Munich Holidays

City breaks to Munich take a Bavarian theme and run with it – think beer halls, bratwursts and Bauhaus architecture.

Munich city breaks

Munich’s full-blown Bavarian – and proud. The whole place is drenched in tradition, from its architecture to its grub. You can tuck in to white sausages and wheat beer for brekkie. And if you look around, you’ll clap eyes on centuries-old beer halls, Baroque churches and Gothic structures – a lot of them re-built after World War Two.

Village of a million

Despite being the capital of Bavaria and the region’s biggest city, Munich’s centre’s got a cosy feel about it. One of its nicknames is ‘milliondorf’, which means ‘village of a million’. While some of its German neighbours show off cloud-poking skylines and shiny, modern blocks, Munich’s architecture takes a more traditional turn – think red-roofed houses and low-rise buildings with candy-hued facades. In fact, the 85 metre-high New Town Hall’s one of the loftiest points in town.

Go green

Another thing the city’s known for is its green space – there are parks peppered all over, like sprinkles on an ice-cream. The English Garden hogs a lot of the limelight. This massive chunk of grassy space rubs shoulders with the Isar River, so streams and waterways cut through the lawns. The Chinese Garden’s plonked right in the middle of it all – it’s a beer garden with a tree-topping pagoda-style tower as the backdrop.

Make way for Wiesn

Beer festivals don’t come bigger, better or boozier than Oktoberfest, and Munich is the home of the OG party. A huge plot of land is kept empty all year in preparation for the event – it’s called the Theresienwiese, and come September it’s smothered in huge tents and rollercoasters. Big-name Bavarian brewers each get their own tent, and they come alive during the festival with live music, lashings of specially brewed beer and plenty of Bavarian grub.

At a glance

Ogle old buildings on Marienplatz
Sip Bavarian brew in a traditional beer hall
Potter around the English Garden

Lakeside lounging

You’re a fair way from the sea in Munich, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your sunbathing days. The city’s got a whole heap of riverside flake-out spots, and they’re super clean and pretty, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out just because of the lack of sand.
The big beach

The banks of the Isar River are sprinkled with pocket-sized patches of sand – where locals often chuck down a towel and head in for a dip. If you’re after a more sizable spot, toddle over to the English Garden, where you’ve got massive lawns to chill out on.
The secret beach

Starnberger See – a huge lake 40 minutes’ drive from Munich – is geared up for swimmers and sunbathers. Make a beeline straight for Strandbad Feldafing – this section shows off a sandy shoreline stacked with loungers, brollies and a café.

Bargain Buys

Bargain Buys
If you’re on the lookout for some cheap grub and a few souvenirs, hightail it over to Viktualienmarkt. It’s best known for its fresh fruit and veg, but you can pick up all sorts of goodies here. Plus, there’s a beer garden for post-shopping brews.
Mid-Range Buys

Mid-Range Buys
Karsplatz is the place to go if you’re after some high street stores – stroll through Karlstor gate, and you’re in the midst of it all. Names like Zara and Footlocker have set up shop here, along with a bunch of other shoe shops, sports stores and clothing boutiques.
Designer Buys

Designer Buys
When it comes to designer shopping, you’ll want to head straight for Maximilianstrasse – just off Marienplatz. Whether you’re splurging or window shopping, you’ll be spoilt for choice on the swanky store front – brands like Chanel, Cartier and Versace all rub shoulders here.

Laid-back evenings

Laidback evenings
Munich’s Bavarian breweries are top picks for a laidback night out. They usually come with beer halls twinned with eateries, so you can order some grub while you work your way through the beer menu. You’ll find a bunch of them in the streets around Marienplatz and Karsplatz.
Lively evenings

Lively evenings
For a big night out, look no further than Hohenzollernstrasse. This street’s smack-bang in the middle of Munich’s university district, so it’s packed with lively bars and booming nightclubs.

Wurst

No trip to Germany would be complete without digging in to a sausage – it’s a staple all over the country, and Munich’s no different. Opt for a classic bratwurst or currywurst, or make like the locals and order weisswurst – otherwise known as white sausage. The latter’s a boiled option, made from veal.
Beer

Beer and Munich go hand-in-hand – but drinking culture here goes beyond the party vibes of Oktoberfest. The city’s beer gardens are a favourite hangout for revellers and families alike. Most of the big-name brewers have their own bars and beer halls, and they’re some of the best spots to sample some local tipples.
Pretzels

Pretzels in Munich usually come in one size – XXL. They’re often served as an accompaniment to a round of beers, and they’re big enough to share between two or three. And these salty, bready snacks are as moreish as it gets, so you might find yourself ordering another.
Leberkase

If you fancy a quick, hearty lunch, grab a leberkase to go. It’s made from a mixture of ground bacon and pork, baked in a loaf tin until crusty on the outside – a bit like meatloaf. Then, it’s thickly sliced and served inside a floury roll, along with a dollop of mustard or a few pickles.
Dampfnudel

This melt-in-the-mouth pudding’s essentially a doughy roll baked in a closed pot until the bottom goes crispy, and the top stays squishy and pale. It’ll come served with sweet toppings like custard, jam or slices of fruit.