Munich is the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria, on the banks of the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg, and the 12th biggest city of the European Union, with a population of above 1.5 million. The Munich Metropolitan Region is home to 5.8 million people.- Wikipedia
Things to do in Munich
Olympia park
The Olympiapark München (English: Olympic Park Munich) in Munich, Germany, is an Olympic Park which was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Located in the Oberwiesenfeld neighborhood of Munich, the Park continues to serve as a venue for cultural, social, and religious events such as events of worship. The Park is administered by Olympiapark München GmbH, a holding company fully owned by the state capital of Munich.
Munich Residenz
The Residenz in central Munich is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and displays 130 rooms. The three main parts are the Königsbau (near the Max-Joseph-Platz), the Alte Residenz (Old Residenz; towards the Residenzstraße) and the Festsaalbau (towards the Hofgarten). A wing of the Festsaalbau contains the Cuvilliés Theater since the reconstruction of the Residenz after World War II. It also houses the Herkulessaal (Hercules Hall), the primary concert venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Byzantine Court Church of All Saints (Allerheiligen-Hofkirche) at the east side is facing the Marstall, the building for the former Court Riding School and the royal stables.
Englischer Garten
The Englischer Garten is a large public park in the center of Munich, Bavaria, stretching from the city center to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753–1814), later Count Rumford (Reichsgraf von Rumford), for Prince Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria. Thompson's successors, Reinhard von Werneck (1757–1842) and Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell (1750–1823), advisers on the project from its beginning, both extended and improved the park.
Hellabrunn Zoo
Hellabrunn Zoo (or Tierpark Hellabrunn in German) is a 40 hectare (99 acre) zoological garden in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The zoo is situated on the right bank of the river Isar, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter of Thalkirchen. As the groundwater level here is rather high and the water is of very good quality, the zoo can cover its needs for freshwater by using its own wells.
The second most important German beer festival gathers thousands of beer fans at the big autumn fair in the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
"Bad Kanstatt", which gave the name to the autumn festival Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, is one of the oldest districts of the city. For the first time, the festivities were held back in 1818 and were traditionally dedicated to the harvest: in memory of the eruption of the Tambora volcano, and the years of famine that followed. Already the first event gathered more than 30 thousand people and was an extraordinary success. Previously, the festival lasted only one day, today it is held for 17 days - in the last week of September and the first week of October.
And only since 2007 "the holiday began to last 17 days and steadily open on Fridays at three in the afternoon. At this time, the mayor of Stuttgart must open the first barrel of beer - the main character of the holiday. Another spectacular event of the holiday is the annual Volksfest parade, which passes through the main streets of the city. Leading local producers serve guests with a variety of beers and sponsor live performances by artists. In addition to the tents at the festival, traditionally, from the very first Stuttgart fair, a 26-meter fruit column is installed - the official symbol of the festival. Around it there is a large amusement park with many attractions - ferris wheel, carousels, slides.
When it comes to beer festivals, the first thing that comes to mind is Oktoberfest. But this is far from the only German festival. In the shadow of its famous "colleague" is the autumn festival in Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest. The first Volksfest (in translation - "folk holiday") was held in 1818 by decree of King Wilhelm and Queen Katarina. Initially, it was a harvest festival, so today agricultural exhibitions are held simultaneously with the beer festival.
The festival in Stuttgart starts a week later than the Munich Oktoberfest. The celebration is opened by the mayor of Stuttgart, who uncorks the first barrel of beer at exactly 11 am. After that, a festive procession begins through the streets of the city. Some of the townspeople dress in national costumes, others decorate their cars or simply pick up flags.
For 20 days, Stuttgart turns into an open-air. A large number of beer tents are set up in the city. Guests are entertained by rides, jugglers and musicians. Columns of wagons and cars are moving along the streets, of course, also to loud musical accompaniment.
Dark beer and Gallic delicacies
The territory of the festival covers almost 16 hectares. Such an area is needed to accommodate 350 tents representing breweries from all over Germany. The Germans prefer to eat beer with fried chicken, almonds or dried fish. Pavilions invite guests to their place with delicious beer and an interesting entertainment program. For example, colorful laser shows are arranged in the Schwarzwald hall, and Schwaben Brau is famous for its dark beer. But Cannstatter Volksfest is not only temporary, but also a celebration of excellent cuisine. In addition to German dishes, here you can also taste national Gallic dishes: cheeses, pies and much more.
