If iconic Germany was to be condensed into one city, it would be Munich. Bavarian tradition in the form of oompah bands, cavernous halls, classical palaces and folktale fashion statements resonate through the old, cobbled streets.
Germany of the past
From Munich’s central square, Marienplatz, admire the gothic facade of the Town Hall. During the winter months, shop for trinkets and handmade wooden toys under the twinkle of fairy lights at Munich’s superb Christmas Market.
Learn about the city’s long and eventful history as you stroll the medieval alleyways that wind through the Old Town. Admire Frauenkirche, the city’s renowned red-roofed ‘Cathedral of our Dear Lady’, and see St Peter’s Church, the oldest church in Old Town, dating back to the 14th century. Stop in front of the Munich Residenz, once a royal palace housing Bavarian monarchy, and marvel at the palatial exterior. Exquisite rooms inside tell of a rich, storied past.
A German feast
Bavarian food is comfort food. The combination of meat, potatoes and cabbage has been perfected over centuries. Tuck into tender schweinshaxe (slow-cooked pork knuckle), fluffy potato dumplings and meaty stews at Fraunhofer, just outside the city centre. The decor is wood-panelling, creaky floorboards and mounted deer heads. You’ll like you’re dining in 19th-century Germany in this age-old establishment that has a small, active theatre inside.
For fast food on the go, pick up a spicy currywurst. Germans are serious about sausages and the best example of the staple street food can be found at Gute Nacht Wurst right in the centre of Munich.
Listen to a lederhosen-wearing brass band and get served by typical Bavarian waitresses in traditional dirndl (dresses) bustling through the riotous, raucous noise of the Hofbrauhaus. Munich’s most famous beer hall has high vaulted ceilings where laughter and chat rise to the rafters amid an extensive menu of traditional Bavarian fare. Opt for the sausage platter, the wiener schnitzel, Alpine Ox or Bavarian suckling pig. An apple strudel is a no-brainer for dessert.
Star in your own fairytale
Perched on a hilltop in the Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle looks like a storybook illustration. It is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s iconic castle in Sleeping Beauty. Built by a reclusive king in the 19th century in honour of the composer Wagner, the inside of this castle is like stepping into someone’s wild imagination. Kitsch, gilded dining halls and a cave-like grotto complete with seashell boat in a man-made lake are just the start of the elaborate decor.
Andechs Monastery is a 45-minute drive from Munich. Make a pilgrimage to see twigs that are said to come from Christ’s crown of thorns, a victory cross of Charlemagne and other relics. The Bräustüberl tavern in the monastery's grounds has a sunny terrace where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Bavarian countryside as you feast on locally sourced food.
Stretching from Würzburg to the foot of the Alps, the Romantic Road is nearly 400km long and one of Europe’s most beautiful drives – arrange car rental in Munich and you can tick it off your bucket list. Travel back in time to Gothic cathedrals, castles nestled into sheer mountainsides and deep green countryside like something straight from the pages of the Grimm Brothers.
