Munich is taking off this summer, and not just for the anniversary of the Summer Olympics. You can find the latest news on events, sights, restaurants and hotels here.
The Alpine Museum on Praterinsel (island on Isar river) reopens on March 10th 24 after a complete refurbishment. Here, you can explore the centuries-old techniques of climbing rocky peaks throughout history and the challenges involved.
Moreover, the museum hosts annually changing special exhibitions that address current topics of alpinism, such as climate change. The museum also has a lovely café. The picturesque museum garden will also be redesigned as part of the renovation and will be back to its former beauty in autumn 24.
On April 20th, the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk will open in a listed former heating plant in the west of Munich. Envisaged to be Germany's largest gallery for contemporary art in terms of space, it will have a variety of event venues and gastronomy, a live club and a state-of-the-art concert hall.
The State Archaeological Collection reopen its doors in at the end of April after many years of renovation. It was founded back in 1885 and today comprises five departments: Prehistory, Roman Period, Middle Ages and Modern Times, the Mediterranean Collection and Numismatics. In an engaging new presentation, the museum utilizes archaeological finds to depict the history of mankind, spanning from prehistory to the present day.
Munich artist Frank Schmolke's comics play a pivotal role in contextualizing various historical epochs and contemporary events. An underground special exhibition rounds off the museum experience. Additionally, during the summer, visitors can look forward to relaxing at the rooftop bar, conveniently located near the Eisbachwelle (river wave).
The famous artists' house Villa Stuck - former studio and residence of Franz von Stuck (1863 - 1926) - will be renovated from April 24 for around one and a half years. But the team has already found a new home for Villa Stuck for this period. The museum will move to the train station district, to a vacant commercial property on Goethestrasse 54. On three floors staff and work rooms will be combined with spaces for temporary exhibitions. The exact interim programme has not yet been determined.
Surfers at the Eisbach (man-made river) in the English Garden are legendary and have shaped Munich’s reputation as Germany’s surfing capital.
Currently, a new surfing opportunity is emerging near the Munich airport: SURFTOWN® MUC is in the process of constructing a 20,000 square metre artificial surfing facility, set to become a European surfers’ paradise for both professionals and beginners. The opening is planned for summer 2024.
SAP Garden, a state-of-the-art multifunctional sports arena, is under construction in Munich's Olympiapark (Olympic Park). It will serve as the new home for EHC Red Bull München and provide an additional venue for FC Bayern Basketball. Additionally, SAP Garden will host various sports-related events, including e-sports. It opens its doors to the general public for the first time on 27 September 2024. EHC Red Bull Munich kicks off the opening weekend from 27 to 29 September with a game against a team from the best ice hockey league in the world, the National Hockey League (NHL). FC Bayern's basketball team will also be celebrating their debut.
Schwabing, Kunstareal, Haidhausen or Giesing? Guests can experience just how colourful Munich is in its more than twenty neighbourhoodsr. And also what the new Local Love Tours are all about: exploring the special features of each neighbourhood together.
No matter which district you choose for your private tour, on all tours our guides not only impart historical and art-historical knowledge – they also provide encounters with Munich residents who live in the districts. Duration two hours | Fee €180 plus VAT if applicable | For groups of up to 25 people | Dates, meeting point and individual requests by arrangement.
The neo-baroque building with its striking iron and glass dome boasts a magnificent interior. The central hall stretches over four floors with a total of almost 500 rooms and is frequently picked as a film set. Trained guides explain the court house’s distinctive architecture and historical significance, spanning from the era of the Prince Regents to the Nazi justice system, including show trials against members of the Weiße Rose resistance group up to the latest sensational court proceedings.
In summer 23, Studio of Wonders opened in the shopping centre Hofstatt, near Marienplatz. On 600 square metres, over 20 immersive rooms offer many unusual settings for photographs, videos, reels and TikToks.
The Magic Bavaria upside-down experience museum is located in the MONA shopping centre. Since December 23, you can e.g. take pictures in the ice crystal infinity mirror room, ones that show you hanging upside down in the royal palace or deceptively real on a slackline above Marienplatz. Guests will also learn fun facts about Bavaria.
The WOW Museum - Room for Illusions, which opens in summer 24 - in the centre of the city - at Tal 27, describes itself as an edutainment museum. With surprising sensory illusions and new perspectives, the museum aims to combine fun with learning and offers unusual picture opportunities. Unlike in other museums, touching is expressly encouraged in these three new attractions.