Cannstatter Volksfest differs from Oktoberfest in a more relaxed, even family atmosphere. The organizers of the holiday are guided by a wide audience, including parents with children. For young guests of the festival, many restaurants offer a special children's menu. By the way, even the inhabitants of Munich escape for a few days from the noisy Oktoberfest to smart Stuttgart.
Same city, different festival
Stuttgart hosts not only the Cannstatter Volksfest, but also the spring festival Frühlingsfest (Frühlingsfest), also dedicated to beer. More precisely, it is held in the Stuttgart suburb of Bad Cannstadt in late April - early May. This spring festival is one of the largest in Europe. About a million people visit it every year. Huge beer tents are set up on the territory of the festival, which can accommodate several thousand people at the same time.
Are you making travel plans for next year? We advise you to visit one of the many beer festivals in Germany (not necessarily Oktoberfest). Prostly magazine has compiled a calendar of the most interesting German beer festivals and their dates in 2018.
starkbierfest
In addition to many other festivals, Starkbierfest, a strong beer festival, takes place in Munich every March. Large breweries such as Paulaner and Löwenbräu offer strong beer, over 8%, to thousands of guests in their beer halls. Compared to many other German beer festivals, Starkbierfest is a much more local event, with traditional decorations, Bavarian attire, 1-litre mugs of great beer, hearty food, live music and deafening fun. The festival began to be held by the monks of the Paulaner order in the 17th century: for the period of fasting, they brewed strong beer. So Starkbeerfest is longer than Oktoberfest.
Frühlingsfest Munich
If you miss the Oktoberfest in time or just want to avoid the crowds of thousands, Munich offers you a fallback option. This spring festival is in many ways similar to its "big brother", but on a smaller scale. It also takes place on Vizna, where three traditional pavilions and a large beer garden are installed. There are also attractions, folk costumes, brass bands, and most importantly, liters of Munich beer. Although Frylingfest is similar to Oktoberfest in many ways, the atmosphere at this festival is more local and relaxed.
Augsburger Plarrer
The two-week Augsburger Plerrer attracts a predominantly local audience of about half a million guests, making it the largest beer festival in Swabia. Here you will find everything that makes German beer festivals so great - rides, fireworks, stalls with delicious Swabian food and local beer brewed in Augsburg. Don't miss the opportunity to visit one of the three beer pavilions. The coolest thing is that the festival is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, so don't worry if you don't get there the first time.
Bierborse
Look for 2018 dates onbierboerse.com
In many regions of Germany, especially in Bavaria, beer festivals are an important part of the culture, but there are no similar traditions in other parts of the country. But there is Bierbörse - a wandering beer festival, which takes place in a couple of dozen cities throughout the spring and summer. It has been held for 30 years and attracts guests with a wide selection of German and imported beers, local cuisine and entertainment. Events are held in the cities of the Rhine region - Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, as well as in other cities where there is no major beer festival. Bierbörse is not a traditional festival, but there are always interesting and unusual beers and a fun atmosphere.
Erlangen Bergkirchweih
Erlangen, a small town in Franconia near Nuremberg, hosts the oldest beer festival in the world, the Erlangen Bergkirchweih. Although the city is not very popular with foreign tourists, the history of brewing in Erlangen is long. A few hundred years ago, this town had 18 breweries and exported more beer than any Bavarian city, including Munich. The beer festival has been part of Erlangen's culture since 1755. More than a million beer lovers visit the festival every year, it is held at the foot of the hill on which the city castle stands: there the brewers of the 18th century built cellars - kellers - to store beer. Each keller opens a beer garden at the foot of the hill and decorates the huge sprawling trees with paper lanterns. A truly unusual place where you can enjoy a special beer that is brewed especially for the festival.
Hannover Schützenfest
The capital of Lower Saxony hosts an annual festival that combines rides, beer and shooting. This combination may seem strange to some, but shooting competitions are traditional for many German cities, and Schutzenfest is the largest in the country (5,000 people participate in it), and its history goes back more than 500 years. Although it is primarily a shooting festival, five beer pavilions, hundreds of games and rides, plenty of food, and a parade that rounds out the celebration attract visitors.
