Highlights and Top Attractions-Munich
Munich and Surrounding Areas
Munich Museums and Castles
Munich Churches
Munich History and Background
Surfing in the English Garden
The English Garden was founded in 1789 by Count von Rumford. It is built in the English style of informal landscaping popular at the time, hence its name. It is one of the largest city parks in existence and you need a bit of time to wander around like the Bavarian Kings used to do.
One of the best parts of the garden is the (probably) only city surfing in existence. At the very end of the garden, by the Haus der Kunst (see map) is a natural underground drop in the river. This caused a huge, continuous wave to be formed. People surf their on the weekend with their wetsuits and surf boards.
Beware while walking through the garden. In parts of the garden it has been permissible to sunbath nude. Don't be surprised to see some women and men totally naked been lying out in the sun along the river.
At the other end of the garden is the Chinesischer Turm. The Turm (German for tower) is a huge Chinese tower. It is 25 meter high and modeled on the Pagoda in London which is modeled after a porcelain pagoda from the gardens of a Chinese emperor. Next to the tower is a huge Beer Garden. It is a great place to sit down and have a bite to eat and a drink after walking through the entire garden.
Bavaria Film Studio
(Bavaria Filmstadt)
Munich is home to one of the most successful film studios in Europe. You will probably not be familiar with all of the television series or movies (such as Das Boot, parodied in 2006's Beer Fest). If you grew up in the 80's or had kids that did, you would be familiar with The Neverending story. The film was shot in Munich at the Bavaria Filmstadt and you can ride the mythical creature on your tour.
Also of interest in the 90 minute tour is creating your own movie (cheesy, but as funny as you are, even funnier if you aren't funny), and watching a 4-D movie.
There is one English tour a day at 1:00.
Official Website (English)
Avoid the Crowds, Munich School Schedule (Coming Soon)
Viktualien Market
Much of Munich has kept its "small town" charm. This is most evident in the Viktualien Market where daily (except Sundays, observing the Catholic Sabbath) small shops sell their wares. You can find a pig hanging in the window of a butcher, homemade beeswax candles, or olives fresh from Greece. All of this old-world market charm and small beer garden. The traditional Maypole still hangs representing the merchants in Munich. Notice the sign, "Heute im Ausschank," it announces which of the 6 Munich breweries of serving beer that day. It is a great place to sit and wait for the Glockenspiel on Munich's New Town Hall.
See Map of How to Get There (Coming Soon)
New Town Hall-Glockenspiel
Though it looks older than the rebuilt Old Town Hall, the New Town Hall (or Neues Rathaus) is one of the few buildings that survived WWII. For a minute in history after WWII American troops used the New Town Hall as a headquarters building. You can take the elevator to the top for a view of Munich, but your 2 Euros would be better spent elsewhere.
After admiring the Gothic Architecture, daily at 11:00 and 12:00 (and at 5:00pm May-Oct) the Glockenspiel wows tourists with its recreation of a royal 16th century wedding and joust. I don't know what is more interesting, watching the people or watching the clock?
Also Visit the Residenz, a Beautiful Castle in Downtown Munich
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Munich Glockenspiel in Action
