Parks and the outdoors in Munich

Parks and the outdoors in Munich

1. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

   Alte Utting

   This ship was a steamer on a Bavarian lake until 2016. It now perches on a railway bridge, an offbeat venue undecided whether it's The Flying Dutchman or The Flying Scotsman. It has beer, grills, live music, cabaret and disco, a beer garden, and from the upper deck surely the most unusual view over Munich.

   Tue-Thu 16:00-00:00, Fri 16:00-02:00, Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 11:00-22:00

2. EatSouth-West

   Asam Schlössl

   Upscale Bavarian restaurant and beer garden in an 18th century villa.

   Tue-Sun 11:30-23:00

3. SeeAltstadt

   Asamkirche

   This Late Baroque confection was built from 1733 to 1746 as a private chapel by Egid Quirin Asam - he could see the altar from his house next door. His brother, Cosmas Damian Asam, did the frescoes. The church is dedicated to St John Nepomuk (1345-93), a Bohemian monk cast into the river Vltava in Prague at the behest of King Wenceslaus IV. Legend has it that Nepomuk refused to divulge the queen's confessional secrets, but his real crime was to back the wrong candidate for abbot. The church is wonderful by candlelight, especially at the Christmas Eve service, replete with Bavarian singers in the choir stall.

   Sun-Thu 09:00-18:00, Fri 13:00-18:00

4. DrinkSouth-West

   Augustiner Schützengarten

   Pleasant beer hall and garden with 3000 seats serving Augustiner beer and trad food. On Sunday from 17:00 they have a live band.

   Sun-Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri Sat 11:00-00:00

5. DrinkMaxvorstadt

   Augustiner-Keller

   This brewery was first documented in 1328, within the Augustinian monastery next to Frauenkirche, where they nowadays run a restaurant. The monastery was dissolved in 1803 (no, not in the beer) and the business has mostly been in private ownership since, on various near-centre sites - they've not followed the modern trend of an edge-of-city industrial park. Their beers are popular in south Germany but little is exported, so tuck in here. Augustiner took over an existing beer garden here in 1862 and expanded it into a 5000-seater: this is open April-Oct, while the beer hall and restaurant are year-round. No brewery tours, they no longer use an ox-driven winch to hoist the beer barrels, and there are no more public hangings of army deserters, so you'll just have to gawp at your phone if conversation fails.

   Daily 11:00-23:00

6. DrinkNorth

   Aumeister

   This is at the very north end of English Garden so tourists are rare. There's a bosky 2500-seater beer garden, and restaurant in one of Prince Regent Luitpold's hunting lodges. It remains closed in 2022.

   Closed

7. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

   Bahnwärter Thiel

   Techno club and alternative cultural centre that resides in graffiti-covered pile of ship containers. The inventory of the club includes many curiosities such as discarded subway cars, trams, construction cranes or carriages. The venue also has an outdoor rave area where the DJ resides within the cab of a decommissioned subway car. The operators also run the Alte Utting lake steamer which has somehow ended up on a railway bridge only a few minutes walk away and has become a bar.

8. SeeEast

   Bavaria Filmstadt

   Theme park in working film studios: the standard ticket is a 90-min guided tour of the sets (but only in German) and a 10-min ride in a 4D cinema. Discounts if you come by public transport or on your birthday. The studios were established in 1919 by Peter Ostermayr (1882-1967), who then moved elsewhere to make a score of films in the heimat tradition (set in a romanticized horse-drawn bygone Germany, forerunner to the US cowboy westerns). Films made here include Alfred Hitchcock's The Pleasure Garden (his first, in 1925), Lola Montez (Max Ophüls 1954), Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick 1957), One, Two, Three (Billy Wilder 1961), The Great Escape (John Sturges 1963), The Sound of Music (Robert Wise 1965), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart 1971), Cabaret (Bob Fosse 1972), The Serpent's Egg (Ingmar Bergman 1977), Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen 1981) and The Neverending Story (Wolfgang Petersen 1984). Note: this location is outside of the city boundary (Geiselgasteig bei München, Gemeinde Grünwald)

   Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00·Adult €20, child €18

9. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

   Bavariapark beer garden

   Beer garden and restaurant serving Augustiner with 1500 seats, on the park between Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum and the Bavaria Statue. It's also next to Theresienwiese the venue of Oktoberfest, but if you come out of there in need of a beer something's amiss.