Annafest Forchheim
Annafest has been held in Forchheim, a town in Upper Franconia between Bamberg and Nuremberg, since 1840. In fact, this is a traditional folk festival - with rides and games for children and adults. It takes place in July, which means that great weather is guaranteed. The 20 participating beer gardens provide 30,000 outdoor seats, making it the largest beer garden in Bavaria. The abundance of trees makes the festival unusual - they create a pleasant atmosphere, and most importantly - shade. You will see many locals enjoying beer and brotzeit - planks with a set of traditional Franconian snacks for company.
Kulmbacher Bierwoche
Kulmbach, a small town in Upper Franconia, is famous for its beer. Locals call it the "secret beer capital", which is especially impressive given that the population of the town is about 30 thousand people. The local brewery Kulmbacher-Mönschof supplies products all over the world and its beer is well known in many countries. The annual "beer week" has been held since 1939 - through it the Kulmbacher brewery wanted to promote their city and the history of its brewing. The festival has moved from the city center to the brewery, which has a classic beer garden. Fortunately, throughout its history, this festival has been dedicated to only one thing - beer.
Internationales Berliner Bierfestival
The annual Berlin Festival proves that not all German beer festivals feature only German beer. Berlin is a cosmopolitan city: the beer festival features beers from all over the world, and every year a region is chosen to receive special attention. Traditional breweries are mixed with craft breweries. Biermeile - "beer mile" as the locals call it - is more than two kilometers of beer stands along Karl-Marx-Allee. The Guinness Book of Records considers it the longest beer garden in the world. Don't miss your chance to visit the festival - it only lasts one weekend.
Gaubodenvolksfest
The Goibodenvolksfest takes place in Straubing, a city on the Danube to the east of Munich. It began as an agricultural fair and has grown into an epic 11-day festival with rollercoasters, carnivals, parades and seven beer pavilions, where beer from local breweries Karmeliten, Irlbacher, Röhrl and Erl is poured into liter mugs. The Oktoberfest-sized pavilions can accommodate up to 5,000 people, and one of them, the Ochsenbraterei Wenisch, even has a carousel bar. And since we are in Bavaria, hearty meals, wind ensembles and lederhosen are waiting for us.
Barthelmarkt
The small Bavarian town of Oberstimm hosts a modest festival on the last weekend of August. Locals claim that the Romans, who founded the city in the 1st century BC, began holding Bartelmarkt as a cattle fair, and farmers still sell livestock on the last day of the festival. In five pavilions, you can try different beers - Ingobräu, Spaten and Löwenbräu, as well as wheat beer - the last hello of summer. The pavilions are reminiscent of Oktoberfest with their decorations and live music, and like the Munich festival, they fill up shortly after opening. Those who do not have enough space inside can enjoy a beer in the fresh air.
Limmersdorfer Lindenkirchweih
Limmersdorfer Lindenkirchwei is another Bavarian festival. This small town is located in Upper Franconia, between Kulmbach and Bayreuth. Lindenkirchwei - a Lutheran holiday in its origin - is held at a 350-year-old linden tree. The locals dance around her. Like any other festival, there are many legends about who planted the tree and how. The importance of the festival for culture is undeniable - the city even applied for inclusion in the UNESCO heritage list. Why not? There are a lot of dances, music, traditions, and most importantly - beer.
Baiersdorf Krenmarkt
Baiersdorf in Middle Franconia is known for beer and horseradish. For just one day a year, the locals gather at the end of the harvest season to enjoy the harvest of horseradish (it is believed that they began to grow here more than 500 years ago). The festival begins with the Queen of Horseradish (this lucky woman retains the title for a year) and the mayor of the city invite everyone to enjoy the harvest. It's no surprise that everything revolves around horseradish - a horseradish statue, horseradish dumplings, and even horseradish schnapps. If you are not a fan of horseradish, there is a Franconian beer for you that is definitely worth a try.
