What to Do in Munich, Germany

What to Do in Munich, Germany

Scoot through Munich’s museum quarter, take time to explore one of the world’s largest urban parks and get down and dirty in the U-Bahn system, admiring some adventurous infrastructure architecture (yes, really). Here are our tips on exploring the Bavarian capital.

The Englischer Garten in Munich, Germany

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Englischer Garten

One of the world’s largest urban public parks found smack bang
in the city centre? Yes please. Planted, sculpted and made
immaculate back in 1789, the 370-hectare Englischer Garten acts as
Munich’s communal back garden. Despite us having never spotted a
single gardener at work, this picture-perfect green space rarely
has a grass blade too high and is used by most Müncheners as an
exercise – and imbibing – space. Dodge the Berghaus-clad joggers
and stein-sloshing drinkers and head for the Eisbach, an artificial
diversion of the Isar running through the park. Here, you’ll find
the Eisbach wave, a man-made disruption in the waterway that
surf-savvy city residents use to practise their board skills.

Address

Englischer Garten, 80538

A man in black walks up the sunlit dappled steps of the Alte Pinakothek
Photo credit: Tichr / Shutterstock.com

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Museum-hopping in Maxvorstadt

You’re less likely to fit all 80-plus Munich museums into a city
break than you are to leave this city thinking you’ve eaten enough
vegetables, but a morning spent making tracks through the
Maxvorstadt neighbourhood will give you a flavour of the cultural
kudos of the Bavarian capital. Big-hitters include the Haus der
Kunst
, home to a celebration of contemporary art, and the
Alte
Pinakothek
(pictured), where you’ll find poe-faced European
masterpieces lining the walls. The NS-Dokumentationszentrum offers a sobering
overview of the city’s role in 20th-century history, while Die Neue Sammlung Design
Museum
puts German creativity on show, via fun, interactive
design exhibitions.

Address

N/A

Moody platform lighting at Westfriedhof U-Bahn station
Photo credit: imagoDens / Shutterstock.com

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U-Bahn Station Tour

Hear us out. Some stations on Munich’s subterranean U-Bahn are
architecturally adventurous, and worthy of your time. Curvaceous
and kaleidoscopic, the system showcases bright hues, unusual
material use and seductive symmetry, all thanks to a 70s planning
councillor who convinced the city the stations should “radiate a
positive mood”. Head to Westfriedhof for moodily light platforms,
Marienplatz for pumpkin-coloured walls, and Oberwiesenfeld for
sky-high brutalist architecture coupled with optical
illusion-inducing tiling.

Address

N/A

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