Munich

Munich is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all. The Frauenkirche in the Munich city center. Munich (German: München) [1] is the capital city of Bavaria. Within the city limits, Munich has a population of more than 1.3 million, making it the third most populous city in Germany. The Munich metropolitan region including cities like Augsburg or Ingolstadt had a population of more than 5.6 million in 2008. Munich, located at the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is famous for its beautiful architecture, fine culture, and the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration. Munich's cultural scene is second to none in Germany, with the museums even considered by some to outrank Berlin in quality. Many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800s including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). Munich is also a major international center of business, engineering and research exemplified by the presence of two research universities, several multinational companies and worldclass technology and science museums like the Deutsches Museum, BMW Museum and Siemens Forum. Districts Munich City Hall City Center (Marienplatz/Isartor/Karlsplatz/Odeonsplatz)- The city center is made up largely of the Karlsplatz (also known as "Stachus" by the locals), the pedestrian shopping zone that leads down to Marienplatz square and the surounding area, which are the main tourist hangouts. 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). This is where the upscale shopping area around Maximilianstrasse and numerous tourist attractions are located including the new city hall (Neues Rathaus) with the world famous Glockenspiel, the old city hall, the Feldherrenhalle, Residenz (former residence of the Bavarian kings) and the world's most famous beer hall, the Hofbräuhaus. Several historic churches such as the Frauenkirche, Asamkirche, Peterskirche and Theatinerkirche are also located in the city center and can be toured. North of the city is the Englischer Garten, a huge park where you can relax in one of multiple beer gardens or watch surfers ride a permanent wave at a creek at the park's southern end. Schwabing/Maxvorstadt (University area) - Schwabing (as well as the neighboring Maxvorstadt) is the upscale academic district just west of the Englischer Garten. 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) offers extensive sidewalk cafes, bars and restaurants. This is also were several of Munich's best art museums and galleries are located. 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. Just a short stroll from the park are the BMW museum inside a futuristic building and the BMW headquarters, which mimics the shape of four cylinder heads. 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 especially in the beautiful French Quarter around Orleansplatz. Isarvorstadt - The centrepiece of this quarter is the eponymous Gärtnerplatz, a landscaped urban square arranged as a roundabout. The square is home to cafés, bars and the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, one of Munich's prime theatre locations. Bordering southwest to Gärtnerplatzviertel is the Glockenbachviertel, which is the most vibrant part of Isarvorstadt, with bars, restaurants and nightclubs straddling Blumenstraße, Müllerstraße, Hans-Sachs-Straße and Klenzestraße. The Glockenbachviertel and the Gärtnerplatzviertel are also the focal point of Munich's gay culture, with gay bars and clubs located primarily along Müllerstraße. Munich Nymphenburg 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 "You do not even go somewhere else, I tell you there's nothing like Munich. Everything else is a waste of time in Germany" — Ernest Hemingway History The year 1158 is the earliest date the city is mentioned in a document signed in Augsburg. By that time Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, had built a bridge over the river Isar next to a settlement of Benedictine monks. Almost two decades later in 1175 Munich was officially granted city status and received fortification. In 1180, with the trial of Henry the Lion, Otto I Wittelsbach became Duke of Bavaria and Munich was handed over to the Bishop of Freising. The Wittelsbach dynasty, would rule Bavaria until 1918. In 1255, when the Duchy of Bavaria was split in two, Munich became the ducal residence of Upper Bavaria. In the late 15th century Munich underwent a revival of gothic arts—the Old Town Hall was enlarged, and a Munich's largest gothic church, now a cathedral—the Frauenkirche—constructed in only twenty years, starting in 1468. When Bavaria was reunited in 1506, Munich became its capital. The arts and politics became increasingly influenced by the court and Munich was a center of the German counter reformation as well as of renaissance arts. The Catholic League was founded in Munich in 1609. During the Thirty Years' War Munich became electoral residence, but in 1632 the city was occupied by Swedish king Gustav II Adolph. When the bubonic plague broke out in 1634 and 1635 about one third of the population died. Under the regency of the Bavarian electors Munich was an important center of baroque life. In 1806, the city became the capital of the new Kingdom of Bavaria, with the state's parliament and the new archdiocese of Munich and Freising being located in the city. Twenty years later Landshut University was moved to Munich. Many of the city's finest buildings belong to this period and were built under the first three Bavarian kings. These years were marked by tremendous artistic and cultural activity in Munich. After World War I, the city was at the center of much political unrest. In