Exploring Munich
Before your trip, it is always helpful to plan out some of the places you would like to see or restaurants you would like to eat at. From looking online to asking around, you are sure to find some good recommendations. Yelp and Reddit can always be helpful too, especially while you are there. They can help you avoid tourist traps and find great low-key spots. Doing some research on your own is always a good idea. My German teacher, who leads a study abroad program there every year, gave me some great advice on where to go too. Here are my top spots to check out if you are traveling to Munich on your IBS trip:
Dining in Munich
Hofbräuhaus was the first place we went to in Munich. It was built almost 500 years ago and has a lot of rich history and delicious beer. Popular with tourists, this place tends to be crowded. The restaurant is located next to the Rathaus-Glockenspiel.
Schneider Brauhaus is a great restaurant for lunch or dinner! It is usually pretty crowded though, so make a reservation in advance if you can. The food and drinks are also very reasonably priced.
Hungriges Herz was one of our favorite restaurants in Munich. They did not serve much authentic German food, but nonetheless it was very tasty. They had a lot of healthier options too. If you are there for brunch they have unique cocktails available. I recommend the Mystic Mango Spritz.
The Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten is a beautiful beer garden. You must walk through the Englischer Garten to get to it, but the scenery along the way is quite nice. They had some tasty sausages and potatoes too. There was a lot of seating and it wasn’t too crowded when we went. I highly recommend you make it a point to stop here.
A Sweet Treat
For any ice cream lovers, my teacher recommends Der verrückte Eismacher. It is located at Amalienstraße 77, 80799 München, Germany. They are known for having some of the coolest and weirdest ice cream flavors.
Nightlife
Kennedy’s Bar is an Irish bar that has drinks, along with food. It is a good place to grab a drink with some friends. It was pretty crowded when we went, but still a fun time. Most of the bartenders spoke good English too.
Karlsplatz is where a lot of the clubs and bars are located. If you are looking for a fun night out, head over to Karlsplatz and you are sure to have a good night. Our favorite club was Ruby Night Club. Almost our entire group went together one night, and we had a great time. You can also reserve a table for free.
Grab a Beer at a Beer Garden
Taxisgarten is a more low-key beer garden. However, it is very nice.
Our favorite beer was the Radler which was a light beer mixed with lemonade. It is delicious and refreshing. They offered it at all of the beer gardens and beer halls we went to.
Sites
The Olympic Park and BMW museum are two popular tourist destinations, and they are pretty close to each other. They are fun places to walk around and explore because they feature some unique, modern architecture.
Munich is home to many great churches. At Peterskirche, you can climb to the top of the tower and have a great view of the city. Some of the other churches include Theatinerkirche, Frauenkirche, Michaelerkirche, Asamkirche and Heiliggeistkirche. If you couldn’t tell, Kirche is German for “church”.
Marienplatz is the main square with the Rathaus and the Glockenspiel. However, Odeonsplatz is another cool area. It is right by the Englischer Garten too. There are large lion statues there that are a memorial to fallen soldiers.
If you are into art, you should check out Kunsthalle München, the Alte Pinakothek and the Lenbachhaus. I am personally not a big fan, so I did not go to any of these myself. My German teacher said that Kunsthalle is one of her favorite art museums in Germany.
The Deutsches Museum may sound like a historic museum, but it is actually a science and technology museum. It was located not too far from our hotel.
Schloss Nymphenburg is a cool palace with some beautiful gardens. The interior is very impressive and also huge. History buffs and those who like palaces should make sure to check it out.
Viktualienmarkt is a large open-air market near Marienplatz. Vendors sold hand made items, fresh foods, and more. Looking at the cultural items sold there is cool.
The Reichenbachbrücke is a great spot to hang out and enjoy a beer. It also has great duck and people watching. We stopped to get some beers from a stand that was on the bridge. They had many German craft beers to choose from. It was very enjoyable and relaxing.
See Where Life Takes You
It is always good to have a plan, but never be afraid to go with the flow! You never know what you might stumble upon. We ate and drank at plenty more great places than just the ones listed here. Try asking the employee who is helping you what his/her favorite is if you are unsure what to order. Also, feel free to ask the locals about their favorite spots. Don’t feel like you need to take the U-Bahn everywhere either. There is plenty to see on the streets of Munich.
Overall, just don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. It will open up a door of unique and amazing opportunities for you. And you can discover foods and drinks you never thought you would enjoy. Keep an open mind, and you are sure to have a good time, find some cool places and meet many interesting people.