   Daily 12:00-00:00

10. SeeSouth-West

    Blutenburg Castle

    Schloss Blutenburg

    This was built in 1438 as a hunting lodge for Albert III, Duke of Bavaria. It was on a river island between two arms of the River Würm, with the east arm dammed to create an ornamental lake - leisure rather than defence was always the intention here, and the ring wall, towers and gatehouse weren't designed against serious assault. It was embellished and extended by Albert's son Duke Sigismund, the stand-out being the chapel of 1488 in late Gothic style. Since 1983 the castle has housed the International Youth Library (Internationale Jugendbibliothek) so there is limited public access to the interior. You enter through the gatehouse into the courtyard. A stepped ramp or "ox piano" leads to the upper courtyard, with the Herrenhaus or mansion. The castle often hosts concerts and other cultural events and has a restaurant. Just outside is a modern sculpture park: notable works are the Spanish stone cross, the "plastic-granite" blocks, the Joseph Michael Neustifter memorial, and the memorial to the 7000 sent on the death march from Dachau just ahead of the Allied advance.

    Daily Apr-Sep 09:00-17:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00·Free

11. SeeNorth

    Botanical Garden

    Covering 21 ha, the Garden opened here in 1914 when it outgrew its original site on Karlsplatz. It holds some 19,600 species, with an alpine garden, arboretum, rose garden, and extensive glasshouse collections.

    Daily Apr-Oct 09:00-18:00, Nov-Mar 09:00-16:30·Adult €6.50, conc €4.50

12. DoHaidhausen

    Boulderwelt München Ost

    In this large bouldering hall you can test your climbing skills without a harness on 13 different courses. It also has a competition wall, 3 child courses, a bistro, and an outdoor course with slackline park and beer garden in summer.

    Daily 07:00-23:00·Adult €13.90, M–F before 16:00 €10.90

13. DrinkHaidhausen

    Café Crönlein

    Café-bar in a former public restroom, an odd little stone building that looks more like a park attendant's tool shed. There's more capacity in summer when you can sit outside.

    Sun Tue 15:00-21:00, Mon Wed-Sat 17:00-23:00

14. SeeNorth

    Chinese Tower

    Chinesischer Turm

    This 25 m high pagoda was constructed with the original park in 1790, and rebuilt after World War II in 1952. It has a beer garden, with a Bavarian oompah band performing at weekends from the second floor. It can feel touristy, and horse-drawn carriage and rickshaw tours through the garden start here - see below for the Kocherlball in summer and the Christmas Market. Until the end of 2022, the tower is scaffolded for re-roofing; the beer garden remains open. The tower is 1 km from the U-Bahn at Universität, but Bus 54 runs past it from Münchner Freiheit and Ostbahnhof S- and U-Bahn stations.

15. DrinkEast

    Forschungsbrauerei

    The name means "Research Brewery" and it was established in 1930 to try different brews and test them on customers. The research ended in 1950 and Hopfenhäcker craft brewery now occupies the space. The beer garden is at the edge of the city conurbation, with Neuer Südfriedhof cemetery north and open fields to the south. It's open year-round and only seats 250, so it's sometimes reserved for private parties.

    Tue-Sun 11:00-22:30

16. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

    Frau im Mond

    This rooftop bar on top of the Deutsches Museum, named after the science fiction silent movie by Fritz Lang from 1928, offers a view to the south over the Isar river and events with live DJs.

17. SeeSouth-West

    Fürstenried Palace

    This was built from 1715 for Elector Maximilian II Emanuel as a hunting lodge and bling-mansion. It's nowadays an RC spiritual centre, so other visitors can only admire the exterior and gardens. One who did so was Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (b 1927), who found his vocation for the priesthood confirmed here, and became Pope Benedict XVI.

18. SeeSouth-West

    Hellabrunn Zoo

    This is east of the river and district boundary but easier to access from the west bank. The zoo was founded in 1911 to present animals in their habitat, and houses 19,000 animals. An extensive re-building project means that some areas will be closed, check the website for current status. Until April 2023 Jungle World is closed so you can't see the lions, and the bat grotto has permanently closed.

