terminal 1. The Munich airport is located outside of Munich in a northeastern suburb. Due to the increased number of flights, the airport has expanded and now offers connections to most domestic airports in Germany, as well as many international airports elsewhere. Intercontinental destinations include Washington-Dulles, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, Doha, Bangkok and many others. If you are unable to fly to Munich directly, you can arrange a transfer via Frankfurt. Flight time from Frankfurt to Munich is about 35 minutes.

Munich Airport has been named the winner of the "Best Airport in Europe" award for the third year in a row in an international survey of close to eight million passengers worldwide. Passengers also ranked Munich #4 in the worldwide rankings behind Asian hubs.

The airport connects to central Munich by S-Bahn (commuter train) on the S1 and S8 line. The journey (single) by 2011 costs €10 (or €10.80 for a day pass) or €19.80 for a partner ticket which is valid for up to five people, a train runs every 5 to 20 minutes and it takes about 40 minutes to get to the central station. For more information see the get around section. Lufthansa also offers an hourly bus to/from the main train station that is comparably priced (travel time can vary as subject to traffic).

A slightly cheaper option to get to town is to buy a Tageskarte Außenraum (daypass for the city’s outskirts) (single: 5,40€, partner: 9,80€) and buy an additional single ticket (2,50€ per person) for the trip in the inner city. If travelling from the airport, the latter ticket only has to be validated in Feldmoching station, which means, that you can only travel using the S1 train. You’ll have to exit (or change for the subway) in Feldmoching. If travelling from downtown to the airport, you can just validate both tickets and the restriction does not apply anymore.

By train

Most major European cities connect to Munich by rail. Munich's Hauptbahnhof [5](main station) is conveniently located in the center of Munich. The Deutsche Bahn [6] uses Munich as one of its main German hubs and has good connections to neighboring countries (Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Italy) and to all southern German cities.

The main station is west of Marienplatz (two S-Bahn stations) or a short walk away from the city center. The main station also has a traveler-friendly infrastructure including several restaurants, a tourist's bureau and a Deutsche Bahn ticket and travel agency office.

By car

Highways from many directions lead to Munich, however they often get congested at peak times and on weekends, especially during the ski season. For day trips to Munich, it's probably best to leave your car in a Park&Ride car park (see the Get around section).

By bus

Another (more comfortable) possibility to travel to Munich from Czech Republic are shuttle bus (and private car) transfers. There are door-to-door shuttle bus services connecting Munich with Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. E.g. [ShuttleCeskyKrumlov.com]. One way to Cesky Krumlov costs ~ 1500 CZK (63 EUR).

Get around

The best way to travel around Munich is the Tram (streetcar), bus, S-Bahn (metro railway) and U-Bahn (subway) system. You can get individual, group, day and week tickets. The metro (U-Bahn) stations are signed with a white capital "U" on a blue background. S-Bahn stations are signed with a white "S" on green background. All S-Bahn lines come together in a tunnel in central Munich.

The Munich MVV website [7] has maps of the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn network that shows the zones and rings, and maps of the Park&Ride car parks attached to U-bahn stations (under the Pläne menu), as well as timetables. The official urban rail network map [8]is indispensable.

Single trips in a single zone such as the city center cost €2.30, but the four-zone journey from the airport is a whopping €10.40. Thus, if you arrive at the airport and intend to explore Munich by the public system, the best option is to buy a €10 Gesamtnetz whole-network day ticket. If you are not travelling alone, then purchase the group version ("Partner") of the ticket, allowing up to 5 adults to travel. This ticket will let you travel to and from the airport and all the S-Bahn and U-Bahn stops, as well as on the buses.

A day ticket is worth buying if you plan to take more than two trips on the same day. It's available in single person and group ("Partner") versions, the latter for up to five adults traveling together, and is valid until 6AM the next morning. The day card is available for four areas:

Area

Zone

Single

Group

Note

Inner district (Innenraum)

White

€5.20

€9.40

Enough to explore the city

Inner district (Innenraum) 3 Day card

White

€12.80

€22

Outer district (Außenraum)

Green, yellow, red

€5.20

€9.40

Does not cover city center

Munich XXL (München XXL)

White and green

€7

€12.30

Good for trips to the lakes and suburban destinations

Entire network (Gesamtnetz)

All

€10.40

€18.80

Allows travel to/from airport

If you are staying longer than 3 days in Munich, a good option is to buy a weekly ticket. The week ticket is valid from Monday to Monday. The price of the week ticket depends on the number of rings you want to travel during the week (starting from the center of the city). Almost all U-Bahn stations are within the rings 1-4.

For several journeys on different days the blue strip card (Streifenkarte), with 10 strips, is a better value than buying lots of individual tickets. The cost is €11.50, and may be purchased at dispensing machines at every station. You need to use two strips for each colored zone on the map. If you are making several trips a day, the day ticket is a better option.

If you plan to explore Munich and see all the sights and tourist attractions, buy the Munich CityTourCard[9]. It is a ticket valid for all public transport services in Munich and a discount card for many tourist attractions like museums, sightseeing, shopping or gastronomy. It is available in six versions (single and group tickets) and with validity for one or three days.

For individuals:

- valid for 1 day in the inner area of Munich for € 9.80

- valid for 3 days in the inner area of Munich for € 18.80

- valid for 3 days in the entire area of Munich for € 29.50

For groups up to five people:

- valid for 1 day in the inner area of Munich for € 16.00

- valid for 3 days in the inner area of Munich for € 29.90

- valid for 3 days in the entire area of Munich for € 48.00

A leaflet with information about the discount offers of the partners and a map of the city center and a plan of the metro-, suburban railway- and tram-network are included. It is available at the ticket vending machines in all suburban railway, metro, tram and bus stations. Furthermore you can buy the Munich CityTourCard at the MVG customer centrer as well as in selected hotels and online. [10]

All tickets, except for the weekly tickets must be stamped to be valid; without a stamp the ticket is invalid and you are can be fined €40 if you don't have a valid ticket. Stamping machines (Entwerter) are found at the entrance to the S-Bahn or U-Bahn platforms, and on the buses and trams. In most other German cities, passengers can validate tickets on the train; however, this is not the case in Munich, so be sure you validate your tickets before boarding any U-Bahn or S-Bahn train.

Public transportation operates with only limited service from 2AM to 5AM. The U-Bahn (subway) doesn't operate at all, and the tram and some buses operate only on the hour from Monday to Friday, and on the half hour on the weekend. On Friday, Saturday and nights before public holidays, there is a single S-Bahn on each line between 2:30AM and 3AM. So if you're staying out late, try to get the schedule of the so called Nachttram (night tram) in advance or don't leave the place before 5AM (or you can take a taxi of course).

If you plan on exploring Munich and Bavaria via regional trains, consider getting a Bayern Ticket [11], good on all regional trains within Bavaria, all Munich MVV transportation, and trains to Salzburg for up to five people for only €28 a day (solo travellers can purchase the Bayern Ticket Single for €20). The Bayern Ticket is good on any weekday after 9AM and on any weekend day (all day).

If you plan to travel on a weekend, exploring Munich and taking a regional Deutsche Bahn train to another city anywhere in Germany in the same day, consider getting a Deutsche Bahn Schoenes Wochenende ticket. This ticket covers all DB regional train travel and all Munich S-Bahn travel for up to five people for a single weekend day for €37.

Schönes-Wochenende-Tickets and Bayern-Tickets are only valid on regional train services (red) but not on IntercityExpress and Inter/Eurocity trains (white). Additionally, both tickets are valid on trains run by the BOB (Bayerische Oberlandbahn) and ALEX (Arriva-Länderbahn-Express).

By bike

With over 200km of bike trails, one of the very best ways to explore the city is on a bicycle. Guided tours are available, or for the independent-minded, rentals and maps are available at the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) and other areas of the city.

Bikes can also be rented by the Call-A-Bike system, which is run by Deutsche Bahn (national rail service). You need to call a number listed on the bikes from your mobile phone and register with the callabike.de website in order to use them. The service is convenient, as you just spot an available bike throughout the city and just leave it at your destination. However, this is not an economical alternative if you are planning many trips in a single day. In that case, it is better to get a day or multiday rental from one of the rental services located throughout central Munich.

- Mike's Bike Tour [12], located near the Hofbräuhaus, offers historical tours of the city.

- Discover Munich [13] offers free bike tours around Munich's old town and the Engish Garden.

- Free Bike Tour with Lenny- meet at Marienplatz everyday in the summer at 11 and 4 next to fountain.

Munich is a bike-friendly city that assigns many paths (especially along river Isar and in the parks, even in the city center) for joint usage by pedestrians and bikers alike. This is a notorious source of trouble since strollers tend to ignore the bike traffic to the detriment of everybody involved.

Virtual Tour

You can take a virtual tour to view the points of interest on City Panoramas Munich [14].

See

Museums and Galleries

- BMW Museum [15] — For a BMW enthusiast, this museum is a must see on your itinerary.

- Museum Brandhorst [16] — Most recent addition to Munich's museum district; a collection of modern and contemporary art (paintings, sculptures and installations) by Udo and Anette Brandhorst.

- City Museum of Munich [17] — Offers a fascinating insight into the diverse history of Munich. Houses eye-opening displays of war torn Munich as well as an excellent musical instruments museum and puppetry museum (both of which stand as exemplary collections on their own!). Seasonal exhibitions are also usually worthwhile.

- Deutsches Museum [18], located in Haidhausen. The Deutsches Museum is quite probably the largest technical museum in the world. It has a hands-on, interactive section for natural science, engineering, construction, etc. as well as an impressive collection of full-scale aerospace vehicles. Plan lots of time if you want to try and see everything, even the full eight open hours of the day is barely enough to even get around to all the exhibits, much less spend a significant amount of time in them. There is also a major transportation exhibition branch located near Theresienhöhe (above the Oktoberfest grounds), and another one housing the extensive airplane collection in Oberschleißheim near Schloss Schleißheim.

- German Theatre Museum — Founded around 100 years ago, the German Theatre Museum is full of memorabilia and offers an insight into the development of German Theatre.

- Glyptothek [19] — Antique Grecian sculpture collection housed in an impressive classical Greek building. Certainly worth a visit in the center of the museum district.

- Haus der Kunst [20] — An exhibition hall that flaunts its National Socialist architectural design, presents ever-changing graphic arts exhibitions.

- Lenbach House [21] — A gallery exhibiting numerous works of the Blauer Reiter school of German expressionist art (Kandinsky, Macke, Mark). Highly recommended.

- National Museum of Egyptian Art [22] — In the Royal Residence.

- National Bavarian Museum [23] — One of the most important cultural history museums in Europe, housing a large collection of European artifacts from the Middle Ages until early 20th century. There's a wide range of important antiques here, from medieval armor to pottery, from furniture to porcelain, and seasonally displaying the world's largest collection of nativity scene sets.

- Jewish Museum [24] — Newly opened museum at St. Jakobsplatz with one permanent exhibition which illuminates aspects of Jewish history and culture in Munich, and a range of changing exhibitions.

- Pinakotheken [25] — These are three very impressive art museums. The Alte Pinakothek features 15-18th century religious paintings, the Neue Pinakothek 19-20th century Impressionist and Expressionist art and the Pinakothek der Moderne has 20th century paintings, modern art, design and architecture sections.

- Schack Gallery [26] — A private collection of 19th Century, Late Romantic art. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10AM to 6PM, and until 8PM on the first and third Weds. of the month. Entrance is €4 for adults, €3 reduced, and just €1 on Sunday.

- The Treasury in the Munich Residenz [27] — A stunning collection of Bavarian Royal jewels, furniture and art.

- Villa Stuck [28] — A collection of Jugendstil art primarily by Franz von Stuck. Interesting seasonal exhibitions as well, all located in a well maintained historical mansion once owned by the artist including period furniture.

Finally, a thing to note about Museums in Munich. Most of the museums are shut on Mondays including the Dachau Concentration Camp. The Nyphemburg Castle and gardens as well as the Deutsche Museum are the only places open. BMW Welt, a state of the art BMW showroom is open for public visit, although the museum itself is shut. So the best way to plan your intinerary is to see the museums on any other day other than a Monday and keep Monday to explore the Bavarian region.

Parks

- Statue of the Bavaria, Theresienhöhe 16 (U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese), +49-89-290671, [29]. A nearly 20 m high statue, standing on the west border of Theriesienwiese next to the Hall of Fame. There is a small viewing platform inside her head. €3/€2.

- Englischer Garten [30] located in Schwabing. Entry is free, and it is a wonderful place to relax. Munich's second-biggest beer garden is located here and it is a nice place to stay and talk to the locals. Just drive to "Münchner Freiheit" or "Ostbahnhof" by S- or U-Bahn and take bus number 54 to "Chinesischer Turm".

- Riemer Park was built from the area of the 2005 German Garden Festival (BuGa 2005). This huge park with a lake remains a top recreation spot. On a hot day take U2 to Messestadt West and don't forget your swimsuit!

- Hirschgarten located in Neuhausen— Enjoy a drink amongst deer at Munich's biggest beer garden. With a capacity for over 8000, you only need to find out who is buying the drinks!

- Tierpark Hellabrunn (The Munich Zoo) [31] is in Thalkirchen— Even if you're not a zoo enthusiast, there is plenty to keep you interested at one of the world's largest zoos. See animals roaming in their natural habitats, take the little ones to the childrens zoo, and look up above in the large aviary. You can visit the zoo daily 8AM to 6PM (in winter 9AM-5PM); admission is €9 ($11) for adults, €6 ($7.20) for students and seniors, 4.50€ ($5.40) for children ages 4 to 14, and free for children 3 and under. To reach the park, you can take bus no. 52, leaving the Marienplatz, or U-Bahn U3 to Thalkirchen.

