10 highlights waiting for you in Munich

1. Discovering Munich nightlife in bars and clubs

Munich offers a very diversified bar scene and a lively nightlife. You can enjoy a relaxed student atmosphere in one of the numerous restaurants and bars around the LMU and TU universities. It’s not far from the DRÄXLMAIER office to Schwabing. The former artists’ quarter is perfect for evenings after work. You can also go to the city center to party: Electroclubs like the Harry Klein and the Rote Sonne or the Cord Club indie-rock disco are within walking distance of each other in the so-called Feierbanane (“party banana”) – named for the banana-like curved streets (Sonnenstrasse).

Our tip: Enjoy the diversity of Munich! In a little pub crawl, you can genuinely get to know the different city districts and go from a trendy scene bar to a “Boazn” – that’s what the people in Munich call their traditional bars. 

2. Endless parks and the Isar River: Munich is green

A landscape of concrete? No way! Once you’ve moved there, you’ll soon discover that Munich really is green and that the city center has a lot of nature. For one thing, there’s the Englischer Garten with its 375 hectares bigger than New York’s Central Park. It also has spots where you can relax without being disturbed, even at the height of summer. There’s also the Isar River that meanders through Munich and has very green banks that are perfect for sunbathing or for a glass of beer after work.

Things are more elaborate in the Nymphenburger Schlosspark. The baroque castle gardens are historically preserved and provide an ideal place to stroll around on weekends. The Olympiapark will delight sports-minded new inhabitants of Munich. There, they can train for the next marathon on the jogging track or relax in a yoga session near Lake Olympia. 

Our tip: After a long working day, the beer tastes best on the eastern banks of the Isar River near the Reichenbach Bridge from where you can watch the sunset.

3. Art and culture instead of boredom

It doesn’t always have to be the movies. Munich has a huge choice of more classical cultural programs. Admire the works of art at the exhibitions in the Pinakothek, discover the world of science at the Deutsches Museum, or learn more about the staple Bavarian food in the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. You won’t be bored in 70 museums in Munich.

There is plenty of entertainment in the evening, too. The Bayerische Staatsoper in one of the world’s most famous opera houses, and the large number of theaters offers a wide repertoire of classical works, right up to the postmodern age. The Gasteig, Europe’s biggest cultural center, hosts more than 1,800 concerts as well as other art and theater events each year.

Our tip: The „Valentin Karlstadt Museum” at the Isartor is dedicated to comedian Karl Valentin and his partner Liesl Karlstadt, who were from Munich. Quaint and funny objects can be found here.

4. Shopping and sightseeing in downtown Munich

If there’s one thing you can do in downtown Munich, it’s shopping! The shopping promenades lead straight to the Marienplatz, which marks the center of the city. There, you will find the  City Hall with its world-famous Glockenspiel. Only a few feet away is the Viktualienmarkt, which offers everything a culinary heart desires. If you want something more exclusive, you can go to the Maximilianstrasse where you will find the shops of the most sought-after fashion designers. Welcome to Munich’s jet set!

Our tip: If you are experiencing a sudden drop of your blood sugar level, go quickly to Café Frischhut at the Viktualienmarkt and try Munich’s best-tasting “Auszogne”, a type of pastry that is served warm.

5. Beer garden culture instead of Hofbräuhaus

Summertime is beer garden time – everyone in Munich looks forward to that! On hot summer days, there’s hardly anything as pleasant as enjoying a cool glass of beer under the shade of a chestnut tree. The idea of a Bavarian beer garden is quite simple: People can bring their own food, beverages are bought on site, and beer benches are shared so that everyone has a place to sit. Whether you do it on the weekend or after work, no matter if it’s the first time or the hundredth time, a visit to a beer garden will always be a highlight.

Our tip: The Kochlerball is held every July in the beer garden at the Chinese Tower (Englischer Garten). People picnic with each other, drink beer and dance in their traditional costumes – from 6 in the morning to 10 at night. Many years ago, up to 5,000 domestic servants from Munich used to meet in the early hours of the morning to dance with each other before they headed back to work.

6. Celebrating a home game with FC Bayern

If red lights are flashing in the north just outside Munich, it can only mean one thing: An FC Bayern football game! Because the façade of the Allianz Arena, Munich’s largest football stadium, is covered in LEDs that can be individually illuminated. If their club is successful, FC Bayern supporters are overjoyed: Whenever their team scores a goal, the stadium bursts into colors of red and white.

You can experience exciting games and the unique atmosphere of the stadium live at the home of FC Bayern. In 2020, several matches of the European Championships will also be played in the “rubber dinghy”, which is what the Allianz Arena is also fondly called. You can also easily get to the games after work: The Arena is only 20 minutes away from the DRÄXLMAIER office.

7. Tradition vs. modern life: The Oktoberfest

Even in Munich, you need to experience a little cliché. At the Oktoberfest, there is plenty of brass band music, beer and traditional dress. The world’s biggest folk festival, also called Munich’s Wiesn, starts at the end of September and goes on for two whole weeks. During that time, people celebrate, drink and feast. Besides going into the beer tents, you can also enjoy the many rides and food stands at the Oktoberfest.

Our tip: The „Oide Wiesn” is right next to the classical fairgrounds. There, you will find old-fashioned carousels and traditional beer tents. It’s also much quieter and more relaxed than at the Oktoberfest.

8. Ditch the airport for the mountains

Whoever moves to Munich will soon notice that somehow, the mountains are always a topic of discussion. Whether it’s trekking in summer or skiing in winter, people in Munich seem to spend most of their free time at lofty heights.

The reason for this is simple: You can get to the Alps by car or train in just over one hour. Once you overcome a little physical exertion to reach the top of the mountain, the view will give you a completely new perspective. The stress of everyday life fades into the background. When living in Munich, you don’t have to drive to the airport to take a short break like this.

Our tip: The Jochberg is perfect for Alpine beginners. It takes only two hours to climb 1,565 meters to enjoy nature. 

9. Enjoying life at the lake

The lakes in Munich are perfect balance between work and leisure – at least in the warmer season. Some of them can be found right in the city, so you can cycle there after work and go swimming and relax in a holiday atmosphere. On the weekend, you can go to one of the larger lakes around Munich. Starnbergersee, Chiemsee or Tegernsee are great to enjoy strolling around, boating, sunbathing or having a cold drink.

You can also enjoy the very special atmosphere at the lakes during wintertime. It’s worth taking a trip there, not only because of the beautiful snow-covered landscape, but also because you can walk in the snow, go ice skating or do curling.

Our tip: There are numerous lakes around Munich. Try them out little by little to see where you like it best. Good starting points are Wörthsee or Tegernsee.

10. The world’s largest village

Ultimately, Munich is still the world’s largest village. <s>And</s> That’s quite OK because lot of people from Munich like the comfortable ambience and village-like atmosphere the city still has in many places away from the hectic buzz of the city center.

Our tip: In the old-established districts like Hackenviertel or Haidhausen, there are beautiful nooks and corners that invite you to take a stroll. On your walk, discover the quaint houses and colorful gardens, and sometimes even a Maypole. 

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