With our latest insider guide to Munich, we would like to give you a fresh perspective on what the city has to offer during this summer. Enjoy the read and hopefully you'll find something you like!
This guide goes beyond the cliché spots to visit and things to do in Munich. Our author shares with you his personal favourites and recommendations for fun experiences, good food and tasty drinks, secret getaways and much more.
1. Escape the hustle and bustle with a visit to Café Gans am Wasser on the shore of a small lake in Munich’s Westpark
Café Gans am Wasser at Mollsee in Munich's Westpark
A visit to this cute hippie-like outdoor café during the summer is like taking a micro vacation in the city. Café Gans am Wasser is located directly on the shore of the small lake Mollsee in Westpark. The young and creative operators of the café put together a unique place where you can enjoy drinks, street food and music in a relaxing atmosphere. Self-service is provided from converted former construction trailer and a food truck. The furnishing is composed of old sofas, charmingly improvised seating and an eclectic collection of old tables, benches and chairs. There is also a small stage where a variety of artictic performances are taking place. Check out their website to get the latest programme and opening hours. A visit to the café can be perfectly combined with a walk through Westpark!
Café Gans am Wasser | Mollsee im Westpark, 81373 Munich | More info
2. Take a bike ride to the northern part of Englischer Garten and cool off in Isar river
Cooling off in Isar river
Englischer Garten is Munich's green lung and the locals’ favourite escape from the hustle and bustle of the city all year round. Even if the southern part of the park is crowded with people on hot summer days, you can still find a quiet spot to enjoy the beautiful nature and a calm atmosphere in the northern part of the park. To reach the less visited northern part of Englischer Garten, it’s best to take a bicycle tour to explore this large section of the park. Don't forget your swimsuit if you feel like cooling off in the Isar river!
We recommend starting the bike tour at Hirschau beer garden and then simply heading north. One of our favourite places to take a break from biking is at a spot on the banks of Isar. At this spot, the Eisbach flows into the Isar river, creating some fierce rapids. If you brought your swimsuit with you, you can cool off here! But please be careful, since the water is icy cold and the current of the river is pretty strong. You should be a very good swimmer if you dive into the water at this spot and swim through the rapids! If you prefer calmer water, then there are countless spots along the banks of Isar River to cool off. A nice end to your bike tour is a visit to the beer garden. On your way back Hirschau beer garden is a great option to visit.
3. Start the day with an al fresco breakfast at Café Reitschule
© Café Reitschule
Café Reitschule is a long-established café and restaurant located directly on the edge of Englischer Garten. Especially during the summer, the large terrace at the back of the restaurant offers a beautiful setting to start the day with a delicious al fresco breakfast. The extensive breakfast menu offers everything from the classic Bavarian breakfast with white sausages, sweet mustard and pretzels, to a Full English Breakfast, to vegan scrambled eggs and a long list of other dishes that should satisfy the taste of every guest. Since the restaurant shares a building with a traditional horse-riding school you can get a close look at the horses training in the courtyard.
Café Reitschule | Königinstrasse 34, 80802 Munich | More info
4. Stroll through Türkenstrasse in Maxvorstadt
Discover Maxvorstadt's high street
Türkenstrasse is situated in the heart of Maxvorstadt, Munich’s university and museum district. The street stretches over 1,3 kilometres and you can discover an eclectic mix of retail stores, cafés, restaurants, galleries, the Academy of Fine Arts and two of Munich’s major contemporary art museums. In former times, at Türkenstrasse you could find many places, which attracted artists and free thinkers of their time and even today it’s one of the most vibrant streets of this neighbourhood and popular among a young student crowd. It’s a great place to visit on an early evening in summer and to sit out front at one of the many cafés or small restaurants and catch the vibe of the neighbourhood.
We’ve compiled a collection of places in Türkenstraße worth checking out:
5. Get on deck of Alte Utting, a repurposed excursion steamer sitting on a discarded railroad bridge
Alte Utting in Sendling
Alte Utting is one of the most unusual venues in Munich. A 40-meter-long and 7.5-meter-high former excursion steamer, which sits on a discarded railroad bridge was converted into a bar and event location. The charming details of the ship have been preserved despite the extensive renovation work. At the stern and bow of the ship there are additional platforms installed on which food stalls and a beer garden can be found. During the summer you can sit with drinks outside on deck of Alte Utting, enjoying a cool breeze and the views of the Sendling neighbourhood. Check out their website for their current programme for events.
