Beerhalls, Beer Gardens & Sightseeing In And Around Munchen
The oompha bands, the singing and the hoisting of giant beer mugs among new best friends in gigantic beer tents are the things most easily identifiable with Munich during Oktoberfest.
But there’s more to Munich – labeled as Munchen on German train schedules – than meets the beer, and here’s a guide of things to do while in this German city during its busiest and most famous time of the year. The 185th Munich Oktoberfest is Sept. 22-Oct. 7 in 2018.
Munich Bierhalls & Biergartens
Yes, there are bierhalls and biergartens in Munich besides on the Oktoberfest grounds (which, by the way, is about a 30-minute walk from the Glockenspiel). There is the famous Hofbrauhaus, which is not nearly as fun as the one at Oktoberfest but provides and excellent warmup and preview for the real thing. Go in there for at least one big beer.
There are beer gardens all over the city. These are outdoor picnic tables. You order a big beer (notice the theme here) and maybe some food from a window, then take it to a picnic table to sit down to drink (and perhaps to eat). You join others at that table, which makes these biergartens very social places. The thing that struck me the most is that locals were drinking those big beers while on their lunch break from work. You just don’t do that kind of thing in America.
The Munich Glockenspiel
This will occupy you for only about five minutes at a time but it is definitely cool to watch for those few moments. And if you don’t believe me, then remind yourself of that every time you stop to stare at it. The Glockenspiel is located a large pedestrian town square so you’ll pass by it a lot. This area also has food markets.
English Gardens Munich
Continue through the city center to the vast English Gardens. This is a huge park ideal for walking, a picnic and watching the locals. There’s stream that runs through it that gets such a rush of water in one place that people actually so surfing here. There are also two biergartens here; the city’s second largest is next to the Chinese Tower (yes, the Chinese Tower inside the English Gardens in Germany) and there’s another one on on Kleinhesseloher Lake.
Sights To Visit In And Around Munich
If you want to sober up before or after your Oktoberfest experience, hop a train to the nearby concentration camp of Dachau. This will really get your attention.
You can also go visit Bavarian castles, the former site of the Olympics (which has great views) and I also heard good things about the BMW Museum.
. A good place to find tours of all these places and more things is in the main train station.
So enjoy your time in Munich beyond the bierhalls.
Cheers!
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