November 1918 on the eve of revolution, the royal family fled the city. After the murder of the first republican premier of Bavaria in February 1919, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed, but it was put down on 3 May 1919 by conservative troops. While the republican government had been restored, Munich subsequently became a hotbed of extremist politics, among which Adolf Hitler and the National Socialism rose to prominence. In 1923 Hitler and his supporters, who were then concentrated in Munich, staged the Beer Hall Putsch, an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic and seize power. The revolt failed, resulting in Hitler's arrest and the temporary crippling of the Nazi Party, which was virtually unknown outside Munich. The city once again became a Nazi stronghold when the National Socialists took power in Germany in 1933. The National Socialist Workers Party created the first concentration camp at Dachau, 10 miles (16 km) north-west of the city. Because of its importance to the rise of National Socialism, Munich was referred to as the Hauptstadt der Bewegung ("Capital of the Movement"). Munich was also the base of the White Rose, a student resistance movement from June 1942 to February 1943. However, the core members including Hans and Sophie Scholl were arrested and executed following a distribution of leaflets in Munich University. The city was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II. After US occupation in 1945, Munich was completely rebuilt following a meticulous plan which preserved its pre-war street grid. In 1957 Munich's population passed the 1 million mark. Munich was the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics, during which Israeli athletes were assassinated by Palestinian terrorists in the Munich massacre. Economy BMW headquarters Munich has the strongest economy of any German city and with the lowest unemployment rates of major German cities it is very prosperous. Seven out of the thirty companies listed in the German blue chip stock market index DAX are headquartered in Munich. This includes luxury car maker BMW, electrical engineering giant Siemens, chip producer Infinion, truck manufacturer MAN, industrial gas specialist Linde, the world's largest insurance company Allianz and the world's largest re-insurer Munich Re. The Munich region is also a center for aerospace, biotechnology, software and service industries. It is home to the aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines, the aerospace and defense giant EADS (headquartered in both Munich and Paris), the injection molding machine manufacturer Krauss-Maffei, the camera and lighting manufacturer Arri, lighting giant Osram, as well as the German and/or European headquarters of many foreign companies like Precision Plus, McDonald’s, Microsoft and Intel. As the largest publishing city in Europe, Munich is home to Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of Germany's largest daily newspapers. Germany's largest public broadcasting network, ARD, its largest commercial network, Pro7-Sat1 Media AG, and the Burda publishing group are also located in and around Munich. Munich is a leading center for science and research with a long list of Nobel Prize laureates from Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1901 to Theodor Hänsch in 2005. It hosts two world-class research universities (Ludwig Maximilian Universität and the Technische Universität München), several colleges and the headquarters as well as research facilities of both the Max-Planck-Society and the Fraunhofer-Society. The European Space Agency's Columbus Control Center, which is used to control the Columbus research laboratory of the International Space Station, is located at a large research facility of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) 20 kilometers outside of Munich in Oberpfaffenhofen. Arts The people of Munich do not like their city to be associated only as a city of beer and the Oktoberfest. And indeed, the Bavarian Kings transformed Munich into a city of arts and science in the 19th century. Its outstanding position among other German cities may have faded a bit, due to Berlin becoming the German capital again in the 1990s, but Munich still remains Germany's number-one place for art, science and culture. Munich is internationally known for its collection of ancient, classic and modern art, which can be found in numerous museums throughout the city. Munich's most renowned museums are located in the Kunstareal in Maxvorstadt including the Alte Pinakothek (European paintings from the 13th to 18th century), the Neue Pinakothek (European paintings from classicism to art nouveau), the Pinakothek der Moderne (modern art), the Museum Brandhorst (modern art) and Glyptothek (ancient Greek and Roman sculptures). From the Gothic to the Baroque era, the fine arts were represented in Munich by artists like Erasmus Grasser, Jan Polack, Johann Baptist Straub, Ignaz Günther, Hans Krumpper, Ludwig von Schwanthaler, Cosmas Damian Asam, Egid Quirin Asam, Johann Baptist Zimmermann, Johann Michael Fischer and François de Cuvilliés. Munich had already become an important place for painters like Carl Rottmann, Lovis Corinth, Wilhelm von Kaulbach, Carl Spitzweg, Franz von Lenbach, Franz von Stuck and Wilhelm Leibl when Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a group of expressionist artists, was established in Munich in 1911. The city was home to the Blue Rider's painters Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc, August Macke and Alfred Kubin. Inside the Nationaltheater Munich was also home or host to many famous composers and musicians including Orlando di Lasso, W.A. Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Max Reger and Carl Orff. With the Munich Biennale founded by Hans Werner Henze, and the A*DEvantgarde festival, the city still contributes to modern music theatre. The Nationaltheater, where several of Richard Wagner's operas had their premieres under the patronage of king Ludwig II, is the home of the world famous Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian State Orchestra. Next door the modern Residenz Theatre was erected in the building that had housed the Cuvilliés Theatre before World War II. Many operas were staged there, including the premiere of Mozart's "Idomeneo" in 1781. The Gärtnerplatz Theatre is a ballet and musical state theatre while another opera house the Prinzregententheater has become the home of the Bavarian Theatre Academy. The modern Gasteig center houses the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. The third orchestra in Munich with international importance is the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which was named the 6th best orchestra in the world by The Gramophone magazine in 2008. Its primary concert venue is the Herkulesaal in the former city royal residence, the Residenz. Many pominent literates worked in Munich such as Paul Heyse, Max Halbe, Rainer Maria Rilke and Frank Wedekind. The period immediately before World War I saw economic and cultural prominence for the city. Munich, and especially its suburb of Schwabing, became the domicile of many artists and writers. Nobel laureate Thomas Mann, who also lived there, wrote ironically in his novella Gladius Dei about this period, "Munich shone". It remained a center of cultural life during the Weimar period with figures such as Lion Feuchtwanger, Bertolt Brecht and Oskar Maria Graf. The Bavaria Film Studios were founded in Geiselgasteig in 1919 by the film producer Peter Ostermayr. Alfred Hitchcock made his first film, The Pleasure Garden, in Geiselgasteig in 1925. The studios have been used by numerous famous directors, such as Max Ophüls (Lola Montez, 1954), Stanley Kubrick (Paths of Glory, 1957), John Huston (Freud: The Secret Passion, 1960), Robert Siodmak (L'Affaire Nina B, 1960), Billy Wilder (One, Two, Three, 1961), John Sturges (The Great Escape, 1963), Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, 1965), Mel Stuart (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, (1971), Bob Fosse (Cabaret, 1972), Ingmar Bergman (The Serpent's Egg, 1977), Robert Aldrich (Twilight's Last Gleaming, 1977), Wolfgang Petersen (Enemy Mine, 1985), Claude Chabrol and Wim Wenders. Other famous movies shot at the studios are Das Boot (1981), The Neverending Story (1984) and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006). Quality of life Beer garden inside the Englischer Garten Munich can be consistently found in the top tier of quality-of-life-rankings of world cities. Monocle magazine even named it the world's most livable city in 2010. When Germans are polled about where they would most like to live, Munich finds its way consistently at the top of the list. Within proximity 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, a beautiful park called Englischer Garten, two of the best universities in Germany, a booming economy with global headquarters of many world-class companies, modern infrastructure and the greatest beer culture on the planet; could there be anything wrong with Munich? Well, 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. People Bavaria has been the longtime antipode of Berlin: While the protestant Prussian kings focused their energy and resources on building military strength, the catholic Witteslbacher were more interested in creating a center of arts and science following the examples of cities in Northern Italy. And even today, Bavaria takes a unique position among the German states with a strong emphasis on its independence, e.g. Bavaria calls itself Freistaat (free state) and has its own conservative party, the CSU, which strongly advocates Bavarian interests in Berlin. Bavaria's transition from an agricultural society to Germany's most successful high-tech state as well as the dominance of Bayern München in German football has further increased the pride of its residents in their state and its traditions and dialect (to a degree considered arrogance by some non-Bavarians). The residents of Munich, the capital of Bavaria, share a lot of characteristics with the rest of Bavaria and indeed it became popular again among older and younger people to wear traditional Bavarian clothing at least during the Oktoberfest. However, the influx of people from the rest of Germany and abroad has also led to some differences. While the rest of Bavaria is a stronghold of conservative Catholicism, Munich has been governed by a liberal coalition of Social-Democrats, Greens and the Rosa Liste (a gay rights party) and only 36,8 % of residents are members of the catholic church while 13,6 % are protestant, 0,3 % Jewish and 49,3 % are atheists, agnostics or members of other religions including Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. A stereotypical group strongly associated by many Germans with Munich is the Schwabing Schickeria, characterized by their obsession for social status, luxury brands, expensive restaurants and champagne. The Schickeria has been the subject of 1980s TV Shows Kir Royal and Monaco Franze as well as the movie Rossini – oder die mörderische Frage, wer mit wem schlief. Climate Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Daily highs (°C) 1 2 9 14 18 21 23 23 20 13 7 2 Nightly lows (°C) -6 -5 -2 3 7 10 12 11 8 4 0 -2 Precipitation (mm) 48 45 58 70 93 128 132 110 86 65 71 61 Munich has a continental climate, strongly modified by the proximity of the Alps. The city's altitude and proximity to the northern edge of the Alps mean that precipitation is high. Rainstorms can come violently and unexpectedly. Winters last from December to March. Munich experiences cold winters, but heavy rainfall is rarely seen in the winter. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of −2°C (28 °F). Snow cover is seen for at least a couple of weeks during winter. Summers in Munich city are warm and pleasant with an average maximum of 23 °C (73 °F) in the hottest months. The summers last from May until September. An oddity of Munich is the Föhn, a warm downwind from the Alps can raise temperatures sharply within a few hours, even in winter. These winds are sometimes associated with illnesses ranging from migraines to psychosis. The first clinical review of these effects was published by the Austrian physician, Anton Czermak in the 19th century. Resident of Munich sometimes use the Föhn as an excuse for having a bad mood, which should not be taken all too serious. Get in By plane Munich International Airport Munich International Airport [2] (IATA: MUC; ICAO: EDDM) is the second biggest airport and the seventh largest airport in Europe handling 37 million passengers per year. Munich airport, which has been named for former Bavarian prime minister Franz Josef Strauß, is a major hub for Lufthansa [3] and its partner airlines. Munich International Airport is located outside of Munich close to the northeastern suburb Freising. Originally, the airport was closer to the city center in Riem. However, in 1992 it was moved to its current location to meet the demand for more capacity and more modern facilities. Due to the constantly increasing number of flights, the airport has continued to expand since then and now offers connections to most airports in Germany and Europe, as well as many intercontinental destinations. Intercontinental destinations include Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Bangkok, Beijing, Boston, Cairo, Charlotte, Chicago, Delhi, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Montréal, Mumbai, Muscat, New York, Newark, Osaka, Philadelphia, Riyadh, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Washington and many others. In 2011, Munich Airport has been named the winner of the "Best Airport in Europe" award for the third year in a row based on an worldwide survey of close to eight million passengers. Passengers also ranked Munich #4 in the global rankings behind three Asian hubs. Terminal 1 All airlines, which are not members of Star Alliance, including the second largest German carrier Air Berlin [4] are based in Terminal 1. It is segmented into five modules A, B, C, D and E. The Terminal has multiple levels: The train station is on level 2; the passenger transport system, which connects the modules, on level 3; check-in counters, security checkpoints, arrival areas, customs and most restaurants are on level 4; level 5 is used by passengers with connecting flights. Terminal 2 Terminal 2 hosts Lufthansa and its Star Alliance [5] partners, e.g. Air Canada, Air China, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss, Thai, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. It is also used by additional Lufthansa partners such as Qatar Airways, PrivatAir and some regional airlines. Terminal 2 consists of the central Plaza and Pier North and Pier South. Terminal 2 also has multiple levels: The arrival area and some check-in counters (e.g. United and Turkish) are on level 3; all other check-in counters, the security check-points and duty-free shops are on level 4; the visitor deck as well as restaurants and art exhibitions can be found on level 5. Munich Airport Center The Munich Aiport Center is a recreation- and service-center at the aiport located between terminals 1 and 2. It includes a shopping mall, restaurants, a medical center, the conference center municon and the MAC-Forum. The MAC-Forum is Europe's largest roofed outdoor-area, which is used for various events like a christmas fair and ice-skating in winter and a beach volleyball tournament in summer. Located next to the Munich Airport Center is the Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich [6]. Get in and out The airport connects to central Munich by S-Bahn (suburban 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 traveling 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 underground train) in Feldmoching. If traveling from downtown to the airport, you can just validate both tickets and the restriction does not apply anymore. Memmingen Airport Memmingen Airport (IATA: FMM, ICAO: EDJA)) is located around 110 km away from Munich. However it is marketed as "Munich West" by Ryanair. Other names include "Allgäu Airport" or "Flughafen Allgäu". There are shuttle buses to Munich [7] with timetables aligned to Ryanair's schedule. One way tickets are 20 € and 15 € if pre-booked via Internet. The buses arrive (and go from) Munich's Hackerbrücke train station which is located next to Munich main station. Besides from it's Airport, the city of Memmingen itself has a nice medieval city center. By train Munich's main station (Hauptbahnhof) [8](main station) is conveniently located in the center of Munich. The main station is west of Marienplatz (two S-Bahn stations) or a short walk away from the city center. It is well connected to Munich's dense public transportation network. The main station has a traveler-friendly infrastructure including several restaurants, shops, a tourist's bureau and a Deutsche Bahn ticket and travel agency office. Deutsche Bahn [9] uses