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About Munich
Munich is the capital of Bavaria. Its old town centres on Marienplatz. A pedestrian street of about one kilometre runs there from Karlsplatz, which locals call Stachus. Next to Marienplatz, the Viktualienmarkt has about 100 stalls, open Monday to Saturday. The Englischer Garten stretches five and a half kilometres from the old town north to the Isar meadows. Every year from September to October, the Oktoberfest fills the Theresienwiese for more than two weeks. U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses and trams cover the city. Ticket machines often need coins, so carry a few euros. From Munich, trains run to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the cogwheel train to the Zugspitze starts. For Neuschwanstein, take the train to Füssen, then the bus.
Highlights
Marienplatz and the New Town Hall — the Glockenspiel in the tower plays daily at 11am and 12 noon; from March to October, also at 5pm Englischer Garten — the Monopteros, the Japanese Tea House and the Kleinhesseloher See. When the wave is running, you can watch surfers at the Eisbach. Alte Pinakothek — European painting from the 14th to the 18th century, including Dürer's 1500 self-portrait and a Leonardo da Vinci; closed on Mondays Schloss Nymphenburg — summer residence of the Electors and Kings of Bavaria, in a 180-hectare palace park Neuschwanstein — King Ludwig II's castle; visits only on a guided tour; buy tickets online in advance, as same-day tickets at the Hohenschwangau ticket centre often sell out early Zugspitze — Germany's highest mountain (2,962 m), on the Austrian border south-west of Garmisch-Partenkirchen; up by cogwheel train or cable car
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Practical Info
Entry rules depend on your nationality. Check before you travel: European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs)
Euro (EUR). Major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, cafés and restaurants; bring your PIN. Many smaller shops, market stalls and bakeries prefer cash or a German debit card (EC card).
For good service in restaurants, leave a tip or round up the bill. Hand it to the server rather than leaving it on the table. In taxis and hotels, a small tip is appreciated.
Munich is generally safe, but watch your belongings in busy areas. Emergency numbers: police 110, fire and ambulance 112. Both work from a mobile with a SIM card, even without credit.
Germany's mobile networks are run by Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and 1&1. By law, a prepaid SIM card is only activated after the buyer's identity has been checked, so bring your passport or ID card.
German is the official language in Bavaria. A few basic German phrases help.
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