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Travel Guide: Munich - Germany - Europe

Odeonsplatz, Feldherrenhalle Odeonsplatz, Feldherrenhalle
photo by: Stephan Herz
Sometimes called the "Village of One Million" Munich is a southern city located near the Alps. This wonderfully charming 800-year-old city is the capital of Bavaria and the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. Despite its name, events starts in late September and spills into the first week of October '” dancing oompah bands and food dominate. Be prepared not only to drink but also to eat: You'll have your fill of sausages that is for sure but experiment a bit '” whole oxen for instance are cooked on giant spits. While the food is good, fest goers never let it distract from the main focus of the festival: beer. The city is filled with thousands of casual and committed beer drinkers guzzling foamy brew for days on end. If this sounds like heaven by all means go and enjoy it but if it doesn't avoid Munich at all costs during this time. Book accommodation well in advance for Oktoberfest. But don't think Oktoberfest is the only time Munich celebrates. The pre-Lenten celebration of Fasching is equally popular. It goes on for days with all sorts of costumed parties and festivities.

Munich is an important cultural center with special opera, theatre, ballet and concert seasons.

It also has museums and galleries on every imaginable subject (including one about unusual museums). Some interesting ones are the German Theater Museum, Museum of Mankind and Nature, the Residenz (Egyptian Art and the crown jewels) and the Valentine Museum. The Deutsches Museum is the largest science and industry museum in Europe. The Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek (art museums) house extensive collections of medieval to modern European painting. The Lenbachhaus Gallery also has an exceptional collection of expressionist paintings (Kandinsky Klee Macke Marc).

The Englischer Garten is a nice place to relax and watch the citizens of Munich take their walks or tan in the sun (often topless sometimes wearing even less). In the midst of the gardens are the Kleinhesseloher See, a small lake with a cafe that serves refreshments, and a Chinese Tower and Monopterus (a Greek temple).

The town itself is easy to get around thanks to an excellent transportation system. Visit the Nymphenburg Castle, a large baroque 17th-century palace that doubles as the Bavarian China Factory, the botanical gardens and the Olympic Center north of Munich, built for the 1972 Olympics. Be sure to see Kaufingerstrasse (great shopping street stretching from Stachus to the Marienplatz) and the Schwabing District with its arty atmosphere smart boutiques antique shops lively nightlife and a stellar selection of restaurants bars and discos. Continue shopping at Viktualienmarkt an open-air marketplace where everything from gingerbread cookies to fresh fish is available. Other attractions are the Hellabrunn Zoo, the beer gardens and the Rathaus a 19th-century Gothic city hall with a glockenspiel (performances daily at 11 am noon and during May-October 5 pm).

One of Munich's most recognizable structures is the twin-onion-domed Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The old exterior provides quite a contrast to the stark white interior rebuilt after war damage gutted the church. BMW aficionados may want to make a pilgrimage to the BMW museum for some history of the company (after all the B in BMW stands for Bavaria and the corporate headquarters are in Munich).

Do spend a day driving around the countryside. Munich also has the airport closest to the German Alps (skiing and quaint Bavarian towns). The town of Dachau is the site of the first Nazi concentration camp. Another day trip relating to that era can be taken to Berchtesgaden. Plan at least two or three days in Munich.

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Travel Q&A on Munich:

Question: #1: Is it better to travel to Munich or Zurich?
Is it better to travel to Munich or Zurich? I wanted to travel to Germany or Switzerland. I wanted to visit Frankfurt plus both Zurich/Lucerne and Munich but I found out that I might not have enough time to visit Zurich and Munich. So I have to chose one of them. Is it better to travel to Zurich or Munich. Which one has more attractive places? Thanks in advance for your answers. - asked by The One

Answer: Munich is bigger and has more stuff to do, but Zurich/Lucerne is gorgous. If you want to have stuff to do and lots of places to see definately Munich. If you want to relax and enjoy the scenery and the ... - answered by: madarchstudent
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Question: #2: Is it better to travel to Munich or Zurich?
I wanted to travel to Germany or Switzerland. I wanted to visit Frankfurt plus both Zurich/Lucerne and Munich but I found out that I might not have enough time to visit Zurich and Munich. So I have to chose one of them. Is it better to travel to Zurich or Munich. Which one has more attractive places? Thanks in advance for your answers.Thanks for yout two answers. I arrive in Frankfurt in July. And then I want to see another city. I stay for a short time (Less than a week).I arrive from Montreal Canada and I also want to travel with train when in Germany. - asked by The One