Munich as one of its main German hubs and offers regional and long-distance connections to many German cities. This includes several connections with ICE high-speed trains: ICE 11 to Augsburg, Ulm, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Fulda, Kassel, Göttingen, Braunschweig, Berlin ICE 25 to Nürnberg, Würzburg, Fulda, Kassel, Göttingen, Hannover, Hamburg ICE 28 to Nürnberg, Leipzig, Berlin, Hamburg ICE 31 to Nürnberg, Würzburg, Frankfurt, Mainz, Koblenz, Bonn, Cologne, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Osnabrück, Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel ICE 41 to Nürnberg, Würzburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Duisburg, Essen ICE 42 to Augsburg, Ulm, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Cologne, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund Munich has also a high-speed TGV-connection with Paris [10] as well as Eurocity connections with Strasbourg, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna, Budapest, Zurich, Verona, Venice, Milan and other international cities. Two additional train stations are located in the west (Munich Pasing) and the east (Munich Ostbahnhof) of Munich. Both stations are connected to the public transportation system and serve as transportation hubs for Deutsche Bahn's regional and long-distance trains. By car Munich Autobahn system Munich is well connected through the German Autobahn network with other cities in Germany and Austria. A8 connects Munich with Augsburg, Ulm, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe in the west and Salzburg in the east A9 leads to Ingolstadt, Nürnberg, Leipzig and Potsdam/Berlin in the north A92 connects Munich with Landshut A94 has only been partially completed and will lead to Passau A95 connects Munich with Garmisch-Partenkirchen A96 connects Munich with Lindau at Lake Constance. The A99 is an Autobahn ring around the city which connects the various Autobahns. Munich has three ring roads in addition to the A99: The Äußerer Ring, the Mittlerer Ring and the Altstadtring. Traffic in Munich can be a challenge at peak times. Therefore, and due to the shortage of parking within the city center, it is recommended to leave the car in a Park & Ride car park (see the Get around section) in one of Munich's suburbs close to a S-Bahn station and use public transportation within the city. By bus An inexpensive and comfortable possibility to travel to Munich from the Czech Republic are shuttle buses. There are door-to-door shuttle bus services connecting Munich with Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, e.g. www.shuttleceskykrumlov.com[11]. One way to Cesky Krumlov costs ~ 1500 CZK (63 EUR). Get around By public transportation OUTDATED Munich public transport map (click to enlarge). Metro lines are blue, train lines green, tram lines red, bus routes orange. The best way to travel around Munich is the public transportation system consisting of the Tram (streetcar), buses, S-Bahn (suburban trains) and U-Bahn (underground trains). There is only one ticket system, called MVV, which means you can use all elements of the public transport with the same ticket. You can get individual, group, day and week tickets. The underground (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 join in a tunnel (Stammstrecke) between stations Donnersbergerbrücke and Ostbahnhof in central Munich. The Munich MVV website [12] includes maps of the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Tram and bus network, maps of the Park&Ride car parks, pricing information as well as timetables and a journey planner. The official urban rail network map [13]is indispensable. Single trips in a single zone such as the city center cost €2.50, but the four-zone journey from the airport is a whopping €10. Thus, if you arrive at the airport and intend to explore Munich by the public system, the best option is to buy a €10.80 Gesamtnetz (whole network) day ticket. If you are not traveling alone, then you can purchase a group ("Partner") day ticket for €19.60, allowing up to 5 adults to travel together on all lines of the MVV system. A day ticket is worth buying if you plan to take more than two trips on the same day. It is available for single persons and groups ("Partner"), the latter for up to five adults traveling together, and is valid until 6AM of the next morning. The day ticket is available for four areas: Area Zone Single Group Note Inner district (Innenraum) White €5.40 €9.80 Enough to explore the city Inner district (Innenraum) 3 Day card White €13.30 €22.80 Outer district (Außenraum) Green, yellow, red €5.40 €9.80 Does not cover city center Munich XXL (München XXL) White and green €7.30 €12.80 Good for trips to the lakes and suburban destinations Entire network (Gesamtnetz) All €10.80 €19.60 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 weekly ticket is valid from Monday to Monday. The price of the weekly 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 stripe card (Streifenkarte), with 10 strips, is a better value than buying lots of individual tickets. The cost is €12.00, 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[14]. It is a ticket valid for all public transportation services in Munich and a discount card for many tourist attractions like museums, sights, 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 € 9.90 valid for 3 days in the inner area of Munich for € 19.90 valid for 3 days in the entire area of Munich for € 31.50 For groups up to five people: valid for 1 day in the inner area of Munich for € 16.90 valid for 3 days in the inner area of Munich for € 29.90 valid for 3 days in the entire area of Munich for € 51.50 A