Munich Moments: Four Days of History, Culture, and Unexpected Delights

Kimberly·November 29, 2024·0 comments

Day One: The Viktualienmarkt and Rathaus-Glockenspiel

Arriving in Munich felt like stepping into a postcard. After meeting my Airbnb host—who, like in Brussels, graciously vacates their home during my stay—I settled into the cozy space. Though I always feel a bit guilty taking over someone’s home, it’s a win-win: they earn, and I get a truly local experience!

Hunger struck quickly, so I ventured to a quaint restaurant just a few blocks away. Sitting at the bar, I attempted a conversation with a friendly local, but our language gap made it short-lived. The bartender, however, caught my eye—his charm worthy of a quick snap to share with my friend Jillian, whose response made me laugh: “They really do make them better over there!”

Two men stare at their phones. The man on the left is bald and wearing a red and white checkered shirt and a grey vest. The hottie on the right has dirty blonde hair, a white button up rolled up to his elbows and a blue vest one. They are standing behind the bar.

After dinner, I wandered to the iconic Viktualienmarkt, a lively open-air market brimming with local flavors. I picked up some goodies for my Airbnb and enjoyed my first Bavarian beer at the charming Biergarten. A short stroll away, the Rathaus-Glockenspiel clock came to life, reenacting Munich’s history with its life-sized figures. Watching this delightful display felt like stepping back in time—a perfect way to wrap up my first day in this magical city.

Rathaus-Glockenspiel facade. You can see the openings and vaguely see the characters. There is greenery on the windowsills and in the bottom openings.
Rathaus-Glockenspiel close up. There are two openings on the building. In the top one you can see men on horses jousting. On the bottom are two dancers holding a ribbon in the air. You can sorta see a man standing between the ribbons.

Day Two: Englischer Garten and a Surprise Festival

Rain and chilly weather didn’t dampen my spirits on day two! I bundled up and made my way to the Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world. To escape the drizzle, I ducked into the cozy Chinesischer Turm beer garden, where I enjoyed a pint and a good book.

Kimberly with her brown hair down and a pink sweater on. Across her body is the rope to her backpack. She is on the left side of the photo smiling at the camera. She is surrounded by greenery and trees. In the background is a lake that is also surrounded by greenery. It is a cloudy day and no sun.

Once the storm passed, I strolled through the garden, soaking in its lush beauty. Back at Viktualienmarkt, I warmed up with a delicious honey wine from Honighäusel—so good, I had to take two bottles home.

Just as I was leaving, live music caught my ear. Following the sound, I stumbled upon the Munich Sessions, a free multi-day music festival. With a Münchner Hell lager in one hand and pommes frites in the other, I watched Deer Park Avenue, a band reminiscent of The Cranberries. Their performance was incredible, and I quickly added them to my playlist. Excited to explore more acts, I knew I’d be back for another round of Munich’s vibrant music scene.

The image shows a lively outdoor music festival, "The Munich Sessions," with a colorful psychedelic-style banner in the background displaying the event's name. A crowd of people is gathered in front of the stage, some holding drinks, while a band performs under a canopy of trees. The atmosphere appears vibrant, with attendees enjoying the music in a casual, open-air setting.

Day Three: Olympiapark, BMW Museum, and a Jazz Serenade

Olympiapark München, the site of the 1972 Olympics, was my first stop on day three. Walking through the grounds, I admired the arenas and Olympic rings, snapping the obligatory photo. While I couldn’t explore the gymnastics arena, I caught a glimpse of the Olympic pool, where swim lessons were underway. Imagine learning to swim in such a historic spot!

A large Olympic pool divided with swimming lanes. There are tables near the pool, guests walking around, and a few lucky people swimming in the pool. It is enclosed with large glass windows and the ceiling looks like a white tent but is a permanent structure.
The Olympic rings that look like they are made of stone and are about 4 ft high are on top of a metal block surrounded by grass. In the background are trees and a large pillar.

Nearby, I explored the Munich Olympic Walk of Stars, featuring handprints from legends like Kiss, Aerosmith, and Roger Waters.

Handprints in concrete. You can see 4 handprints on the edges of the concrete square. On the bottom right is a small hand (Kimberly's hand) in one of the handprints. Teh center is signed by various band members and Aerosmith is written in the center.
A concrete square with bricks around the border. Inside are the words The Wall, below that are two handprints, and below that is Roger Waters signature.