Palaces and Castles

- Schloss Nymphenburg [32] is in Neuhausen & Nymphenburg. Baroque palace that was the summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria. Also the 8,000-seat Hirschgarten beer garden is just around the corner.

- Residenz [33] is in the City Center, near to Marienplatz. Built in 1385, the Residenz was originally a small moated castle, and was gradually expanded by the Wittelsbach rulers who used it until 1918 as their residence and seat of government.

- Schloss Schleißheim [34] — Not really in Munich, but you can take the S1 S-Bahn to Oberschleißheim to get there. A jewel of Baroque architechture. Built during the reign of Elector Max Emanuel, it was intended as a Royal residence, though the Elector himself was forced into exile and never lived here. Building work begun in 1701 by Zuccalli and continued between 1719-26 by Joseph Effner the Younger. French architectural features are evident in the facade and the most impressive rooms are the Große Saal, the Viktoriensaal and the Große Galerie. Worth noting is a terrific 980-seat beer garden, Schlosswirtschaft Oberschleissheim, literally on the palace grounds.

- Schloss Dachau [35] — Also not in Munich. You might visit Dachau on your excursion to the concentration camp memorial anyway. Don't miss the opportunity to also check out the historic city center and the castle overlooking the area, with a nice view of Munich from the distance, and a small but beautiful flower garden. The people of Dachau will be grateful if you'll remember their town not only for the concentration camp that Hitler had built here.

Do

Festivals

- Oktoberfest, [36]. — The first Oktoberfest took place on the 12 October 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. All citizens of Munich were invited to a meadow (Wies'n) situated in front of the city tower, subsequently renamed the Theresienwiese in honor of the bride. In the early years of the fair, horse races were held, then as the event grew, included agricultural conventions, which still take place every third year. In 1896, businessmen working with the breweries in Munich built the first giant beer tents at Oktoberfest, and drinking has been the primary focus since. Each of the major breweries presides over its own large tent filled with traditional musicians leading the crowd in well-known drinking chants, incredibly strong barmaids hoisting ten or more huge Maß (1-liter glass beer mugs that are heavy even when empty!), and a spate of drunken people all trying to get into the bathroom at once. In 2003, Oktoberfest hosted 6.4 million visitors who drank 6.1 million liters of beer and ate the equivalent of 91 oxen, 383,000 sausages and 630,000 chickens. However, visiting the Oktoberfest can be much more stressful than the visit of similar festivals (Cannstatter Wasen, Wurstmarkt Bad Dürkheim, etc.), because the tents are overcrowded and there are doormen at the entrance ruling the procedure of coming in. Especially at weekends you should try to get in the tents before 10AM. During the week, most tents are open all day, however it is not easy to get a seat and as a general rule, you won't get served if you haven't got a seat. It is not recommended to leave the tent if you want to get in it later the day. So you have to decide early in the morning if you want to go in a certain tent or you want to enjoy the rides like the coaster with 5 loops. Some tents, such as the Hofbräu Festzelt have a standing area that do not require seating; as such, you can sometimes get into this tent later than with other ones. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy your beer any time at the open air tables besides the beer tents. You won't experience the typical beer tent atmosphere with Bavarian oompah music though. An alternative is "Das Wiesnzelt am Stiglmaierplatz". The historic Löwenbräukeller is about 2km away from the Oktoberfest and offers Wiesn-atmosphere without the usual closing time, all other tents are bound to.

- Maibaumaufstellung [37] — On the 1st of May (which is a public holiday in Germany) strange things happen in some Upper Bavarian villages and even in Munich... Men in Lederhosn and girls in Dirndln carrying long poles meet on the central square. With these poles an even longer white-blue pole is erected. There is usually an oompah band playing, booths selling food and drinks and tables where you can sit down and enjoy this non-touristy spectacle. The large white-blue pole you find in almost every village and dozens in Munich (e.g. on the Viktualienmarkt) is called Maibaum (meaning may tree - known in English as a maypole) and the villages compete who has the tallest and the straightest one. It is cut down every three to five years and re-erected in the following year. Ask a local which village or district of Munich does it this year and be there not later than 10AM. There's several traditions revolving around maypoles, like the dance of the unmarried men and women. The weeks before May 1st, each village has to guard its maypole, because if some other village manages to steal it, they'll have to buy it back. Usually with beer...

- Tollwood [38] — In summer in the Olympic park, in winter on Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest area), these 3-week festivals combine ethnic food, souvenir shops, concerts and theater, and they are very popular among the locals.

- Christkindlmarkt / Christkindltram — see extra section below.

Theater, Opera, and Music

Munich has many theatres showing different plays:

- Residenztheater— Variety of classical and modern plays.

- Nationaltheater — Shows ballet and opera performances almost every night. The Bavarian National Opera Company is said by critics to be one of the best in the world!

- Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz— Smaller than the National Theater, this is a very good alternative for interesting productions of operas, operettas and musicals. Tickets are generally still available on short notice, even when the big opera houses have been sold out for weeks.

- Deutsches Theater— More musicals and theme shows (like MAMA MIA!, etc).

- Kammerspiele which often surprises viewers with very modern (and sometimes shocking) interpretations of famous plays.

- Volkstheater is somewhere between Bavarian Folklore and modern theater.

If you want to see a movie, keep in mind that foreign movies are normally dubbed with German voices. Adverts will generally indicate if the movie will be shown in its original version (i.e., no overdubbing) with the abbreviations OF (Original version), OmU (Original with German subtitles), and OmeU (original with English subtitles). In the movie theater right next to subwaystation Stiglmaierplatz, named "Cinema" [39], they play all movies in the original language. Other options are the "Museums Lichtspiele" [40] or the big Multiplex cinema "Mathäser" [41] at Stachus, which usually show 1-2 movies in their original version. A listing of most films shown in Munich can be found here: [42].

Sport

- River-Surfing [43] — In spring, join the locals surfing on the river at the edge of the Englischer Garten, at the bridge towards Lehel U-bahn station.

- Skiing/Snowboarding — In winter, get a "Bayern ticket" for Bavarian public transport, and go skiing at Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the day. Autobus Oberbayern [44] offers good value daytrips to Austrian ski resorts such as Kaltenbach (Zillertal) [45], St. Johann [46] and Matrei [47].

- Football — From August to May, you can catch football (soccer) action with FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich at Allianz Arena.

- FC Bayern [48] in English, [49] in German, [50] in Japanese, and [51] in Chinese.

- TSV 1860 Munich [52].

- Hockey - EHC Munich [53]. The local professional hockey club in Munich. They play at the Olympic ice arena in Olympic Park.

Learn

- Munich Business School [54], Elsenheimerstraße 61 0687 München, tel +49 89 5476780.

- Ludwig Maximilians University [55], Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, tel +49 (0)89 / 2180 - 0.

- Technical University of Munich [56] Technische Universität München, Arcisstraße 21, D-80333 Munich.

- Munich University of Applied Sciences [57], Hochschule München, University of Applied Sciences - München, Lothstr. 34, D-80335 München.

- Academy of Fine Arts [58].

- Goethe Institut [59] — The Goethe Institut offers courses in German for anyone. The Goethe Institut offers several intensive courses and will find accommodation for students.

Buy

Pick up a free copy of the Haben & Sein magazine (also on www) to get latest information of shopping in Munich.

- Maximilianstrasse / Residenzstrasse / Theatinerstrasse — These streets around the Opera (Nationaltheater) in the city center are the place to go if you are looking for high end luxury goods. All of the usual international suspects and some local designers are present. A few art galleries are left despite the high rents.

- Kaufingerstrasse / Neuhauserstrasse — This pedestrian zone stretches from Karlsplatz/Stachus to Marienplatz and is the primary shopping zone for mid-priced goods. Numerous department stores, chain and a few remaining independent boutiques line the corridor. The side streets are less crowded and offer some less homogenized shopping. Plenty of restaurants, open air cafes and beer gardens offer the weary tourist a rest. Foot traffic is amongst of the highest of any shopping zone worldwide. Warning: during the summer and on Saturdays, this area will be jam packed with locals and tourists alike and can be unpleasantly crowded.

- Shopping Centers — For a collection of shops under one roof, go to the shopping centres PEP (U-Bahn stop: Neuperlach Zentrum, U5), OEZ (U-bahn stop Olympia-Einkaufszentrum, U1 and U3), Riem Arkaden (U-Bahn stop Messestadt Ost, U2) or the brandnew and pleasantly uncrowded MIRA (U-bahn stop Dülferstrasse, U2)

- Hohenzollernstrasse — This street has a collection of clothes shops, such as: Mazel, Vero Moda and especially during the summer in the months approaching the Oktoberfest, numerous shops selling comparatively cheap traditional German clothing (Lederhos'n and Dirnd'l). You can reach it by getting out at the U2 stop Hohenzollernstr and then walking in the direction of Münchner Freiheit (the locals will be able to tell you which direction that is,) or by going one stop on the 53 bus going towards Münchner Freiheit (that's the final stop, displayed on the front of the bus). From then on continue going in that direction, until you start seeing the shops. You can walk down there in about 15 minutes, and that then brings you to the next shopping zone.

- Leopoldstrasse — This busy boulevard can be reached by the U-bahn U6 or U3 at the stops Münchner Freiheit, Giselastraße or Universität, and has chain stores such as The Body Shop, fast food joints, inexpensive restaurants, cinemas, sidewalk cafes and for the truly adventurous coffee shops, such as Starbucks. In the side streets you can find a wide selection of boutiques and lesser known local designers. On warm summer evenings along the sidewalks dozens of local artists will be showing and selling their works.

- Gärtnerplatzviertel — The area around beautiful Gärtnerplatz (U-Bahn stop Marienplatz or Frauenhoferstrasse, U2) is a haven for vintage lovers. You can find local designers and other quirky shops.

- Schellingstrasse — The neighbourhood around the main university campus (U-Bahn stop Universität, U3/U6) offers nice studenty clothes shops, hip cafés and eats (e.g. the Pommes Boutique in Amalienstrasse with their fantastic Belgian fries [60])

Markets

- Viktualienmarkt[61] — Famous market in the city centre, where you will find any imaginable sort of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, spices, and so on. Also plenty of places to get a quick bite to eat as well as its own little biergarten when the weather's warm enough.

- Elisabethmarkt[62] — A smaller and less touristy (i.e. cheaper) market, it has cute stalls, a good selection of fruits, vegetables and delicacies, a quaint beergarten seasonally and an original feel. It is located at the tram stop Elisabethplatz of the tram 27. This is a good starting point to explore the less commercial parts of Schwabing, there are quite a few interesting boutiques and designers on Elisabethstrasse between Elisabethplatz and Leopoldstrasse.

Christmas Markets

During Christmas time, there are many of these Christkindl Märkte, or Christmas Markets [63], including the large Tollwood, but also smaller markets, where you can buy Christmas biscuits (Lebkuchen), souvenirs, and the typical Glühwein. Although pronounced glue-vine, it is mainly hot red wine with spices and different (secret) flavouring.

- Münchner Freiheit — There is an artisan market at the subway stop in Schwabing.

- Marienplatz — A bigger market, very commercial, it stretches across the shopping street, so you can mix Christmas market shopping (and eating) with "normal" shopping. If you walk south towards Sendlinger Tor, you'll reach more traditional woodcarvers' stands.

- Chinesischer Turm at Englischer Garten has a nice Christmas market in a pretty park surrounding. Highly recommended if there's snow! It can conveniently be reached from U/Bus station Münchner Freiheit on the Bus 54, which has a stop Chinesischer Turm.

- Wittelsbacher Platz — Close to Odeonsplatz, there is a medieval Christmas market where you can buy medieval clothes, food and drinks, swords / bows, and arrows and watch the performances of medieval dances and music.

- Residence courtyard — A Christmas town with fairytale stories for kids.

- Christkindltram [64] — A Christmas tram that runs only during Advent through the city center every half an hour (departure is from Sendlingertor). The tram is nicely decorated, where people can enjoy Christmas songs and mulled wine (Glühwein). One-way ticket costs €1.50.

Seasonal and Flea Markets

Throughout the city one finds occasional markets that are well worth the visit when they are taking place and a Saturday-morning must when the sun is shining!. The flea markets in Munich can be exceptional in that they are generally genuine private citizens selling their unwanted belongings with a minimum of commercial interest. In addition to the weekly offerings, you'll find several neighborhood 'courtyard fleamarkets' events in the summer months.

- Auer Dult [65] are week-long market/fests that take place 3 times a year (Spring, Summer and Autumn) in Haidhausen primarily dealing in household goods and antiques but also offering beer and amusement rides. Definitely try to see this if you haven't seen Oktoberfest!

- Theresienwiese[66] This has to be the largest annual fleamarket in Europe, taking place on the first Saturday of the Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival - occurs in the middle of April) on the same site as the Oktoberfest, there are generally several thousand citizens offering up their second-hand goods while dealers of new wares are forbidden! A yearly highlight for fleamarket and antique lovers if the weather is reasonable.

- Hofflohmärkte This is where particular Munich city quarters encourage their residents to open up their courtyards whereby entire sections of the city become a combination flea market and private courtyard siteseeing - very interesting for viewing corners of the city one usually would not see. Event dates are coordinated by the city; inquire at local information centers for dates.

- Messegelände Riem [67] At the site of the former airport, where in recent years the new convention grounds and residential neighborhood has bloomed, one also finds the current longest running weekly fleamarket. Although it's at the edge of town, the underground U2 will take you almost directly there. Saturdays 6AM-4PM (provided there is no convention fair taking place!)

- Olympiapark [68] Fine weekly flea market throughout the year, breaking only when there are Olympia Stadium events. Taking place in the nicely tree-shaded parking lot of the stadium on Fridays and Saturdays from 7AM to 4PM.

