I'm curious, if you could only pick your 3 favorite places to visit or things to do in Munich what would they be, it could be anything? My husband and I will be there for 3 days mid March. We love any type of history, my husband is interested in medieval weapons, I enjoy looking in the different shops and we love to explore things off the beaten path. We will spend one day going to Dachau but I'm just curious on what other people would see and do.
Karen
Dachau, Marienplatz, English Gardens.
Definitely go to Dachau. Reading about it in history books just isn't the same. In my opinion, EVERYONE should see a concentration camp in person, lest history ends up repeating itself.
My niece LOVED the Deutsches Museum... so much to see and not enough time to cover everything.
Marienplatz is great for shopping, eating but I was disappointed in the Glockenspiel.... just wasn't quite how I remembered it when I was a little girl. I don't think it performs every hour (maybe someone knows the schedule?), so if you happen to miss it it's not a big deal. We ate at the Ratskeller on the Marienplatz and then later had coffee and cake at an elegant cafe across the square from there.
just a small train ride away. Well worth the visit...even if you dont like beer!
My #1 is the Alte Pinokotec.
Englischer Gardens would be high on the list if it wasn't March. It's likely to be deserted when you are there. Maybe you could catch a market.
Find a brewery other than Hofbrau Haus. It's too touristy. Others are more friendly and local.
Dachau (we took the train there and took their guided tour which was excellent), Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt.
Dachau ranks number 1 with me also.
Read this list of places to see:http://www.viator.com/munich-tours/d487-ttd?pref=02&aid=g2280.
Choose those which interest YOU.
If I only had a little time in Munich, I wouldn't waste it going to Dachau. It would take too much time. I've read my history books; I know what happened there. I even had a teacher in high school who had been one of the U.S. troop liberating a concentration camp.
There are a lot of interesting things to see in Munich. Many of them are clustered right around Marienplatz. You really should be there at 11 AM for the performance of the Glockspiel on the Rathaus. Nearby is the Frauenkirche. You can climb to the top of the steeple at St. Peters for a great view of Munich and, on a clear day, the Alps. The Residenz is nearby, as is the Hofbräuhaus and the outdoor market (Viktualienmarkt). There are many famous museums in the area, the Pinokotechs and the Deutsches Museum. If you want something out of the way, the Munich city museum (Stadtmuseum), just south of Marienplatz, often has interesting exhibits on Munich (unfortunately only in German). The street leading from Marienplatz towards the Hauptbahnhof is a Fussgangerzone (pedestrian zone) lined with shops.
You don't need to pay money for an organized tour to see these things. Just do a little research.
Another vote for Dachau, hands-down. I only budgeted four hours for it, and I could have spent many more there if they weren't closing.
Make sure you spend some time and a lunch at the Viktualienmarkt in old town Munich. It is a wonderful market/outdoor beer garden/lunch spot!
We also really enjoyed the Bavaria treasury and seeing all the crown jewels.
A history book can't do justice to Dachau. I would recommend talking using radius tours for this.
I forgot about the new BMW museum - it was very well done and is a must for any car lover. Even just the show floor is pretty amazing!
"Find a brewery other than Hofbrau Haus. It's too touristy."
OK, when I sat down at a table in the Hofbräuhaus, the people at my table appeared to be native Bavarian, based on how the guy across the table "disected" his weisswurst. When that party left, my table mates were two Irishmen, two Spaniard, and two Germans. I guess that made it touristy.
The nationality of the patrons might have been international, but the intertainment was traditional Bavarian. I belonged for a long time to a German club in Denver, a club made up largely of war brides who came over from Bavaria in the 40s and 50s. They tried to preserve the traditions of Bavaria in the club. Guess what, it largely resembles the Hofbräu (also Oktoberfest). I'm disappointed that the waiters condescend to speak English (without even being asked), but otherwise I found the atmosphere very "traditional".
If you like Rococo in small, intense doses - Asamkirche (Asam Church) near Marienplatz is an very interesting 10 minute stop. Contrast it to the more famous and nearby Frauenkirche.
Depending on the age of your group, we had an absolute blast on the free bike tour. It lasts a couple hours and includes a stop at the Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten for lunch. (And a beer chugging contest for those who wish to participate.) It's mostly a younger crowd. The tour includes the main sites around the city with a lot of humor. Tips are appreciated at the end, and we were happy to give a good tip after such a great time...
http://www.discovermunich.net/bikeTours/index.html
Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt in old town Munich. I would say The English Gardens but not in March.
I concur with Lee. There is much to do around the Marienplatz.
Dachau was okay but there isn't much there to see nowadays. It was memorable but not remarkable.
Lee,
I've been to Hofbrauhaus more than once because people I'm traveling with always feel they "need" to go there.
Too often, the tables are populated by groups that look like they just got off a big bus. They take non-stop pictures of everything and each other. I have to admit they are usually in a festive mood.
I've also gotten the impression that locals sit in one area while tourists are confined to another. Maybe that was just an impression but it's the only time I ever went to sit at a community table and was told not to sit there (they were German and weren't waiting for the rest of their party).
As you said, the waiters speak English rather than German.
The music and look of the place are similar to other bier hauses but the environment isn't local at all.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg looks like Bavaria but is really just a tourist attraction. Hofbrauhaus is the same.
Go to another bier haus. Enjoy the same music, better beer and warmer treatment from the staff and patrons.