Alte Utting | Lagerhausstraße 15, 81371 Munich | More info
6. Dive into Munich’s creative scene at Bahnwärter Thiel
Bahnwärter Thiel
The fact that Munich has a reputation as a dressed-up and expensive city cannot be denied in many respects. However, Munich also has an unconventional and creative side to it, which can be seen well in the commitment of different groups of idealists who are not primarily concerned with maximizing profits. Their goal is rather to use the last remaining locations that Munich offers where art and culture can be given space to thrive freely.
Bahnwärter Thiel is such a project. It’s a multifaceted cultural space located at Alter Viehhof in Sendling, an abandoned area formerly part of the municipal abattoir. The initiators of Bahnwärter Thiel are using the vast space to create a dreamy parallel world where visitors can experience an array of cultural formats: concerts, clubbing, flea markets, a beer garden, film screenings, readings, dancing classes and stage performances. Especially during the summer visitors can catch the creative vibe of this unique place when walking around the area. In addition, Bahnwärter Thiel is also home to a number of creatives and artists who are based here temporarily and work out of converted former shipping containers.
Bahnwärter Thiel | Tumblingerstraße 29, 80337 Munich | More info
7. Have lunch at Munich’s biggest open air farmer’s market
Fresh and regional produce on Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt is looking back on a history as the central farmer’s market of the city for more than 200 years. Today, it’s the place to go to find more than 100 market stalls carrying a variety of fresh local produce as well as producers of exceptional culinary specialties. From fruits and vegetables to herbs and fresh juices to confectionery and specialty coffee roasters, there is a lot to discover and try out. In addition to the market stalls, you will also find a traditional beer garden, a popular fish restaurant, a great falafel take-away and much more. We recommend walking around the market and choosing a place for lunch!
Here are some of our tips:
- Potatoe dishes at Caspar Plautz
- Fresh fish and sea food at Fish Witte
- Falafel and schawarma at Sababa
- Delicious Italian sandwiches at Marinas Feinkost
- Great coffe at Kaffee München
- A heavenly dessert at LEA ZAPF Marktpatisserie
8. Swim down the Eisbach river on a hot summer day
Floating down the Eisbach
++ First of all, it’s important to note, that swimming in the Eisbach river is dangerous and prohibited! It’s merely tolerated by local authorities. If you’re not an excellent swimmer don’t risk drowning, it's at your own risk! ++
The Eisbach is a small man-made river that flows through the southern part of Englischer Garten, Munich’s large inner-city park. This river is famous for its two standing waves, where surfing is possible all year round. On hot summer days though, locals also enjoy cooling off by jumping into the icy water and floating down its rapids. If you’re a very good swimmer and want to give it a go, then you can start your ride at the lawn close to the surf spot at Haus der Kunst and swim down the river until you arrive at the second wave. This is where you can get out using a ladder. Both sides of the river are connected by a rope at this spot, which you can use to drag yourself to the left side to get to the ladder. If you decide to swim through the wave and past the surfers (be sure to make yourself noticed by the surfers!) there are a few more possible exit-points until you get to Tivoli Bridge. This is where you need to get out! Only a few meters downstream is a waterfall and dam, where getting out is nearly impossible. Once you get out at Tivoli Bridge you can walk along the river to get back to where you started from.
As already mentioned, please be careful, the current of the river is very strong and floating down the river requires excellent swimming skills! If you're in doubt walk down the river first and check out the route and exit spots.
9. Roam Gärtnerplatzviertel with its many cute stores and coffee places
Picturesque Gärtnerplatz
Until a few years ago, Gärtnerplatzviertel and the adjoining Glockenbachviertel have embodied a liberal spirit and offered artists and free thinkers an affordable place to work and live. The neighbourhood used to be home to some of Munich’s best clubs and bars. However, the cool vibe of the area eventually became its undoing and gentrification took its course. Even though many nightlife venues have been displaced by redevelopment and changes in the neighbourhood's resident structure took place, that does not mean that this district is not now still home to numerous great shops, restaurants, cafés and bars, where a visit is definitely worthwhile. Especially in summer, there are a number of public places as well where people meet in the evening to have a few drinks together and enjoy balmy summer nights. In the heart of the quarter lies Gärtnerplatz. This picturesque square is a good starting point for exploring the surrounding area with its many cute cafés and trendy shops.