Eat

Visitors can count themselves lucky (or possibly unlucky) since Munich is home to everything quintessentially Bavarian. Munich is specifically well-known for Weißwurst, a breakfast sausage that is traditionally eaten as a late breakfast along with a Weissbier (literally 'white beer', made with wheat) and available in restaurants until noon (and not a second later!). Weißwurst are prepared in hot but non-boiling water for about ten minutes and served with a brown, grainy and sweet mustard. If you are able to just enjoy one meal in Munich you should try Schweinsbraten (roasted pork) or Schweinshaxe (roasted pig's knuckle). If you want to get to know the real Munich then don't miss to visit the Donisl which is on the Marienplatz. It's not as famous as the Hofbräuhaus but it's a real insider tip.

If you only fancy a snack, almost every butcher sells Leberkässemmeln, a white roll filled with a thick warm slice of "Leberkäse". Which, despite its name contains absolutely no liver nor cheese, but consists of a mixture of veal, pork, spices and a hint of lemon zest baked in an open pan and traditionally served with a sweet and grainy mustard. They tend to be very cheap (around €1.50), quite delicious, and filling.

Don't miss enjoying some of the truly marvelous Bavarian/Austrian style cakes and tortes by the slice in any of the countless bakeries and cafes. Regardless of where you enjoy them, they are all traditionally made with fine quality all natural ingredients. The same applies for the amazing range of bread which can be bought at any bakery. Not to be missed as a snack are the soft pretzels ("Brezn").

If Bavarian food doesn't sound appetizing, you're in luck because Munich is host to plenty of other international restaurants including, among others; Afghan, Chinese, French, Indian, Irish, Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish and Turkish, as well as the typical American fast food.

Despite all the local dishes which are meat based, it is possible to get vegetarian food in some of the main restaurants and indeed there are some Vegetarian restaurants in Munich (one of which is very "upscale").

Munich also has numerous fresh markets, which can be a tasty, expedient and inexpensive alternatives to restaurants (see the Buy section for market listings).

Drink

If you happen to be unfortunate enough to miss Oktoberfest, you can live through a sanitized, safer version at any of Munich's many beer gardens. The Hofbräuhaus may be the most famous beer hall. There are countless beer gardens scattered around the city. For those competent beer drinkers, try Starkbierfest after Lent lasting till before Easter. The beer is darker and stronger than normal (even than Oktoberfest beer).

The coffee culture is also very strong, especially during the summer months, but is often overlooked by most visitors.

Beer gardens and beer halls

Usually located under large chestnut trees (Kastanienbäume) for shade. Often there are rows of fold-away tables and self-service. If you see tablecloths on some tables there is normally service only there. In a traditional Bavarian beer garden, you are allowed to bring your food along with you. Only beverages (usually one litre mugs of local beer or Radler which is a half and half mix of beer and lemonade) are to be bought at the beer garden. Many locals still cling to this custom, though food is available as well. Try Riesenbrezn (big pretzels) and Steckerlfisch (cured fish). Beer gardens are usually visited by a mixed crowd of people (locals, tourists, families, younger, elderly, straight, gay etc.) which the special atmosphere of a beer garden arises from; though people normally don't go alone there. If you don't manage to find a free table, don't hesitate to ask if you may join someone. No local would refuse this request. Beer gardens are family friendly, with children's play areas on site. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, on leash.

Beer gardens in the suburbs

- Hirschgarten — Europe’s biggest beer garden with 8000 seats. Its most prominent feature (apart from the size) is a mini-zoo with deer and wild boars. To get there, take the S-Bahn to Hirschgarten.

- Kugleralm — In this traditional beer garden, the Radler (mixture half beer half lemonade) was invented in 1922, when lots of cyclists rushed into this beer garden on a hot summer day. When they ran out of beer, they diluted it with lemonade, telling the people this mix was invented especially for cyclists (Radler in Bavarian), because it does not contain so much alcohol. Take the S5 to Furth. You have to walk about 15 minutes in western direction. Ask a local for the exact way, on a nice day there will be many heading in the same direction.

- Michaeligarten — This beer garden is in eastern Munich, in the Michaelipark, near the Michaelibad. To get there, take the U5 and exit Michaelibad. Take the front, right hand exit, walk along the street. Turn right at the next intersection, the go straight for about 5 minutes.

- Waldwirtschaft — As this beer garden is located near Munich's high-society area Grünwald, chances are good to see at least a local celebrity. No oompha bands but live jazz music. Take S7 to Großhesslohe (Isartalbahnhof). Walk down the Sollner Straße in eastern direction to the river Isar.

Clubs and Discos

You have to be at least 18 years old to get into most clubs and discos in Munich. Always have your passport or ID card with you, and a driver's licence may be okay, too. Some clubs have "Ü30-Parties", where you should be over 30 to get in, but usually you have no problems if you are over 25. In most places, it is ok to wear jeans and sneakers. Haidhausen is the popular nightlife district being home to Munich "Kultfabrik" and "Optimolwerk" clubbing neighborhoods.

Other Munich barsorclubs

- Nerodom, Ganghoferstraße 74, + 49 (0)89 721 27 05 [69]. Nerodom is Munich's only full-time "black club". That's Goth, Wave, Industrial, Electro, Medieval, Black Metal, depending on the day. All other "black events" are usually once a week or once a month, and can be found online at Schwarzes München [70].

- Klangwelt, Landsbergerstr. 169 [71]. Located south-west to the central station. The entrance fee is between €7 and €10. 3 dance floors on 3000 square meters, 3 different music styles. Open only on Saturday nights.

- Pub Crawl Munich, [72]. A guided party tour for toursits across bars and clubs in Munich. Every Tuesday, there is a tour at Karlsplatz (Stachus), every Friday & Saturday at the Marienplatz. Besides discounts on drinks & food, participants gets free shots and free admission in every location on the tour. The entrance fee is €14 (group discounts in some hostels).

Sleep

Munich abounds with accommodation for every type of traveler. The area directly around the Hauptbahnhof (train station) has numerous youth hostels, and upscale hotels like Le Meridien and Sofitel. Schillerstraßer just a hundred meters away has many small hotels too; the street looks fine in the day, but the strip bars and cabarets become much more visible at night. There are also plenty of hotels and youth hostels in other districts of Munich particularly Schwabing and the Ostbahnhof area. Be aware that the fares can vary significantly. Usually you have to pay higher prices during the summer months. Finding affordable accommodation might be difficult when there are trade fairs in the town and especially during the 2 weeks of the Oktoberfest. Please see district articles.

Munich is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.

Hotels by Munich Airport. Marriott Hotel, Alois-steinecker Strasse 20, Munich Airport, D-85354, Germany [73]

Budget

- HI Munich Park, Miesingstr. 4, 81379 München (in the green south of Munich, metro station Thalkirchen/Zoo)), [74]. modern youth hostel 19-60 EUR.

- A & O Hostel, Arnulfstr. 102, 80636 München (one station away from the main station.(10 min. walk to Theresienwiese)), +49 (0)89 45 23 59 - 58 00 (reception@aohostels.com), [75]. classical backpacker hostel 12-160 EUR.

- Euro Youth Hostel, Senefelderstr. 5, Munich, 80336 (100 m from Hauptbahnhof / main train station), +49 (0)89 5990 8811, [76]. Rooms and facilites are well maintained and staff are friendly and attentive. Very good location. Lively Bar and free wi-fi in all areas.

- Jaeger's Hostel, (Near train station.), [77]. Several similar places on the same block. Clean and comfortable lodgings, with a simple breakfast served each day. Great place to meet other travellers.

- Meininger Hotel Munich City Center, Landsberger Str. 20 (S-Bahn: Hackerbruecke), tel. +49 89 420 956 053 (fax: +49 30 666 36 222), [78]. Double Rooms start at €31 per person, dormitory starts at €16.

- wombats CITY HOSTEL Munich, Senefelderstraße 1, Munich, 80336, +49/89/5998 918-0 (office@wombats-munich.de), [79]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM. Social hostel that is centrally located, and offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast, a bar which serves cheap drinks and food, internet terminals, laundromats, 24 hours reception service and no lockout. Recommended. 12,00-60,00 Euro.

Mid-range

- Cosmopolitan Hotel, Hohenzollernstrasse 5 (Munich Schwabing), +49 (0) 89 3838 10 (res.cosmopolitan@geisel-privathotels.de), [80]. The city hotel is centrally located in the heart of Schwabing, corner Leopoldstrasse. Only a 5 minute walk to the English garden. The breakfast will be served as a buffet and guests can use the wireless Internet for free.

- Hotelissimo Haberstock Swiss Quality Hotel, München, D-80336, (munich@hotelissimo.com, fax: +49 (0)89 550 36 34). Completely renovated in 2003, 200m from railway station and 300m to city center. Single room from EUR 89 Double room from 119 EUR (low season 2009).

- K+K Hotel am Harras, Albert-Rosshaupter-Str. 4, +49-89-74 64 00 (info@kkhotels.de, fax: +49-89-721 28 20), [81]. K+K Hotel am Harras hotel is located south-west of Munich’s centre, nearby the St Margaret churchesand the Stemmerhof with its health food stores and cafés. The hotel is well connected to the public transport system, with rail and subway stations just across the road.

- NH Deutscher Kaiser, Arnulfstrasse 2, 80335 Munich. Located at the foot of the centratal station, this hotel wins points for location, but quite a soulless hotel although the staff are attentive.[82]

- Hotel Präsident, Schwanthalerstr. 20, 089/549006-0, [83]. Pleasant 3 star hotel that offers a charming ambiance and business travel facilities.

- Non-Smoking Hotel Royal, Schillerstr. 11A 80336 München, +49 89 59988160 (info@hotel-royal.de), [84]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Non-smoking hotel with free wi-fi internet and free premiere movie channel ( German & english ). Central location and only a few minutes to walk from pedestrian area, Marienplatz, Hofbräuhaus and the Oktoberfest-grounds. 24 hour reception.

- Hotel Wallis, Schwanthalerstrasse 8, 089/5490290, [85]. Don't let the austere facade fool you, the Hotel Wallis is quite charming inside. With bedrooms are small, they are furnished in a toned down Alpine-village style. Breakfast is served daily.

Splurge

- Anna Hotel, Schützenstrasse 1 (Munich Centre), +49 (89) 59 99 4-0 (res.anna@geisel-privathotels.de), [86]. The design hotel is directly located at the Karlsplatz / Stachus. Only 500 m away from the main station and a 10 minuteswalk through the pedestrian zone to the Marienplatz. All rooms are designed to not leave anything to be desired. The bar at the anna hotel has become a hot spot for hotel guests and locals alike.

- Hotel Astor, Schillerstr. 24 80336 München, +49 89 54837. This four star hotel takes care of the details, such as offering a free internet station in the lobby, free bicycle hire and an Italian bistro serving homemade culinary delights. A cozy lounge is available for smokers, and wireless LAN is available in all rooms at no extra charge. Breakfast buffet is served daily.

- Hotel Excelsior, Schützenstrasse 11 (Munich Centre), +49 (0) 89 55 137-0 (res.excelsior@geisel-privathotels.de), [87]. The first class hotel is centrally located, next to the main station (150m) and only a 10 minute walk through the pedestrian zone to the Marienplatz. The breakfast is offered as a buffet and does not leave anything to be desired. Free wireless Internet is provided.

- Hotel Königshof, Karlsplatz 25 (Munich Centre), +49 (0) 89 55 136-0 (res.koenigshof@geisel-privathotels.de), [88]. The luxury hotel is located directly at the Karlsplatz / Stachus. Only 500 m away from the main station and a 10 minute walk through the pedestrian zone to the Marienplatz. Aside from the spacious rooms, hotel guests can expect a champagne breakfast in the gourmet restaurant Königshof, which is awarded with 1 Michelin star.

- Mandarin Oriental, Neuturmstrasse 1, 80331 Munich, 49 (89) 290 980. It was awarded the accolade of being one of the world's top ten hotels by Travel and Leisure, and having a Michelin star awarded to Mark's restuarant, the Mandarin Oriental exceeds all expectations. Furnished with a Neo-Renaissance charm, each of its 73 rooms displays personalized touches. They are some of the largest hotel rooms in the city. The indulgence is well worth it.

- Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, Maximilianstrasse 17 (Munich Centre), +49 (0) 89 2125-0 (reservations.vierjahreszeiten@kempinski.com), [89]. The Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich is an elegant grand hotel with 150 years of tradition. Its central location on Maximilianstrasse, the address for exclusive boutiques and theatres, as well as the nearby opera house, will make your stay very special.

Camping

There are four camping sites in the city of Munich with many more out of the city .[90].

- Campingplatz Obermenzing [91] — Situated near the end of the A8 motorway.

- Campingplatz Thalkirchen — A nice site to the south of the city, about 2km walk from Thalkirchen U-bahn station. The Site is also situated by numerous beer gardens.

- Campingplatz Nord-West [92], Near Ludwigsfeld, about 1.5km west from the Fasanerie S bahn stop.

- Campingplatz Langwieder See [93].

Stay safe

Munich is generally a safe city for travelers: it is one of the safest German cities overall. Take the usual precautions (such as don't walk in parks alone at 3AM, don't leave your camera unattended, and don't flash around a big fat wallet) and you will most likely not encounter any crime at all. But be warned about testing your maximum level of alcohol intoxication, made easy by the local beer culture, the accessibility of alcohol, and the fact that you're allowed to drink in public. Being drunk will raise your chances of inciting a fight or injuring yourself dramatically. Munich is an international city, so you are unlikely to encounter problems because you're a foreigner.

Respect

When using escalators, people in Munich usually reserve the right side of the moving staircase for standing and the left side for people walking up the stairs. Standing still on the left side will certainly make people irritated and flag you as a tourist or a fool. It would also be wise to use common sense while entering the subway, don't block people when the subway door opens. Take one step back and let people get off first and you won't make people irritated.

