IndieFeduniw

I just found out today I get to accompany my husband on a business trip to Munich in 2 weeks. I have never been to Germany and I will be alone alot of the time, including two nights.
Recomandations for: tours or companies, Safe places to eat alone, Good Daytrips, things for a rookie to avoid, and must see ideas. Thank you for all your help!!

bob_brown

I have visited Munich several times. It strikes me as a safe city. We have a friend there who was single for a long time before she finally married. She went places alone at night frequently.
She often walked alone at night with no fear.

I have never been bothered. But then too I don't prowl the streets at 2 AM.

A good day trip would be to visit one of the Mad King's castles: either Herrenchiemsee or Neuschwanstein and/or Hohenschwangau.

If you could find a tour to Neuschwanstein that included the Weiskirche, I suggest taking it. The Weiskirche is a Baroque masterpiece. Small perhaps, but the interior is ornate and, in its own way, beautiful.
Grey Line Tours probably has something.
Go to Google and search on Munich Tours. I am sure something will appear.

In Munich, I have found these places to be extremely interesting:

Nymphenburg Palace on the west side of the city.

The Residenz in the city, which was the official home of the Wittelsbach monarchs.

The art museum known as the Alte Pinakothek.

The museum that has Greek and Roman statues, pottery, and other artifacts known as the Glyptothek.

The Bavarian National Museum is ok to visit and for me mildly interesting.

The modern art place was to me a total bore. My feelings were summarized quite accurately by a modern sculpture by an American that consisted of car bumpers and fenders. The title, and I tease you not, was quite appropriate: Horse Pucky.

Another good day trip is Salzburg. You can take any one of several trains from the main station.

If you have an interest in music, see if you can find a concert or an opera performance. The Bavarian State Opera has excellent singers and conductors. Tickets are priced on a par with any of the world's leading opera houses, which is to say expensive.

The Deutsches Museum is all right. Some of it is interesting; it depends on what you like. I would suggest staying out of the basement. It is all about mining -- everything you ever wanted to know about mining but were afraid to ask. Once you get in there, you just about have to walk the whole floor to get out as you twist and turn through the "tunnels."

Also, Munich overall has dozens of museums. Some might be right in your wheelhouse of interest.

The clock on the Rathaus is interesting. Figures go round and round doing various things, like dancing and knocking heads off. The Frauenkirche is an interesting place as well.

If you get in a somber mood, you can take the U-Bahn to Dachau and visit the site. But the memories of that place and the thousands who were executed there are very, very grim.

I am sure you will get many more suggestions.

treplow

You can go to any good restaurant by yourself.

As for sightseeing, trhis depends a bit on where you will be staying. If you know, let me know where, and I can tell you whats'nearby that is worth looking. In any event, Munich public transportation is very safe and very convenient. Get yourself a good city map that has the streetcar and subway (U-Bahn) lines and numbers, ask the concierge in your hotel how to get day passes to ride the systerm and you can't get lost.

Places to see: Any of the art museums, from classic (Alte inakotek) to later (Neue Pinakoitek) to modern (Haus der Kunst).

The center of Munich is a pedestrian mall (Neuhauserstrasse going east-west; Theatinerstrasse going south-north) Just ambling along those streets is lots of fun.

Restaurants: For dinner and a heavier lunch: Ratskeller in the city hall basement. Light lunch: Kaffee Feldherrnhalle, Residenzstrasse (runs paralell to Theatienerstrasse), or any of the Cafes or Restaurants in the that general area.

If the weather is good, take the tram out to the Nymphenburg Palace and poke around there.

For a full day's trip, take the train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and take the cog railway up to the top of the Zugspitze, Germany highest mountain.

One last suggestion: It has been quite cold and rainy/snowing in the last couple of weeks in southern Bavaria So, bring enough cloths for layering along.

If you want more info. let me know.

bob_brown

My apologies for missing the correct spelling of the church in the meadow.
It is Wieskirche. Literally, the meadow church. Even if I miswhacked trying to type it, I don't think you will go wrong if you visit it. The Baroque inside impressed me, and I was lucky enough to be inside when the organist was practicing.
The organ is worth hearing!!

MaureenB

My family found Munich to be safe, and we four didn't feel uncomfortable walking at night together. There is a neighborhood by the train station that has some seedy shops, and attracted slightly scary men on the streets, so we'd avoid that area.
The trains there are wonderful. We went to Salzburg one day and Neuschwanstein the next. Each trip is about 2 hours each direction. You would not feel uncomfortable on the train or in those towns alone for the day.
See if they still offer the Bayern Pass. It was about 22 EUROs for up to five people to travel all day in Bavaria, even including some buses and underground fares, like the bus from the train depot to the Neuschwanstein ticket office.
Do double-check the return trip time, especially if you're alone. We were given a print-out by the station agent in the morning, but it had a typo-- we found the last train wasn't direct as the schedule said, but stopped in a small town with a 2 hour wait there for the next train. Not a big deal. There was one little restaurant open. It was a cute town and there were four of us to entertain each other. But it did make our return trip a bit long and late in the night.
Euraide.com has the skinny on tours and train fares. They have an office, also, in the Munich train station.
We loved Munich. Stayed at the Hotel Uhland, which was a wonderfully-kept old B&B type place.

LisaMS

My most memorable trip to Germany was the first one when I accompanied my husband on business. We have been back 2 times since then and are leaving tomorrow for our 4th trip (strictly pleasure for the first time...yay!)

I did not want to be holed up in my room while husband was working so I bought a Germanrail ticket before I left the States and each day I hopped on the train to visit a different city (we were in Dillingen, which is an hour northwest of Munich). LOVED riding the train to Munich and walking downtown. Loved the market there; shopping there; visiting the two art museums there. Lots to do within walking distance of the train station. I also took the train to Salzburg and found a tour when I got there! Beautiful ride to Augsburg from Munich. I did all this alone and felt quite safe; although I did make sure I returned to hotel by 5:00 most days. I love the little city of Ulm; you may want to check it out. You could also ride the train to Dachua I'm pretty sure.

Don't let travelling alone keep you from venturing out. The good thing about travelling alone is that you are more likely to talk to the locals. And lots of people in the big cities speak English quite well.

Enjoy!

AisleSeat

You lucky dog... you will be there for the opening of the Christmas markets. Munich has 6 or seven of them from the huge one in Marienplatz in front of the Rathaus to the crib market at the Victualianmart (sp) and the handmade stuff in Schwabing. I understand there is a really bigt kick off to the season with a Christmas tree lighting and such around our Thanksgiving in Marianplatz. Google "Christmas Markets" then get set for some gluhwein and liebkuchen (sp).