Answer: If your choice really is between the two cities, Munich has more to do and see. Zurich itself is a commercial/banking center with a few museums - nicer than Washington, DC but not as interesting.However, ... - answered by: Barry
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Question: #3: I want to travel from Munich(germany) to Valencia(spain) on Train via France?
Which is the optimal route...Till now i have planned a routeMunich --> Stazburg --> Paris --> Nice --> Valencia but it doesnt look optimal to me .... can you suggest a better route.... I want the travel time to be minimum....I have Eurail pass for Germany, France and Spain - asked by AM

Answer: Go to
http://www.db.de and to
http://www.viamichelin.com and explore. ... - answered by: Nikkers
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Question: #4: What is the best/fastest way to travel from Munich to Venice?
We will be traveling from Munich to Venice in Mid July 2007. - asked by Lisa M

Answer: You should be able to travel by TEE train ( Trans Europe Express ). Will you have purchased a Eurail Pass? If you have then do still reserve seats as you wil be travelling in the peak season.You can also ... - answered by: lizzie
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Question: #5: What is the cheapest way to travel from Amsterdam - Munich?
I'm looking at travelling from Amsterdam to Munich on the 23rd of August. I don't mind whether I catch a sleeper train, normal train or fly, but I just want to know what my cheapest option would be, and how I would go about booking that?Cheers - asked by josietheninja

Answer: option 1) fly berlinair . option 2) Ryanair more time but cheaper. amsterdam to london stansted then london stansted to salzburg . train to munich ( i flew this route for a 1 Euro + taxes) 3) Eurail pass ... - answered by: Mytaxgurus.com
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Question: #6: I want to travel from Munich to Paris on Train ... I have Eurail youth pass for Germany and France...?
can anyone guide me the best option available ... the time tables and so on...I have searched on the internet , its quite confusing... some trains also requires reservation ... and i am in Japan and i dont have any travel agent here dealing with Eurail... how should i reserve my seats.... A detailed answer containing the time table, type of trains, and procedure of reservation will be highly appreciated ... please remember that i dont want to spend alot of money on it so i will prefer a cheap way .... It will be a gr8 help for me ....... - asked by AM

Answer: There are several trains throughout the day - connecting in either Strasbourg or Stuttgart - The Eurail website is confusing so get on www.raileurope.com - it will list the times/connections etc - It ... - answered by: travelgirl218
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Question: #7: do i need a visa to travel through Munich to Africa from united kingdom?
i want to go through munich but i have connect ticket from uk to munich then afica for holiday - asked by dv

Answer: If you are not EU or American you will need what is called a Transit Visa. They are easy to obtain though, just go to you're nearest German Embassy. ... - answered by: Anria A
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Question: #8: What should I wear when I travel to Munich in April? I am a 30 yr.old woman.?
I am going to Munich for a brief stay before going on to UAE. I don't know how the weather will be in Munich. Also, I don't want to scream AMERICAN. Anybody have any thoughts on weather and fashion?Thanks for the help! - asked by Happy Family

Answer: The weather will be mixed. There may be rain, sunshine heat and warmth. Take clothes that leave you prepared for any weather.And as long as you do not wear "I like Bush" or "I am American" or such on your ... - answered by: ARRGH!!!
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Question: #9: What is the best, cheapest, fastest or easiest way to travel from Paris to Munich?
We will be traveling from Paris to Munich in Mid July 2007. Thanks for any info you have! - asked by Lisa M

Answer: Train. ... - answered by: Sally
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Question: #10: i would like to travel by train from milan to (MUNICH) by train end november 4 person.?
plan to stopby at switziland on wayback munich -milan.Check accomodation and travelling charges in germany and anypart in switziland.Journey start on 29nov and ends 2 oct. - asked by NASURUDDIN Z

Answer: Check out Bahn.de. This is the German Rail network website, but it will have schedules for trains outside of Germany. If you don't speak German, you can click on the Internat. Guests link at the top to ... - answered by: VonBaden
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