Munich's reputation is dominated by Oktoberfest and beer gardens, which means most of the city's actually interesting parts go overlooked by visitors who pass through in September. Here are the ones worth your time.
Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg)
The summer residence of the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty, Nymphenburg sits on Munich's western edge — a 15-minute tram ride from the main station. The palace itself (admission €8) houses the Marstallmuseum with an extraordinary collection of royal carriages, and the Gallery of Beauties: 36 portraits commissioned by Ludwig I of women he found beautiful, regardless of their social rank. The surrounding park is free and large enough to get genuinely lost in.
The English Garden (Englischer Garten)
At 3.7 km², the Englischer Garten is larger than Central Park in New York. Most visitors stick to the Chinese pagoda (Chinesischer Turm) beer garden — the rest of the park is quiet. Walk north to the Japanese teahouse (open on selected Sundays, free) or to the Eisbach wave, where surfers ride a standing river wave year-round. The wave is at the southern entrance at Prinzregentenstraße — 5 minutes from the Haus der Kunst.
Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum on the Isar island is the world's largest science and technology museum by floor space. Full examination of the permanent collection takes two days. The aviation hall (full-size aircraft suspended from the ceiling), the mining section (an underground mine replica you walk through), and the historical musical instruments room are the highlights that justify the €15 admission. Arrive on a weekday and in the morning — weekend afternoons are crowded.
The Viktualienmarkt
The city's permanent outdoor food market, open every day except Sunday, 8am to 6pm. What it sells varies by season: white asparagus in May, strawberries in June, wild mushrooms in October, truffle in winter. The cheese vendors and butchers are better than anything in the supermarket chains. It is ten minutes on foot from Marienplatz and worth the detour even if you are not buying anything.
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