First Time in Munich

Description:

Marienplatz has been the central sqaure of Munich since its founding by Henry the Lion in 1158.  It was originally named Schrannenplatz and once held the salt and grain market, but it is now used by the city for various concerts and events, but mainly by tourists trying to get photos of the old and new town halls.  After the market was moved around the corner starting in 1807, the square was renamed Marienplatz.  The statue of Mary has stood in the center of Marienplatz since 1638 and is the reason of the new name of the square.

Description:

Probably Munich's most photographed building, the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) was built between 1867 and 1908.  The most famous part of the town hall is the Glockenspiel which does its thing twice a day (11am and noon) every day of the year, with an additional performance at 5pm from May through October.  You can also visit the top of the tower by taking an elevator up to the ninth floor.

Description:

Hidden between Platzl and Isartor, this rustically decorated Bavarian restaurant with long wooden tables serves great beer and hearty food - generally ox meat - boiled, roasted or fried and served with the classical garnishes of potatoes and cabbage. Main courses cost EUR 7.50-20, a large beer will set you back EUR 3 and lunch can be had for EUR 6.50. Guests can sit outside on the terrace in the summer.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!

Description:

Alter Peter (Old Peter) is the tower of the oldest parish church in Munich, St Peter's Church. The valiant visitor who manages to climb the 302 steps to the top will have an incomparable view of Munich and, on a clear day, the Alps look close enough to touch. St. Peter's was named after the old hill on which it stands, the Petersbergl. There was apparently a chapel on the site before Munich was founded, which was then replaced with a Romanesque structure in the 11th century and later a Gothic building. In the 14th century, the double-tower was redeveloped to form the single tower facade of the church which remains today. Over the centuries, St. Peter's underwent even more changes, mainly in the Baroque and Rococo periods.

Description:

The Old Town Hall is the oldest building on Marienplatz.  The majority of the building dates from a building period of 1470-1480 by Jörg von Halsbach, who also designed the cathedral (Frauenkirche).  The tower was completely destroyed in allied bombing in world war two, but it was rebuilt for the 1972 Olympics to the same style as it had been in the late 1400s.  Today, the tower is home to Munich's toy museum while the rest of the building is used for large events held by the city council.

Description:

The history of technology: a huge subject presented in a huge museum. Since its foundation in 1906, the exhibition area has expanded to 55,000 square metres. This museum is unique in its concentration on the history and development of technology and natural science. Numerous objects and interactive models (eg. a planetarium and coal mine) are used to demonstrate mankind's progress over the centuries. Extensive library.

Description:

This old Munich institution had to move from its old home to new lodgings just in front of the Hofbräuhaus. However, the Boettner has remained true to itself and to its clientele. The old furniture was transferred and even the menu has hardly changed: traditional dishes are prepared in classical style by Frank Hartung and Wilhelm Eichinger. Main courses cost up to EUR 35. There is a great wine list and a lovely garden.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a hot spot in the city center. If you are interested in taking a tour or having your picture taken with traditionally dressed Germans, this is a spot to check out.

Description:

Set against a clear blue sky, the towers of the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) form Munich's most celebrated landmark. The distinctive towers - built in 1525 - make the church of considerable architectural interest as they are considered to be the precursors of the Renaissance style. The church itself was designed by Gothic architect Jörg von Halsbach in 1468. Its size is imposing, but its simplicity and symmetry rule out any suggestion of ostentation. The interior is mainly Gothic, but the altars were redesigned in the 18th Century under Baroque influence.

Description:

The small, but impressive, church was built by two regionally famous brothers Cosmas and Damian Asam.  The official name of the church is the Church of St. Johann-Nepomuk, but everyone knows it only as the Asamkirch (Asam church) for the brothers who built it.  The outside is striking, but once you enter the door you will understand why your tour guide pointed out this spot which isn't on most local tours.  Open daily during normal church hours.

Our Local Expert Says:

Concerts are frequently held in the main lawn during summer evenings. Check the website to see if an event is planned.