A short walk later, I found myself at the BMW Museum. This fascinating space showcased the history of the brand through its cars, motorcycles, and even interactive exhibits for kids. Though I’m not a car enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience

A tiny car that has a white upper body and blue lower body. The small headlights are on either side. The license plate reads: BMW ISETTA. The tires are black with white walls. The car is on top of a grey floor with a grey wall behind it.
A luxurious black Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended is displayed prominently under bright showroom lighting. The car's iconic grille and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament are highlighted, showcasing its elegant design. Behind the car, a sleek black wall features a quote in white text: "Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing." The overall presentation exudes sophistication and craftsmanship.
A classic BMW race car is on display, featuring a white body adorned with colorful logos, text, and Bavarian-inspired designs, including blue-and-white checkered patterns. The car is showcased in a BMW Motorsport exhibit with the iconic "M" logo prominently displayed above and vibrant red, blue, and purple stripes decorating the backdrop. The sleek setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light, emphasizes the car's racing heritage and connection to BMW's performance legacy.

That evening, I returned to the Munich Sessions to find a jazz band playing. As the rain began to fall, they launched into Sweet Caroline. The sight of people from different cultures and languages singing together in the rain was pure magic—one of the most unforgettable moments of my trip! The night ended with a cheerful bonus: beers for just €2 as bartenders cleared out the festival stock. Truly, Germany knows how to make life sweet.

The stage at Munich Sessions. A Jazz band is playing. They are in velvet grey suits with white shirts and back ties. The far left is sitting at the piano, the two guys on the right are playing to the crowd, The first one has a saxophone and the other one a large horn. The man in the middle is holding a flute looking horn. He is in a blue suit with a black tie. His hand is on the microphone and he is looking away from the camera.

Day Four: Oktoberfest and Surfing

Though I was a few weeks early for Oktoberfest, I couldn’t resist visiting the festival grounds. Preparations were already in full swing, and walking through the iconic site gave me a sense of the excitement to come.

Oktoberfest grounds. In the center is a blue tower similar to a lighthouse. On top is the side view of a lion holding a beer stein. To the left is another pillar, this one square with a blue and white striped design going up the side. The top of the building is a giant beer stein and the words Paulaner are in the center of the pillar. Around the pillars are wood structures being built and construction materials laying around.

The rest of the day was for relaxation, and I found myself back at the Englischer Garten, where I stumbled upon something completely unexpected: surfing! In an area of the river dammed up to create a wave, surfers took turns riding the current. Watching this unique scene was a delightful surprise and a perfect way to end my Munich adventure.

A large treem looms over a river that has decent size waves. In the background is a man in a green jacket with black pants, he is facing away from the camera surfing on a wave. Behind him standing next to a tree you can see people watching him surf. In the front of the picture is a man in a wetsuit laying across a surfboard, paddling away from the camera.

Munich exceeded all my expectations with its mix of history, culture, and unexpected discoveries. From the charm of the Viktualienmarkt to the lively music festivals and the quirky surf scene, this city offered an unforgettable experience at every turn. I can’t wait to return!

Curious about the delicious vegetarian eats I discovered in Munich? Don’t miss my blog post, A Vegetarian in Germany!

Today’s Helpful Tips

The Viktualienmarkt – A lovely and vibrant market! A must stop of food and drinks.

Rathaus-Glockenspiel – the famous clock, twice a day you can see the characters come to life! Want to see the clock in action? Be sure to stop by at 11am and 12 noon, and three times a day from March to October, it can be seen at 11 am, 12 pm and at 5 pm.

Englischer Garten – Munich’s largest park is home to the famous Chinese beer tower and this is where you can watch surfing in Germany!

The Munich Session – A free three day that happens yearly in August!

Olympiapark – Home to the 1972 Summer games, you can walk the beautiful park and peak inside the Olympic arenas.

BMW Museum – a fun experience for car lovers or admirers. This is a place for solo travelers or families with children.

Oktoberfest – Even if you are not in Munich during the famous Oktoberfest, you can still walk the perimeter and see where the excitement takes place.

Kimberly

Related posts