Travel to Munich

Travel to Munich

Munich, or Mnchen in German, is a tourist favourite being one of the most frequently visited cities in Germany. It has a vibrant urban culture in the midst of historic Gothic buildings, expansive parks and highly respected museums. Oktoberfest, starting in late September, is the time Munich sees the majority of its visitors. This is a huge festival, celebrated with the drinking of lots of local beer.
With a population of over one million, Munich is Germanys third largest city, ranking behind Berlin and Hamburg. It was founded in 1158, as a small settlement on the banks of the Isar River and today, it is the capital of the federal state of Bundesland Bavaria. The city was severely damaged by bombing during WWII, but reconstruction, following a master plan, was initiated shortly after the war, leading to the beautiful and cosmopolitan destination enjoyed by so many visitors today.

Transportation to Munich

Munichs Franz Josef Strauss International Airport is serviced by a large number of transatlantic flights as well as flights from many European cities, either directly or with a connection at Frankfurt. From the airport, trains depart every 20 minutes for the citys main railway station, Hauptbahnhof.

There are good rail connections to Munich from the rest of Europe. For example, from Londons Victoria Station, British Rail runs four trains a day to Germany (and on to Munich), in combination with the Ramsgate to Ostend ferry service. Direct bus service to Munich is available from cities such as London, Brussels, Paris and Vienna. Travelling by bus is cheaper than taking the train, but the journey is longer. If youre travelling by car, the autobahns nearest Munich are the A8, A9, A92 and the A96.

What to see

Munichs city centre is divided in half by the Isar River, with most of the sights of interest to tourists being on the left bank. Its a pleasant city to explore on foot, with a scenic walk along the Kaufingerstrasse from the main railway station (the Hauptbahnhof) to the Old Town (Altstadt), through the Karlsplatz, taking about 15 minutes.

The Marienplatz is in the centre of the Altstadt, and is a popular and vibrant square with sidewalk cafs and lovely churches. The Neues Rathaus is an extravagant 19th century neo-Gothic construction situated on the north side of the square. Another highlight of the city is the English Garden (Englischer Garten), the largest park in continental Europe. It is located in Schwabing, and is ideal for walking, boating and nude sunbathing if thats on your agenda.

Daytrips

There are many places of interest to visit in the Bavarian countryside around Munich. If youre interested in castles, two of the most magnificent in the region are located in Schleissheim. The Neues Schloss Schleissheim is elaborately decorated, and the Schloss Lustheim has a beautiful Baroque interior. Not far from these castles is the very interesting Flugwerft Schleissheim, housing exhibits on international aviation history and examples of aircraft from around the world.

Just under 30 minutes by S-Bahn from the centre of Munich is Starnberg, a former royal retreat in the scenic Five Lakes district, located close to Lake Starnberg. A drive through the picturesque Bavarian countryside is also recommended, where you will see the lovely hills of the Black Forest and many castles that seem tocome straight out of fairy tales.

Activities and leisure

A visit to the Marienplatz in the centre of Munich, to see the Glockenspiel display at the Rathaus and to sample the beer at the famous Hofbrauhaus, are two of the most popular activities for tourists. There is much to see and do in other parts of the city as well, such as a stroll through the Englischer Garten, taking in the many attractions at Olympia Park and a visit to one of Munichs excellent museums.

The city is well-known for its extensive nightlife options, which can be found throughout the city. Discos and clubs abound and there are many opportunities for listening to live music. The locals take their food and their beer quite seriously, and youll find many establishments featuring local specialities all around Munich.

Safety issues

Munich is a safe city for visitors. There are not an unusually high number of reported incidents targeting tourists, with the normal exception of pick-pocketing, petty theft and sometimes muggings late at night. Locals, overall, receive visitors warmly and the police force takes tourist safety seriously.

As in other large cities, visitors should be careful when they are in crowded places, keeping a tight hold on purses and bags containing valuables and keeping money, credit cards and expensive jewellery out of sight. It is best to use a hotel safe to store anything of significant value.

In the Munich area, as in Germany in general, road safety is a concern for tourists who are not experienced in driving at high speeds, with there being no speed limit on the autobahns. Many road accidents do occur.