I'm going to be in Munich for the first week of Feb 2004, and really know little to nothing about the city. I am going to visit a friend who lives there, but he will be working during the day so unfortunately not available as a tour guide. Anyone have any suggestions on things to do and see in the city? I'm not going to have a car so will be dependant on public transport. I'm interested in a wide range of things, different museums, good shopping and if something can be climbed I'm there! Are there any interesting day trips from the city? Will the fact that it's winter affect opening times? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

How about hopping a train and heading to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, home of the Zugspitz, Germany's highest mountain? You can take the cable car to the top, catch some gorgeous views, and easily be back in Munich for dinner. The train ride takes about 90 minutes from Munich each way.

You can also continue on to Mittenwald, which is another 20 minutes past Garmisch. Here you'll find the Alpspitz, the Wank and Mt. Karwendel (Germany's 2nd highest cable car).

If you'd rather, you can catch a bus to Oberammergau (home of the Passion Play) from Garmisch (20 km). It's rather touristy, but there are some interesting oil paintings on the buildings and you can take a horse drawn carriage from here to Linderhof.

You can also visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau from Munich, via train and bus, but I'm not familiar with the specific routing.

Then there's Prien am Chiemsee, home to Schloss Herrenchiemsee, yet another of King Lugwig's creations, located an hour east of Munich.

You might also want to check out Dachau, which is only a 20 minute train ride from the Munich Hauptbahnhof.

Within Munich you've got the Deutsches Museum, the Bavarian National Museum, the Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel on the Neues Rathaus, numerous churches, etc.

The choices are endless.

If you are going to make extensive use of Munich's excellent public transport system you might consider purchasing a "Munich Welcome Card" which allows you unlimited use of S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and trams in the city.

In addition to the excellent recommendations you've received already I would add a recommendation to see The Residenze in the city as well as Schloss Nymphenburg.

No trip to Munich would be complete without one visit to the kitschy Hofbräuhaus for their pretzels, wurst, and of course beer. Also, try to walk around the Viktualienmarkt, the city's open-air food market and catch a bite for lunch.

You can catch a streetcar (#19 I think) outside the Hauptbanhof and take an inexpensive tour of the city. Get off at Max Weber Platz and get lost walking around.

Munich is a great city for shopping. Across from the Hauptbanhof all the way to the Marienplatz is a shopper's paradise.

It would be very easy to catch a train and spend a day in Salzburg. I love Munich and can't wait to go back.

There is wonderful shopping at the Marienplatz. If you are in to beautiful old churches there are several close to the Marienplatz: Frauenkirche, St. Michael's and St. Peter's. Then there is Alte Pinakothek just a few blocks away, chock full of paintings by the masters.

There's a ton to do in Munich. Was there for a week and wasn't ever bored.

From the above suggestions, I would second Dachau. In Feb, it will be cold, dress warmly! Try to go on a Saturday and take the free tour...it was much more enlightening and takes about two hours. Definitely check and see when the do the tours...I had conflicting information in my guidebook.

Hofbrauhaus is definitely touristy fun.

Also, while the gardens, swans, etc won't be out in Feb, I visited the Castle Nymphenberg. It's not the most breathtaking place, but I found the Gallery of Beauties kind of fun. It's a room of paintings that King Ludwig did of women he found beautiful at the time. Commoners are included with the ladies of the court. It's an easy tramride to the castle, but I wouldn't go totally out of your way to see it.

If you go to Neuschwanstein, etc from Munich, try to do it yourself. A bus tour does a shopping stop, and you probably will have to pay for the entrance fees in addition to what they charge you. It was the only tour I did in 4 months in Europe and was not worth it. The castles are really neat to see in the winter however...just a wonderful, fairyland view.

Unless you're into tourist traps, stay away from the Hofbräuhaus. It's crawling with tourists from the opening bell til last call, and the food is nothing to write home about.

Instead, for a good pub experience w/o the obnoxious oompah band and drunks galore, check out the Augustiner-Grossgaststätte at Neuhauser Strasse 27, not far from the Marienplatz.

Also, for a bite to eat in a friendly atmosophere, check out the menu at the Augustiner or stroll back towards Marienplatz and check out the Nünberger Bratwurst Glöckl am Dom at Frauenplatz 9, about a 2-3 min. walk from the Marienplatz U-bahn stop. There is an upstairs and downstairs and the menu is a little different on each floor. (I prefer the upstairs.)

Definitely take a stroll through the Viktualienmarkt, the open air market near the Marienplatz, if only to ogle the yummy wurst roasting over open flame and to check out the goods. Not exactly a bargain, but fun to do.

If you have the stomach for it, do try to get to Dachau. From the Hauptbahnhof, take the S2 to the Dachau stop (7 stops), and transfer to the local bus 725 (Tu-Sat) or the 724 (Sun) and get off at the KZ-Gedenkstätte stop. It's a short walk from there to the camp gates. (The camp is not open on Mondays.) Admission is free, and there is an English-language documentary shown twice a day, 11:30 and 3 or 3:30 I believe.

Other things to do is to take a stroll through the Englischer Garten and check out the Olympic Park. I also found Fernherrnhalde (Field Marshall's Hall) to be an interesting historical site.

traci,

Munich is an exciting, welcoming place. You'll have much fun people watching, strolling, shopping, and eating around Marienplatz, and giving in to your touristic impulses by swigging a few cold ones at the Hofbrauhaus.

As a fun excursion, consider a day-trip to Andechs Monastery, located southwest of Munich close to the Ammersee. Andechs combines architecture and fine food and beer, as it offers a pligrimage church and a wonderfully atmospheric beer hall, featuring a lind of distinctive brews produced by the monks. Don't miss it.

Munich has a wonderful science museum; it's on an island in the river. My husband spent a very happy day there.

Salzburg, Austria is a nice side trip from Munich.