MUNICH, GERMANY

When people say that Munich plays second fiddle to Berlin, Bavarians are quick to say, “Hold my beer.” From a cultural standpoint, it is hard to argue against Munich with its Neo-Gothic architecture, museums, and cobblestone streets. It is a fantastic culmination of country life and city life with its many green spaces and proximity to the Alps. Did I mention that it is home to potentially the most famous festival in the world? You will have to visit for yourself to make the decision on your own!

IMG_4033.JPG
munich-1220911_1280.jpg

Attractions:

  • Oktoberfest: If you are in Munich during mid-September or early October, you are going to Oktoberfest no questions asked. It has an atmosphere that is impossible to describe; I have never seen people so happy! I recommend attending the festival at least two days (the last weekend is most popular). The festival does not have tickets or an entrance fee, but bring plenty of beer money!

  • Dachau Concentration Camp: Approximately 30 minutes northwest of Munich’s city center, Dachau is definitely worth a few hours of your time. Not only is it very informative and moving, but it is also free to visit! It is open daily from 9am-5pm. From Munich HBF, take the S2 metro line (towards Peterhausen) and get off at Dachau (20 minutes; €3.30). From here, cross the street, wait for Bus 724 or 726, and take it to the last stop, KZ-Gedenkstätte (10 minutes; €2.30).

  • Englischer Garten: This is one of the largest urban public parks in the world! Given its size, it is a lovely place to walk through for a couple of hours. You can find both an artificial surf stream and Japanese teahouse in this park! Free and open 24/7.

  • Hofbrauhaus: At nearly 500 years old, this is arguably the most famous tavern in the world! It is open daily from 9am-12am. You cannot leave Munich without trying their beer!

  • Free Walking Tour: SANDEMANs offers a free (tip-based) tour every morning starting at 10:45am. The meeting place is at Marienplatz and the tour lasts 2.5-3 hours.

  • Marienplatz: Munich’s most well-known city square! Here you will find the Rathaus-Glockenspiel which chimes every day at 11am, 12pm, and 5pm. The glockenspiel tells the story of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine’s marriage.  In honor of their matrimony, knights joust - Bavaria vs. Lothringen. I won’t tell you who wins! Just a few steps away is Victuals Market, Munich’s most popular open-air market. It is open Monday-Saturday from 8am-8pm.

  • Olympiapark: Another one of Munich’s storied parks; it was home of the 1972 Summer Olympics! Free and open 24/7.

  • Other attractions include: Nymphenburg Palace, Allianz Arena, Munich Residenz, BMW Museum, and Neuschwanstein Castle (90 minutes SW of Munich).

IMG_3968.JPG
IMG_4030.JPG
image.jpg

Accommodation:

  • Wombat’s: Great location and nice bar in the back of the hostel. Although it is not included in the price, they have a solid breakfast buffet as well.  I would recommend staying here. If you plan to come during Oktoberfest though, you will need to book months in advance. It is a 3-minute walk from Munich HBF and a 15-minute walk from ZOB Munich.

  • Stoke Travel Munich All-Inclusive Campsite: Lodging for Oktoberfest is super expensive! Staying here is a cheap alternative to a hostel or AirBnB. For €65/night, this campground is an amazing way to meet people!  The price includes a tent, sleeping bag, and meals. Are the tents super nice and the meals gourmet? No, but you’re not going to Oktoberfest for that, are you? For an additional €10/night, you can purchase unlimited beer and sangria. The cherry on top is the free shuttle bus taking you from the campground to the nearest metro stop making getting to the festival super easy! The campground is located here, a 5-minute bus ride followed by a 10-minute S-Bahn ride from the city center.

IMG_4007.JPG

Transportation:

Munich’s main bus station is ZOB Munich; all buses below leave from here. The main train station is Munich Central Station (Munich HBF); all trains below leave from here.

  • Salzburg, Austria is 2 hours by bus from Munich and costs €10. The train ride is 1.5 hours and costs €25.

  • Prague, Czechia is 4.5 hours by bus from Munich and costs €20. The train ride is 6 hours (indirect) and costs €40.

  • Vienna, Austria is 5.5 hours by bus from Munich and costs €35. The train ride is 4 hours and costs €59.

  • Berlin is 7.5 hours by bus from Munich and costs €38. The train ride is 4.5 hours and costs €79.

  • Venice, Italy is 8 hours by bus from Munich and costs €40. The train ride is 7.5 hours (indirect) and costs €99.

  • Lucerne, Switzerland is 8.5 hours by bus from Munich and costs €42. The train ride is 5 hours (indirect) and costs €78.

  • Lux City, Luxembourg is 9 hours by bus from Munich and costs €42. The train ride is 8 hours (indirect) and costs €86.

  • Paris, France is 12 hours by bus from Munich and costs €44. The train ride is 6 hours (indirect) and costs €92.

Munich International Airport (MUC) is 37km (23 miles) northwest of the city center and accessible via bus, metro, and taxi.

  • Bus: The ride on the Lufthansa Airport Express Bus is 45 minutes and costs €11; buses leave every 30 minutes. There are two drop-off location options: München-Nord/Schwabing (25 minutes) and München HBF (45 minutes).

  • Metro: The ride on the S-Bahn (S1 or S8) is 50 minutes and costs €13.20; trains leave every 10 minutes. Purchase the “M5 Ticket” which connects Zone M to Zone 5.

  • Taxi: The ride is 45 minutes and costs €65-€75 depending on the time of day.

Photo+Sep+13_+11+17+34+AM.jpg
IMG_3955.JPG

Thank you, Tatiana (for the photo of Freddy and I at Oktoberfest), Michael (for the aerial shot of Marienplatz), and MoreLight (for the photo of the Oktoberfest carnival ride)!