Believe it or not, Munich has SO much more to offer than the giant well-known Oktoberfest that happens each year. It’s actually a travel destination rich in unique experiences that can be enjoyed any time year for many reasons. There are the twinkling Christmas Markets in December, the laid-back outdoor café culture all through the summer months, and of course the open-arms beer culture all year-round.
Before visiting Munich for myself, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to fill four days of my vacation with. But having experienced it firsthand, I am now considering it one of my favorite European cities to date! Here is a list of my 5 absolute favorite things to check out next time you find yourself in München proper.
1. St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche)
Not only is it a gorgeous sight to behold inside the church (like almost all of the 4,985,438,967 churches in the city), but what makes this one unique is the lookout tower you can climb up to! That’s right, just 300 stairs lie between you and one of the best views of the city you can behold in Munich. The narrow wooden stairs to the top transport you back in time to when some poor soul probably had to climb up each day to manually ring the bell.
Disclaimer: This little excursion may not be for the faint of heart (i.e. for those with fear of heights!). I am personally not too comfortable with heights myself, but because there is a gate all the way around the lookout tower that goes high above your head, I was actually okay on this. However, it is rumored that on windy days you can feel the tower swaying…
Stay tuned for the GoPro video I will be sharing that shows what it’s like climbing the stairs and emerging at the top with the city at your fingertips!
2. Tram Café
As always, my number one favorite place in Munich has to do with food! The Tram Café seems to be tucked away on a side street, somewhat away from the city’s other main attractions, but it was well worth the trip. It is an actual tram–a food truck type experience if you will–where you can order pretty much any type of crepe you want, be it savory or sweet. I will warn you, you will likely never find a crepe as delicious as this one, so only venture here if you want to ruin crepes forever for yourself!
I got the “Spinat” crepe, which was spinach, kalamata olives, gorgonzola sauce, and more. It was DELICIOUS, but everything else I saw others ordering looked just as mouthwatering. These crepes are pretty large, so if you’re not starving or if you have a little appetite, you can probably just get one to share.
3. Englischer Garden
Covering nearly one and a half square miles near the northern part of the city center, Englischer Garden is a peaceful retreat from the rest of the bustling streets. There are benches to sit among the flowers, green areas for picnicking, and a man-made river that flows through the park and even offers an impressive display of surfers! That’s right, I said surfing, in the middle of the city! Even if you don’t want to don your board and conquer the waves, lots of people sit along the banks of the river with drinks, watch and socialize, so it makes for a nice afternoon in the park either way.
4. Dachau Concentration Camp
If you really want to delve deep into the local history and learn about World War II, Dachau Concentration Camp is just a short train ride from the city center and is easily explored on your own with an audio guide that only costs 2 Euro to rent. It was a somber way to spend my last day in Munich, but was a real eye opener and really brought to life what things must have been like in the camp.
5. Hofbräuhaus
Upon entering Hofbräuhaus, the quintessential beer garden and Oktoberfest celebration hall of Munich, I was almost sure we wouldn’t be able to find a table because of how full everything appeared to be. However, once we started walking through the place, I realized it was absolutely HUMONGOUS. It seemed to go on forever and even had an upstairs area. When we finally did find a seat, the service was friendly and the beers were, in true German fashion, giant. Prices are reasonable and traditional German food there is delicious. Visiting Hofbräuhaus is definitely a must while in the city–in fact, I might even go so far as to say you haven’t visited Munich if you haven’t had at least one beer there!
So there you have it–my top recommendations for your next trip to the German metropolis that is Munich. If I had had more time there, I would have also visited Neuschwanstein Castle, an absolutely gorgeous castle nestled in the countryside about 2 hours away from the city. But, as is typical with every place I visit, that is more of an excuse for me to go back one day!
Please feel free to share your favorite spots in Munich in the comments because I’d love to hear them!
Explore More,
CAITLYN WITHOUT A COMPASS
Leave a Reply