    Daily 09:00-17:00·Adult €18, concessions €13, child (4-14 yrs) €7

19. DrinkNorth

    Hirschau

    Beer garden at the south end of Hirschau, the deer park or northern portion of English Garden, with a footpath beneath busy Isarring connecting to the southern portion. With 1700 seats, it's seldom crowded, and not touristy. Music is modern rather than trad.

    Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-21:30

20. DrinkNorth

    Hirschgarten

    Europe’s biggest beer garden with 8000 seats, with a 500-seater indoor restaurant. They serve beer from two breweries and trad food, though you can bring in your own food. It has a small zoo with deer and wild boars.

    Daily 11:00-22:00

21. DrinkAltstadt

    Hofbräuhaus

    Munich's most famous bräuhaus, here since 1644, is touristy but great fun; you may need photo-ID to get in. Schwemme is the 1300-seater ground floor beer hall in the original brewery area. There's oompah music at weekends - listen out for the "oans, zwoa, g'suffa!" song, "one, two, drink up!". Bräustüberl is the stylish restaurant on the first floor. Festsaal on the second floor is a barrel-vaulted events venue. The beer garden beneath the chestnut trees seats 400.

    Daily 11:00-00:00

22. DrinkHaidhausen

    Hofbräukeller beer garden

    Restaurant and 1800-seater beer garden serving Höfbräu beer, not at all like the touristy Hofbräuhaus in city centr.

    Daily 11:00-23:00

23. DrinkSouth-West

    Insel Mühle

    As the name indicates, this is a former mill on an island in the river Würm. In summer the 800-seater beer-garden serves Augustiner beer. The hotel and restaurant are open year-round.

    Apr-Oct daily 11:00-23:00·B&B double €130

24. DrinkEast

    Kugleralm

    Trad 2400-seater beer garden in Oberhaching south of Perlacher Forst, serving Spaten beer. In 1922 this was the launchpad of the Radler, half beer half lemonade, a "shandy" in English. The legend goes that they were mobbed by cyclists on a hot summer day. The beer ran low so they eked it out by diluting with lemonade, and claimed this was a special mix for cyclists (Radler) as it was lower on alcohol. Such blends were already documented from mid 19th century.

    Apr-Oct

25. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

    Kulturstrand

    Perched on the tip of Museum Island, this is a bar with various live events. It compares itself to the urban beach of Paris Plage, it's more like a terrace overlooking the sandbanks as the Isar divides.

    Daily 12:00-00:00

26. DrinkMaxvorstadt

    Löwenbräukeller

    This brewery was founded in 1383, perhaps on Löwengrube near Frauenkirche - "Löwen" means lions. From 1826 to 1851 production migrated to its present site, with the Bräukeller across the street opened in 1883. The company grew by acquisition and has always exported strongly, with some brewing under license elsewhere, so it's the best-known German brand abroad. The traditional beer garden and beer hall seats 2000 and draws many foreign visitors. Brewery tours available, see "Do".

    Daily 11:30-00:00

27. DrinkEast

    Michaeligarten

    This 3000-seater beer garden serves Löwenbräu beer and a range of trad fare. You can bring your own food to the beer garden.

    Thu-Sun 11:30-22:00

28. DrinkNorth

    Milchhäusl

    This snack shop in English Garden offers beer, Bavarian food and bio sandwiches, and in cold weather you can have your snack within an Alpine lift gondola.

    Daily 10:00-21:00

29. DrinkMaxvorstadt

    Minna Thiel

    Small canopied beer-garden centred on an old railbus, along with a cargo container and telephone booth, with live music and DJs.

    Tue-Thu 16:00-00:00, Fri 16:00-02:00, Sat 14:00-02:00, Sun 12:00-22:00

30. DrinkLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

    Paulaner Bräuhaus

    Beer garden with 800 seats at the site of the original Paulaner brewery. Decent food and slick service, but some street noise from the busy intersection, so you can't imagine you've been hiking in the Bavarian forests.

    Sun-Thu 11:30-23:00, Fri Sat 11:30-00:00

31. DrinkHaidhausen

    Paulaner am Nockherberg

    Attractive 3000-seater beer garden open year-round and serving Paulaner beer. They host a beer festival in March.

    Tue-Sun 12:00-00:00

32. EatLudwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

    Roecklplatz

    Traditional German food with modern flair, plus popular but un-touristy beer garden.