Description:

With a longer facade than the Palace of Versailles, Schloß Nymphenberg was the impressive summer residence of the Wittelsbachs. Because the palace was built in several phases from 1664 onwards, various architects are credited with its construction, among them Barelli, Zucalli and Viscardi. The Stone Hall is particularly impressive and the famous 'Schönheitengalerie' (Gallery of the Beauties) is also a must, containing the portraits of 36 local women. The palace grounds are particularly pleasant in the warmer months, fusing French and English landscaping techniques to great effect. A few interesting smaller palaces can be found in the park: the Amalienburg, Pagodenburg and Badenburg. Built in 1721, this was modern Europe's first swimming pool. The Marstallmuseum boasts a comprehensive display of carriages, sleds and crockery; the Meditationskapelle (Meditation Chapel) with its Magdalenenklause is also worth a visit.

Description:

This traditional café dating back to 1899 boasts high ceilings decorated with ornate stucco, parquet floors and gorgeous wooden panelling. It is a real, old-style coffee house and features classical music played on the piano or by small ensembles during the evening. The programme sometimes extends to jazz. The choice of drinks reflects the Viennese influence and the food, particularly the set menu, is tasty and varied. The clientele largely consists of students (predominantly medical students) and other trendy young people.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!

Description:

The Theatinerkirche is one of the most striking, both inside and out,  in Munich.  Electress Henriette Adelaide and her husband Elector Ferdinand Maria had it built on the occasion of the birth of their first male child, which gave them a successor.  Elector Ferdinand first began construction of Nymphenburg palace to thank his wife and then started on the Theatinerkirche to thank god.
The church was built in Italian high-baroque style after San Andrea del Valle in Rome and designed by the Italian architect Agostino Barelli. His successor, Enrico Zuccalli, added two towers, which originally were not planned and then finished the 71 meter (233 ft) high dome in 1690. The facade in rococo style was completed only in 1768 by François de Cuvilles. Its Mediterranean appearance and yellow coloring became a well known symbol for the city and had much influence on Southern German baroque architecture.
Much of the interior was destroyed in bombing, but the towers and facade are mostly original.  This church also serves as one of the two main burial places for the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria from 1180 until 1918.

Description:

When one of the Bavarian royals said that he was going to the castle, he could have meant any number of places, especially if he was Ludwig II. But if he said that he was going home, he could only be referring to the Residenz. This enormous palace, with a history almost as long as that of the Wittelsbach family, was the official residence of the rulers of Bavaria from 1385 to 1918. Added to and rebuilt over the centuries, the complex is a conglomerate of various styles. Depending on how you approach the Residenz, you might first see a German Renaissance hall (the western facade), a Palladian palace (on the north), or a Florentine Renaissance palace (on the south facing Max-Joseph-Platz).

The Residenz was restored after its almost total destruction in World War II and now houses the Residenz Museum, a concert hall, the Cuvilliés Theater, and the Residenz Treasury. The Residenz Museum (tel. 089/29-06-71), the southwestern section of the palace, has some 120 rooms of art and furnishings collected by centuries of Wittelsbachs. To see the entire collection, you'll have to take two tours, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You may also visit the rooms on your own.

The Ancestral Gallery is designed like a hall of mirrors, except that instead of mirrors, there are portraits of the Wittelsbach family, set into gilded, carved paneling. The largest room in the museum section is the Antiquarium, possibly the finest example of interior Renaissance secular styling in Germany. Frescoes, painted by dozens of 16th- and 17th-century artists, adorn nearly every inch of space on the walls and ceilings. The room is broken into sections by pilasters and niches, each with its own bust of a Roman emperor or a Greek hero. The central attraction is the two-story chimney piece of red stucco and marble, completed in 1600. It's adorned with Tuscan pillars and the coat of arms of the dukes of Bavaria.

On the second floor of the palace, directly over the Antiquarium, is an enormous collection of Far Eastern porcelain. Note also the fine assemblage of Oriental rugs in the long, narrow Porcelain Gallery.

If you have time to view only one item in the Schatzkammer (Treasury), make it the 16th-century Renaissance statue of St. George Slaying the Dragon. This equestrian statue is made of gold, but you can barely see the precious metal for the thousands of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and semiprecious stones embedded in it. Both the Residenz Museum and the Schatzkammer are entered from Max-Joseph-Platz on the south side of the palace.

From the Brunnenhof, you can visit the Altes Residenztheater, better known as the Cuvilliés Theater, whose rococo tiers of boxes are supported by seven bacchants. Directly over the huge center box, where the royal family sat, is a crest in white and gold topped by a jewel-bedecked crown of Bavaria held in place by cherubs in flight. In summer, this theater is the scene of frequent concert and opera performances. Mozart's Idomeneo was first performed here in 1781.