Get out

The trains S8 and S1 both go to the airport from Marienplatz S-Bahn station, but be careful because the S1 line splits into two separate trains at "Neufahrn" just before the airport so be sure that you are riding in the section that is actually going to the airport, which is always the last part of the train. If you find yourself in the wrong car, just wait until Neufahrn and change into the last part of the train.

The Bayern Ticket is an amazingly cheap way to do day trips from Munich. With it you can travel anywhere in Bavaria on the regional trains all day (only from 9AM weekdays). It costs €28 for a group of up to 5 people, and €20 for a single [94]. Make sure you buy it from the machines as there is a €2 surcharge if you buy it from the ticket office. There is also the Schönes Wochenende Ticket which is valid everywhere in Germany and even a fair way into the Czech Republic, but it is only valid on weekends. It costs €37 for a group of up to 5 and is also restricted to the regional trains.

- Dachau and Starnberg make for great day trips. Starnberg offers a great lake, where the King Ludwig II and his psychiatrist mysteriously drowned.

- Andechs Monastery— If you miss the Oktoberfest, it is worth travelling to the holy mountain of Andechs. It's a monastery up a hill from the Ammersee. Take the S5 from Munich to Herrsching and then either hike up the hill or take the bus. When you are there have a look at the old monastery church and the gardens before focusing on the excellent beer and Schweinshaxen in the beer garden or in the large beer hall. Makes a great day trip which can also be combined with some swimming the Ammersee. The hiking trail is unlit, and a good 30-45 minutes. After dark, a flashlight is mandatory.

- Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. About 1.5 hours by regional train (from the Munich Hautpbahnhof) or by car via Autobahn. The cog railway train to the top of the Zugspitze leaves regularly from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station.

- Salzburg, Austria, is an easy day trip from Munich. Trains run from the main Munich station just about every hour, and take about 1.5 hours. The Bayern Ticket is valid all the way to Salzburg.

- Nuremberg — It was here that the some of the leaders of the Nazi regime faced justice. Nuremberg offers a lot of history for visitors. (Comment by a "local": when asking for it, preferably use the German name Nürnberg, the English name Nuremberg is usually unknown).

- Füssen is nestled in the Alps of southern Bavaria. A train from Munich's main station will take about two hours with one transfer at Buchloe (purchase the Bayern-Ticket option mentioned above which is valid for the train and bus journey to the castle). The town is famous for King Ludwig II's "fairy-tale castle" Neuschwanstein. It also houses the castle where Ludwig II grew up (Hohenschwangau). If you go there, buy a combined ticket for both castles. Neuschwanstein is a must-see, but Hohenschwangau is historically more interesting, and the tour is so much better. Not only because there's less tourists and ergo more time, but also the guides are more knowledgeable and speak better English. There's a third castle, Linderhof, but it's further away and difficult to reach without a car (about 1h drive, passing through Austria). If you have a rental car, it's definitely worth the trip, and the trip itself is spectacularly beautiful, landscape-wise.

- Oberammergau is a small town of unusual houses with brothers Grimm fairy-tale paintings on the walls.

- Bad Reichenhall - A lovely spa town near Munich.

- Nordlingen - A beautiful medieval town in a meteorite crater surrounded by a 14th century wall. Along the Romantic Road.

- Chiemsee - Bavarias largest lake (with a castle on an island named Herreninsel built by King Ludwig II, and a monastery built on the other island, named Fraueninsel) is only one hour away.

District City Center Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Churches

Museums and galleries

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Breweries

Clubs and Discos

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
toc

Marienplatz station, immediately under the Neues Rathaus in the heart of the city center, is served by all S-Bahn lines as well as U-Bahn lines U3 and U6.

See
toc

- Neues Rathaus/Glockenspiel— During the summer, a curious sight appears every morning in Marienplatz. Hundreds of tourists begin craning their necks skyward (and it's obvious they are tourists, because the locals are all darting back and forth between the halted masses trying to cross the square and get their errands done!) to see the Glockenspiel work its magic on the front facade of the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall). As the automated clockwork figures come out to dance, the bells play and the tourists gape. But the Glockenspiel is truly a piece of art, it was built of handmade parts long before automation was the buzzword of the day, and it's still entrancing. There is also a view point in one of its towers (entrance fee €4).

- Mariensäule— Is a golden statue located in the middle of Marienplatz. The statue was built in honor of the Virgin Mary to celebrate the sparing of the city from the Swedes.

- Feldherrenhalle (Field Marshal's Hall) [1]. At Odeonsplatz. Built between 1841 and 1844 by Friedrich von Gärtner at the behest of King Ludwig I of Bavaria after the example of the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. The Feldherrnhalle was a symbol of the honours of the Bavarian Army.

- Altes Rathaus— Built in 1474 and rebuilt after World War II to its original state. Today it houses a toy museum (Spielzeugmuseum). Outside you will find a statue of Juliet (Romeo's Juliet) which is a present by Munich's twin town Verona.

Churches
toc

- Asamkirche— Rococo architect and sculptor Egid Quirin Asam built this amazingly ornate church right next door to his own house. His brother, Cosmas Damian, did all the frescoes. The church is dedicated to St John Nepomuk, a Bohemian monk was thrown into the river Vltava from Charles Bridge in Prague at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia. The Asamkirche, completed in 1746, glitters like a row of diamonds and is best seen by candlelight, especially at the yearly Christmas Eve service, replete with Bavarian singers in the choir stall.

- Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) — The Frauenkirche is topped by two copper onion-domed towers recognizable from a distance. Instead of adding sculptural ornamentation in carved stone to the exterior like other typical Gothic churches, the Frauenkirche differs from all contemporary churches in its plain brick simplicity. The church was completed in 1488. The legendary Teufelstritt, or devil's footstep, stems from the large amount of light inside the Frauenkirche that seems to come from nowhere thanks to the large columns that block the view of the windows. According to legend, Jörg of Halspach made a deal with the devil that he could build a church that had a spot where not a single window could be seen from. From the vestibule, looking down the center aisle (as long as the high Baroque altar covered the windows at the very back of the church) there appeared to be no windows at all. The devil stamped his foot in a fit of pique, leaving his "footprint" on a paving stone immediately inside the entrance. Another version tells that this is where the devil stood when he curiously regarded and ridiculed the windowless church that Halsbach had built. In fact, it is a large casting in the square base plate, and none of the side windows can be seen from the spot when one looks to the high altar.The stone is readily visible because it is mustard yellow rather than red and grey like the other tiles. Right to the entrance is a monumental tomb of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria, the work of Hans Krumpper.

- Michaelskirche— The largest Renaissance church north of the Alps was built between 1583-1599 thanks to Duke Wilhelm V, called The Pious. Despite nearly bankrupting Bavaria, Munich was left with an amazingly beautiful structure that houses an extremely unified iconographic program. "Iconographic program" is just an art term for the overall organized progression of religious images that corresponds to a theme. In the church crypt are the tombs of many members of Wittelsbach dynasty, including that of the "mad king" Ludwig II.

- Peterskirche. Munich's first parish church was started in the twelfth century, but ongoing additions and renovations have kept artists busy for centuries. During a city fire in 1327, the church was damaged and in 1607, the tower (called Alter Peter) was struck by lightning. The side altars, which have already been renovated, are accessible, as is the immense, multi-columned gilded marble main altar. At the back of the church is a Lourdes grotto tucked under the choir loft stairs, as well as an educational display which shows step by step how a fresco is made (paint is applied to wet plasterwork, which dries as an integrated unit of base and color). Climb up the 306 steps inside the tower to have a nice view over the city center (€1,50/€1,00).

- Theatinerkirche— Located to the north of the city center on Odeonsplatz. The church is beautifully ornate and is probably the most eye catching building, because its architecture departs dramatically from the rest of Munich's buildings. The church was built as a thanks to God for the birth of Maximilian II Emanuel, the son of Wittelsbach ruler, Ferdinand Maria.

Museums and galleries
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- Residenz, Residenzstraße 1, +49 (089) 2 90 67-1 (ResidenzMuenchen@bsv.bayern.de, fax: +49 (089) 2 90 67-2 25), [2]. Apr - 15 Oct: Daily: 9AM-6PM, 16 Oct - Mar: Daily 10AM-4PM. The Schatzkammer (Treasury) within the Residenz has one of the best collections of ecclesiastical treasures in Europe, not to mention the royal insignia of Bavaria (crowns, orb, scepter, etc). The Antiquarium has the largest Renaissance room north of the Alps, and the Ahnengalerie (Ancestral Portrait Gallery) has a Wittelsbach family portrait collection. There is also a series of Rococo rooms by Cuvilliés. Combined admission for treasury and museum: Adults: € 9, Reduced: € 8.

- Residenz Museum, Residenzstraße 1, +49 (089) 2 90 67-1 (ResidenzMuenchen@bsv.bayern.de, fax: +49 (089) 2 90 67-2 25), [3]. Apr - 15 Oct: Daily: 9AM-6PM, 16 Oct - Mar: Daily: 10AM-4PM. Step in to the life of royalty in this museum dedicated to showing off the furniture and housewares of the royal family of many generations ago. Adults: € 6, Reduced: € 5.

- Schatzkammer (Treasury), Residenzstraße 1, +49 (089) 2 90 67-1 (ResidenzMuenchen@bsv.bayern.de, fax: +49 (089) 2 90 67-2 25), [4]. Apr - 15 Oct: Daily: 9AM-6PM, 16 Oct - Mar: Daily: 10AM-4PM. The crown jewels, golden works of art and much more. Adults: € 6, Reduced: € 5.

- Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1 (''S-bahn station Isartor, then follow signs, alternatively U-bahn Fraunhoferstrasse''), +49 (089) 2179-1 (information@deutsches-museum.de, fax: +49 (089) 2179-324), [5]. Daily: 10AM-5PM (except public holidays). One of the greatest scientific and technical museums in the world, and one of the absolute "must see's" of Munich; if science and technology interest you at all you should not leave it out. Topics range from aviation to breweries, from computer sciences to bridge building. There are many guided tours on specific themes and different languages inside the museum. Plan to spend plenty of time. There's a planetarium and two branch offices in different locations which show vehicles that found no place in downtown Munich. Wheelchair friendly. € 8.50 for an adult, € 3 for students (Planetarium and branch museums not included), various discounts available.

- Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich City Museum), St.-Jakobs-Platz 1, +49 (089) 233 22370 (stadtmuseum@muenchen.de, fax: +49 (089) 233 25033), [6]. Tues-Sun: 10 am - 6 pm. Apart from the permanent exhibition ´Typically Munich!´, the Münchner Stadtmuseum presents exhibitions on Photography, contemporary history, musical instruments and puppetry/fairground amusement. Admission: Permanent exhibitions: € 4 / € 2; Special exhibitions: € 6 / € 3.

- National Socialism in Munich— Exhibits pertaining to the emergence, development, and consequences of National Socialism in Munich from 1918 – 1945. Munich as the point of origin and headquarters of the NSDAP, ‘Capital of the Movement’ and ‘Capital of German Art’: a documentation of contributors, supporters, resistance and victims.

- Collection of Photography— Contains three galleries of contemporary German photography, featuring large monographic or thematic special exhibitions.

- Collection of Puppetry and Fairground Art— The history of puppet theatre in Munich and a large selection of international puppets are on display. One of the greatest collections of fairground art with highlights of the traditional Oktoberfest.

- Collection of Musical Instruments— Contains over 1,600 instruments from Africa, Asia, America and Europe and a special section showing a dozen automatic musical instruments including the important and famous "Stern-Orchestrion". Evening concerts and free Sunday matinées at 11 o’clock transform the showrooms into a sound museum. Special tours available. Check out the special monthly programme of musical events.

- Film Museum— Important international films dating from the earliest era of cinema up to contemporary works are presented in the newly renovated film theatre. The complete oeuvre of important German film makers (from F.W. Murnau to Wim Wenders, from Fritz Lang to Herbert Achternbusch) as well as motion picture classics can be found in the collections. With projects such as the reconstruction of the estate of Orson Welles, the Film Museum has earned an outstanding international reputation. Daily shows except on Mondays.

- Jewish Museum, St.-Jakobs-Platz 16, +49 (089) 233-28189 (juedisches.museum@muenchen.de, fax: +49 (089) 233-24147), [7]. Tu-Su: 10AM-6PM.

- Toy Museum, Marienplatz 15 (Located inside the old city hall's tower), +49 (089) 294001, [8]. 10AM-5:30PM (Closed on Fasching Tuesday and Dec 24th.).

Do
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- Oktoberfest [9]. The first Oktoberfest took place on the 12 October 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. All citizens of Munich were invited to a meadow (Wies'n) situated in front of the city tower, subsequently renamed the Theresienwiese in honor of the bride. In the early years of the fair, horse races were held, then as the event grew, agricultural conventions, which still take place every third year. But what about beer? After all, the Bavarian hops crop has to go somewhere! In 1896 businessmen working with the breweries in Munich built the first giant beer tents at Oktoberfest, and drinking has been the primary focus since. Each of the major breweries presides over its own large tent filled with traditional musicians leading the crowd in well-known drinking chants, incredibly strong barmaids hoisting ten or more huge Maß (1-liter glass beer mugs that are heavy even when empty!), and a spate of drunken people all trying to get into the bathroom at once. In 2003, Oktoberfest hosted 6.3 million visitors who drank 6.1 million liters of beer and ate the equivalent of 91 oxen, 383,000 sausages and 630,000 chickens.

- Marienplatz. A large market that stretches across the shopping street, so you can mix Christmas market shopping (and eating) with "normal" shopping. The market offers some delicious treats and some great souvenirs/gifts.

Buy
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- Viktualienmarkt— This large open-air market sells everything from soup to nuts. Just off Marienplatz, generations of market families continue to hawk their wares from the same location. There are open air fruit and vegetable stands similar to those scattered around the city, as well as closed stands and little year-round trinket shops. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon on the way to and from work, Munich women stop by the market to pick up something from dinner - during midday it's a bit slower and therefore better for browsing.