    Mon-Sat 17:30-00:00

33. DrinkSouth-West

    Rosengarten

    1500-seater beer garden at the western end of the extensive Westpark (described above) serving Paulaner beer and trad food.

    Daily 10:00-01:00

34. SeeNorth

    Schloss Nymphenburg

    What began as a modest 17th century pavilion grew and grew into a vast Baroque palace, bigger than Versailles, which was no accident. You view some 20 ornate rooms: one striking feature is the paintings of the many female friends of King Ludwig I. (See Sligo for one infamous paramour, the lurid Lola Montez.) Some areas are closed in winter, hence the reduced admission: the Royal Chapel, the Porcelain Museum and the Marstallmuseum (carriages and sleighs in the former royal stables). Museum of Man and Nature is also within the Schloss but separately ticketed, see below. The extensive gardens are free.

    Daily Apr-mid Oct 09:00-18:00; mid Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00·Apr-mid Oct adult €15, conc €13; mid Oct-Mar adult €12, conc €10

35. SeeNorth

    Schloss Schleißheim

    Humonguous complex of three palaces. The Old Palace at the west end was a mansion built up into a palace only to be promptly scrapped and rebuilt by 1623. It was bombed in World War II, rebuilt from 1970, and now houses religious art and an exhibition on the former Prussia now in Poland. The New Palace just east was built 1700-26 for Elector Max Emanuel, a sumptuous Baroque confection packed with art work: Großer Saal, Viktoriensaal and the Große Galerie are its highlights. The Lustheim Palace was built in the 1680s (between the Old and New construction) as a villa or hunting lodge: it's 1.3 km east down the landscaped vista, and big spenders can ride a gondola down the linking canal. A grand semi-circular enclosing colonnade soon fell to bits. Today the Lustheim displays Meissen ceramics. The parklands are equally vast. Last but not least, there's a 980-seat beer garden, Schlosswirtschaft Oberschleißheim, in the palace grounds.

    Tue-Sun Apr-Sept 09:00-18:00, Oct-Mar 10:00-16:00·Adult €10, conc €8, under-18 free, cash only

36. EatEast

    Schneider Bräuhaus

    Bavarian restaurant and beer garden run by Schneider Weisse, the wheat-beer brewery. Good traditional fare, somewhat cheaper than their more touristy outlet in Altstadt.

    Daily 16:30-23:30

37. DrinkNorth

    Seehaus

    Beer garden with 2500 seats by a small lake in the English Garden. This and the artistic boathouse and other structures were designed by Gabriel von Seidl in the late 19th century. Enjoy a beer and Bavarian fast-food while small boats pootle by.

    Mon-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-22:00

38. DoSouth-West

    Sugar Mountain

    Culture and activity centre in a disused concrete factory. Activities (many free) include fitness classes, bouldering, basketball and skatepark. Culture includes film, concerts, theatre, art exhibitions and warehouse raves. There's also a beer garden. In summer it hosts Kollektivgarten 3000 electro music festival.

    Daily 11:30-22:00

39. DoNorth

    Surfing on the Eisbach

    The Eisbach is an artificial side-channel of the Isar, culverted beneath Altstadt but emerging at the bridge on Prinzregentenstraße, south edge of English Garden. Here it drops over a 1 m weir to form a standing wave, surfable whenever there's a good flow of water. Late winter into early summer is best, as its parent river cascades down from Alpine snows and the "ice stream" earns its name. Surfers queue up on the banks - there's only room for one at a time, and as it's a standing wave you can surf as long as you can stay upright. After half a minute it's etiquette to attempt a move beyond your skill level, wipe out and be borne by the current to the back of the queue. It's considered an expert surf, and beginners should hone their skills 500 m northeast downstream at Dianabadschwelle, where the wider stream makes for a gentler wave shared with kayakers. They might also try the Floßlände wave in Obersending south side of Munich. The main Isar is occasionally surfable at Wittelsbacherbrücke just south of Altstadt, but only in spate with all sorts of unpleasant or hazardous stuff racing down the brown torrent.

40. DrinkSouth-West

    Waldwirtschaft

    2500-seater riverside beer garden, a pleasant bike-ride from the city. They serve Spaten beer and have a self-service buffet for trad food, and you may bring your own food to barbecue and eat at table. The music is not oompah band but jazz.

    Wed-Sun 11:00-23:00

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Munich (CC BY-SA 4.0).