The Italianate Hofgarten, or Court Garden, is one of the special "green lungs" of Munich. To the north of the Residenz, it's enclosed on two sides by arcades; the garden dates from the time of Duke Maximilian I and was laid out between 1613 and 1617. In the center is the Hofgarten temple, a 12-sided pavilion dating from 1615. The Staatliche Museum Ägyptischer Kunst (State Museum of Egyptian Art) is located in the Residenz.

Description:

This collection comprises of the treasures of the Bavarian royal family and other aristocratic families. The Wittelsbach family jewels form the heart of the collection and include precious objects and insignias of royal power dating from early Middle Ages, as well as the Bavarian King's crown. The 16th century, jewel-encrusted 'St. George', is breathtaking.

Description:

This traditional Munich restaurant, founded in the 19th century, offers its clientele a cultivated ambience and high-quality Bavarian cuisine. The wooden-panelled rooms decorated with hunting trophies make the perfect backdrop for chef Hubert Buckl's game and meat specialities. The stuffed oxtail and the legendary mini black pudding are particularly recommended. A three-course lunch is available at EUR17, a five-course dinner at EUR42. Main dishes cost dishes EUR15-20. The wine list is extensive; the service exemplary.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!

Our Local Expert Says:

Here you can by the freshest fruit and vegetables in the whole city. The market has a reputation of having higher prices than your average supermarket but in actual fact many goods here are cheaper than elsewhere. Vikualienmarkt also has a beer garden that is more calm than those at Marienplatz.

Description:

Unless you happen to be staying in a place where you have access to a kitchen, it's doubtful that you'll want to be hauling groceries back to your hotel room during your stay in Munich. That doesn't detract, however, from the allure of wandering through the open-air stalls of the city's most prominent food market, a few minutes' walk south of the Marienplatz (there is no specific address, but the market sprawls over a wide area and can't be missed). It's composed of hundreds of independently operated merchants who maintain whatever hours they want, often closing up their cramped premises whenever the day's inventory is sold out. Most economy-minded shoppers, however, show up, shopping basket in hand, around 8am, to stock their larders before noon. By 5pm, only the hardiest of merchants remain in place, and by early evening, the kiosks are locked up tight. On the premises is a worthy collection of wine, meats, cheeses, and all the other bounty of the Bavarian agrarian world.

Our Local Expert Says:

During hot summer days spent in the city, this fountain almost begs to be run through! This may not be so acceptable, so instead buy a gelato from one of the shops nearby and simply enjoy the fountain's mist as you watch passerbys.

Description:

Munich's most beautiful fountain is located on a terrace up on Lenbachplatz, overlooking the clusters of trees on Maximilianplatz. Like the other buildings on the axis of Karlsplatz, Lenbachplatz and Maximiliansplatz, Wittelsbacher Fountain was constructed at the end of the 19th century. This landmark depicts allegories of strength and water: the man hurling stones and the woman bearing a bowl provide a successful example of historicism which, in this case, combines Roman Baroque with classical elements. The fountain was sculpted between 1893-95 by Adolf von Hildebrand, to celebrate the installation of a municipal water supply.

Description:

Almost completely destroyed in 1944, Maxburg Castle's grounds underwent modern development in the post-war period. Originally known as Wilhelminische Veste (after Wilhelm V, 1579-97, who commissioned Heinrich von Schön the Elder to build it), the castle was later home to Count Maximilian Philipp (Kurfürst Maximilian). The only surviving part of the original building is the tower on the northern side of the grounds. The courtyard houses the ornate Moses Fountain made by Joseph Henselmann in 1955; the Maxburgstraße facade boasts a mosaic by Spreng and Braun and a relief by Knappe, both of which are examples of 1950s art.

