Germany A to Z: Munich

A trip to Munich's central square is a must for any visitor. Here the top attraction is the Glockenspiel in the tower of the New Town Hall, located on Marienplatz. Every day at 11 a.m., and three times a day in summer, 32 life-sized figures re-enact two events from 16th century Bavarian history. It's the largest Glockenspiel in Germany, and it's always a hit with tourists.

Just a short walk from Marienplatz is the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl — probably the world's best-known beer hall. It was originally built in 1589 by the Bavarian duke Maximilian as an extension of the royal brewery. It's often called the "white" Hofbräuhaus because it features a variety of wheat beer whose name translates literally as "white beer." It's airy rooms offer enough space to keep distance.

The English Garden is a large public park in the heart of Munich. It covers nearly 400 hectares. It's especially popular in summertime, with plenty of open space for sun-bathing or sports while keeping your distance. Don't miss the Chinese Tower beer-garden, where you can enjoy traditional Bavarian cuisine, including "Haxn" (roasted ham hock) and "Hendl" (roast chicken).

The Eisbach, or "icy stream," is appropriately named. The water is definitely ice-cold, even during the summer months. In fact, it's TOO cold for most people — but not the surfers. When the surfing season begins at the end of May, they're out there in force — and they put on a great show.

Lavish architecture is on display throughout Munich, and the Residenz is no exception. For more than 400 years, this complex of buildings served as the royal palace of Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings. One of the highlights of the complex is the Renaissance Hall, which was built by the 16th-century duke Albert V to house his collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

Another top tourist attraction is the Nymphenburg Palace. It was commissioned in 1664 by the Bavarian Elector Ferdinand Maria as a gift to his wife, and later served as the main summer residence of the Bavarian royal family. Every year until the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 300,000 people visited the palace and its park.

Art lovers will definitely want to visit the three Pinakothek museums, located in central Munich. The Alte Pinakothek features more than 700 works from the 14th to the 18th centuries — including those of Dürer, Raphael, and Rembrandt. The Neue Pinakothek is devoted to 19th century art — and a third Pinakothek offers a collection of modern artworks.

Munich residents love tradition, and that includes Bavarian clothing. Any time of the year, you're likely to see men wearing lederhosen and women wearing a dirndl. At some local events, the wearing of lederhosen and dirndls is just about mandatory. Such events include the Kocherlball ⁠— a large folk-dance festival that's usually held every summer at the Chinese Tower.

Lots of people wear lederhosen and dirndls when they go to Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, which this year has been cancelled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810. Since then, it has been copied — but never equaled — in many cities around the world.

There are some things in life that you just can't capture in a photograph — like the essence of Munich: a big city that still has a charming small-town feel to it. So all we can say at the end of our story is: "Minga, I mog Di!" ("Munich, I like you!").