Munich - Looking for advice on what to see and do
Dec 1st, 2014, 07:46 PM
#1
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Munich - Looking for advice on what to see and do
Hello,
My family and I will be staying in Munich from December 22nd till January 2 and I am in the process of developing the itinerary for our trip.
I am looking for advice for things to do and see within Germany and surrounding countries. We are all experienced travelers and looking forward to exploring as much as possible.
We are planning on using the rail system to travel throughout the areas as per the advice I already received here.
Thank you very much !
My family and I will be staying in Munich from December 22nd till January 2 and I am in the process of developing the itinerary for our trip.
I am looking for advice for things to do and see within Germany and surrounding countries. We are all experienced travelers and looking forward to exploring as much as possible.
We are planning on using the rail system to travel throughout the areas as per the advice I already received here.
Thank you very much !
Dec 1st, 2014, 09:03 PM
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Hi jff710,
What kinds of things do you have in mind? Do you want to see villages, museums, mountaintops? Do you like to hike? I would advise you to keep your day-trips down to 2h of transport in each direction, or imo you lose some joy in the trip.
Have fun as you plan!
s
What kinds of things do you have in mind? Do you want to see villages, museums, mountaintops? Do you like to hike? I would advise you to keep your day-trips down to 2h of transport in each direction, or imo you lose some joy in the trip.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Dec 1st, 2014, 09:40 PM
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How many is "we" and if there are children, what are their ages?
I agree with swandav2000 in that we need to know your interests, likes and dislikes, etc. to help point you in the right direction.
That being said, definitely spend the first two days visiting the Christmas markets. I believe that Munich has 6 or 8 of them. Walking from market to market will also be a great way to see the city. Yes, it will be cold but the Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Gluhbier, hot mead, etc. will warm you back up. My favorite Munich Weihnachtsmarkt is the Mittelalter market (Wittelsbacherplatz, 80333 München) -- the workers dress up in Middle Ages costumes and many locals also dress up as Lords and Ladies and warriors and hang out drinking and eating. Plus, they have Glühbier (a Belgian Kriek served hot. so tasty).
I agree with swandav2000 in that we need to know your interests, likes and dislikes, etc. to help point you in the right direction.
That being said, definitely spend the first two days visiting the Christmas markets. I believe that Munich has 6 or 8 of them. Walking from market to market will also be a great way to see the city. Yes, it will be cold but the Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Gluhbier, hot mead, etc. will warm you back up. My favorite Munich Weihnachtsmarkt is the Mittelalter market (Wittelsbacherplatz, 80333 München) -- the workers dress up in Middle Ages costumes and many locals also dress up as Lords and Ladies and warriors and hang out drinking and eating. Plus, they have Glühbier (a Belgian Kriek served hot. so tasty).
Dec 1st, 2014, 09:47 PM
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Take a train to Salzburg for the day - less than 2 hours easy ride each way direct, and definitely a beautiful place to explore on foot. Also, if you like art, visit the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. New Years Eve may also be chaotic with lots of people out late, and lots of fireworks going off everywhere - very atmospheric!
Dec 2nd, 2014, 02:29 AM
#5
If you, or they, are interested in "palaces" and don't want to go out of town to see one, the Nymphenburg in the city is one possibility. Larger and more elaborately decorated (then the Nymphenburg AND a lot of other such places in Europe) is the Resdienze. If you go, be sure to take the longer (self-guided) tour.
Dec 2nd, 2014, 03:48 AM
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Dec 2nd, 2014, 05:52 PM
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Thank you so much for all of your input.
Their are 5 of us traveling. My wife and I and our 3 kids ages 25,23 & 22. All 3 are experienced travelers in Europe and South America.
All of us enjoy visiting museums, castles, etc.
We arrive on the morning of the 22nd and my plan was to spend the next few days exploring Muinch and the christmas markets and then go elsewhere.
These are all great suggestions and I will certainly be using them to build our plan.
Any more suggestions would be welcomed !
Their are 5 of us traveling. My wife and I and our 3 kids ages 25,23 & 22. All 3 are experienced travelers in Europe and South America.
