geminican

I had another thread but I can't find it. I'll be in Munich spur of the moment and reading up as much as I can. I'm also going to other cities and in truth, I'm getting information overload and need help! Could you simplify for me and impart some info like where to go and where to eat? I'm on a budget and dont want to spend too much maybe 20 or 30 bucks. A nice dinner one night 75 USD. I enjoy museums and want to see at least one a day in the 3 or 4 days I'm there. Please narrow down for me what you enjoyed and why so I can figure out if I'd be interested. That would really help!! I really love looking this stuff up and normally plan much further ahead but this trip suddenly came up and after reading so much they're all looking the same. Is Munich anything like Prague in vibe? I'm also looking up Munich to Paris. Which airline do you prefer for that route? Danke!

tonfromleiden

As a city I found München somewhat disappointing. Possibly as a result of war damage, the city centre has hardly the atmosphere you expect of a place with such a long history.
Having said that, they have a great collection of musea (pick one to your taste), and I loved the area around the neo-classical Königsplatz. At the edge of the city you've got the Nymphenburg palace, which also in this time of the year is worth a visit.
Normally you could have made a daytrip to Salzburg, but presently the trains are disrupted as a result of the massive refugee influx.
As for other daytrips, many use the opportunity to visit Dachau. It would make me feel a little bit uneasy, but that's personal. The famous tourist trap is, of course, Neuschwanstein. The attraction escapes me: it's a nineteenth-century fantasy castle, and getting there and back would take a full day.
Relatively nearby Augsburg has its nice things, but maybe not worth the trip. I love Regensburg though, some 1,5 hrs by train. I've never been there, but Chiemsee is another possible outing. Travelling on regional trains is cheap with the so-called BayernTicket: some EUR 25 for the whole day.
USD's don't have any meaning here in Europe, but there are enough places around to fill your stomach for some EUR 20, including a beer.

tonfromleiden

To make your museum selection more easy (or more complicated): http://www.best-of-munich.com/museum...in-munich.html

kja

"Could you simplify for me and impart some info like where to go"

Honestly, no. Munich offers a wealth of wonderful options that might or might not suit your interests -- you really need to decide for yourself! Have you checked the "destination" information available through Fodor's at the link at the upper left of its main web-site? With very limited time, that should give you at least a starting point.

FWIW, I loved Munich and, unlike tomfromleiden, found MUCH to enjoy there.

PatrickLondon

I've eaten in several different places around or near the Viktualienmarkt (Heiliggeiststrasse and Dreifältigkeitsplatz), the Frauenplatz and along Tal, and they didn't strike me as too expensive, depending on how the exchange rate moves and what you choose. Portions can be quite generous.

tonfromleiden

»unlike tomfromleiden, found much to enjoy there«
It's all very subjective. Munchen didn't live up to my expectations, with emphasis on »my« and »expectations«.

pariswat

Muenchen is one of my favorite cities in Germany
I don't think there was much war damage it was essentially out of range of the bombers for quite aong time.
We loved Neuschwanstein.
Mien hen is not expensive especially if you go to the Haufbrauhause s. Good sauerkraut fun and beer. Not very subtle but you spend a good meal and usually engage conversation with your neighbors.

kja

@ tonfromleiden -- understood! That's why I said there are places that "might or might not suit [the OP's] interests." IMO, if we all traveled for the same reasons, and with the same interests, life would be quite boring. Vive la différence!

tonfromleiden

@ kja - And it's already crowded enough at the popular places...

swandav2000

hahaa, and I found Augsburg to be a lot more charming and more interesting than Munich -- so for me it is well worth the trip! (It's where I go back to when I want a "city" fix even though it's farther for me than Munich is.) I especially love its canals and the winding backstreets that are beyond the pretty little pedestrian areas.

Strongly recommend a morning or afternoon there, and be sure to walk through and past the pedestrian area.

s

Gary_Mc

If you see aerial photos of Munich after WWII, it was very substantially damaged. The hill out towards Olympia Park, from which you can view the city, is the collection of the rubble. That said, I hardly hold it against a city for rebuilding after such a pounding. That is also true of Würzburg, Nürnberg, Dresden, etc.

