Munich Things to Do

For most visitors to Munich, a couple of days at Oktoberfest or a few hours in the city’s famed beer gardens is enough to satisfy curiosity about the local brewing culture. But for the true beer connoisseur, a tour of Munich’s major breweries is in order. Locals talk about the “big six” breweries, however consolidation and the fact that Augustiner doesn’t offer tours means that you effectively have a choice of visiting three major brewing sites. It will require a bit of planning, so it’s a good idea to book before you get to Munich. Needless to say there are samples at the end of each tour, but remember the minimum age is 16 except for Löwenbräu, where it’s 18.

In the late 19th century, up until the First World War, in fact, Munich was one of the most progressive European art centers and its art schools enjoyed an enviable reputation. Pablo Picasso once said that if he had a son who wanted to study art, he would send him to Munich rather than Paris.

This fertile environment attracted some of the most creative minds of the age, including Marcel Duchamp. The highly influential artist arrived in Munich on June 21, 1912 and stayed for three months. He later said that his stay in Munich was the center of his complete liberation.