What to See in Munich, the City of Oktoberfest

Quando pensiamo a Munich, il primo pensiero va sicuramente all’Oktoberfest. La festa della birra più famosa al mondo nasce più di 200 anni fa e rappresenta la principale fonte di attrazione per un gran numero di turisti, che visitano la città proprio in occasione di questa grande manifestazione.

Munich è una città dalle mille sfaccettature che, tra storia, cultura e divertimento vi conquisterà. Munich è una delle mete più gettonate nel sud della Germania. Segni particolari: l’atmosfera vivace, il centro storico e i suoi importanti musei. Attraverso la nostra guida vogliamo guidarvi nella visita e consigliarvi su cosa vedere a Munich durante il vostro soggiorno.

Munich, la capitale della Baviera (Germania), una città estroversa e accogliente in tutte le stagioni. Il suo centro storico è interamente visitabile a piedi ed è tutto un susseguirsi di palazzi, monumenti e chiese, che spaziano dal medioevo al rococò. Molto piacevole è sostare in una delle storiche birrerie con giardino (es. Augustiner, HB, Paulaner…, tutte con ristorantino), accompagnando gustose brezen, le tipiche ciambelle salate, a un boccale di nettare biondo, o stare naso all’insù sotto la bella torre del municipio nuovo, per non perdere lo spettacolo del Glockenspiel, l’orologio con il carillon a campane, le cui statuine si muovono in girotondo e su se stesse, rappresentando spezzoni di storia cittadina.

Altri luoghi da non perdere con i ragazzi sono il Deutches Museum, uno dei musei della scienza e della tecnica più grandi del mondo, con percorsi specifici per piccoli toccatutto.

L’avveniristico Museo BMW, in cui la nota casa automobilistica, che ha sede proprio a Munich, mette in mostra il proprio mondo e i prestigiosi modelli; lo zoo, gli sterminati giardini, l’Orto Botanico e la Reggia di Nymphenburg, con il parco e i laghetti. Comodi e strategici, gli hotel attorno alla stazione ferroviaria, a un tiro di schioppo dal centro storico, come il Conrad Hotel de Ville, www.conrad-hotel.de , dove la camera con prima colazione costa a partire da 98 euro a notte.

The History of Munich

Chronicles tell us that, in 1158, Henry XII called the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, ordered the destruction of the original bridge on the ancient salt road, commanding the construction of a new one further south, on his possessions, near the monastic settlement of Munichen, thus securing the right to collect tolls on such a flourishing trade.

To officially seal what we would today call a piracy act, there was a document signed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who, on June 14 of the same year, confirmed the city of Munich the right to hold markets and mint coins. From that moment, the fortunes of the city began, which over the centuries has seen dizzying economic, social, and cultural growth, bringing it to its current level.

Things to do in Munich: places of interest

Walking through the main streets of Munich and scouring its neighborhoods, one almost immediately senses its ability to harmoniously cultivate a kind of dual soul: capital of progress and a city designed for people; cradle of avant-garde and stronghold of traditions. Melting pot of global flavors and unwavering home of beer and pretzels. Munich is a city with many bridges that connect the banks of the turbulent Isar River and played a crucial role in the birth of the city.

Visiting Munich will prove to be an extraordinary experience: old and new blend in everything, making this city truly unique. If your time is limited, we want to suggest what to see in Munich in one day, so you don’t miss any of the most beautiful things this city offers.

1 Marienplatz

The Old and the New Town Hall of Munich are among the two most important buildings in the city and are located in Marienplatz, which is surrounded by buildings from various eras and has the Mariensäule in the center, the column with the gilded bronze statue of the Madonna.

2 Old Town Hall of Munich

The Gothic lines and the beautiful tower of the Old Town Hall precede the imposing and pinnacled silhouette of the new one, on the north side of the square, built between the 19th and 20th centuries, under whose clock tower everyone looks up to admire the picturesque Glockenspiel, the bell carillon, whose figurines, at certain times of the day (at 11 and 12 every day, in summer also at 17), move in a round dance and on themselves, depicting scenes from the city’s history. It is certainly among the main things on the list “Munich, what to visit”.