Restaurants are mostly individual taste. I like beer (Bier) so Paulaner Im Tal and the Augustiner Restaurant near Karlplatz are a couple that I enjoyed.

An exhibit that I would see again is the Schatzkammer (treasury) that is adjacent to the Residenz. The Residenz itself is enormous and I lost interest. My wife (must be patient to put up with me) enjoyed it much more.

The National Museum of Bavaria showed the kings to be magpies. There are some very interesting pieces but you have to wade through a lot. I might have liked it more on roller skates.

Like Swandav I enjoyed some of the other towns around Munich more. It might just be that they are more manageable in size. Augsburg, Regensburg and Landshut are good examples. You might want to day trip to one.

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-3/Augsburg-2015

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/German...egensburg-2012

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-...-2014-Landshut

geminican

This is exactly what I meant thank you for sorting it out for me! I've been doing the most research as I can but I'm leaving this week. I was not planning for the trip but jumped at the opportunity when I had the chance so unfortunately have not had enough time as I would've liked to study all the sites to see. The post might rub some people the wrong way but that's not my intention just seeking some suggestions of things to do. I will sift through your recs based on what sounds good to me so I WILL go to the places that interest me -kja - I figured the forum is a place to discuss ideas, suggestions, interests and opinions of the sites and restaurants. Thank you I'm so excited about Munich, seeing a place for the first time is one of life's joys! One more thing I'm not a big beer drinker but enjoy the occasional light beer. The lighter and less bitter the better. Is there one I should ask specifically other than saying "I'll have the local beer?" Thanks!

Gary_Mc

Many (most?) restaurants in Munich feature a specific company's beer. Augustiner is my favorite but there are many good ones. "Ein Helles" is like a pale ale that is usually fairly smooth. Weissbier (Vice Beer) is lighter but not necessarily milder in taste. Experiment a bit. All places sell cola,water and wine if that suits you better. Gary

CLBtravel

Don't drop the Dachau trip from consideration. Looking back, it was most memorable part of my trip to Munich a few years ago. I joined a small local tour, with very good English guide, and we got there by public transportation. You could easily do it on your own or with a guide.

happytourist

We've had to drop Salzburg from our list so we will be going to Lake Königsee instead. DH was stationed there in the army many years ago and says it was the most beautiful place he's ever seen. It's one of the lesser known day trips from Munich.

geminican

Geez you guys are just oozing sophistication. I will have to try Augustiner if it is your favorite beer Gary and because St Augustine is my second favorite saint, am sure there is some very distant relation. Thank you I should have plenty of things to do. Lake Konigsee is intriguing wish I had more time but we shall see. How are the trains with all the refugees if I decide to take a day trip? Is anyone living in Munich who can provide insight on what's happening on the ground, no doubt it's much more severe and heartbreaking than shown in the news.

swandav2000

Hi again,

Sorry, I don't live in Munich but I do live south of there in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The Trip Advisor travel forums have several members who live in Munich and who post about the refugee situation often, so you may want to pop in there.

afaik, the refugees are not integrated with other passengers but are in a separate area when travelling and travel in separate trains or train cars. All movement is halted right now for a few more days. I think things will start moving again next week (12 October). When are you travelling?

Have fun!

s

kja

I am oddly intrigued by this thread -- even though the OP said she wants to visit museums, it seems that no one has mentioned any of my favorite museums in Munich -- the Lenbachhaus, Alte and Neue Pinakotheks, or Deutsches Museum. (Maybe I missed a reference?) The OP could, of course, have learned about some of these by checking the "destinations" tab of this forum, or by consulting just about any decent guidebook -- and maybe she has! But isn't it interesting that these places were not mentioned?

Nor were most of my personal 2nd-favorites in Munich, such as the Englischer Garten, or my favorite day-trip from Munich, to Ulm.

To each his/her own!

geminican

swandav2000 thank you for that insight I'll pop in to TA to see what's up with the trains but I will most likely stay put in Munich at this point unless I really motivate. Kja your museum favorites are fantastilicious! Fantastic and delicious just don't do that comment justice. I saw a couple during my research but you just added and confirmed some of my choices. Danke.