All of us enjoy visiting museums, castles, etc.
We arrive on the morning of the 22nd and my plan was to spend the next few days exploring Muinch and the christmas markets and then go elsewhere.
These are all great suggestions and I will certainly be using them to build our plan.
Any more suggestions would be welcomed !
Dec 2nd, 2014, 10:02 PM
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Hi again,
Keep in mind that the Christmas markets will close around noon on 24 Dec, so, yes, see them first. I strongly recommend the Middle Ages market in Munich.
I also recommend seeing Mittenwald, a lovely village in the Alps, and seeing its violin-making museum. That's a nice way to see how families developed livelihood and craft over the centuries.
If you want to see some mountaintops, then go to Garmisch and see the Alpsppitz or the Zugspitze.
My favorite castle in the area is Linderhof, which is nearby Oberammergau and also the Ettal monastery -- that's a great day.
Garmisch would be a good central spot to see Mittenwald, Linderhof/Oberammergau, and the mountains.
s
Keep in mind that the Christmas markets will close around noon on 24 Dec, so, yes, see them first. I strongly recommend the Middle Ages market in Munich.
I also recommend seeing Mittenwald, a lovely village in the Alps, and seeing its violin-making museum. That's a nice way to see how families developed livelihood and craft over the centuries.
If you want to see some mountaintops, then go to Garmisch and see the Alpsppitz or the Zugspitze.
My favorite castle in the area is Linderhof, which is nearby Oberammergau and also the Ettal monastery -- that's a great day.
Garmisch would be a good central spot to see Mittenwald, Linderhof/Oberammergau, and the mountains.
s
Dec 3rd, 2014, 02:35 AM
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If you enjoy visiting museums, Munich has at least half a dozen excellent ones that encompass quite a variety of interests and some of which are unique to Munich/Bavaria and have collections that cannot be seen elsewhere, so you might ask your group to read descriptions. You can find complete lists and descriptions online. If you are interested in Bavarian history, I would strongly recommend skipping the dull (and reconstructed) Residenz palace in favor of visiting the Bavarian National Museum, which is a fascinating Smithsonian-like attic chockfull of amazing Bavarian treasures of fine craft and high art, set in a unique 19th century building. Also of great interest to art lovers is the very beautiful Blau Reiter collection at the Lebenshaus, which I might think would be a particular interest to the young adults in your group if they enjoy art history. But there is the BMW museum for car buffs (as well as an excellent museum of modern design) and several outstanding fine arts museums, as distinguished as the Louvre and the Metropolitans, ranging from Greek antiquity and European masters to contemporary works.
The small but eye-poppoing interior of the theatrical church St. Johann Nepomuk, most often called the Asam Church or Asamkirche in guidebooks, is a true architectural gem without equal. It is a reasonable walk for fit people from the food markets.
The small but eye-poppoing interior of the theatrical church St. Johann Nepomuk, most often called the Asam Church or Asamkirche in guidebooks, is a true architectural gem without equal. It is a reasonable walk for fit people from the food markets.
Feb 13th, 2015, 07:08 AM
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I'm late with my suggestions but hope this will be interesting for those tourists who will google the same qustion 'what to do in Munich'. So the most easy way to visit interesting city places is to download GPS map with sightseeings of this city: http://www.itouristmaps.com/germany/munich/ Then you can use your smartphone, Google Earth or navigator to show all the points on map during trip.
Feb 14th, 2015, 01:00 PM
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In Munich you have the Deutsches Museum, 3 big art gallarues, Nymphenburg palace with a wonderful carraige barn, the hofbreau Haus and a dozen other beer halls, Marienplatz, Vikuualien Markt and the Englisher Garten. Nearby you have Dachau, Neuschwanstein ( and other Ludwig ccastles ) Salzburg, Nuremburg, Rothenburg, Bertschesgaden, Mittenwald, etc .... Then on the next day you can explore the usual big city offering like the opera. It's one of my favorite cities and I wish I was headed there right now. If you have special interests, like WWII history there is a lot to explore in !Munich. Have a wonderful trip and hoist a beer for the rest of us Fodorites who wish we were there.