- Kaufingerstr/Neuhauser Str— Located between Marienplatz and Stachus, it is one of the main shopping streets of Munich. This is the place to go for medium range to high end clothing retail, however, there are plenty more stores than just clothing stores like the large retailers Karstadt and Kaufhof.

- Gärtnerplatz/Reichenbachstraße/Baaderstraße/Pestalozzistraße— These streets are located in Glockenbach. They and their neighbor streets contain small stores of all kinds that sell homeware, clothes from young designers, shoes, boutiques, record shops etc.

Eat
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Budget
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- Viktualienmarkt. On Viktualienmarkt you will find everything you need to eat. Take a Leberkaessemmel (€1.50) at one of the butcher shops, a huge bowl of soup at Münchner Suppenküche [10] (€3-5) or go to Nordsee, a fish restaurant chain. After getting your lunch together have a seat at the beer garden, where you can have a beer with your food. (You can bring your own food to the beer garden too).

- Faun, Hans-Sachs-Str. 17, +49 (089) 263798, [11]. M-F 10AM-1AM; Sa Su 9AM-1AM. Wonderful art nouveau ceiling from 1906. Bavarian and international cuisine at affordable prices.

- Gasthaus Fraunhofer, Fraunhoferstr. 9, +49 (089) 266460. One of the most traditional restaurants in Munich. Splendid location; they also have a pocket theatre and studio cinema in the backyard. Bavarian brunch with live music on Sundays. Located on Fraunhoferstr, close to the metro station with the same name. This was Munich film director's Rainer Werner Fassbinder favorite restaurant.

- Sasou, Marienplatz 28, +49 (089) 263701, [12]. 11AM-10PM. This pan-Asian fast food on the Southern side of Marienplatz (same entrance than Cafe Glockenspiel) serves excellent Asian noodle soups for an affordable price.

- Sax, Hans-Sachs-Str. 5, +49 (089) 268835. Nothing special, but good ambiance and (as said) affordable prices. And there are many other interesting venues on Hans-Sachs-Str, if ever you need an alternative.

- Pizzeria Monaco, Reichenbachstr. 10, +49 (089) 268141. The usual Italian fare at a very good price.

- Subway on Viktualienmarkt, Viktualienmarkt 7, +49 (089) 25 54 69 00, [13]. Both the owner and his staff speak excellent English and can help English speaking customers. The restaurant has a small patio, on the market square.

Mid-range
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- Bräustüberl, Address, +49 (0)89 290136-10, [14]. The Bräustüberl restaurant is located on the first floor of the Hofbräuhaus [15]. Both the ambiance and food are traditional Bavarian. There is live music most evenings. Reservations are recommended during high season and major festivals.

- Paulaner im Tal, Tal 12 (Walk 200m past the McDonalds and Burger King. ''Paulaner im Tal'' is on your right hand side.), +49 (089) 21 99 400 (pit@paulaner-im-tal.de, fax: +49 (089) 21 99 4022), [16]. Great Bavarian food in a cosy atmosphere.

- Weißes Bräuhaus, Tal 7, +49 (089) 290138-0 (info@weisses-brauhaus.de, fax: +49 (089) 290138-15), [17]. 11AM - until the last guest (approx. 2AM), Sa 11AM - until the last guest (approx. 3AM). Very rustic ambiance. Maybe the only typical Bavarian restaurant left in the city center. Leave Marienplatz on the east. The street is called Tal (meaning valley). Walk 100m, Weißes Bräuhaus is on your left hand side.

- Zum Spöckmeier, Rosenstrasse 9 (On Marienplatz), +49 (089) 26 80 88 (info@zum-spoeckmeier.de, fax: +49 (089) 26 05 50 9), [18]. Modern Bavarian cuisine, at an affordable price.

- Kilians Irish Pub, Frauenplatz 11 (Located directly behind the Frauenkirche), +49 (089) 2421 9899, [19]. Kilians is located behind the Frauenkirche and offers the usual Irish beers. Occasionally it hosts live music and is a popular place among expats, tourists, and Germans alike. The staff is friendly and vigilant about protecting their customers - a string of pickpocket thefts in 2004 caused them to post warnings to customers.

- Haxnbauer, Sparkassenstrasse 6, +49 (089) 216 654 0 (haxnbauer@kuffler-gastronomie.de, fax: +49 (089) 228 301 5), [20]. Haxnbauer is a restaurant where you can taste Schweinhaxe. While ordering the waiter brings several knuckles with prices on them so that you could choose which you like best.

- Bratwurst Glöckl, Frauenplatz 9, +49 (089) 291945-0 (info@bratwurst-gloeckl.de, fax: +49 (089) 290 47 36), [21]. An authentic restaurant with a good variety of sausages. Great place to sit and relax outside.

- Natraj, Nymphenburgerstrasse, [22]. Authentic indian food, wide range of veg and non-veg dishes and thalis. Located 100m from U-station Stiglmaierplatz.

- Roecklplatz, Isartalstr. 26, +49 (0)89-45217129, [23]. Disadvantaged young people are enabled to make an appreanticeship in this restaurant guided by a chef and a social worker. They do traditional food with a modern flair and it's successful. Their beergarden is popular with locals and so far only few tourists!

- Haguruma (Japanese restaurant), Baaderstr. 62, +49 89/2016911, [24]. Mo-Sa 12:00 - 15:00/18:00 - 23:30. An authentic Japanese restaurant with equally authentic food. (48.12922,11.5769)

Splurge
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- Ratskeller, Marienplatz 8, +49 (089) 219989-0 (info@ratskeller.com, fax: +49 (089) 219989-30), [25]. Offers real Bavarian food and is easy to find. Find the Neues Rathaus (The Gothic city hall) and descend into the the basement. The entire basement is a restaurant. Great for experiencing Bavarian customs. Also the historic site of the Beer Hall Putsch.

Drink
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Breweries
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- Hofbräuhaus, am Platzl 9, +49 (089) 290136-10 (fax: +49 (089) 22 75 86), [26]. Touristy, but fun, with good beer and "oom-pah" bands. The Hofbräuhaus, Munich's (and maybe the world's) most famous brewpub, moved to its current location in 1644. It opened to the public after 1830. Nowadays, the embodiment of Bavarian beer culture is visited only by tourists. More likely than not you will hear the famous "eins, zwei, g'suffa!" song at least once if you spend any time there at all. Basically it means "one, two, drink up!" Bring your passport, because you're likely to be asked for ID, and without your passport bouncers will not let you in.

- Augustiner Keller, Arnulfstrasse 52, +49 (089) 59 43 93 (office@augustinerkeller.de, fax: +49 (089) 5 50 44 15), [27]. Locals and many beer aficionados say the beer here is Bavaria's best. The Augustiner's indoor beer garden is comfortable even in rotten weather, with its high ceilings and good lighting. But ultimately the most satisfying beer garden is the one at which one is a regular. Tables marked Stammtisch, perhaps with a day or time afterward, are reserved for regular gangs of beer buddies who meet same time, same place each week.

- Augustiner Großgaststätte, Neuhauser Straße 27, (49) 89 23 183-257, [28]. History has it that beer has been brewed and drank on this site since the 14th century and upon entering you may be inclined to agree with that assertion. Augustiner brews great beers and this place has them all. There are smoking and non-smoking sections of the cavernous hall, but don't expect to find much difference. If the weather is nice, order a Weißbier and sit outside at one of the tables set up to watch pedestrian traffic along Neuhauser.

- Andechser Am Dom, Weinstraße 7a, (49) 089 29 84 81, [29]. This is a good place to stop off if you are going to visit the Frauenkirche. Andechs beers are all brewed at the Klosterbraueri which is a fun side trip in itself and all the beers are world-class. The place is much smaller than most places and seating is limited, but they have tables with a view of the Kirche outside in the summer time and a nice outdoor patio that is heated during the winter. The food is also quite good and quite varied. This place gets pretty packed at around 3:30PM or 4PM so get there early if you want a table. Otherwise order a beer and strike up a conversation.

Clubs and Discos
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- Bars in the Gärtnerplatzviertel: In this very trendy area between Viktualienmarkt and the Isar, you will find several good bars and clubs, like K.U.K. Klub, Red Star, Trachtenvogel, Holy Home (all on Reichenbachstr.), Lizard Lounge (Corneliusstr.), Café am Hochhaus (Blumenstr. opposite the firestation) or Buena Vista (Cuban bar opposite Schrannenhalle in a street called "Am Einlass").

- 8 Seasons, Maximilianstr. 2, [30]. Opened on the 1st of April 2004 it should be closed now (more than 8 seasons later), but it still is open. Exclusive club with a very nice roof-deck with a great view to the Frauenkirche.

- Atomic Café, Neuturmstr. 5, 80331 München, 089/2283054, [31]. The Atomic Café is not the typical Munich disco, it has a comfortable sofa area, nostalgic lava lamps and a cosy flair. The stylish 60s design fits perfectly to the varied choice of music. The organisers don't just rely on techno and trance, everything is played here from "easy listening" over "rare groove" to beat and electronic sounds and is also known as Munich's HQ for Britpop. It is also possible to see top international bands live on stage without paying excessive prices for "standing room only".

- Crown's Club, Maximilianstr./Am Kosttor, 089/25546700, [32]. Opened by the former bouncer of the P1 club. It has capacity for 500 guests and should be extremely exclusive. But as there are three clubs in Munich trying to be "extremely exclusive" (P1, 8 Seasons being the others) you may have a chance to get in (if you are well dressed, of course).

- Ampere im Muffatwerk, Zellstr. 4, 089/45 87 50 10, [33]. This "arts factory" in the heart of Munich has a truly inspired concert hall with café. From the classic "Into Something Friday" or an "Exclusive Line-Up", the Muffatwerk always has something "great" on offer...and you can treat yourself to some well earned rest in the nearby café/bistro.

- Madam Cabaret, Ledererstr. 19, +49 (089) 295938, [34]. This is Munich's oldest gentleman's club which offers a variety of dancers. Quite small and offers an intimate atmosphere.

- P1 Club, Prinzregentenstr. 1, +49 (089) 211 114 0 (info@p1-club.de, fax: +49 (089) 211 114 14), [35]. This club lives from its reputation it build up many years ago. Management had made a mistake by getting greedy and doubling its size. Thus it has been a problem staying exclusive and simultaneously having enough guests to guarantee a good atmosphere. The bouncers are eventually understanding that P1 is just one of many discos nowadays. Prices are ok.

Sleep
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Budget
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- Wombat's, Senefelderstraße 1, +49 (089) 5998 918-0 (fax: +49 (089) 5998 918-10), [36]. Clean hostel with good bar, cheap food and breakfast (for a fee).

- YMCA Youth Hotel, Landwehrstraße 13 (Between Karlstor and Central Station), +49 (089) 55 21 41 -0 (fax: +49 (089) 55 04 28 2), [37]. Clean hostel with good breakfast and friendly service.

- KING's Hotel Center, Marsstr. 15 (In walking distance to Central Main Station Hauptbahnhof Muenchen), +49 (089) 51 55 30 (fax: +49 (089) 51 55 33 00), [38]. Three star hotel, cheap when online booking via the website, with or without breakfast, internet access and four poster bed in every room, friendly service, dogs allowed.

Mid-range
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- Non-Smoking Hotel Royal, Schillerstr. 11A 80336 München, +49/89/59 98 81 60 (info@hotel-royal.de), [39]. checkin: 2 pm; checkout: 11 am. Non-smoking hotel with free wi-fi internet and free premiere movie channel ( german & english ). Central location and only a few minutes to walk from pedestrian area, Marienplatz, Hofbräuhaus and the Oktoberfest-grounds. 24 hour reception.

- Hotel Wallis, Schwanthalerstrasse 8, 089/5490290. Don't let the austere facade fool you, the Hotel Wallis is quite charming inside. With bedrooms are small, they are furnished in a toned down Alpine-village style. Breakfast is served daily.

- Hotelissimo Haberstock Swiss Quality Hotel, München, D-80336, (munich@hotelissimo.com, fax: +49 (0)89 550 36 34). 200m from railway station and 300m to city center.

- Hotel Präsident, Schwanthalerstr. 20, 089/549006-0. Pleasant 3 star hotel that offers a charming ambiance and business travel facilities.

- InterCityHotel Munich, Bayerstrasse 10 (Connected to the Hauptbahnhof), +49 (089) 44 44 4-0 (fax: +49 (089) 44 44 4-599), [40]. Good value for money at a great location. Rooms are small but simple, but the easy access to the train station is convenient. €77 - €265 per night.

- NH Deutscher Kaiser, Arnulfstrasse 2, 80335 Munich. Located at the foot of the central station, this hotel wins points for location, but quite a soulless hotel although the staff are attentive.[41]

Splurge
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- Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Promenadeplatz 2-6, +49 (089) 21 20-0 (info@bayerischerhof.de, fax: +49 (089) 21 20-906), [42]. One of the grand old dames in Munich, the hotel's splendor and facilities reflect the personal management of the Volkhardt family who have owned the hotel for four generations. A luxury hotel, it boasts an admired location, a pool well positioned on the top floor alongside a gym and spa bar. Rooms are calm and spacious with big double beds, flatscreen TV's and a sitting area. The large bathrooms have a private phone and plenty of shelf space, with a shower-tub combination. Rooms are furnished in both modern and traditional pieces, with marble, antiques and art decorated plentifully, and you can dine at any one of the three fabulous restaurants. Rates include a champagne breakfast.

- Le Meridien Munich, Bayerstrasse 41 (The hotel is located across the street from the main train station.), +49 (089) 24220 (fax: +49 (089) 2422 2025), [43]. Le Meridien has all of the old-world flair one expects from a charming European hotel, combined with modern amenities. High speed internet access and sleek conference rooms for business meetings provide an elegant atmosphere for corporate events. €150 - €615.