Oktoberfest
The world's most famous beer festival, Munich's Oktoberfest, draws huge crowds of beer drinkers to Bavaria every year. The history of the festival began in 1810, when the Bavarians were invited to take part in a large celebration of the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, after whom the Oktoberfest venue, Theresienwiese, was named. Only six local Munich breweries sell beer at the festival, each of which produces seasonal beer - Märzen, darker and stronger. Although most of the six million visitors are tourists, Oktoberfest manages to retain its traditional Bavarian charm.
Cannstatter Volksfest
Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, located not so far from Munich, hosts its own large beer festival, which overlaps with Oktoberfest in time. Although Wasen (as the festival is called here) does not attract as many people as Munich, the ratio of Germans to tourists is much healthier at the second largest beer festival. Here, traditional outfits of neighboring Bavaria are mostly adopted - that is, many visitors will be in dirndls and lederhosen, although this is not a historical tradition. The general mood of this festival is a lot like Oktoberfest - pavilions, carousels, tons of beer, but on the Cannstatter you will feel a more party spirit - especially in the evenings in the pavilions.
Bremer Freimarkt
Freimarkt in Bremen, a large city in northern Germany, will appeal to both children and adults. The combination of fun fair and beer festival attracts four million people every year. It has more rides than any other German beer festival (320 if you're wondering) and is the oldest fair in Germany, dating back to 981. The festival begins with a parade - brightly decorated floats and dressed-up revelers move through the city center, gathering crowds of spectators. Freimarkt's spacious space hosts carnival games, dozens of food stalls and a beer pavilion where you can taste local beer. Those who want to continue the party after the closing of the festival site can hang out all night until the morning in the nearby Halle 7.
Hamburger DOM
In Hamburg, the northernmost city on this list, there is not one big German beer festival, but three - winter, spring and summer. Hamburg - a large city, the second most populous after Berlin - is located on the Elbe, on the North Sea. The festival has its roots in the days when the Cathedral of St. Mary served as a shelter in winter. And although the cathedral was destroyed in 1804, the festival continues to exist. Whatever time of year you come, there are hundreds of rides, great food (including the local specialty, herring sandwiches) and plenty of stalls offering a variety of drinks.
When it comes to beer festivals, the first thing that comes to mind is Oktoberfest. But this is far from the only German festival. In the shadow of its famous "colleague" is the autumn festival in Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest. The first Volksfest (in translation - "folk holiday") was held in 1818 by decree of King Wilhelm and Queen Katarina. Initially, it was a harvest festival, so today agricultural exhibitions are held simultaneously with the beer festival.
The festival in Stuttgart starts a week later than the Munich Oktoberfest. The celebration is opened by the mayor of Stuttgart, who uncorks the first barrel of beer at exactly 11 am. After that, a festive procession begins through the streets of the city. Some of the townspeople dress in national costumes, others decorate their cars or simply pick up flags.
For 20 days, Stuttgart turns into an open-air. A large number of beer tents are set up in the city. Guests are entertained by rides, jugglers and musicians. Columns of wagons and cars are moving along the streets, of course, also to loud musical accompaniment.
Dark beer and Gallic delicacies
The territory of the festival covers almost 16 hectares. Such an area is needed to accommodate 350 tents representing breweries from all over Germany. The Germans prefer to eat beer with fried chicken, almonds or dried fish. Pavilions invite guests to their place with delicious beer and an interesting entertainment program. For example, colorful laser shows are arranged in the Schwarzwald hall, and Schwaben Brau is famous for its dark beer. But Cannstatter Volksfest is not only temporary, but also a celebration of excellent cuisine. In addition to German dishes, here you can also taste national Gallic dishes: cheeses, pies and much more.
Cannstatter Volksfest differs from Oktoberfest in a more relaxed, even family atmosphere. The organizers of the holiday are guided by a wide audience, including parents with children. For young guests of the festival, many restaurants offer a special children's menu. By the way, even the inhabitants of Munich escape for a few days from the noisy Oktoberfest to smart Stuttgart.
Same city, different festival
Stuttgart hosts not only the Cannstatter Volksfest, but also the spring festival Frühlingsfest (Frühlingsfest), also dedicated to beer. More precisely, it is held in the Stuttgart suburb of Bad Cannstadt in late April - early May. This spring festival is one of the largest in Europe. About a million people visit it every year. Huge beer tents are set up on the territory of the festival, which can accommodate several thousand people at the same time.
