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Welcome to
Munich!
The
Best City Guide to the Bavarian Capitol
The Lady of our Church and huge beers – two of Munich's signature
landmarks.
Munich, known in Germany at Muenchen,
is more than a Bavarian beer drinker's delight. It's also a culturalal.
crown, a moving metropolis, a college town, a perfect place to park
it in a park.
And of course, there's
Oktoberfest.
So, do they really drink beer here, or is it simply an urban legend?
Well, we'll let some prose from the Munich Tourism Board take the stage:
"Beer is regarded as a basic part of nutrition in Bavaria, not
actually alcohol."
Now THAT'S a city we can love and admire.
Arrival & Orientation and Transportation
By Plane, Train or Car, Getting to the City is Easy
The fountain at
St. Michel is a central gathering place.
The modern and pleasant Munich airport
is 28km from the city center. Trains and buses provide transportation
(this takes about 45 minutes). The trains to take are S1 or S8; though
they head off in opposite directions which one to choose is a toss-up
so just take the first one to arrive at the platform. They roll every
10 minutes. The Fahrkarten costs 8.80 Euros and the machine takes credit
cards. Buses are another option and they depart every 20 minutes.
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Munich
Travel Tips
• Don't jaywalk and wait for the crosswalk signal to cross
a street. Cars move at a steady pace through intersections.
• Walk on the sidewalk, not the bike path. Bikers often move
faster than cars.
• While it may seem a bit excessive – unless you're
Irish – always go for the big, 1-liter mug of beer. Why?
Because everyone else is doing it and the beer is good.
• Tipping: Round to the nearest Euro.
• Food: For those on a budget, check out the cafeterias,
such as Vinzen Murr, which has a full salad bar, pork,, duck and
chicken for about 10 Euros.
• Take the time to enjoy the parks, in particular English
Garden.
• See our guide
to Munich's bars & nightlife
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The destination is the Main Train Station, Hauptbahnhof. (You
just know you are in Germany with an name like Hauptbahnof!) Ideally
located just 2 km from the central square Marienplatz – with a
city train just two stops away – it's a destination in itself.
Trains depart and arrive from all over Germany and even other countries
but there's more here than just transportation. Hauptbahnof doubles
as a mall with shopping, food and beverage stands, tour operators, even
a dry cleaners. Taxi stands are at each exit.
Arriving by car is easy. Coming from the north, the A9 leads directly
to the city centre. From the east it's the A92, from the southeast it's
the A8 from Salzburg and the southwest uses the A96. There are two options
from the west, the A8 from Stuttgart or the A95 from Lindau. Apart from
the A95 and the A96 all these motorways are connected by the motorway
bypass A99, an almost complete circle around the city.
Accommodations & Where to Stay
It's Best to Book in Advance, Especially During Oktoberfest
Anywhere around Hauptbahnhof is the prime
place to stay in Munich. There are several hotels with a few blocks.
While they are mostly on the high end, there are some other great finds. The Munich Tourism Board provides a list
of hotels in the city.
For budget travelers, there is a hotel above the train station. The
Munich Tourism Bureau also has a list
of hostels and even campgrounds.
Getting Around Munich – In-town Transportation
The Train Goes Everywhere, Taxis Are Plentiful, But Try Walking
The first thing that strikes a newcomer
about Munich is that it's a nice walking city. Plus it's compact enough
to experience much of it on foot, with a beautiful and spacious park
often the reward. (And, this being Munich, a beergarten is never far
away.)
To put this in perspective, it's only about 10 minutes from Hauptbahnhof
to the Glockenspiel and 15 minutes to the Hofbrau Haus. And no trip
to Munich is complete without seeing the Glockenspiel; in fact it should
be the first stop after putting down the bags.
For distances too far for walking, or to rest the feet after a day
on foot,, the trains are an efficient way to move about the city. Urban
trains, called S-Bahns, are underground lines U1,U2,U3,U4 and U5 and
go everywhere.
Forget about driving. If you need to be in a car, take a cab. Fares
are as follows (add 1 Euro for calliing by phone): 0 to 5 km: .60 per
kilometre 5 to 10 km: .40 per kilometre 10 km or more: .25 per kilometre.
Sightseeing in Munich
Places to Visit When Visiting the City
While not exactly Paris
or London
when it comes to landmarks, Munich none-the-less has quite a few notheworty
attractions. The most famous, the Eiffel Tower if you will, of Munich
is the Glockenspiel. There's also the large Marinplatz – full of
shopping, restaurants and tourists – and great parks. This being
Bavaria, there's also a an outdoor beer garden – or biergarten
as they are called here – a not far away from anywhere. Notice
a pattern here?
THE GLOCKENSPEIL – If for no other reason than the
novelty of it, make the first stop in Munich at this world-famous rotating
landmark. Because it's in the main town square it will become a Munich
fixture and while it's certainly not going to be highlight of a visit,
it still has history, tradition and a bit of "I'm still a kid"
sillyness that makes it worthwhile.
Located at the New Town Hall at Marienplatz, it "performs"
daily at 11 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. Eighteen figures dance around the
founder of the Hofbrau brewery and his bride; the jousting knights are
the definite highlight. The Cooper's Dance takes place on a lower level
(this was originally performed by barrel makers at the end of a plague
epidemic). Don't leave before the rooster crows!
THE MARINPLATZ – The heartbeat of Munich is the Marinplatz.
