Making the most of Munich
Located in the heart of Europe, Germany’s third largest city, Munich, has all the ingredients needed for a successful city break, as Brenda Watkinson recently discovered.
Munich is the capital of Bavaria, the largest state in the Federal Republic of Germany, and is a lively cosmopolitan city packed full of rich architectural and cultural attractions. Although known around the world for its beer festival, the Oktoberfest, the city makes a great group destination at any time of the year.
Get to grips with the city
As with any large city, it is a good idea to arrange a city tour so that your group members can familiarise themselves with the major attractions. They will then be keen to explore the individual attractions at their own pace. Hop-on hop-off city tours are operated by Sightseeing Gray Line and City Sightseeing Munich, both offering a short tour of the main highlights of central Munich, which lasts about an hour, as well as a longer tour taking in the Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), the Olympic Park (Olympiapark) and the English Garden (Englischer Garten) lasting two and a half hours. All tours give passengers the opportunity to hop-off to explore the various attractions en route. Walking tours can also be arranged for small groups or if you would prefer a more unusual private sightseeing tour, a Tram Party with catering on board and a brass band playing can be arranged.
In the heart of the city, Marien Square (Marienplatz) was the setting for Munich’s salt and corn market in medieval times. Today, it makes a good meeting point if you plan to join up with your group throughout the day. Try to arrange to be in the square at 11 am, 12 noon or 5 pm (in summer only) as this is when the animated clock (the Glockenspiel) on the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) comes alive. Bells ring as the mechanical knights fight a tournament while other figures dance.
Munich is, of course, famous for its drinking establishments. There are actually over 400 beer gardens in Munich and it is an essential part of any visit to the city.
Not far from Marienplatz, the Hofbrauhäus is both a popular beer hall and a tourist attraction. It was established in 1589 as a court brewery by Wilhelm V and it makes an ideal venue for a drink or meal. The large hall with painted ceiling on the ground floor (the Schwemme) can accommodate about 1,000 visitors while the first floor (Festsaal) room with its barrel-shaped vault can take 1,300. The Hofbräuhaus stages a daily Bavarian Evening which includes a buffet and entertainment. This can be pre-booked through Munich Tourism. The oldest brewery in the city, Augustinerbräu, was founded by Augustinian monks in 1328. One of its restaurants is located on Neuhauser Strasse, currently occupying two 19th century houses with picturesque facades.
A short walk from Marienplatz, the colourful Viktualienmarkt has been the city’s main marketplace for the last 200 years. Selling mostly fresh produce, the market is open daily except Sundays, from 7am until 6pm. It is interesting to see the vast range of cheeses, ham and sausages for sale and all the fresh fruit, flowers and vegetables. The beer garden in the market is quite unique as it sells beer from the six main Munich breweries while most beer gardens sell only one brew. Nearby, the Schrannenhalle offers a unique mix of craft outlets, cafés and a small beer hall with restaurant, all housed in this renovated grain depot. The Schrannenhalle stages events throughout the year and is open 24 hours a day.
Not to be missed in the city is the Munich Residenz, a royal palace and former residence of the Wittelsbach dynasty until 1918. Highlights include the Hall of Antiquities, the early 17th century rooms, the Rococo rooms and the neo-classical Royal Palace. Audio guides in English are provided free of charge.
The city is rich in interesting churches, museums and art galleries. Most attractions offer guided tours in English and give discounts to pre-booked groups of 15 or more but it is advisable to check all these details beforehand.
For groups interested in churches, there are actually 188 Catholic churches in the city. The city’s principal landmark is the Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady (Dom), a distinctive late-Gothic brick building with two towers, each more than 300-feet high and capped by onion-shape domes. The Cathedral houses a collection of 24 carved wooden busts of apostles, saints and prophets made by the 15th century Munich sculptor Erasmus Grasser. The observation platform in one of the towers offers good views of the city but visitors do need to climb 86 steps to reach the lift.
Another fine view can be afforded from the tower of St. Peters Church, just off Marienplatz. However, there are over 300 steps to the top, so it is only advisable if your group are fit and healthy. Also of note and considered Munich’s loveliest Rococo church, Asamkirche, was built in the 18th century and features a splendid painted ceiling.
