Out of the box ideas for Munich

Jennifer,

You might want to have a look at the website for Radius Tours in Munich. They offer a variety of tours including bike tours, walking tours and tours of Dachau and Neuschwanstein Castle.

Depending on your interests, you may also enjoy the Deutcshes Museum (16 kM of exhibits!), Viktualien Market, exploring Marienplatz or just watching the antics in the Hofbrauhaus.

Happy travels!

The bike tours have a good reputation as do many of the walking tour companies. You can learn so much about Munich from these tours is such a short time.

If you want something just a little bit unusual though, try "Dark History". The guy that runs it is a professional archeologist, and has developed some really interesting tours of Munich. They are reasonably priced, but you do have to book ahead. Take a look at his website and see if this might interest you and if so, send him an email.

http://www.dark-history.eu/

I think a bike tour would be fun. I keep saying I'll do one and keep leaving without having done one - next time for sure.

Spending a day at the English Gardens, if the weather is nice, would be a good time and an activity the locals enjoy as much as tourists do.

For museums, my favorite are the Alte and Neue Pinakotheke. They have great art. Alte is classic art, Neue picks up where Alte leaves off and goes through impressionism. There is also a Moderne if you're into modern art.

The new BMW Weld (World) is pretty amazing architecture to check out, as well as the autos. It's very close to the Olympic park as well which is visually impressive.

Jennifer, so much to do in Munich (especially beer to drink) and so little time! ;-) Actually, two weeks is fine. I agree with Brad that a day in the English Garden--Munich's "Central Park," but bigger--would be great. There's a beer garden there and a Japanese teahouse that holds authentic tea ceremonies on certian weekends; you'd have to check for dates and time). As RS says, the people you see who've crashed their bikes into trees are Americans gawking at the unclothed sunbathers.

I second the museums Brad named; all are world-class. To them I'd add the Lenbachhaus, a museum of Bavarian artists in an old mansion; an hour or so will be enough time but give you a taste of some distinctive art. There's also a Beer & Oktoberfest Museum you might like since you're interested in beer-hall/garden tours. Be sure to eat/drink at the Hofbrauhaus; tourists, yes, but locals, too. By all means wander through the Viktualienmarkt--great for fruit, produce, cheese, meats; and it also has a picnic spot.

As for the best place to get a view of Munich, my vote goes for the bell tower of the Frauenkirche--the church with the two domed bell towers. There's an elevator part way, steps most of the way.

Mike's Bike Tours is another biking option to investigate. Lots (and I do mean lots!) of natives ride bikes. Of course there's great walking around the old city area. I also like walking in the university area. You might also consider a half-day trip to Dachau. It's real easy to get to by train.

The Weisses Brauhaus-an authentic Bavarian eatery--is a great place for a meal. Mostly locals there. If I remember right, it's on Kaufinger Strasse, just off the north east corner of the Viktualeinmarkt. Munich's a fantastic city--enjoy!

Lenny's Bike Tours. Free and hilarious. (You tip what you want at the end.) Entertaining and informative history of the city. You make a lunch stop in the Chinesischer Turm Bier Garten and you can participate in or spectate the beer chugging contest after you eat. After that, you bike back to the starting point. (Buzzed bike riding is fun!) Anyway, it was a highlight in our three-week tour of Germany/Austria/Prague! If you have a good sense or humor and you're laid back, don't miss it!!!
http://www.discovermunich.net/bikeTours/index.html

You could always try some surfing on the Isar:

http://www.ganz-muenchen.de/freizeitfitness/baden/surfen/wellenreiten/bilder/eisbach01.html

FYI, the Lenbachhaus (recommended above) is closed for renovations until at least 2012. It is a very special museum, though, and finding it closed on our recent trip to Munich was a huge disappointment.

We especially enjoyed Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich, including their display of carriages & sleighs in another building on the grounds. The Residenz is also awesome, especially the Treasury.

The Deutch Museum is in the the box but it sure is an interesting box not to be missed