Shopping abounds, from shops selling Bavarian souveniers and cuckoo
clocks to big department stores. A long and wide pedestrian road leads
to the main plaza – where the Glockenspeil is located – and
side streets intersect seemingly everywhere. The fountain at Karlsplatz
(Stachus) is the gateway to the Marinplatz; this is just a block from
the main train station.
ENGLISH GARDEN – This is a spectacular park that, believe
it not, is the largest Metropolitan park in Europe. Okay, but what is
actually harder to believe is that this peaceful setting exits on the
edge of a metropolitan area. A day can be spent walking its grounds,
stopping to watch dogs play in the pristine pond, seeing people cannonball
into the fast-rushing stream (or doing it yourself, but be careful,
the stream runs swift) and just enjoying the paths and serene scenery.
There are boat rides, swimming, carriage rentals and ample places to
pull out and thoroughly read this guide. Live like a Kaiser in the English
Garden! Then hit the biergarden (see below).
HOFGARTEN – For those on foot, along the path to the
English Garden is the Hofgarten, a palace garden. It's part of a "pedestrian
patrol" of sorts that also encompasses the grand buildings at the
University of Munich. As we've mentioned, Munich is a very pleasant
walking city.
OLYMPIC PARK – .Munich didn't let its Olympic facilities
from the 1972 Summer Games to go waste. Instead, it took advantage of
them to create an entire park and recreation area just north of City
Center. Lakes, walkways, bikes, rollerbladers, Olympic Stadium and the
Olympic Tower with a lookout platform and revolving restaurant are all
there to enjoy. Concerts are common – on the 2007 slate are Aerosmith,
Pearl Jam the Red Hot Chilly Peppers and The Police. The park is open
24 hours. Olyumpic Tower hours are 9 a.m. - midnight. Olympic Stadium
9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Getting There: U3 to U3 or U7 to U1.
Excursions – Things to See and Do Outside Munich
The Alps, Lakes and a Sad Reminder
Not all of Munich's enjoyable attributes
are actually in Munich. In fact, on clear days the Bavarian
Alps can be seen from the Marinplatz (well, for those who climb
the 300 or so stairs of St. Peter's church, anyway). They are that close.
There are several attractions in the Alps, and elsewhere for that matter.
While it's possible – and easy – just to jump on a train and
go for a visit, it's recommended to get on a guided tour. It only costs
a few more Euros and they handle train tickets, the admission, etc.
Simply check with the various companies in Hauptbahnhof. Here's a few
suggestions for Munich excursions.
THE LAKES – A number of lakes are within an hour's train
ride of town. Two are the Stanberger See and Ammersee using the S-Bahn.
NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE – This is one of the most popular
daytime excursions. In a remote setting about two hours (train) from
Munich, It stunning design inspired the Matterhorn at Disneyland. Tours,
audio are guided, are required. The tours, in German and English, last
approximately 35 minutes. The tour involves climbing 165 steps and descending
181. After arriving at the site. It's a 30-minute walk to the castle
itself. This is an all-day trip. How to Get There by Train: (Deutsch
Bahn) to Füssen, then bus RVA/OVG 73 direction Steingarden/Garmisch-Partenkirchen
or bus RVA/OVG 78 direction Schwangau to Hohenschwangau.Admission:9.00
Euros.
DACHAU – On a depressing note – if not downright saddening
and also shocking – is something worth mentioning that society
should never forget. Just a 20-minute train ride from Munich is the
town of Dachau. And on the outskirts of an otherwise pleasant-looking
small town is one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. It
has an excellent museum, the barracks have been restored and gas chambers
and cells door are open. Even more frightful to think about is the fact
it's adjacent to what was the training site of the evil SS. Dachau is
where "prisoners of the state" were taken to be punished for
simply saying or doing anything perceived as being against the government.
It opened in 1938 and just imagine sitting pleasantly in the Hofbrau
Haus one night, making some comment disagreeing about the country's
aggressive behavior at the time and landing in Dachau the next day.
How the Nazis managed to find so many evil souls to run places like
Dachau is beyond imagination, How to Get There by Train: S-Bahn,
the S 2 in the direction of Dachau / Petershausen. Then catch Bus 726
"KZ-Gedenkstätte" in the (direction of Saubachsiedlung. Admission;
Free.
Oktoberfest
Tips for Tipping 'em Back in the Beer Tents
The bands play,
the beers flow and the people drink at Oktoberfest.
This year's Oktoberfest is Sept 19-Oct. 4. In 2010, it's the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest and there will be many additional celebreations.
CLICK
FOR PUBCLUB.COM'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO OKTOBERFEST!
Bavarian Food – Dining in Munich
How– and What – to Order in German Restaurants
Though most menus are in German and English,
PubClub provides this list of basic foods found in many German restaurants
and biergartens. In addition to what's listed below, there is the famous
and fabulous roasted half chicken dinner at the Hofbrauhaus at at Oktoberfest.
Brezen – Soft pretzles sprinkled with salt.
Haxe – Grilled knuckle of pork or veal
Kasespatzle – Egg pasta served with cheese and butter.
Knodel – Breador potato dumpling.
Leberkase – Pork or beef meatloaf.
Obazda – Cheese spread with butter and spices.
Sauerbraten – Marinated beef with a sour flavor.
Achweinebaten – Roast pork.
Steckerlfisch – Grilled whitefish or trout.
Weisswust – Boiled white veal and pork sausage.
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