If your group is keen to explore some of Munich’s fine museums, the Deutsches Museum should not be missed. This is one of the oldest and largest museums of technology and engineering in the world. It was founded on the initiative of German engineer Oskar von Miller at the beginning of the 20th century and its attractions include mining, shipping, aviation and astronomy sections.
Meanwhile, Munich’s oldest museum, the Glyptothek, was founded in 1830 and boasts one of the leading collections of sculpture from the Greek and Roman eras.
Located next to the new Jewish synagogue in St. Jacobs Square, the Jewish Museum is also well worth a visit. The collections illustrate the rich diversity of Jewish culture and history in Munich and also address current issues relating to Jewish life, art and culture.
Memorabilia from a more recent era can be admired at the city’s Hard Rock Cafe, located near the Hofbräuhaus. For Beatles fans, the suit made for George Harrison for the film ‘Help’ is on display along with a yellow stage jacket worn by Prince. The Hard Rock Cafe offers group menus and also stages regular live concerts ranging from rock n roll to gospel singing.
For art lovers, Munich offers an excellent choice of galleries. The three main art collections are located within walking distance of each other, a short drive east of the city. The Old Pinakothek (Alte Pinakothek) displays more than 700 works of art from the golden ages of German, Flemish, Dutch, Italian and Spanish painting, while the New Pinakothek (Neue Pinakothek) concentrates on 19th century art with painting and sculpture from the Neo-classical, Romantic and Impressionist periods.The Modern Pinakothek (Pinakothek der Moderne) houses four major museums under one roof : modern and contemporary art, graphic art, architecture and design.
Most of the museums and galleries are closed on Mondays (with the exception of the New Pinakothek, which is closed on Tuesdays). It is worth noting that on Sundays, the three art galleries, Old Pinakothek, New Pinakothek and Modern Pinakothek only charge a one euro admission fee each.
On the outskirts of the city, Nymphenburg Palace is one of the largest Baroque palaces in Germany. It is here that King Ludwig II was born in 1845. Highlights include the huge Rococo ballroom (Festsaal) and the Gallery of Beauties featuring King Ludwig I’s favourite portraits. As well as the main palace, there are also four smaller 18th century attractions within the park, Amalienburg, Badenburg, Pagodenburg and Magdalenenklause. A combined ticket for all the attractions is available and guided tours can be arranged for pre-booked groups. It is worth noting that there is no charge to enter the park. Also included in the combined ticket are two more attractions within the park, the Marstall Museum with its collection of historic carriages and the Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain. For groups of up to 18 persons, an exclusive guided tour of the Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory can also be arranged.
To the north of the city centre, the Olympic district offers a number of attractions all within an easy walk of each other. This area was originally developed to host the 20th Olympic Summer Games in 1972 and all the original buildings are still in use. The Olympic village was built under a huge canopy and it is still possible to explore this tented area and see the world class facilities such as the Olympic swimming pool, the Olympic hall and the Olympic Stadium. A general sightseeing tour or more detailed architecture tour can be arranged. For adventurous groups, a Roof Climb of the Olympic Stadium is an exhilarating way to find out about the architecture and construction of this world-famous venue.
Nearby, a memorable view of the city is afforded from the Olympic Tower. The high speed lift travels at seven metres per second as it climbs 174 metres to the Observation Deck.
Also in this area, Sea Life Munich features sealife found from the Isar to the Danube and from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
One of the newest attractions in this area is BMW Welt, featuring an extensive presentation of BMW automobiles and several changing exhibitions. Although admission to the Plaza of BMW Welt is free, it is really worthwhile booking one of three guided tours. You can choose a general tour, a more detailed tour looking at the building’s architecture or a guided tour of the BMW Munich Plant where you will see every stage of BMW production. In an adjacent building, the BMW Museum is currently undergoing extensive renovation and will re-open on 21st June this year. There will be 26 exhibition themes focusing on the company, design, motorbikes, technology, motor sports and the brand.
For groups interested in sport, the Allianz Arena at Fröttmaning, a short drive north of the city, is home to Munich’s two soccer teams, TSV 1860 Munich and FC Bayern Munich. The stadium was one of the venues for the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Guided tours of this modern three-tiered stadium can be arranged.
