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Germany is large and diverse - but if you could only see one
part, and if in this part you could roll all its facets into one,
that part should be Munich. As the capital of Bavaria, it's everything
you'd expect of a typical, and stereotypical, German city. It's
true that they eat sausage, and there's absolutely no doubt they
drink beer - but with the city's fascinating history and spectacular
location you'll also find grand palaces and fairytale castles mixed
in with a range of outdoor activities, based around the both River
Isar and the gorgeous surrounding countryside. Add to this the excellent
national and international transport links, to say nothing of the
city's own sophisticated public transport system, and it's hardly
surprising that Munich is now only second to Berlin as the most
visited city in Germany.
Climate
Munich's tourist rush is on for one and all between May and
September, when the weather just happens to be finest. The shoulder
seasons - April-May, September-October - are great times to visit,
with fewer visitors (but not during Oktoberfest!) and enough sunshine
to go around. If you visit between November and March you'll have
the place pretty much to yourself, along with the below-freezing
temperatures and sunless skies. As a general rule, you can expect
rain any time of year and there's also a chance of experiencing
the Föhn, a warm, dry wind that's blamed for everything from headaches
to crankiness and lethargy.
City sights
English Garden
Königsplatz
Marienplatz
Residenz
Schloss Nymphenburg
Viktualienmarkt
Andechs
Schleissheim
Starnberg
Activities
Like in every big city all sorts of sports and activities are
offered. Specially Tennis has been popular here ever since Boris
Becker hit the court in the 1980s. Indoor sorts can try their hand
at one of the city's billiard halls.
Special events
Munich's public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January),
Epiphany (6 January),
Easter, Labour Day (1 May), Whit/Pentecost (May or June),
Corpus Christi (June),
Assumption Day (15 August),
Day of German Unity (3 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), Christmas
and Boxing Day (25 & 26 December).
All shops and banks close on public holidays.
Munich's annual festivals are launched in January with the pre-Lent Carnival, a raucous six weeklong affair of street parties and balls. Lent comes to an end in March with Starkbierzeit, when strong beers with names ending in 'ator' are consumed (Triumphator, Salvator, Maximator, etceterator) in a tradition going back to monkish days.
April welcomes spring with a mini Oktoberfest called the Frühlingsfest (much less crowded than the real thing) and a mega flea market is held on the last Saturday in April (and also in July and October).
Munich's music and theatre Biennale is held every two years (the next one's in 2006). Late June sees the Tollwood world culture festival at Olympiapark. Corpus Christi is a big deal in Bavaria, with street parades and dressed-up horses. June ends with the Munich Film Festival, a scaled-down version of Berlin's renowned festival.
July's Christopher Street Day spills over into three days of gay and lesbian fun, with street parties and high-heeled races. The Opera Festival brings highbrow entertainment to the State Opera House, while Sommerfest hosts two weeks of live bands and outdoor sport contests in Olympiapark.
Just to confuse matters, Oktoberfest is held in September, perhaps because it's the biggest collective booze-up on the planet. A six-day Cycle Race is held in the Olympiahalle in November, with plenty of entertainment, food and drink for those less sports inclined.
The year groans to a close with the Winter Tollwood, a smaller version of the June world culture event and a huge Christkindlmarkt is held on Marienplatz, complete with an outsized Christmas tree and stalls selling handicrafts and cockle-warming Glühwein.
Airport transfers
Flughafen München Franz Joseph Strauss - Munich
International Airport, airport code:MUC. is 28.5km (18 miles)
northeast of the city (travel time - 38 minutes). Direct link with
the S-Bahn S8 runs every 20 minutes from Hauptbahnhof (main railway
station) (0313-0042; return 0355-0115).
The Airport City Bus runs every 20 minutes from 0650-1930 to the
Hauptbahnhof and every 30 minutes from 0755-2055; further bus services
are available.
Coach Oberbayern runs every 10 minutes to the city centre.
Airport facilities include duty-free shop, 24-hour left luggage,
24-hour medical facilities, snack bar, restaurants, post office,
banks, conference centre, car hire and bars. The airport also has
a Visitors' Park. Attractions include Dimension M (interactive information
centre), Viewing Hill (a vantage point to view airport activity),
a display of historical aircraft, an aircraft simulator movie theatre,
a play area and restaurant. |
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