Description:

How times have changed around here. In a building some 7 centuries old, wild game used to be skinned and butchered around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus, that famous beer palace. Today this vegan, part raw food establishment serves a plant-based cuisine created by Chad Sarno, who uses organic produce. Most dishes are cooked at a very low temperature to preserve optimal flavor and nutrition. The claim is that such uncooked vegan food cleanses the body of destructive toxins. Try such innovative dishes as lasagna with black truffles and macadamia nuts or beetroot ricotta ravioli with a cashew filling. A cauliflower risotto comes with a seared sage polenta with tempura shiitake mushrooms drizzled in truffle oil. Desserts are spectacular, including "drunken fruits" in a bitter cocoa syrup with a passion fruit crème with kiwi relish and hemp brittle. For your drink of choice, have you ever had a tarragon-laced gin tonic?

Description:

Bayerische Staatsoper, an extravagant opera house in the heart of Munich, is home to renowned opera performances, ballets, and classical orchestrated shows. Performances by Bavarian State Orchestra and Opera Studio, are just a couple of major groups that grace the stage. The venue's long history and rich decor will bring you into the performance itself.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!

Our Local Expert Says:

This was the Nazi party's first monumental structure for use as propaganda, note the architecture and maybe take a 3rd Reich tour to learn more about it.

Description:

The Haus der Kunst (literally house of art) was built by the Nazis in 1937 to showcase exhibitions having a very narrow focus to only what the party found appropriate at the time.  The building survived the war and starting from 1946 exhibitions have been held again although no permanent collection has been at the Haus der Kunst since 2002.  Check the offficial Haus der Kunst website to see what is going on while you are here.

Around back and in the basement is the famous P1 nightclub where the high society of Munich dance the night away.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is something you wouldn't expect to see in a city! One warm days make your way to the Southern tip of the park to watch surfers manage the river Isar.

Description:

One of the oldest English-style landscape gardens and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, the Englischer Garten (English Garden) is Munich's crowning glory. Although perhaps best known for its nudists, the park is popular with all types of people all year round. Other features include a Chinese pagoda with adjoining beer garden, the Monopteros Greek temple, a river and a boating lake. Visitors can also attend a traditional tea ceremony in the Japanese tea house.

Description:

The stucco ceilings, elegant wall lamps and dark, wooden tables and chairs lend this café-restaurant a great atmosphere. What makes it so special is its Israeli cuisine and the kosher wine on offer. Whether there is a demand is irrelevant, it is just the very possibility that attracts you here! The clientele is mostly very chic and stylish. Reservation is recommended in the evening.

Our Local Expert Says:

Probably the most famous painting in the gallery is the self portrait of Albrecht Dürer, which is a fairly small painting so it is in a smaller side room, don't miss it!

Description:

Built by King Ludwig I in 1826, the Alte Pinakothek is among the greatest achievements of the Bavarian kings.  The origin of the collection dates back to Duke Wilhelm V in the 16th century with works being added by nearly every Duke, Elector, and King from that time onward.  This is one of the best museums for what are referred to as the old German masters and does an excellent job at showcasing many of the best works of not only German masters, but European art history from the 14th to the 18th centuries.

The collection continues at the Neue Pinakothek across the street which begins at the 19th century.

Description:

Eagerly awaited for years, the Pinakothek der Moderne (Gallery of Comtemporary Art) opened in September 2001. It was the largest museum to be built in Bavaria since the end of the War, and houses four museums under one roof: the State Gallery of Modern Art, the New Collection (comprising industrial design, graphic design and applied art), the Museum of Architecture and the Count's Collection. There are permanent exhibitions on the four floors, with temporary exhibitions housed on the ground floor.

Our Local Expert Says:

Be prepared for an experience at Last Supper. If you arrive without an idea of what you are in for, you may find the staff's 'sense of humor' brash, but it is purposefully rude and very bayerisch. Come with a sense of humor and enjoy the top quality food.

Description:

Extremely comfortable and rustically decorated, this pub mocks Bavarian religious devotion with its ironic pictures of Jesus on the walls - and this in one of the world's oldest cultural cities! If the only the Bavarian prime minister knew about this! Last Supper offers a selection of international dishes - which hopefully won't be your last - including good steaks and a fine fish stew, as well as a great wine list. The atmosphere is informal and lively.

Description:

Hotel Exquisit is situated in a quiet location close to the city centre. It offers fifty rooms in a homely and somewhat rustic setting, with all the comforts and service expected of a traditional business hotel. The hotel is part of the Augustiner restaurant chain and the food and beer are therefore extremely good. The Augustiner brewery's origins go back to an ancient religious order, and the monks make some of the best beer in the city!