Munich
From Munich you can see the Alps, it is as if you can touch them in an instant. Munich may not be as clearly located among the mountains as Innsbruck, Bolzano or Grenoble, but the mountains do have their influence on the city. Munich people love the mountains, perfect for a bit of skiing, hiking or enjoying a mountain lake.
What strikes me every time I visit Munich is the relaxed atmosphere. The city has over a million inhabitants but you don't notice that in terms of crowds. The metro network is very good. You can get everywhere by metro or s-bahn.
A day in Munich
If you want to get your day off to a good start in Munich, start in the city centre. Take the metro to Marienplatz. This is the heart of the city. The advantage is that there are not that many tourists here in the morning. So you can check out the beautiful city hall and the Frauenkirche in peace and quiet. Now, before you actually enter the city, it is worth having a cup of coffee at the 'World Coffee Companion' (WCC). Across the street from the city hall is a very large bookshop. Go in there and then to the top floor. Here you will find the WCC. They serve delicious coffee and you have a nice view across the square. Use the morning to walk around the city centre. Recommendations include the Hofgarten, the Asamkirche, the City Hall and, of course, the Frauenkirche. Don't forget to visit the cute little shops here and there in between.
In the afternoon, it is time to visit the real Munich beer garden. Stroll via the Hofgarten to the Haus der Kunst. To the right of the Haus der Kunst you will find a small body of water. This looks more like rapids on which daredevils exhibit their skills on a surfboard. Well worth a look here. Do you like hiking? Then you really must go into the park now. Follow the stream. This will lead you into the English gardens. This is a big park where Munich people, with nice weather, love to come. At one point you will see a Greek building rising above the park, this is the Monopteros. Walk along this towards the Biergarten. In the middle of the Biergarten is the Chinese Tower. A gift from China to Munich. Local bands often play a nice tune here. This is the right time to relax in this beer garden with a large glass of beer (or something else) and of course a Brezel.
To complete the day, you should now walk towards the University. To do so, you need to walk back past the Monopteros and then straight ahead instead of left to the Haus der Kunst. The destination is restaurant Königin 43 on the Königinstrasse. This is a very cosy restaurant with a limited menu. The food here is good and not expensive. To finish, you could of course have a drink at one of the cosy bars in the city centre.
I always find the big disadvantage of Munich is that you have to leave again.
Munich statistics:
- Capital of Bavaria
- Founded in 1158
- The third largest city in Germany
- Inhabitants: more than 1.3 million
- 790 kilometres from Utrecht
- Belongs to the top 10 best cities in the world in terms of quality of life
- Known for: Bayern Munich
