A weekend in Munich

Munich on a budget

It takes about seven hours to go from Venice to Munich (Munchen) by train, but it is totally worth it! The back and forth ticket costs aproximately 60€ and you get to enjoy the landscape that you would otherwise miss if you were travelling by plane. Besides, when you arrive at your final destination, at the Hauptbahnhof main train station, you're just beyond Karlsplatz, in downtown Munich! Located in the Bavarian region (the tourist's favourite), Munich is a cultural capital where metropolitan habits live in harmony with conservative values. But most of all, Munich is the capital of beer, where the legendary Oktoberfest takes place and Muncheners and foreigners join together to drink quantities of beer that doctors do not reccomend.

Marienplatz it's Munich's epicenter, a famous meeting point for young people, artists and street singers. The hot spots on this square are Neues Rathaus and Peterskirche (aka as Alter Peter, 'Old Peter'): the former is definitely a must-see, and the latter a cannot-miss-it church that offers a sweeping view - scaling the over 300 steps it's totally worth your sweaty effort, trust me! The square looks cute'n'all but behold - pickpocketing does happen to absent-minded tourists. After such physical and cultural exertion, relax in the Englischer Garten (english garden) where you can have a beer and watch the river surfers (!) fatigue with a sadistic-like smile on your face. The Englischer Garten is the biggest park in Munich, a green lung close to the heart of the city. Make sure you drink your beer next to the Chinesischer Turm, in the famous Biergarten (Beer garden) and have a chat or two with some hippy, yuppy, alternative folks who advise you to buy Fair Trade products. The best place for shopping in Munich is in Kaufingerstrasse-Neuhauser Strasse - yes, I know, german will never be easy, but words like Zara, Mango and Promod are internationally renowned and easy to pronounce. Do not forget to buy kitsch souvenirs like leberkuchen in the shape of a heart where you can read 'I mog di' ('I love you' in bavarian dialect) or any bad taste product from one of the many sex shops.

Intimate, trendy and atomic (in the lilliputian sense of the word). You'll be amazed how so many people can fit in the Atomic Café (Neuturmstr. 5 Altstadt), which features rock and indie music, DJs and live bands. If you ask the DJ of the day to play your favourite song you might get lucky. Be sure not to wear your best-seller H&M outfit if you don't like the idea of seeing people dressed up like you; remember that in Munich you'll always compete with an overly dressed-up crowd. Cord club (Sonnenstr. 18 Zentrum) has a terrible logo, one must say. Maybe the time that you have to wait in line to get in makes it look even worse. But once you're inside, you'll realize it's totally worth it, not only because of its 70s charm (there are mirrors in the ceiling - kitschy, hu?) but also because of its danceable tunes. Do not expect any house music, though - the Cord club crowd is more up to alternative, indie, rock music. Little red light candles, blondies and hotties, mirrors and sweat running down the windows... Take it for granted. There are also many gay and lesbian bars in Munich with suggestive names like Teddy Bar (Hans-Sachs-Str. 1, Isarvorstadt), Bon Valeur (Sonnenstrasse 17, Isarvorstadt), Carmen's Lounge (Theklastrasse 1), Inge's Karotte (Baaderstrasse 13, Isarvorstadt) and many others.

After getting off your dancing shoes, prepare your stomach for what's coming next: breakfast. Yes, you need at least a mental preparation if you're not used to eating sausages in the morning. But you cannot miss the Weisswurse (white sausages) experience! This regional speciality is usually served with Pretzel (salty bread) and sweet mustard. And you want a lot of beer with that, of course! Here's a tip you're going to thank me for: do not eat the skin! Even if your belly hasn't digested breakfast at 5 pm, you must manage to find some space in it for a delicious snack with sausages (again) curry and chips. How to eat cheap in Munich? The University district has tons of restaurants where you can get a good meal without sacrificing your budget, and most biergartens allow you to bring your own food. Enjoy!

Finally, after convincing you, dearest reader, to spend a lovely weekend in Munich (hopefully) it's time to leave you with the best hostels in Munich!

Check here if you're interested in other Cities in Germany.

Munich Travel Guide