Munich Things to Do

Seventeen steep curves and 40 chicanes greet the lucky adventure-seeker at the summer bob run at Blomberg Mountain. Fun and entertainment for all ages is the order of the day. Visitors can regulate the bob’s speed independently with a lever in the center of the bob. From March to October, visitors can race down the 4,000 foot-long course daily beginning at 9am. Families with kids will find a trip to Blomberg a fantastic experience. Particularly if the weather is good, this is an unbeatable destination.

Nuremberg is probably best known for its association with the Nazi party during World War II, its defeat by US army forces in 1945 and the subsequent war crime trials that occurred there. But the city has a much longer and richer history than just this terrible time.

Located in Bavaria, 110 miles (170-km) north of Munich, Nuremberg is a fortified medieval city of castles, first established in the 11th century. Until the early 19th century it was unofficially the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, a loose amalgamation of Central European states which all had their own separate kings, princes and dukes.

Biking, no matter the location, is a great way to see your host city. You get yourself outdoors, get some fun exercise and don’t ever worry about traffic, the hassle of public transportation, or parking. So it’s pretty widely-regarded in the worldwide traveling community that if a city is a nice venue for biking, it’s a must-do.

Green green green, oh my! Munich’s city park, the 18th-century Englischer Garten is one of the largest parks in not only Germany, but in all of Western Europe. No small praise, but it’s this idea of lush greenery that keeps visitors coming to Munich year after year and keeps locals loving the outdoor scene. If you’ve heard about the many and sundry “gartens” available to you during your visit, you should get out there (perhaps on a bike) and go see them. If you haven’t, it’s not too late – here are some of Munich’s best.

On the banks of the River Isar, south of central Munich, is the city’s zoo: the Tierpark Hellabrunn. Just over a hundred years old, it was the most progressive zoo in the world when it first opened, with an approach that most major zoos the world over would end up emulating. Two things set it apart: firstly, the animals were arranged more or less according to their region of origin. Secondly, they were placed in environments as close as possible to their natural habitats, allowed to wander freely with moats to keep them from the public (and vice versa).

Munich is one of those places which reminds you why belts come with multiple notches. There’s the beer of course, great amber rivers of it. Although you could accompany it with lentil salad, let’s face it, you’re not going to.