In the second leg of my Germany trip (the first being Berlin), I spent 3 days in Munich, the subject of today’s travel guide. And woof, what a full three days.
Munich resonated with me much more than Berlin did for many reasons. While Berlin was grey and stilted, Munich was lush and soft; it’s a slice of old world Germany. With its Bavarian accents, architecture, and new world sensibilities, the city is full of diverse young residents involved with each other and the world around them.
My time in Munich was made better by two things: my lovely friend Katharina, and of course, Oktoberfest.
I was introduced to Katharina through our blogs. With her own food blog and penchant for fitness and life, she’s not only of the most beautiful people I know, but an amazing tour guide. During my stay, she made me fall in love with Munich in a very real way that was conspicuously absent from Berlin.
And then there was Oktoberfest, which was a beast. It’s everything you imagine it to be and then a few liters of beer more… and it is completely worth it. I’m admittedly not a beer person, but when adorned in a Bavarian dress deliberately two sizes too small so that your boobs are twice the size, and when presented with a whole roast chicken to eat, I drank all the beer I could and still made flight the next morning to Sicily. Like I said, beast.
Munich is truly a beautiful city because I can see myself easily living there. It parallels San Francisco effortlessly and is welcoming and warm. If you visit, here’s my travel guide with tips on how to make the most of it:
DO:
- Get a bike. Like Berlin, Munich is flat and fun to explore via bicycle. Public transportation is also easy to take.
- Get a dirndl/lederhosen for Oktoberfest. This is pretty much mandatory if you go. There are shops everywhere during this time, and prices range from $50 to above $300. You’re good with something in the $100 range, as anything less looks cheap, and anything more isn’t worth it.
- Hang out in the parks. There are lots of them. Bonus points if you hang out in the nudist areas.
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Eat:
Viktualienmarkt { A daily market of everything quintessential German. Sample meats and cheese, pick up a fresh juice in the morning, grab groceries, buy a few bottles of hazelnut schnapps, and of course, relax in the beer garden }
Victorian House { A British tea house that’s quite cozy when the weather is rough outside. Famous for its carrot cake, that they often run out of }
Weisses Bräuhaus { If you want pure German food, you got it. Get the spaetzle and duck }
Café Fräulein { An adorable spot perfect for an easy breakfast. Their eggs on toast is great, but the star are their cinnamon rolls, which are large, fluffy, and definitely meant to share }
Detox Delight { If you need a break from the heavy food, this place has you covered. Grab a healthy snack – I loved the chocolate avocado mousse }
Rooftop Bar TU München { This hidden gem is on the rooftop of a university building. You have to wander the halls and up the elevator to get there, but the view and the coffee are worth it. I also have a thing for rooftops, so any excuse to be on top of one is good with me }
Ja Mai { Munich is an international city, and its food proves it. This small Vietnamese spot has amazing pho soup, where they shred the beef rather than serve it in slices }
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See/Do:
Marienplatz { Munich architecture is truly German, and its central square speaks to it perfectly. Wander the churches and the open space or relax in the cafes nearby }
Rosengarten { A cute parklet with lots of flowers to walk around. And because every landmark in Munich has a beer garden, the rose garden is no exception }
Wittelsbacher Brücke { A popular running route that takes you over the water and around the city. Good when you need to burn off all the sausage and beer }
Englischer Garten { The famous, 900-acre park full of grass, ponds, and spots to relax. It’s like the Golden Gate Park of Munich – on any given day you’ll find various activities occurring, even nudists effortlessly displaying what they have to offer }
Oktoberfest { This goes without saying }
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