Top 5 Things To Do in Munich

If you’re looking to visit Germany, one city you should look to visit is Munich. Munich offers up a rich and varied culture.

1. Munich Oktoberfest

If you’re going to Munich in September, you might be interested in Oktoberfest. The festival begins on Sept. 20th and lasts through Oct. 5th. The festival is great fun for kids and adults alike and offers rides, a carnival, and many tents where you can get everything from souvenirs to beer.

Oktoberfest’s history began in 1810 when the Crown Prince of Bavaria, Ludwig was married to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festival continued yearly and is now known as Oktoberfest. The festival actually takes place in September so that the festival goers can enjoy the warm nights.

Oktoberfest features a festival called, “Die Wiesn.” The festival is named after Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It is beloved by locals and the highlight of the event is the Oktoberfest Costume and Rifleman’s Parade.

There are other important events as well such as the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, as well as the Official Tapping of the Keg, and the Oktoberfest Mass. BollerschieBen is another exciting event. It is known as a handheld salute by cannons.

The Oktoberfest website says that it is best to leave your car at the hotel you’re staying and use public transportation to get to the festival. There are several ways to do this. The P&R-area at the “Garching-Sued” exit is a great way to get there from the A-9 on Nurenberg. The U-Bahn line or subway line runs from the PoccistraBe stop every 10 minutes. There are various other park and sites such as the Studentenstadt on U6 and the Michaelibad on U5.

2. The Deutsches Museum

If you’re a techie, you’ll love the Deutsches Museum! There are a variety of great exhibits such as scientific works, exhibits about energy, and many others. The pieces about science include such topics as astronomy, chemistry, physics, and biology.

Another exhibit they offer covers the materials and minerals we have used over the years to ensure our survival. Some of these include coal, iron, glass, petroleum, and gas. Other exhibits include the transportation industry and our use of energy over the years. Follow the history of communication through ancient times to modern day in their communication and information exhibit.

They also have a children’s museum which has exhibits like Technical Toys, where your kids can see a large exhibit of construction-based toys. They also have the Children’s World that boasts 1001 exciting things to see!

You can also see the first ever motorcar which was created by Karl Benz in the transportation exhibit. It also houses the first motorized plane ever flown by the Wright Brothers and the U1 submarine.

The Deutsches Museum’s hours of operation are daily 09:00 to 17:00 with the exception of November 1 and December 10 when it opens at 1 p.m. It is closed Dec. 24, 25, and the 31st. Admission is 8.50 for adults, 3.00 for children and 7.00 for groups.

The Deutsches Museum is located at Museuminsel 1, 80538 Munich, Germany. To get there, you can take the public transportation like the S-Bahn to Isator station or the Underground station U1 and U2. Driving there is not recommended as parking is very limited. You can contact them at (+49) 89 2179-1. You can also fax them at (+49) 89 2179-324 or access their hotline at (+49) 89 2179-433.

3. Mike’s Bike Tours

Are you the active type? Do you love to get out there in nature? Mike’s Bike Tours is a great way to get your exercise while getting a good view of the sites and surroundings. The tour is led by a guide and the group rides on bikes through the streets of Munich. The tour lasts four hours and includes a 15 min. background on the history of Munich. It also includes a tour of Marienplatz and a 45 min. break.

The tour is designed for all ages Helmets and child seats are provided for children under the age of four. They have bikes for children at 16”, 20”, and 24”. The tours’ meeting place is underneath to tower at Old Town Hall. The average group size is 16 people. There is no need for reservations. The tour is scheduled for Sept. 1 through Nov. 10th daily at 12:30 weather permitting. Tours after Nov. 10th scheduled by appointment.

The tours’ cost is 24 for four hours. For those under 14, it is half price and for babies it is free. They offer a discount for backpackers for those who stay in hostels. The price is 18. If you choose to the all-day tour, it is 39 euros. You can choose to either pay upfront with your Visa or MasterCard or at the end of the tour with cash or traveler’s checks.

4.  Hofbrauhaus

You just can’t come to Germany without enjoying an authentic German beer! For that, you can go to Hofbrauhaus, which has been in operation since 1644. If you’re looking for an authentic place to get a real sense of German life, this is the place.

The Hofbrauhaus has an interesting history. It was founded by Wilhelm V. Duke of Bavaria who didn’t care for the beer brewed in Munich at that time. After several meetings with his royal court, they decided to start a brewery of their own to make the beer to their liking and Hofbrauhaus was born.

The Hofbrauhaus features a beer hall on the first floor. It was where the beer was originally brewed. You can sit at tables which have been used since 1897 and carve your initials on them. Just don’t sit at the ones labeled, “Stammtisch” as those are for regulars of the brewery.

The brewery has a lot of great things to see and do. They have live music and authentic German celebrations. There is a room in the brewery which is named, “Stadelheim” after the local prison. If you are visiting the Hofbrauhaus, be sure to check out two racks of beer steins which are locked up. This is something that is found nowhere else in the world and is storage for regulars to keep their beer steins.

The Hofbrauhaus is located at Am Platzl 9, 80331 Munich. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. You can contact them at +49(0)89/22 16 76 or by e mail at hbteam@hofbrauhaus.de.

5. Olympic Park

If you are a fan of the Olympics or just want to see where they came to Munich, visit Olympic Park. It is a beautiful park with many lakes, bike paths, and eateries. There are also various sites for sporting activities and even a football arena. You can also take advantage of their swimming center and even an ice rink.

The Olympic Park is a hotbed for activities and live events year-round. Every fall, they have football their designated football arena and their Olympic Hall, which holds upwards of 14,000 hosts many concerts and live events.

The Olympic Park is located at Olympiapark Munchen, GmbH, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, D-80809 Munich. You can contact them +49(0)89/30 67-0 or e mail them at info@olympiapark-muenchen.de The park is open 24 hours year round. The Olympic Tower is open from 9 a.m. to midnight and the Stadium is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo of Munich Olympiapark originally posted by john.d.long 

Topic:  Top five Monday | 2 Comments
Tags:  family, festivals, Munich, sport

About the author

Anna is a writer/researcher who specializes in travel writing. She earned her B.A. in Mass Communications from The University of Tulsa, making her the first person in her family to do so. She has been writing professionally since 2005 and is happily married to her best friend.