- Hilton Munich Park, Am Tucherpark 7, +49 (089) 38450 (fax: +49 (089) 38452588), [44]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: noon. This five star hotel has floor-to-ceiling picture windows showcasing a distant view of the Alps. The hotel also comprises of 3 restaurants, a bar, an indoor pool with fitness center and 24-hr room service.

- KING's Hotel First Class, Dachauer Str. 13, 80335 Munich. (In walking distance to Central Main Station Hauptbahnhof Muenchen), +49 (089) 55 18 7-0. 4 Star Hotel, very individual, no hotel chain, four poster bed and internet access in every room, friendly service, dogs allowed. [45]

Contact
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District Schwabing Maxvorstadt University area Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Eat

• Drink

Beer Gardens

Clubs and Discos

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- Englischer Garten [1]— At over twice the size of New York's Central Park and dating back to 1789, the Englischer Garten begins at the very center of Munich just north of the Residence museum and Odeonsplatz, and continues north just over 5km. The park is divided into two distinct sections by a small city expressway called Mittlerer Ring. The southern section starts near Odeonsplatz and the Residenz Museum, and runs north, parallel to the student quarter of Schwabing. More populated than the northern section, a surprising number of people take advantage of lunch breaks during the week to sun themselves in the Garten. Here you'll see all kinds of activity, such as joggers, cyclists, strollers, skateboard and roller blades, riders on horseback, even surfboarders in wet suits taking advantage of currents under a bridge. Tourists are generally amused -- or scandalized -- by nude sunbathers, who may be encountered in any quiet section of the park on a warm day, but tend to congregate in the "official" area beside a small tributary of the Isar River that runs through the park. The Chinesischer Turm beer garden is located near the Monopteros, a Neo Classical rotunda that is situated on a hillside in the Garden. The northern half of the park is connected to the southern section by a pedestrian bridge beside the Seehaus Biergarten. Whereas the southern section is graced with open meadows and is densely populated, this section has a quieter, rural feel, with forest lots interspersed with fields graced with beautiful wildflowers in summer. Don't be surprised if you come across a herd of sheep, watched over by a shepherd in traditional clothing and his German Shepherd dogs. Quiet streams run through the park, as well as many bicycle and pedestrian trails. Indeed, the very best way to see this park is to rent a bicycle and explore. At most times you can see one or more people trying to surf on the Eisbach; see below.

- Alte Pinakothek (Old Painting Gallery), Barer Straße 27 (You can easily reach it by taking the Tram 27 and getting out at Pinakotheken.), +49 (0) 89 23805 216, [2]. Contains hundreds of great European masterworks dating from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries, including the largest Rubens collection in the world. The Alte Pinakothek recently underwent a major four-year closing and renovation. Admission: Adults €5.50, Concessions €4; €1 on Sundays!.

- Neue Pinakothek, Entrance on Theresienstrasse, +49 (0)89 23805 195, [3]. Th-M: 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-8PM. Closed on Tuesdays and major holidays (including May Day). The Neue Pinakothek's collection includes nineteenth-century European paintings and sculptures, and has also been recently renovated. Perhaps the most popular of the Pinakotheks, there is also a very nice cafe here. The museum is located at the tram 27 Pinakotheken stop. Adults: € 5.50, Concessions: € 4, Sundays: € 1.

- Pinakothek der Moderne, Barer Straße 40, +49 (0)89 23805 360, [4]. Features 20th and 21st century art. Go here if you're interested in frighteningly modern art. The building's architecture is quite interesting. If the exhibition is too modern for your tastes, the other two Pinakotheken are just across the street at the tram 27 stop; Pinakotheken. Adults €9.50 Concessions: €6; Sundays €6 Adults / €4 Concessions..

- Glyptothek, Located on Königsplatz, +49 (0)89/ 286100 (info@antike-am-koenigsplatz.mwn.de), [5]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM, Th 10AM-8PM. The Glyptothek is another of King Ludwig's large collections is contained in the Glyptothek: one of the greatest Greek and Roman sculpture collections in all of Germany. The collection is based around a core of sculptures, the Aeginetes, excavated by English and German explorers at the island temple on Aegina early in the nineteenth century. It was built by imperial architect Leo von Klenze for the King and completed in 1830. Though almost entirely destroyed in World War II, the museum was heavily renovated and opened again to the public in 1972. There is a very nice cafe also located here that extends to the lovely courtyard weather permitting. Adults €3.50 ; Free entry on Sundays!.

- Antikensammlung, Located on Königsplatz, +49 (0)89/ 59988830 (info@antike-am-koenigsplatz.mwn.de), [6]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-8PM, Closed Monday. Ludwig I and his architect Klenze built a large square, Königsplatz, in classical style. Meant to be an "Athens on the Isar", the square encompasses many important buildings and collections, including the Antikensammlung. Formerly an exhibition venue (for the first 60-plus years of its life), then a museum of modern art, the Antikensammlung swung back in the exact opposite direction by the 1960s. At that time, the building was restored to hold Ludwig I's vast collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. It has the largest Greek and Etruscan vase collection in the world after the British Museum and the Louvre. With one's back to Karolinenplatz, facing the classical arch, the Glyptothek is on the right and the Antikensammlung is on the left. Adults €3.50; Free entry on Sundays (special exhibitions not included)!.

- Lenbachhaus, Luisenstrasse 33, +49(0) 89 23332 003, [7]. Tues-Sun 10AM-10PM. (closed for remodels until 2012). A very important stop for Expressionist art lovers, this impressive collection in the former villa of Munich aristocracy includes numerous famous examples of the artistic vein known as 'The Blue Rider'. A must see if you have time in the museum district, this gem is located just across the street to the left of the Glyptothek (Königsplatz). A cozy cafe is also found here that extends to the outside grounds (weather permitting). Across the street, there is an underground gallery (entrance through the underground station across the street) that often exhibits seldom seen works by renowned names. Make sure to see the outdoor exhibits that are found on the lots facing the Propyläen. Adults €12, Reduced €6; Free entry to Lenbachhaus on Sundays (special exhibitions not included)!.

- Museum Brandhorst, Theresienstrasse 35a (corner Türkenstrasse) (Tram 27 to Pinakotheken), 089-238052286, [8]. 10am-6pm, Thu -8pm, Mon closed. Most recent addition to Munich's museum district; a collection of modern and contemporary art (paintings, sculptures and installations) by Udo and Anette Brandhorst. 7€/5€, Sun 1€.

Do
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- Surfing— Who needs the ocean or a beach when you can surf in the Englischer Garten? Near Haus der Kunst, the Eisbach creates a standing wave. During the summer time, there are always a lot of surfers at this spot. As the wave is not created intentionally, there is no possibility to rent surfboards. The location is on the north side of Prinzregentenstrasse at the crossing of Bruderstrasse. It is about 5 blocks from the Lehel U-bahn station, or take tram 17 to Nationalmuseum/Haus der Kunst.

- Bicycling— Why not go for a bike ride or bike tour and explore Munich from the seat of a bicycle? Englischer Garten and the whole of Munich is lined with bike trails. Mike's Bike Tours [9] offers guided bike tours of Munich, which take you through the English Garden. The tour will stop at the beer garden for a break.

Eat
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- Münchner Freiheit— Comfortable in size and quite popular, the Münchner Freiheit offers plenty of bars and restaurants. Reachable with varied buses and the U3 or U6, it is located at the station with the same name. The advantage: Once you've finished there, you can stroll over to Leopoldst and browse through the stores there.

- Bistro Cezanne, Konradstr. 1, Schwabing, Munich, 089/391-805. Authentic Gallic restaurant in the heart of Munich's bohemian quarter, chef Patrick Geay serves fine, tasty produce with a French flavor. Professional service by smartly attired waiters, and reservations are recommended for this highly sought after restaurant.

- Tantris, Johann-Fichte-Str. 7, Schwabing. With Germany's best chef in the country at the helm, expect to be impressed with an array of delectable dishes at Tantris. Consistently ranked one of the top fice dining establishment in the country, prepare to pay a high price for nouvelle cuisine, but once you have a bite of one of their specialities, you'll be assured that the bill at the end is worth it.

Drink
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- Shamrock, Trautenwolfstr. 6 (U3 or U6 to Giselastraße), +49-89-331081. Thurs 6PM-2AM, Fri 6PM-3AM, Sat 2PM-3AM, Sun 2PM-2AM. Atmospheric Irish pub, with live music playing frequently. Fridays and Saturdays tend to get very crowded, with locals wanting to get a taste of the Irish.

- Löwenbräukeller, At Stiglmeierplatz. (Take U1 or U7 to Stiglmeierplatz.), [10]. Traditional beer hall with an adjoining beer garden in the Maxvorstadt district.

- Schwabinger 7, Feilitzschstr. 7 (U3), 089-348470, [11]. 6pm-1am. This pub has been around for decades and you can bet your bottom dollar that it hasn't changed at all. It is tiny, the walls are dark and the lighting is almost non-existent, but after 10pm it is always jammed. Despite the chaos, the service is swift. All kinds of people gather here, from alcoholics to smart business types.

Beer Gardens
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- Aumeister, [12]. Open Tue-Sun 9AM-11PM.. Located at the very north end of Englischer Garten, Aumeister is considered to be one of Munich's most beautiful beer gardens. It is a favourite of locals and mostly unknown to tourists. The restaurant on site dates back to 1810 and was originally one of Prince Regent Luitpold's hunting lodges. Large playground on site. It is a 10 minute walk from the Studentenstadt or Freimann stations on the U6 subway line, but the very best way to get there is by bicycle through the park.

- Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower). http://www.chinaturm.de. One of the best-known beer gardens in Munich is the Chinesischer Turm in the center of the Englischer Garten. This piece of chinoiserie doesn't seem out of place at all after a few good beers. Oompah bands play from the second story of the pagoda on summer weekends.

- Hirschau, Gyßlingstr. 15, Munich Schwabing (U-Bahn U6 to Dietlindenstrasse followed by 15 minutes on foot. Or bus number 44 to Osterwaldstrasse followed by 10 minutes walk.), +49(0)089 3221080. With a live jazz band playing at weekends, this is not a typical beer garden, which is not too crowded and a good place to linger over a drink or two.

- Seehaus. A lovely biergarten by a lake, the beer garden and structures (artistically configured boathouse) were designed by the locally famous architect Gabriel von Seidl in 1882-83. Enjoy a beer and great Bavarian fast-food fare on the banks of a lake while boaters drift by.

- Wintergarten, (Take 27 tram to stop: Elisabethmarkt.). This is a very small beer garden in which you can get the feel of a true local's beer garden. It has a small children's playground with swings, a slide and sand close enough for you to be able to see it, and is located next to a grouping of market stalls where you can buy fruit or fish (but don't worry, it doesn't stink of fish!). Sometimes live music is played there, which is usually Bavarian music.

Clubs and Discos
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- Crash, Ainmillerstraße 10, +49 89 39 1640. Currently an "in" disco for youngsters. One of the few discos where there is something happening before midnight. You can get in from 16 onwards (but are chucked out at midnight, or refused entry if it's too full if you're under 18). You need your passport to get in, otherwise there's no entry. Best to get there before the 8PM opening time, because the queue gets really long.

- Parkcafé, (Sophienstr. 7), +49 89 5161798-0, [13]. The Parkcafé is Munich's magnificent "dance temple", situated behind the picturesque Old Botanical Garden. It has a relaxing chill out area in the form of a beer garden (which closes at 11PM). The in-crowd, who appreciate and perpetuate the little refinements of this club, meet here. The bar in the rear is decorated bright red, in front are comfortable sofas and a golden chandelier in the entrance flatters the illustrious guests. The music stretches from Black Mission to house.

- Skyline Club, Leopoldstr. 82 (U3/6 Münchener Freiheit), +49(0)89 333131, [14]. The Skyline is situated above the rooftops of Munich, in the Hertie building at Münchner Freiheit, in the middle of Schwabing. Once past the bouncer (which is usually not a problem), you are taken by a glass lift up to the club itself, where you will find two bars, a separate dining area, plenty of seating and of course a large dance floor. The ambiance is clear, styled with lots of glass and chrome. Musically the DJs stick mainly to mainstream and dance music.

- Titanic City, Nordendstr. 64, +49 (0)89 2717219, [15]. A grungy underground rock music bar. They have all sorts of hard hitting alternative club nights here. Gothic, hard rock, trance, and so on.

- Podium, Wagnerstrasse 1 (corner of Siegesstrasse), +49 (0)89 399482, [16]. Looking for some live classic rock? This may be your place. Located a block away from the bustling Leopoldstrasse/Münchner Freiheit, there's almost always a live rock band here - usually playing 60's/70's/80's rock and sometimes you may be fortunate enough to catch some original material. Also there is the occasional live jazz.

Sleep
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- Hotel Pension Theresia, Luisenstraße 51, +49-(0)89-521250 (fax: +49-(0)89-5420633), [17]. Budget hotel that delivers a clean and comfortable stay. Decor is a bit dated but for €48 per night, it's good value.

- Holiday Inn Munich North, Leopoldstr. 194, +49-(0)89-381790 (fax: +49-(0)89-38179888), [18]. It is a quality hotel with 362 standard and deluxe guest rooms. Situated directly in the heart of Schwabing, close to the park “English Garden” and the underground station “Münchener Freiheit“ and “Universität”. All rooms have wi fi access.

- Flemings Hotel Munich, Leopoldstr. 132-134 Munich, 80804 (Driving directions: From the airport take the A9 motorway into Munich city centre. Exit towards Munich Schwabing, and the hotel is located at 132-134 Leopoldstrasse.), 89-206-0900. This 4 star hotel showcases a contemporary design, with a high standard of elegance in all rooms. Fleming's Brasserie offers dining and a range of take-away dishes.

