Munich accommodation from NZ$103

Things to Do in Munich

No matter what you want to do, accommodation near Central Station, or Hauptbahnhof in German (say that three times fast!), will make travel easy as fleischkuekle (meat pie). Just over a kilometre and a quick subway ride away is Marienplatz, Munich’s central square and the heart of the city. Like the heart, this vibrant plaza stays busy: You’ll see the iconic Mariensaule, a 12m column topped with a golden Virgin Mary, and the soaring spires of the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus town hall.

Nearby, check out the beautiful, domed Frauenkirch cathedral and the long and stately Residenz Bavarian palace. Grab a coffee (or a brew—no judgments from us!) and relax al fresco. You might be here awhile!

When you’re ready to move on from Munich’s heart, you might find that its brain is even more impressive. The Deutsches Museum is the largest museum of science and technology in the world, and if you’ve ever wanted to walk inside a human cell or attempt to tell the time by sundial, this is the place for you. We hope you planned a long stay at your accommodation in Munich, because with 25,000 square metres of exhibitions, it will take days to get through this nerd-vana.

Getting To & Around Munich

Flights to Munich land at the airport (MUC), 30km north of the city. There are two train lines to the city centre; they both stop at Hauptbahnhof as well as Ostbahnhof, on the city’s east side, where you can connect with other lines on the extensive Metro (aka “U-Bahn”) system.

The U-Bahn can take you to most of Munich’s attractions, as can a taxi. But why not get adventurous on two wheels instead? A bicycle is a quick and flexible form of transport, and you don’t have to worry about parking!

And here’s a cool tip, from us to you: If you’re “wheelie” tired or had a few too many pints, hailing a cab to take you back to your Munich accommodation is easy—just use the taxirufsaule (taxi phone).

Upcoming Events

Relax. Oktoberfest is still a few months off, but here’s a couple of shindigs you should take part in until you’re ready to don your best pair of lederhosen. Check out the Tollwood Summerfestival, held at the Olympiapark at the end of June. Well, it starts at the end of June, but goes straight through until the end of July. Seriously, it’s a 25-day extravaganza filled with live music, dancing and a marketplace serving up some of the best food in Munich. We think a plate of Munchner weiswurst with a pretzel and sweet mustard should suit your taste buds just fine.

All right, let’s stop messing around and just fast forward to October. You already know what’s coming: Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival and travelling funfair. There’s other stuff to do than drink beer, like watch a live music show or take a spin on one of the many rides, but you didn’t really come here for that. You came to clank steins together in the Hofbrau-Festzelt tent while wearing a pair of goofy suspenders, and that’s exactly what you’re going to do. And just wait until you get a look at the women who serve the beer—they can hold six steins in each hand at once. Think you can do 12 all at once? Probably not.

Get Outside!

Sure, you’re probably bunking in one of the finer places to stay in Munich, but you’ve got to get some sun. If you ever dreamed of taking part in river surfing, make your way down to the eisboch on the Isar River, where clever engineers have created a manmade wave. Slip into a wetsuit, grab a board and go for the ride of your life. Haven’t you ever wondered how to say “cowabunga” in German? Figure it out and let us know.

After you’re properly stoked, go for a walk in the English Garden. The manmade wave you were just shredding happens to be in the garden, so that’s convenient. Stop in the Japanese Teahouse for a soothing cup of green tea with ginseng, then make your way to the Schonfeld Meadow and soak up the sun…in the nude.

That’s right: Nude sunbathing has been allowed here since the 1960s.

Anyway, no stroll through the English Garden is complete without polishing off a beer at the Chinesischer Turm, the second-largest beer garden in the city. Keep your clothes on for this one unless you want to end up in der ausnuchterungszelle. That’s drunk tank for you English-speaking folks.

Doesn’t spending time in the Bavarian Alps sound fricking awesome? We thought so. Make the 154km trek south until you arrive in one of the most postcard-perfect towns in Europe. Take a Berchtesgaden and Eagle’s Nest tour in order to see the best that this place has to offer. What’s the Eagle’s Nest? It’s a mountain top retreat built during World War II that has since been converted into a fancy restaurant. We guarantee you won’t get a better view with your meal anywhere else.

Must-See Spots

If, for some reason, you find yourself only spending one day in Munich, be sure to stop inside the world-famous Staatliches Hofbrauhaus in Munchen—The Royal Brewery in Munich. Take down a stein or two of the house Hofbrau Munchen Original and then make your way to the BMW Museum. Everything the company has produced, from automobiles to motorcycles and airplanes, is on display here. Having a head full of brew makes it that much more enjoyable.

Ready to discover the hidden charms of Germany’s “Secret Capital”? Book a Munich holiday with Wotif and get ready for ales, architecture and apple strudel—and that’s just the beginning!