What to do in Munich
The most famous is of course the English Garden in Munich. But it is also a beautiful spot. In summer, the otherwise quiet and idyllic park is transformed into a meeting place for volleyball, card games and picnics. The Eisbach stream also provides cooling in summer. One attraction is the famous Eisbach wave at the southern entrance to the English Garden, where many surfers try their hand at surfing. If you don't feel so confident on a surfboard, we recommend our Munich insider tip: Grab an air mattress and drift along the Eisbach like so many others.
The Olympic Park in the north of the Schwabing district is also worth a visit. Climb the Olympiaberg and enjoy the breathtaking view over the city. In good weather, you can even see the Alps. Our insider tip is the concerts in the Olympic Stadium. In the evening, many locals sit on the Olympiaberg with picnic blankets and listen to the live music. Almost like being in the stadium!
The Flaucher in Munich is a park in the south of Munich directly on the Isar. Especially on hot days, you can cool off here. There are several beaches on the banks of the Isar where you can enjoy the day like on a real beach in summer. A real insider tip that not every tourist knows about.
Last but not least, we would like to recommend the Maximiliansanlagen, also directly on the Isar and very close to the English Garden. There is also a beach here, the Isarstrand. The special thing here, however, are the paths right by the water under the trees. You walk hundreds of metres directly along the water on a kind of footbridge. A real dream if you want to switch off from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few minutes.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg-Neuhausen district in the west of Munich is easy to reach by public transport. Here you should definitely visit Nymphenburg Palace. On the way there, you will pass numerous canals where you can skate in winter. The palace is situated on 200 hectares of palace grounds with rococo furnishings, a collection of carriages and symmetrically laid out baroque gardens. A guided tour of the castle is highly recommended.
Oktoberfest in Munich
Rich in tradition and world-famous: the Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese. It begins in mid-September with the traditional beer tapping by the Lord Mayor and lasts for three weeks into October. For the locals, this is the ultimate occasion to wear their traditional costume. Of course, traditional costume is never a must. With huge tents from Munich's largest breweries, numerous food stalls and fairground rides, it is a huge spectacle every year. If this is too much hustle and bustle for you, we recommend the Spring Festival, which is basically a smaller Oktoberfest, also on the Theresienwiese.
Beer from Munich
If the Oktoberfest is too hectic for you, you can of course try the beers from Munich's breweries in any of the city's restaurants. Important to know: In most restaurants, only one brewery is served. So if you want to try all the beers from Munich's 6 largest breweries (Paulaner, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Spaten-Franziskaner Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr Bräu, Löwenbräu), you have to go on a little pub crawl. But you can also try other specialities such as Brotzeitbrettl with Obazda, pretzels or white sausages.
Explore the old town
Of course, you should also have seen Munich's landmarks in the Altstadt-Lehel district. Between Stachus (Karlsplatz) and Marienplatz with the town hall and glockenspiel, the Frauenkirche and Sendlinger Tor, you can take a long stroll. There are many shops and lots to see here. At the Viktualienmarkt right next to Marienplatz, you can enjoy a pretzel and watch the colourful hustle and bustle of the market. For a little excursion over the rooftops of Munich, we have a little insider tip in the old town: the traditional Oberpollinger department stores' has a small free roof terrace with a view over Munich. The view from St Peter's directly on Marienplatz is even better. The climb costs just a few euros and is definitely worth it. From here you have a panoramic view over the whole city and the Alps.