Contact
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District Olympic area or Olympia Einkaufzentrum Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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Take the U3 to "Olympiazentrum" or the U1 to "OEZ" sometimes refered to "Olympia Einkaufzentrum."

See
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- 31 Connollystraße— This is in the former Olympic village, and there is a small marker that indicates that this building was the site of the Black September hostage situation, and site where several Israeli Olympic team members were murdered.

- The vast Olympiapark [1] was built for the 1972 Olympic Summer Games and is still a very active and popular place for all kinds of sports and events.

- Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) [2]— More than 200 m high, this tower gives an amazing view over the complete city, and on a clear day you can see the Alps (entrance fee €4).

- BMW Museum, Petuelring 130, +49-89-38223307 [3]. Weekdays, 9AM-6PM, Weekends, 10AM - 8PM. Entrance: €12, Conssessions: €6. Musuem dedicated to the powerhouse German car.

- Sea Life [4]. 10AM-6PM, €11.50/€8.50. A large aquarium featuring over 30 tanks and aquatic life ranging from local river dwellers all the way to the grand Mediterranean Ocean tank.

Do
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- Tollwood [5]— Very nice and relaxed festival with a large alternative market where everything is sold from Asian interior stuff to hand made rings. The festival comprises several tents where music and theatre is played. While some performances are for free, tickets have to be bought for the major venues. You will also find lots of international food stalls and bars here. It's a great place to hang around. There's a summer Tollwood which takes place in the Olympiapark from mid June to the beginning of July for four weeks. The winter Tollwood takes place on the Theresienwiese from the last week of November until Christmas. It's a great alternative to the commercial Christmas markets.

- Olympiaberg— If there is a concert in the Olympic stadium and you didn't manage to get tickets (or you think they are too expensive) climb on the hill near the stadium. You will have a great view on the stadium and hear all the music. Relax and listen to some great music with a blanket with you, some food and of course local beer.

Buy
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- Olympia Einkaufzentrum Galeria-Kaufhof, Pelkovenstr. 155, Phone: +49 089/ 14321-0. [6] Monday - Friday 9:30 AM - 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM -8 PM, Closed Sunday. Munich's largest shopping centre with a large variety of department stores, boutiques and food stores.

- Galeria-Kaufhof, Pelkovenstr. 155, Phone: +49 089/ 14321-0. [6] Monday - Friday 9:30AM - 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM -8 PM, Closed Sunday. Nationwide German department store. They stock all the goods that you'd expect of department stores, i.e. clothing, electronics, household goods, toys, food and so on.

- Viktualienmarkt, East of the Marienplatz. Features over 140 fruit and vegetable stores selling tasty and fresh produce, stores for honey, bread, cheese and meat, stores for flowers and baskets, plant seeds, spices and candles. Highly recommendable are the fruit stands selling freshly squeezed fruit juices of all kinds.

Eat
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- Drehrestaurant Spiridion-Luis-Ring 7, Telephone: +49 (0) 89 - 30 66 85 85, Fax:+49 0 89 - 30 66 85 88, [7]. 11AM- 5PM; 6:30PM - 12PM. Drehrestaurant offers international cuisine to its guests. The restaurant is located 597.1 feet from the ground in the Olympiaturm (Olympic tower). On a clear day one can see the Bavarian Alps at this height.

- Glockenspiel Cafe, Marienplatz 28, 089 264 256. The place to people watch, the Glockenspiel Cafe swarms with lithe, hip twenty and thirty somethings, who enjoy the view at the rooftop terrace with a view over Marienplatz from the fifth floor. Sip on quality coffee costing from 2.50€ to €5 ($3-$6), and indulge your sweet tooth with pastries beginning at 2.50€.

Drink
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- Muffathalle, Zellstrasse 4. Popular nightspot with live music, theatre and dance performances. The on-site cafe serves food and drink during the day, transforming into a fun and friendly club venue in the evenings.

- Olympiahalle, next to the Olympic Stadium. Multi-purpose arena used for concerts, sporting events, exhibitions or trade fairs.

- Schneeglöckchenstr. 91, 089 1504035. Home town homage to country and westerns, the Rattlesnake is a fun, although cheesy, night out. Performers come from Munich, England, Canada, and, in some cases, even Nashville, Tennessee. Pitchers of beer go down well with live country music.

- Champions America, Berliner Str. 93 80805 München, +49 89 36002799. American sportsbar and restaurant located within the Munich Marriott Hotel. Happy hour is daily from 5PM to 7PM and Americans living in Munich can keep up to date with their sports team by watching American sports on the TVs.

Sleep
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- Hotel Tourotel‎, Domagkstr. 26 80807 München, 089 36001-0. This three star hotel has recently been refurbished, elevating its standard to that of high quality. Good location with reasonable access to the transport system.

- Munchen Marriott Hotel, Berliner Strasse 9380805 München, 089 360020‎. Having somewhat of a predictable quality, the Marriott hotel is furnished in a modern and tasteful style, if not a bit bland. The hotel is next to U-Bahn station, it takes about 15 minutes to the historical center.

- Four Points Hotel Olympiapark‎, Helene-Mayer-Ring 12 80809 München, 089 35751800. With large spacious rooms and currently undergoing renovations to increase the quality of the hotel to four stars. The staff are attentive and speak good English and although the rate did not include free continental breakfast, the fridge was stocked with sodas, juices, nuts, cookies, etc which were included in the rate and can be replenished anytime just by calling the front desk.

Contact
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District Haidhausen Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

KultfabrikorOptimolwerke

• Drink

Discos (KultfabrikorOptimolwerke)

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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To get there, take any S-Bahn and get off at the Isator train station. If you want to go to Kultfabrik/Optimolwerke either follow the signs, or the stream of teenagers.

See
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- Deutsches Museum - Museumsinsel 1, Phone: +49 (0)89 / 2179-1, Fax:+49 (0)89 / 2179-324, [1] Hours: Daily 9AM - 5PM (For closures and other information see [2]) - One of the biggest and best-known museums for science and technology in the world. Admission: Adults € 8.50, Students and children aged 6 - 15 € 3.

- Gasteig Kulturzentrum Rosenheimerstr 5, Haidhausen, tel 089/480-980. Situated on the right bank of the River Isar, visit this complex for music, theater, and film. It has an open-plan interior and a maze of courtyards and plazas. The center has two theaters, where plays in English are occasionally staged.

- Museum Villa Stuck Prinzregentenstr. 60, Haidhausen, Munich, tel 089/455-5510. This is the former home of one of Munich's leading turn-of-the-20th-century artists, Franz von Stuck (1863-1928). His work features along the walls of the villa and they stage special exhibits of his work.

Do
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- Gasteig (near Deutsches Museum) is the place to go for first rate classical concerts given by the renowned Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.

- Take in the beautiful scenery of the Städtischer Rosengarten, an oasis of greenery and tranquility in the middle of a busy city. The city's gardeners have created a delightful rose garden, with countless different varieties of roses. There is also a tree nursery and a garden of poisonous plants.

Buy
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This is a nice little shopping district with small stores catering to everyday needs as well as cafés and restaurants ideal for a short break.

- Kaufhaus am Ostbahnhof, Haidhausen, Orleansplatz 3, 4 58 55 40. Large department store offering fashion, jewellery, books and household supplies.

- Parzival Hörbuchladen, Breisacher Str. 15 Haidhausen, 4 59 97 63,. Germany’s oldest and still Bavaria’s only audiobook store. You can choose from 5,000 audiobooks on CD and/or MC in German, English and several other languages.

- Tinissima, Pariser Str. 22 Haidhausen, 44 10 95 92. A jewellery lovers paradise featuring beautiful creations by local designer Christine Berger. Fun original rings, earrings, chains and bangles, all created from solid silver and tarnished 900 carat gold.

- Münchner Blech, Gebsattelstr. 11 Haidhausen, 55 05 68 80. Everything is music to your ears at this unique store that specializes in wood winds and brass instruments. There is also a professional in-house repair shop.

Eat
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- Escobar, Breisacherstr. 19, D-81667 (Haidhausen), (089) 4483069/485137. Mexican fare served in a fun and modern way. Inside the restaurant, you'll find plently of exposd brick work and stainless steel, and even a striking sculpture of a vulture made out of scrap metal. A relaxed and comfortable atmosphere made possible by friendly staff.

- Juleps New York Bar and Grill, Breisacher Strasse 18, 089 4480044.

- Haidhausener Augustiner, Wörthstrasse 34 Haidhausen (U-Bahn U4/5 Ostbanhof, than max. 3 min. walking), 089 4802594. Great place to indulge in some pub culture, with basic but quality food, wide variety of drinks and a great meeting place to catch up with friends.

- Cafe Voila, Wörthstr. 5, 81667 (U-Bahn: Ostbahnhof or Max-Weber Platz, than 5 min. walking), 089 4891654, [3]. Local favourite that serves generous portions in a welcoming atmosphere. Standard fare that is cooked well.

- Gast, Rosenheimerstr 5, 81667 (S-Bahn: Rosenheimer Platz), 089 480 98 27 20 (info@gast-muenchen.de, fax: 089 480 98 27 21), [4]. Part of the Gasteig complex. Pizza, pasta, noodles, rice and salads. The concept is "open kitchen", there are two kitchen areas in the middle of the restaurant where rice, noodle and pasta dishes are cooked to order and another area for pizza. Customers are given electronic charge cards on entry, all food and drink is charged to the card and payment is made when leaving.

KultfabrikorOptimolwerke
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- Nachtkantine, Grafinger Str. 6, Munich, 81671, +49 (089) 49002153. Apart from the odd kebab stand, this is the only restaurant in Kunstpark Ost. They serve American food, such as burgers, pizza and pasta at a good value for money. The restaurant is quite vibey, accentuated by the loud techno music played by various DJs. Great meeting spot.

Drink
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- Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Einsteinstrasse 42 (Take the U-Bahn to Max-Weber-Platz walk east from the station), +49 (089) 4482794, [5]. Sun - Thu 7:30PM - 1AM, Fri/Sat 7:30PM - 3AM. Concerts begin at 11PM. Jazz club that specializes in great jazz performances. Be aware that the club is only smoke free during the performances.

Discos (KultfabrikorOptimolwerke)
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This place is a 60,000 square-metre entertainment mecca. After Europe's largest disco complex - located in the terminal buildings of the former Munich airport - had to close in 1996, the city had to find a replacement for the crowds of partygoers. It was called Kunstpark Ost (KPO) because of its location in a former industrial complex near the eastern railway station. Rumors about closing this area started soon and in 2003, it looked as if the days of the KPO were closing, so some of the clubs moved to an area 200m in the west, Optimolwerke. However, most clubs in the original area (renamed Kultfabrik]) remain open.

Kultfabrik and Optimolwerke (and two more discos on the west end of the whole area) are one big complex and most people do not distinguish whether they go to Kultfabrik, Optimolwerke, Kunstpark Ost or the "KPO" (pronounced like the English letters). To have so many discos and clubs on a relatively small area is brilliant and efficient as there is something for (nearly) every taste. And if you don't get into one, there is always another club to try. The crowds don't arrive until midnight or later, but if you come earlier, you are more likely to get cheaper/free entry.

- Americanos City, Hochbrückenstr. 3 80331 München. Intimate space with a stylish decor, while the crowd can be quite young, the drinks pack a punch at a cheap price.

- Babylon 2, Georg-Elser-Hallen, Rosenheimerstr. 143, Haidhausen. The biggest club in the Kultfabrik neighbourhood, with at least two separate rooms playing varying types of music such as German techno, house and soul. Drinks are quite cheap, while the entry fee is 9 euro.

- Bongo Bar, 089- 49 00 12 60. This trendy bar lies in the heart of Kunstpark Ost. Dressed in red velvet and serving delicious Thai cuisine - including cocktails - it's a great night out. During the week, there are cabaret acts and political/satirical singer-songwriters to be seen.

- Harry Klein (Optimolwerke), [6]. A small club that hosts world-renowned electro and minimal techno DJ's, also well known for the interesting visuals. Main acts usually only come on at 3AM, even on weekdays. The club is sometimes called Marry Klein in winter. Entry price ranges from 5-10 euros.

- K41, Friedenstraße 10, Phone: +49 (0)89/ 6389-2929, email: charly@k41.de [7]. This is one of the latest attractions in Kunstpark Ost for Munich's party people, who dance the night away to the sounds of mainstream house music. There is a great range of cocktails that match the party atmosphere in this club.

- Keller, Friedenstraße 10 [8]. Smaller club playing indie, emo, rock and alternative on Fridays, Britpop and German pop on saturday. Age 18-25.

- Rafael. Grafingerstr. 6, Phone: +49 (0)89/ 550 523 80, Email: info@rafael-online.com, [9] - Nice club, not dark and dirty like many other clubs in KPO. Friendly staff serving you great and reasonably prices cocktails all night long.

- Living 4 Grafingerstr. 6, Phone: +49 (0)89/ 4900-1260, email: info@living4.de, [10]. Plays popular R'n'B and hip hop to a stylish crowd.

- Freudenhaus Kultfabrik, Grafingerstr. 6, Haidhausen. Contains three different dance halls playing Pop/Hip Hop, German music (depending on the weekday) and techno. Popular with a young crowd. On Fridays, girls get into "Freudenhaus" for free before twelve.

Sleep
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- Motel One Munich City-East, Orleansstraße 87 - 81667 Munich. For a two star hotel, this impresses with a modern and sleek interior, with simply decorated rooms. Downstairs at the "One Lounge", all your needs are met with a lobby, breakfast café and bar in one. Free wi fi access is available here as well.