leaflet with information about the discount offers of the partners and a map of the city center and a plan of the public transportation network are included. The ticket is available at ticket vending machines at all S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Tram and bus stations. Furthermore it can be purchased at the MVG customer center as well as in selected hotels and online. [15] All tickets, except for weekly tickets must be stamped to be valid; without a stamp the ticket is invalid and you can be fined €50. Stamping machines (Entwerter) are found at the entrance to the S-Bahn or U-Bahn platforms, and inside 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 to validate your ticket before boarding any U-Bahn or S-Bahn train. Public transportation operates with limited service from 2AM to 5AM. The U-Bahn does not operate at all during this time, and trams and some buses operate only in one hour intervals from Monday to Friday and on 30 minutes intervals 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 do not leave the place before 5AM unless you want to take a taxi. If you plan to explore Munich and Bavaria via regional trains, consider getting a Bayern Ticket [16], which is 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 (single travelers 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 travel on a weekend, exploring Munich and taking a regional Deutsche Bahn train to another city anywhere in Germany on 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 €39. 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. 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 [17], located near the Hofbräuhaus, offers historical tours of the city. Discover Munich [18] offers bike tours around Munich's old town and the Engish Garden. Munich is generally a bike-friendly city with many designated bike paths (especially along river Isar, in the parks and even in the city center). Rates of accidents involving bicycles are rising in Munich. Hence, the police enforces traffic rules for cyclists more rigorous especially at the beginning of the bike season in spring. Fines range from 10 Euro for driving without light to 100 Euro for ignoring red traffic lights. Drunk cycling can result in heavy fines and even in detention. Helmets are not required for cyclists, but they are recommended. By taxi Like everywhere in Germany, Munich taxi cabs can easily be recognized by their beige color and the yellow-black taxi sign on the roof. Taxis can be found at taxi stands throughout the city, at train stations and at the airport. It is also possible to stop a taxi (if it is not occupied) or to call one of the many taxi companies of Munich (google "taxi munich" for current phone numbers). The basic fare is 2.90 euros with additional 1.60 euros per kilometer for up to 5 kilometers, 1.40 euros per kilometer for kilometers 5 to 10, 1.25 euros per kilometer for kilometers 10+. Waiting time per hour is 22.50 euros and there are additional charges for pets (0.50 euros per animal) and luggage (0.50 euros per piece). By car It is generally a bad idea to explore Munich by car. Traffic is heavy especially during rush hour, and parking tends to be difficult. Moreover, many landmarks and areas of touristic interest are located in the inner city which is partially closed for car traffic. Here parking space is particularly scarce and expensive. Driving may be an option for visiting some of the attractions in suburban Munich like the Bavaria Film Studios or for making day trips to cities and lakes outside of Munich. Traffic rules in Munich are basically the same as elsewhere in France, with the exception of having to yield to incoming traffic on roundabouts. Munich has four ring roads, the A99, the Äußerer Ring, the Mittlerer Ring and the Altstadtring, which can be used in order to avoid getting stuck in inner city traffic. During rush hours these rings are, however, often congested too. Parking Prices for parking on streets range from 1 € to 2,50 € per hour usually from 8am to 11pm. There may be additional restrictions e.g. for the maximum duration. Throughout the city center there are "blue zones". Wherever you find blue lines on the ground, you can park your car for a maximum time of 2 hours (hourly rate 2,50 €). Those familiar with the parking system in Italy will easily understand the Munich system. The meaning of other colours is as follows: dotted blue line - space for disabled drivers. You will need a special card in your car which indicates that you are allowed to park in those areas. yellow line - reserved for taxis, don not park here red line - Do never park here, not even for a short time since it is strictly forbidden and may likely result in towing your car. orange line - this is reserved for deliveries, do not park here. The best options are public parking decks which are widely available in the center. However it can take some time to find a free parking spot. Parking garages are indicated with blue rectangular signs with a capital white "P". Usually a green sign indicates that there are free spots while a red sign indicates that the car park is full. The city has a car park routing system which shows you where you can find a parking slot. Rates are: from 2€ to 6€ per hour (most will charge around 3€ per hour) from 8€ to 30€ per day (most will charge between 15€ and 20€ per day) some may even offer monthly rates, expect 100€ per month minimum Towing The police may tow your car away if it obstructs the traffic or endangers other people. Watch out for fire brigage access roads which are marked with small signs reading "Feuerwehrzufahr" (some examples from google image search). There is no stopping