Returning to the city from the Olympic Park, the English Garden (Englischer Garten) makes a relaxing stop. This classic landscape-style garden was developed from former hunting grounds in 1789. Covering 900 acres, a good way to explore the Garden is by bike, available to hire locally.
Festivals and festivities
Munich is known throughout the world for its annual Oktoberfest. The event dates back to 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate. The fields were named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s fields”) in honor of the Crown Princess and are still the venue for the annual Oktoberfest, now the largest festival in the world attracting some 6 million visitors from all around the world. For two weeks, the Theresienwiese and surrounding area is covered with beer tents, fairground attractions and stalls. This year’s Oktoberfest will take place from 20th September until 5th October. To discover more about the origins of the festival, the Bier and Oktoberfest Museum opened in 2006 and is located near Marienplatz.
More festivities can be enjoyed in Munich during the Auer Dult festival, which takes place three times a year in spring, summer and autumn. The history of this event can be traced back to the Middle Ages and it features lots of fairground amusements and entertainment. Markets take place throughout the city including a large tableware market selling all kinds of pots and pans. The dates of the next Auer Dults are 26th July to 3rd August (Summer Dult) and 18th to 26th October (Autumn Dult).
This summer, Munich will be hosting a number of festivals as the city celebrates the 850th anniversary of its foundation. These ‘Building Bridges’ birthday celebrations will include three major events: the City Foundation festival (14th and 15th June), Old Town Ring Road festival (19th and 20th July) and Isar Bridge festival (1st to 3rd August). Even if you are unable to book a visit to Munich this year, throughout the summer months, particularly at weekends, visitors can benefit from a programme of theatre, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, special tours and markets.
A long standing favourite with British groups is the Munich Christmas Market. Held on Marienplatz, a huge Christmas tree decorated with lights stands over the many stalls and stands selling everything from gingerbread men to cribs. Every night at 5.30 pm, music is played from the Town Hall balcony. This year’s dates are 28th November to 24th December.
Munich offers an excellent choice of accommodation to suit every budget. However, if you are looking for group discounts, it is important to plan your trip outside the high peak periods. As well as the Oktoberfest, there are many high profile events and trade fairs held in the city when accommodation is charged at a premium. Munich Tourist Office offers a free accommodation service and will advise you accordingly.
Exploring Bavaria
Munich makes a good base to explore much of Bavaria. One of the most popular day excursions combines a visit to the two fairy-tale castles of Linderhof and Neuschwanstein. A Destination in Focus feature spotlighting Bavaria was published in the November/December 2007 edition of Group Travel Organiser and details many more such opportunities. If you have mislaid your copy, the feature can be found at www.grouptravelorganiser.com/sections/destinations/rest-of-world/looking-ahead-to-bavaria-in-2010.
How to get there
There are a number of direct flights from the UK to Munich Airport. Air Berlin operates from London Stansted, Lufthansa from London Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester, British Airways from London Heathrow, Easyjet from Edinburgh and London Stansted and Cirrus Airlines from London City. Munich International Airport is 23 miles north of the city with easy connections to the city using the S-bahn railway.
By rail, the easiest route is via Brussels. Regular Eurostar services operate from London’s St Panras International and Ebbsfleet International in Kent to Brussels Midi, from where there are direct trains to Munich with Deutsche Bahn.
By bus, Eurolines operates a direct service to Munich from Victoria Coach Station in London.
By road, Munich is 620 miles from Calais – P&O Ferries and Seafrance both operate regular crossings from Dover to Calais. Another option is to cross to Europe from Harwich to the Hook of Holland with Stenaline. The driving distance from the Hook of Holland to Munich is 530 miles.
Our thanks to the German National Tourist Office in London, Munich Tourist Office, Air Berlin and the Hotel Tryp Munich (Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts) for their hospitality to Brenda Watkinson during her visit.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Katrin Lukosch
German National Tourist Office
PO Box 2695
London
W1A 3TN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7317 0910 Fax: +44 (0)20 7317 0917 Email: gntolon-trade@d-z-t.com Web: www.germany-tourism.co.uk