Howcast

How to Get Around Munich

Howcast — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 19:19:31 +0000

Transcript

Munich’s fierce traffic and expensive parking make car rental a bad choice for most visitors, but there are plenty of other options. Taxis aren’t cheap, but you won’t have to navigate traffic yourself. They can be found at taxi stands, hailed on the street, or called. That aside, one of the best ways to see Munich’s attractions is simply by walking, as many of them are close together. Munich is also a bicycle-friendly city, with plenty of bike paths and a variety of bike rental services. Walking and biking will make it easy to take in Munich’s beautiful architecture. But if you don’t want to worry too much about navigation, or if the weather is bad, or if you just want to rest your feet, don’t worry. Munich’s public transportation is inexpensive, efficient, and will take you pretty much anywhere you would want to go. There’s the subway, or U-Bahn, which covers most of the city proper, while the trams and buses cover even more ground. Then there’s the S-Bahn, above-ground trains which will take you out to the suburbs. All of the public transportation options operate under the MMV network, and you can use the same ticket to pay for any of them. Tickets covering single or multiple rides, or multiple days, can be purchased. Maps, schedules, and ticket prices for public transportation can be found on the MMV website. Getting around in Munich isn’t really a challenge, so you’re free to relax.

Best Time to Visit Munich

Howcast — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 19:16:43 +0000

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There are advantages and disadvantages to visiting Munich in any season, so the best time to go depends on your interests. Summer is warm and mild, with temperatures rarely getting higher than the 70s. Summer storms can happen suddenly, but sunshine is the norm. This is the best time to enjoy the beautiful architecture and parks. However, it’s also peak tourist season, so everything will be more expensive and you’ll have to share the city with lots of other visitors. The fall season is popular for Oktoberfest, which is during late September and early October. You may need to book as far as a year in advance to get a hotel room during the festival. Fall weather also tends to be inconsistent, so pack accordingly. Winters in Munich can be very cold, with average temperatures below freezing, but they’re also usually dry–so you won’t need to worry about getting snowed in. If you’re most interested in the museums, theater, restaurants, and other indoor attractions, winter is the perfect time to visit Munich. Except for around major holidays, there are very few tourists this time of year, so airfare and hotel rooms will be less expensive and attractions won’t be nearly as crowded. But if you want to spend time outside too, visit in the spring, when the weather will be milder but there won’t be too many tourists yet. With a little planning, it’s not hard to get what you want out of a trip to Munich.

Top 8 Places to Visit in Munich

Howcast — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 19:12:40 +0000

Transcript

You might just think of Oktoberfest when you think of Munich, but there’s really a lot more to this culturally rich city. The wealth of beautiful architecture is a reason to visit in itself. There’s the Schloss Nymphenburg, Germany’s largest Baroque palace with beautiful sprawling gardens. Then there’s the imposing Frauenkirche, with towers taller than any other building in Munich. The historic city center has many of the biggest attractions, including the old city gates Isartor and Karlstor. The main square, Marienplatz, is packed with important buildings; don’t miss the glockenspiel–it rings at 11, noon, and 5 PM. And don’t skip the Residenz, the grand palace where Bavarian royalty lived for centuries. Today, the Residenz is among Munich’s best museums, of which there are quite a few. The Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlungen both have world class collections of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art and antiquities. If you’re more into technology than art, the Deutsches Museum has you covered. This is the world’s largest science and technology museum. Finally, enjoy the mild summer weather in the English Garden. This massive city park is the perfect place to relax with a German beer. Munich has a little of everything, so it’s a great destination no matter what you’re interested in.