and standing, parking will result in immediate towing. If your car has been towed away contact the next available police station. There is a central place where all towed cars will be brought to (Thomas-Hauser-Str. 19, open 24/7; S2/S4 to station "Berg am Laim", Bus 146 to Iltisstrasse until stop "Thomas-Hauser-Straße", 5 min to walk from there). You need to show your passport/ID, drivers licence and registration document and you have to pay the fine. Fines vary, expect around 150€. A constant harassment are private towing companies which guard private parking spaces such as that of supermarkets. Their "fines" can easily double or triple the police's fines. Virtual Tour You can take a virtual tour to view the points of interest on City Panoramas Munich [19]. See 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. Museums and Galleries Skeleton on a bicycle, Deutsches Museum BMW Museum [20] — For a BMW enthusiast, this museum is a must see on your itinerary. Museum Brandhorst [21] — 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 [22] — 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 [23], 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 [24] — 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 [25] — An exhibition hall that flaunts its National Socialist architectural design, presents ever-changing graphic arts exhibitions. Lenbach House [26] — undergoing reconstruction until spring 2013. It's most famous works of the "Blauer Reiter" school are loaned out to changing cities. The nearby "Kunstbau" within the Königsplatz subway station is part of the Lenbach Haus and contains changing exhibitions. National Museum of Egyptian Art [27] — In the Royal Residence. National Bavarian Museum [28] — 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 [29] — 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. The Villa Stuck, showcasing a private collection of Jugendstil art. Pinakotheken [30] — 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 [31] — 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 [32] — A stunning collection of Bavarian Royal jewels, furniture and art. Villa Stuck [33] — 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. For many museums, Sunday will be the best day for visit since admission is only 1 Euro. This includes the Pinakotheken, Museum Brandhorst, National Bavarian Museum and Glyptothek. Parks Englischer Garten Statue of the Bavaria, Theresienhöhe 16 (U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese), +49-89-290671, [34]. 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 [35] 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) [36] 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 [37] 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 [38] 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 [39] — 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 [40] — 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 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. Festivals Oktoberfest, [41]. — 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 fourth 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 if you are many people 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. Accommodation will be hard to find and prices can easily double during Oktoberfest. Smoking is forbidden within the tents, but some tents feature designated, secluded outside smoking areas. Think twice if you want to go out for smoking since you may not get in again. The central subway station "Theresienwiese" (subway lines U4 and U5) is very crowded and will sometimes be closed because of this. As an alternative, go to subway station "Goetheplatz" (lines U3 and U6). It's crowded too, but you will still have some air to breathe there. Just follow the crowd when you get out of the station. In most beer tents the bar closes at 10:30pm while the tent closes at 11:30pm. You should have finished your beer until then since the security will ruthlessly clear the area. Tents open at 10am usually (9am on weekends). The first day is tapping day (german "Anstich"). There is no beer served before noon and since the tents will surely be crowded by then, it will take some time until everyone is served. If you are with small children, try to avoid the weekends. Every Tuesday from 12 to 6pm is family day with discounts on many rides. Maibaumaufstellen [42] — 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 [43] — 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" [44], they play all movies in the original language. Other options are the "Museums Lichtspiele" [45] or the big Multiplex cinema "Mathäser" [46] at Stachus, which usually show 1-2 movies in their original version. A listing of most films shown in Munich can be found here: [47]. Sport River-Surfing [48] — 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 [49] offers good value daytrips to Austrian ski resorts such as Kaltenbach (Zillertal) [50], St. Johann [51] and Matrei [52]. Football — From August to May, you can catch football action with FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munich at Allianz Arena. FC Bayern [53] in English, [54] in German, [55] in Japanese, and [56] in Chinese. TSV 1860 Munich [57]. Hockey - EHC Munich [58]. The local professional hockey club in Munich. They play at the Olympic ice arena in Olympic Park. Learn Munich Business School [59], Elsenheimerstraße 61 0687 München, tel +49 89 5476780. Ludwig Maximilians University [60], Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, tel +49 (0)89 / 2180 - 0. Technical University of Munich [61] Technische Universität München, Arcisstraße 21, D-80333 Munich. Munich School of Political Science [62], Hochschule für Politik München, Ludwigstraße 8, D-80539 München Bundeswehr University Munich [63], Universität der Bundeswehr München, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, D-85579 Neubiberg Munich University of Applied Sciences [64], Hochschule München, University of Applied Sciences - München, Lothstr. 