- Golden Leaf Hotel Altmünchen, Munich, Mariahilfplatz 4 (From Stuttgart highway: To highway's end, exit on München West, direction Innenstadt (Center), Altstadtring direction München Ost, Rosenheimer Straße to Rosenheimer Platz, right in Franziskanerstrasse, right in Gebsattelstraße; after about 200 meters, on the right, you will see the Hotel Altmünchen), 89-458440. Central yet quiet location, just few minutes from the Marienplatz, the heart of the city. Furnished in an Old-Bavarian style, it creates a warm and inviting atmosphere in each of its 32 rooms. All rooms have wi fi access and cable TV, and pets are allowed in this hotel. 78 euro for a double room.

- Holiday Inn Munich City Centre, Hochstrasse 3 (S-Bahn Rosenheimer Platz), +49-89-48030, [11]. Renovated in 2008 from top to bottom. Small indoor pool (no gym), bar, restaurant. Directly connected to the S-Bahn via an underground pedestrian mall. Short walk to Deutsches Museum, easy S-Bahn connections to Marienplatz and the airport. 100€.

- Hotel Prinz, Hochstraße 45 - 81541 Munich, 49 89 441408 0. Close to the Deutsches Museum and to the Gasteig cultural center, the Hotel Prinz has an ideal location. All rooms are equipped with cable tv, wi fi access and 24 hour room service. Business travellers can continue to work at the two conferences rooms located onsite. Double room from 128 euro.

- Novotel Munich City, Hochstraße 3 - 81669 Munich, 89-638-0011. Opened in 2004, this 4 star hotel features 307 air-conditioned rooms, a modern restaurant and bar with terrace, free spa area with gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam bath, underground parking and a separate conference centre with terrace and 5 modern meeting rooms. Two restaurants and a garden terrace (summer only). Buffet breakfast 19 euro per person.

Contact
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District Neuhausen and Nymphenburg Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Discos

• Sleep

Budget

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
toc

See
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- Schloss Nymphenburg [1]— Was a smaller residential palace, now is the biggest Baroque palace in Germany. It is possible to enter the palace for an admission, however, considering that few rooms open to the public and that there a few furnishings, it may not worth the entrance price unless you are interested in the gallery of paintings of the numerous female friends of then King Ludwig. In contrast to the modest palace, the gardens are free and are an amazing place to relax. Benches and paths can be found throughout the garden. Several buildings are scattered throughout the palace gardens. Some of these buildings can also be entered for a small fee, but may not be worth it, because these buildings are also not furnished. Also on the grounds is a restaurant adjacent to the royal greenhouses. From Hauptbahnhof or Karlsplatz (Stachus) take Tram 17 to Amalienburgstraße. Leave at Schloß Nymphenburg. The tracks were recently being renewed so it may be faster to take bus number 51 from the S-Bahn station Laim (not Berg am Laim!) to Olympiazentrum. Also leave at Schloß Nymphenburg.

- Museum Mensch und Natur, located on Schloss Nymphenburg grounds, +49 089/ 179589-0 (email: museum@musmn.de) [2]. Hours: Tu-Su 9AM-5PM, Closed Monday. Admission: Adults €2.50, Children €1.50 Admission on Sunday € 1.00 for all visitors. The museum gives modern, lively exhibitions suitable for visitors of all ages and education levels. The exhibitions cover a wide range of topics starting with the history of earth and life, moving on to the diversity of organisms and finally covering current and social themes such as genetic research, neurobiology, nutrition physiology, nature conservation, consumer protection etc. A nice little museum that can be perused in an hour, interesting for children, but probably not worth the journey unless you're there to see the palace and gardens as well.

- Pfarrkirche Herz Jesu— Located between Rotkreuzplatz and Nymphenburg Canal, this modern Roman-Catholic church was erected between 1997 and 2000, after the previous church had been destroyed by a fire in 1994. Right now, this is one of the most frequently visited churches in Munich. The church consists in a large cuboid with a blue, 14 meter high facade. The facade can be opened completely, like a gigantic gate. However this happens only on public holidays.

Do
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- Skating — In the winter (if it is cold enough) you can go ice-skating on the canals in front of the Nymphenburg palace as well as on the small ponds located in the gardens.

- Bicycling — Riding a bike in Neuhausen and Nymphenburg is a great way to explore the area. Most roads have a dedicated path for cyclists.

- Movie Theatre — Among Munich's leading motion picture houses screening exclusively original version English language films, 'Cinema' is located on Nymphenburgerstrasse between Stiglmaierplatz and Mailingerstrasse underground stations on the U2 line.

- Eating Ice Cream — Pick your favorites of the 40+ different flavors of one of Munich's best and most traditional ice cream parlors, Sarcletti [3] at Rotkreuzplatz.

- Circus Krone [4] — In summer Europe's largest circus is moving around in Germany, and different concerts and other events take place in its fixed arena in Munich. In winter the circus resides in the city and gives regular shows.

Buy
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- Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory [5], Nördliches Schloßrondell 8; +49 89 179 197 10. Hours: M-F 10AM-5PM. Offers beautifully handcrafted porcelain. The factory was founded in the early 1700s to create porcelain for the Royal family and is located on the Nymphenburg palace grounds.

- Christmas market— During November and December, Neuhausen has a very small (but very friendly and cozy) Christmas market located adjacent to the Kaufhof department store at the Rotkreuzplatz subway station.

- Galeria-Kaufhof Pötschner Str. 5, +49 089/ 13077-0 [6]. Hours: M-F 9:30AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-8PM, Closed Sunday. Large department store that is located at the Rotkreuzplatz subway station.

Eat
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Budget
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- Fastfood — There is fast food available and Leberkässemmel is around Rotkreuzplatz and around Romanplatz.

- Rick's Cafe Wendl-Dietrich-Str. 5. Rick's Cafe is an American-Mexican restaurant with Turkish owners. The staff are friendly, however some do not speak English so having a little knowledge of German will help. This is a convenient place for people staying at the youth hostel on Wendl-Dietrich-Strasse (U-Bahn station Rotkreuzplatz), because it is a minute walk on the same street.

- Da Enzo Wendl-Dietrich-Str. 5. An Italian restaurant located across the street from Rick's Cafe. The owner and some of the employees speak a fair amount of English, but service is sometimes inconsistent.

- Vinh, located at Leonrodstr/Landshuter Allee. Only a short walk from Rotkreuzplatz and serves very good Vietnamese and Asian dishes. It is a very small restaurant, but well worth the visit if you like authentic Asian food.

- Hirschgarten — Europe's largest beer garden. Bring your own food or have some Schweinebraten or Schweinshaxe, together with 1l of beer or "Radler".

- Augustiner Biergarten / Keller in Arnulfstrasse, close to Hackerbrücke. Augustiner is the most popular beer among the young locals.

- Löwenbräu Biergarten / Keller in Nymphenburger Strasse at Stiglmayerplatz.

Mid-range
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- The Big Easy, Frundsbergstraße 46 (On the corner of Ruffinistraße and Frundstraße), (089) 15 89 02 53 [7]. Hours: Opens at 5PM. The Big Easy is an excellent Cajun restaurant. It's a great place to eat or to relax with friends while drinking cocktails. The staff speaks excellent English and are very friendly. Extensive brunch buffet on Sundays. It's well worth the visit.

- Zum Koreaner, Nymphenburgerstraße 132 (close to Landshuter Allee), (089) 18985993 [8]. A Korean restaurant serving tasty Korean dishes.

- Taj Mahal one of the best Indian restaurants in Munich at Nymphenburger Strasse/Landhuter Allee ("Mittlerer Ring").

- Chang Noi this exquisite Thai restaurant called "the litte Elephant" is located at Landhuter Allee ("Mittlerer Ring"), very close to Nymphenburger Strasse.

Splurge
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- Sassi, Volkartstr. 70, +49 (0) 89/ 18954594. Sassi is a place you should only visit if you are willing to spend around €50 per person. But if you do, you will get really excellent Italian cuisine far beyond the usual pizza and pasta. The owner is a very friendly Italian guy with a lot of experience with restaurants. This restaurant is a gem!

Drink
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- Ysenegger, Ysenburgstraße 3 [9]. This bar doubles as a restaurant, however it's best known for its drinks, which are varied and fantastic. Try the Bloody Mary, if you want an authentic taste of one.

- Gaststätte Peaches, Donnersbergerstraße 50 A 80634 München, 089 / 13 20 20. Crowds swarm here to indulge in delicious cocktails and giant pizzas, one of which can feed three people. Great place to meet and people watch.

- Wasserman, Elvirastraße 19 80636 München, 089 / 123 23 61. Discover an unknown gem and visit the Wasserman for giant burgers, pork roast and "Schnitzel" (cutlets). The breakfast is really some of the best in the city and during the summer, you can also sit in front of the restaurant, at a sunny, quiet street corner. In one of the two rooms, there is a screen, where they occasionally show soccer games or music videos.

Discos
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- The Backstage, Friedenheimer Brücke 7, +49 089/ 126610-0 [10]. The typical come-as-you-are location. Saturdays are the main night, a standard event for over 15 years (the Backstage people have survived changing physical location within Munich 3 times so far). On the other days of the week, there are various other parties and concerts. Many good bands that are famous and successful in their subculture (Metal, Rock, Goth, Hip-Hop, ect.) but are not mainstream enough to fill big halls can be seen here for little money (for Munich standards that is). To that end, the Backstage is more a club, than a disco. If you are lucky, you can catch the Free and Easy festival, which is usually in May and December, and a few weeks in July, featuring free concerts, cabaret and parties every day.

- The Nachtgalerie [11]. Actually situated across the tracks in the adjacent 'Westend' neighborhood, this club is in a former railway cargo terminal, best reached with the Tram 19 in the direction of Pasing - get off at the 'Lokschuppen' stop when you see the big 'Bauhaus' home-improvement store. Once a vibrant venue for live music, it's primarily DJ's now as prices have gone up and the age of the visitors has gone down.

- Club 4004, Landbergerstrasse 169, +49 089/ 52 38 880 5, (email: info@viertausendvier.de) [12]. Next to the Nachtgalerie, the 4004 Arena, which opened in December 2003, is one of Munich's "super clubs". With a floor space of 4000 square meters over two stories (4004 sq meters to be exact, hence the name) this is one of the biggest nightclubs in Southern Germany. Some 5,000 guests can be accommodated per night. Entrance is granted to anyone who is well groomed and over 20 years of age. The target age group is somewhat older, 20's and pushing well into the 30's.

Sleep
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Budget
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- DJH Neuhausen, Wendl-Dietrich-Strasse 20 (From the main train station, take U1 or U7 in the direction of Westfriedhof and get off at Rotkreuzplatz), +49-89-131156 (jhmuenchen-neuhausen@djh-bayern.de, fax: +49-89-1678745), [13]. Closed: 1 Dec 2006 to 31 Dec 2006. Youth hostels in Germany are aimed at youth in the literal sense of the word (unlike other places where they are for the young at heart). €21.55 - €30.75 (€3 extra during Oktoberfest).

- The Tent, 30 In den Kirschen (Take tram number 17 in the direction of 'Amalienburgstrasse' and get off at 'Botanischer Garten'. Then follow the signs -- walking west on Menzingerstraße, then right on Franz-Schrank Straße. There are easily visible signs -- it's one of the only things in the area, so you can't miss it!), +49 (089) 14 14 300 (cu@the-tent.com), [14]. checkin: 4:30PM-10:30PM; checkout: 12PM. There are hundreds of lockers in the tent [locks are €3 at reception] and it is extremely safe. The only real downside to the tent is that you may get quite cold as it is not heated. Otherwise, the beds are very comfy, blankets very warm, food/drinks very good, and the staff are very chill and friendly. Also, absolutely every member of the staff speaks perfect English. The Tent was a commune for the Munich Olympics. Rates: €5.50 - €30; the standard tent bunk is €10.50 per person per night, with unlimited thermal blankets included..

Splurge
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- Top Erzgiesserei Europe Munich, Erzgießereistr. 15 80335 München, +49 89 12682-0. Luxurious six-story hotel centrally located 800 meters from Stiglmaierplatz (home to Löwenbräu), the underground station one stop from the main train station. This four star hotel offers quality standards of furnishing and amenities with a modern flair. During the summertime, you can dine in the garden in the courtyard in a quiet and beautiful surrounding. A private underground car park is available for guests arriving by car.

- Hotel Europa Munich. Four star Hotel Europa Munich’s 172 guestrooms all have a light, modern decor and include satellite television with pay movies, safes, wireless internet access, and minibars. It is located one kilometre from the central station, and two kilometres from the world famous Marienplatz with it's New and Old City Halls.

Contact
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There are known internet connections in the Neuhausen youth hostel as well as on the top floor of the Kaufhof department store. The number of hotspots available throughout the quarter is certainly growing; inquire at cafes and hotels.

District Thalkirchen Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- Tiergarten Hellabrunn, [1] April to September: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, October to March: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Adults €9.00, children €4.50, and students €6.00.

Do
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- Flaucher, (Take the U3 to 'Thalkirchen'. Follow the hoards over the bridge, then head east). Munich's little slice of paradise on the Isar, Flaucher, is a beach area that's popular with students and is home to many parties.

Buy
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Eat
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Drink
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Sleep
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- Munich-Thalkirchen Youth Hostel, Miesingstr 4 (Take the U3 from Marienplatz to the "Thalkirchen" U-Bahn station. From there walk several yards from the station following the crowds going to the beach or to the zoo. Turn to your right at the immediate hill continue walking up the hill and tucked away in a hidden drive you'll find the youth hostel.) Tel: 49-89-7236550, Fax: 49-89-7242567, jghmuenchen@djh-bayern.de [2] €22.50 (Single bed)

- Camping Munich-Thalkirchen, Open from March 15 - November 1. Zentralländstr. 49. Phone: (089) 723 1707. [3] (Website will redirect to Munich's tourism site. In German)

Contact
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