3 Munich, Residenz

Inspired by the Pitti Palace in Florence, the Residenz is one of the most spectacular royal palaces in Europe. For centuries it hosted dukes, princes, and kings of Bavaria, until it became today the seat of the Residenz Museum.

4 Munich, Kunstareal

This is the art district and it is there that the three most important Pinakothek (Art Galleries) of Munich are located, which house highly important works spanning from the Renaissance to modern art. The Old Pinakothek, the New Pinakothek, and the Pinakothek of Modern Art are among the main places of interest in Munich.

5 English Garden

The English Garden is the city’s public park extending for 4 km, the ideal place for a relaxing break. Loved by both tourists and Bavarian citizens.

6 Nymphenburg Palace

The Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg) is a baroque-style palace shrouded in an enchanting atmosphere. It was once the summer residence of the kings of Bavaria.

7 The Museums of Munich

Those who love art, in all its forms, will find an authentic mecca of museums, galleries, and glipotheques in Munich. The complex of the three Pinakothek alone, the Old (whose Rubens masterpieces rival the great museums of Vienna and Madrid), the New, and the Modern, are worth the entire trip.

8 Museum Brandhorst

The Museum Brandhorst on Theresienstrasse, besides hosting exhibitions and a large collection of Andy Warhol’s works, focuses on ecological management. Just a few steps from the Old and New Pinakothek, the Museum Brandhorst was initially conceived to host the modern and contemporary art collections of collectors Udo and Annette Brandhorst. The structure itself is quite unique: designed by the Berlin architects Sauerbruch Hutton, it is a work of art itself due to the façade covered by 36,000 colored ceramic rods, an acoustic absorbing device but also visually striking. Inside the museum, there are sophisticated technological devices for the ecological management of lighting and temperature in the rooms. The exhibition is dedicated to the 20th and 21st centuries and features a rich collection of Andy Warhol’s works; there is also space for works by Joseph Beuys, Jannis Kounellis, Georg Baselitz, Mario Merz, Damien Hirst, Cy Twombly, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Inside the Museum Brandhorst you can also find a collection of illustrated books by Picasso and Miró.

9 Oktoberfest

Who hasn’t heard of the Oktoberfest, the October Beer Festival, which draws crowds of people from every part of the planet to the cheerful and noisy Beer Gardens? Munich, as known, is also this and is a very popular destination among Italians.

If you have more time, we want to recommend other things to do in Munich.

10 What to do in Munich

• Visit the Deutsches Museum: it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to science and technology. It is one of Munich’s main attractions and should definitely be included in the list of “things to see in Munich”.
• Spend an evening at Kultfabrik: a 60,000 sqm entertainment area where you will find every kind of amusement, from food, to art exhibitions, to erotic shows, to fully experience Bavarian life. Munich’s nightlife is centered right there.
• Visit the Münchner Stadtmuseum: Munich City Museum often hosts temporary exhibitions by great artists. Among its various sections, the most unique and fascinating are certainly those dedicated to the Puppet Museum and the Musical Instruments Museum.
• Go shopping in the city center: you will be amazed by the number of shops. Shopping in Munich is a real pleasure.

Quick info: where to sleep in Munich, how to get there, how to get around, and where to eat.

11 How to get to Munich

The best way to reach Munich is certainly by plane. From the airport, you can easily reach the city center in 40 minutes, thanks to two really efficient metro lines.

12 Getting Around Munich

To get around Munich, our advice is always to explore as much of the city on foot as possible, to catch every detail and savor every sight. However, you can also move from one part of the city to another using the subway, buses, and trams. The City Tour Card will allow you to use all the means of transport with a single ticket.

13 Where to eat in Munich

To eat in Munich, we recommend looking for typical restaurants where you can try Bavarian dishes. Don’t miss the Weisswurst, the typical Bavarian sausage, the bretzel, the characteristic salted braided bread, and the Steckerfisch, the salted mackerel. And of course, don’t forget to drink a good mug of beer, the true symbol of this city!

14 Where to stay in Munich

For the choice of your hotel in Munich, we recommend a fairly central area, so you can fully enjoy Bavarian life without having to move around too much.