FLEAMARKET ON THERESIENWIESE
If you’re here in spring, there is no way around a visit to the yearly flea market on the Oktoberfest grounds named Theresienwiese. Everyone else will be there too …
Theresienwiese, flohmarktmuenchen.com
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OLYMPIADORF
Munich came into its own in 1972. The Summer Olympics opened the Bavarian capital to the world and presented a colorful view of Germany to an international audience. Visit the Olympic Village for a time-travelling experience back to seventies architecture – and witness typographer Otl Aicher’s iconic public signage and pictograms. And while you’re there, take the elevator up the Olympic Tower (Olympiaturm) for a stunning view of the entire city.
Connollystraße 3, Olympiadorf, Wikipedia
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MORE SHOPPING …
Ludwig Beck on Marienplatz is Munich’s most famous department store. Close by, Gross sells a great selection of authentic men’s brands. Visit the new Red Wings shop on Fraunhoferstraße for vintage footwear. Or shop charming kids wear at Cosy Rebels. Browse Soda for an eclectic variety of coffee-table books and international magazines. Witness the Globetrotter store at Isartor for a stunning range of outdoorsy stuff. Stop at POOL for selected mens and womens fashion. Stroll 5-Höfe. Or head towards Theresa for more up-scale shopping. And make sure to scan Dallmayr for assorted delicatessen.
Marienplatz 11, Altstadt,
ludwigbeck.de
Ledererstraße 2, Altstadt,
gross-muc.de
Fraunhoferstraße 8, Glockenbach,
redwing-berlin.de
Holzstraße 24, Glockenbach,
cosy-rebels.com
Rumfordstraße 3, Glockenbach,
sodabooks.com
Isartorplatz 8-10, Altstadt,
globetrotter.de
Theatinerstraße 15, Altstadt,
fuenfhoefe.de
Maffeistraße 3, Altstadt,
theresa.de
Dienerstraße 14-15, Altstadt,
dallmayr.de
GET NAKED – ENGLISCHER GARTEN
Munich is famous for letting it all hang out. Two prominent nudist spots are the Flaucher in Sendling – also a premier spot for river-side pick-nicking and BBQ – as well as a place colloquially referred to as “Eierwiese” (Lawn o’Balls) adjacent to the Eisbach in the Englische Garten. The grass on the other side of the Eisbach is greener, if you prefer to leave your trunks on – and the perfect spot to sunbathe and enjoy the Eisbach. Enter the Englischer Garten near the university, at Veterinärstraße and Königinstraße.
BEER GARDEN
So many beer gardens – so little time. Chinesischer Turm in Englischer Garten is the most famous one. Waldwirtschaft south of the Hellabrunn Zoo may be the most hyped one. But our favorite Biergarten is also the most typical one: Augustiner Keller near Hautbahnhof is the real deal. Gigantic chestnut trees, Riesenbrezn, Augustiner beer, Steckerlfisch, halbes Hendl & Kartoffelsalat … the epitome of heaven, if you dig original Bavarian food and culture.
Englischer Garten 3, Schwabing, chinaturm.de
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Georg-Kalb-Straße 3, Großhesselohe, waldwirtschaft.de
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Arnulfstraße 52, Schwanthalerhöhe, augustinerkeller.de
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BIKE
The famous Isar-Trail offers quality mountain-biking in the city and starts just south of the Glockenbach district, near Hellabrunn Zoo on the Isar river’s East banks. If you like it more casual make your way along the river into the Englischer Garten, where the northern part has some especially scenic routes in store. Have you seen our Di Blasi bikes? Yeah ok, so they look a little weird. But these bikes (originally constructed to fit on the back of yachts for easy get-around the harbour) are so practical to navigate urban spaces that you’ll want to adopt them. Ask our front desk for free rentals pending availability.
Follow the bike trail (southern direction) next to the Isar river at Hellabrunn Zoo, Tierparkstraße 30.
SURF
In Munich, the Eisbach and it’s river surfers are about as iconic as a cold glass of Weißbier under an old chestnut tree. But surfing this urban landmark is tricky, if you haven’t done it before. International pros regularly catch the shorter end of the stick when competing with the Eisbach’s locals, who are sometimes known to rudely defend their wave, if the spot gets too crowded. Quirin Rohleder, who partnered with us in creating one of the hotel’s rooms on the third floor, is the Eisbach’s inofficial kingpin. Make sure to watch the documentary “Keep Surfing” in which Quirin plays a leading part to learn more about Munich’s obsession with the notorious Eisbach wave, which (as you can imagine) was named after the river’s freezing cold temperature. And yes, they surf all-year round.
Prinzregentenstraße just east of Haus der Kunst, Keep Surfing Video
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SWIM
Loads of options here. Müller’sches Volksbad, just across from Deutsches Museum, is widely regarded as Munich’s most beautiful and historic pool. Spacious Schyrenbad is just a short walk from the hotel and offers outdoor swimming between May and September. Dante Bad was an Olympic training pool in 1972 – we love to hang out on its stone steps above the 50 meter pool. Prinzregentenbad is another, smaller outdoor option, which doubles as an ice skating rink in winter. Beware, city pools can get really crowded on sunny weekends. That’s why we suggest the wild Isar river banks just minutes from the hotel. Sure, the water is freezing cold, but isn’t that ideal when the thermometer hits 25+ degrees?
LAKES
If you have more time, there is quite simply no way around visiting a couple of the many lakes located a mere 30-minute drive from Munich’s city center. The “5-Seen Land” for example, includes Starnberger See, Ammersee, Wesslinger See, Pilsensee and Wörthsee, all of which are ideal for swimming, windsurfing, stand-up-paddling, walking around or just hanging out. Especially because you’ll be surprised at how quaint things get just outside of the city limits.
HIKE
There are about gazillion opportunities for hiking in Munich’s close vicinity. Here’s one: head for the Herzogstand at the beautiful Walchensee, which locals refer to as a “Hausberg”, because it’s so close to home you can easily make it to and fro in half a day. You’ll need a good hour to get there by car, and another 1,5 hours to climb the mountain’s better half, after a which a rewarding ”Brotzeit” awaits you in the “Hütt’n”. You can take the “Seilbahn” on the way down, if the hike has drained your resources. When you get back down to the lake, try a cute little place called Cafe am See for grandmother-style cakes and a fantastic view of the Walchensee. Ask them for a taste of the local “Urfelder” Kräuterlikör, if you don’t mind getting a little tipsy.
Am Tanneneck 6, Walchensee, herzogstandbahn.de
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TENNIS X WHITE CLUB
If you´re up for a round of tennis without the usual partner-search or nerve racking club-logistics, just sign in spontaneously – and play with the “White Club” guys. This local movement of freewheelin’ tennis lovers includes over 1600 players & playerettes in Munich. Feel free to join their weekly social tennis events on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Good times only! Especially when they play on their own off-courts or host a little street tournament somewhere (anywhere) in the city…
WALDFEST / TEGERNSEE
Waldfeste are summer festivities in the Bavarian woods, often located lake-side, like at the beautiful Tegernsee, for example. For Munich’s ”Schickeria”, these beer fests are ideal opportunities for showing off new sports cars. For tourists, these occasions are a great chance for witnessing a picture perfect example of Bavaria’s idyll.
You can check the following website for dates: waldfest.de
And visit the Fischerei Tegernsee for a taste of the local fish, if you’re in the area!
Seestraße 42, Tegernsee,
fischerei-tegernsee.com
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