34, D-80335 München. Academy of Fine Arts [65]. Goethe Institut [66] — The Goethe Institut offers courses in German for anyone. The Goethe Institut offers several intensive courses and will find accommodation for students. Buy 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. Shopping on Maximilianstrasse 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 and clothiers 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, small book stores, hip cafés and eats (e.g. the Pommes Boutique in Amalienstrasse with their fantastic Belgian fries [67]) Markets Viktualienmarkt[68] — 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[69] — 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 [70], 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 [71] — 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 [72] 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[73] 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 [74] 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 [75] 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. FLOHPALAST [76] Daily fleamarket in a store. Open Monday to Saturday. Here you can rent a space for the fleamarket articles you would like to sell. Over 200 shelves which are full of different things. Two locations in Munich. Eat 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. 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 ('white beer', which outside Bavaria usually goes by the more descriptive name Weizenbier, 'wheat bier') 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, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Lebanese, Serbo-Croatian, Pakistani, 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 and Vegan 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). There are also numerous small stands throughout the pedestrian area selling fresh fruit, snacks, ice cream in spring and summer and chestnuts during fall and winter. Drink 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. 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 Nightlife in Munich 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 bars/clubs Nerodom, Ganghoferstraße 74, + 49 (0)89 721 27 05 [77]. 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 [78]. Klangwelt, Landsbergerstr. 169 [79]. 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, [80]. 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. Schillerstraße 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 [81] Budget HI Munich Park, Miesingstr. 4, 81379 München (in the green south of Munich, metro station Thalkirchen/Zoo)), [82]. 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), [83]. 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, [84]. 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.), [85]. 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), [86]. 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), [87]. 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), [88]. 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), [89]. 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.[90] Hotel Präsident, Schwanthalerstr. 20, ☎ 089/549006-0, [91]. 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), [92]. 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, [93]. 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), [94]. 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), [95]. 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), [96]. 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 an accolade of being one of the world's top ten hotels by Travel and Leisure and a Michelin star was awarded to Mark's restaurant. Each of its 73 rooms is furnished in a Neo-Renaissance style. They are some of the largest hotel rooms in the city. Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, Maximilianstrasse 17 (Munich Centre), ☎ +49 (0) 89 2125-0 (reservations.vierjahreszeiten@kempinski.com), [97]. 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. [98]. Campingplatz Obermenzing [99] — 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 [100], Near Ludwigsfeld, about 1.5km west from the Fasanerie S bahn stop. Campingplatz Langwieder See [101]. Stay safe Munich is a very safe city for its residents and travelers: it is one of the safest German cities overall and violent crime is extremely rare. 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. Munich is an open-minded, international city with a large number of immigrants and expatriates living in the city (23% of residents have a migration background), so you are very unlikely to encounter any problems because you are a foreigner. Gay and lesbian travellers should not experience any issues: Munich has a large gay and lesbian community and the Rosa Liste, a gay rights party, has been part of the city government since 1996. However, 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. 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. Drinking alcohol on public transportation trains and buses is no longer permitted even though this new rule has been hardly enforced so far. Get out Schloss Neuschwanstein located two hours south of Munich. 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 [102]. 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 S8 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. This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!