10. Try out river surfing at Floßlände
Surfing at Floßlände in Munich
Summer, sun and surf is a combination that wouldn't necessarily first come to mind when thinking about Munich. Although Munich is landlocked, you can still find a thriving community of active surfers who pursue their sport on various permanent river waves. There are a few different surf spots around the city where surfers can enjoy their passion. Each of these spots requires certain skills and equipment. People new to river surfing should visit a spot where they can try this fun activity under safe conditions. We recommend Floßlände for beginners. If you want to give river surfing a try, we put together a detailed guide to river surfing in Munich where you can find all the necessary details to try this great sport yourself. To find out more just klick the button below:
11. Chow down Bavarian classics in Osterwaldgarten beer garden
Osterwaldgarten beer garden in Schwabing district
The typical beer garden is an institution in Munich that no one wants to miss in the summer. Osterwaldgarten is a traditional Bavarian inn with a beautiful beer garden. It’s located on the edge of Englischer Garten in a quiet back street in the Schwabing neighbourhood. Here you can experience the Bavarian “Gemütlichkeit” and indulge in the local hearty cuisine. Due to its location directly at the park you sit in the shade of old chestnut trees, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the city.
Osterwaldgarten | Keferstraße 12, 80802 Munich | More info
12. Sip your favourite drink in a rooftop bar
Café im Vorhoelzer Forum
In summer, much of our free time takes place outdoors and there is nothing quite as appealing than enjoying a nice summer evening with friends outside. If you also want to enjoy a beautiful view of the city from above as well, you should visit one of Munich’s rooftops bars. Outdoor locations are in vogue and during the last years new rooftop bars have been opened across Munich. We have compiled a map of rooftop bars in Munich, from posh to laid back.
13. Play boules in the picturesque baroque Hofgarten
Munich's most popular spot to play boules in summer is Hofgarten
The beautiful baroque park Hofgarten in the heart of Munich is the perfect spot to play a game of Boules and it’s very popular among locals for that. The path that encircles the park offers sandy grounds, thus providing the balls with just the right surface. Even on hot summer days you don't need to worry about the heat, since there are plenty of trees that provide pleasant shade. The park was designed on the model of Italian Renaissance gardens in the beginning of the 17th century and on sunny days you feel like you've been transported to a city somewhere in Italy.
14. Watch the sun set with a beautiful view over Englischer Garten from Monopteros
Laid back vibes during sunset at Monopteros
In the southern part of Englischer Garten there is a small round temple, which is sitting on top of a small hill, called Monopteros. From this elevated position you have a great view over parts of the park and you can even spot some of Munich’s landmark buildings on the horizon! The hike to the top takes a couple of minutes only and it’s well worth visiting this spot to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful vibes when the sun is setting. A good way to get to Monopteros is to enter the park on the west side at the intersection of Veterinärstraße and Königinstraße. From here it is a nice walk through the park to the viewpoint.
15. Enjoy a balmy summer evening on the large outdoor terrace of Goldene Bar
© Die goldene Bar
This bar is always a good place to start the evening. Die goldene Bar is located on the ground floor of the iconic Haus der Kunst building. As soon as the weathers permits, the bar extends to the large outdoor terrace at the back of the museum building turning this spot into a popular summer venue. The guests who come here are a colorful bunch of creatives, affluents, students and even surfers from the nearby Eisbach wave, letting their wetsuits dry on the railings while still enjoying a couple cold beverages. The atmosphere is relaxed and the bartenders do a good job offering a great selection of different drinks and cocktails.
Die goldene Bar | in Haus der Kunst Prinzregentenstr 1, 80538 Munich | More info
16. Take a day trip to Lake Starnberg and explore the south-east shore on a SUP
Southern part of Lake Starnberg with views of the Alps
In summer, there's nothing better than packing up your swimsuit and sun screen and heading out to the lake. Lake Starnberg is a popular destination for a quick escape from the city and its shores offer countless beautiful spots. Even if it's crowded on a nice summer day, you can find solitude by hopping on a SUP and paddling out onto the lake. From the water, you have a unique view of the shore line and the nearby Alps in the south.
You can rent a SUP, windsurfing- and sailing-equipment at Surfschule Starnberger See in the small village St. Heinrich at the south-eastern shore of Lake Starnberg. At the surf school there is a large lawn where you can sunbathe and also buy cold drinks, snacks and ice cream from a small beer garden, which is attached to the surfing and sailing school.
To enjoy an epic sun set we recommend to visit the beach bar of restaurant Zum Kleinen Seehaus, which is located only about 500 meters north of the surf school in St. Heinrich.