Stadtmuseum München (city museum) will be closed for several years due to renovations.
Olympiaturm (olympic tower) Will be closed for renovations from June 1st 24 for two years.
Six matches of the European Football Championship will take place in Munich this summer. Germany will face Scotland in the opening match in Munich on 14 June.
Overview of matches in Munich:
If you haven't managed to get hold of tickets, you can watch the matches together with other fans in the fan zone in the Olympic Park. All championship matches will be broadcasted live on three screens. The largest screen is a 120 square metre screen on the Olympic Lake. In addition, there will be a show programme on the stage at the Olympic Lake. The fan zone opens daily from 1 pm. Admission is free.
Viktor&Rolf. Fashion Statements, Kunsthalle Munich, February 23 to October 6 2024
In the first retrospective in the German-speaking world, Kunsthalle München is showing around 100 creations by the artist duo Viktor&Rolf from 23 February to 6 October 2024. The self-confessed outsiders of the fashion world have made a name for themselves with their unconventional approach to design, their technical perfection and their extensive knowledge of fashion and art history. Their creations have been worn by artists such as Madonna, Tilda Swinton, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Doja Cat and Cardi B, as well as staged in ballet productions and an opera directed by Robert Wilson.
Liliane Lijn. Arise Alive, Haus der Kunst, April 4 to September 22 2024
For over six decades, Liliane Lijn (born 1939, New York) has worked on the interface between visual art, literature and scientific thought, creating an extensive array of works that include sculpture, site-specific installations, paintings, and moving images. The exhibition at Haus der Kunst is Lijn’s first institutional solo exhibition of this scale. It presents her painting, drawing, sculptural, film work, and installations. Special focus is given to her sculptural works from the 1980s, and to the overview of her oeuvre, from the late 1950s to today. Influenced by the second wave of feminism and her own experiences as a woman, Lijn became increasingly focused on the human form and the female body.
Orhan Pamuk. The Consolation of Things, Lenbachhaus, May 18 to October 13, 2024
Orhan Pamuk (born 1952, Istanbul) – the first Turkish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature – presents his multifaceted, creative work as an author, photographer, illustrator, curator, museum founder and important political voice at the Lenbachhaus. The exhibition is based on the novel “The Museum of Innocence“, published in 2008, in which Pamuk tells the story of Kemal, a rich middle-class man who, after the tragic end of his love affair with his poor cousin Füsun, collects everyday objects that remind him of his beloved. Pamuk actually opened a real museum in Istanbul in 2012 under the name “Museum of Innocence“, which displays artefacts from this fictional love affair. The objects also reflect daily life in Istanbul between the 1950s and the 2000s – touching on current affairs, gender roles and contemporary cinema. On display in Munich's Lenbachhaus are 41 cabinets from Pamuk's Istanbul “Museum of Innocence“, which the artist has recreated for this travelling exhibition.
Andy Warhol & Keith Haring. Party of Life, Museum Brandhorst, June 28 2024 to Januar 26 2025
With over 120 works, Museum Brandhorst owns the largest Warhol collection outside of the USA and a considerable number of works by Keith Haring. With “Andy Warhol & Keith Haring. Party of Life“, the museum presents the world's first comprehensive institutional exhibition dedicated to both artists. It shows over 120 works from their oeuvre, including collaborations between the two as well as works created in cooperation with other artists, performers, authors or music and fashion icons of the 1980s, when the time was characterised by MTV, discos, voguing, hip-hop, new wave and graffiti. In addition to key works, “Party of Life“ focuses on film recordings and photographs, archive material and posters, records and everyday objects designed by the artists.
Rachel Ruysch (1664–1750). Nature into Art, Alte Pinakothek, November 26 2024 to March 16 2025
Her magnificent, deceptively realistic floral still lifes with exotic plants and fruit, butterflies and insects already became sought-after and expensive collector's items during her lifetime. Demand was so great that the painter from Amsterdam could afford to produce merely a few works a year. She led an unusual life for a woman of her time. She was the daughter of the renowned professor of anatomy and botany, Frederik Ruysch, the first female member of the Confrérie Pictura guild of painters in The Hague, a court painter in Düsseldorf, lottery game winner and raised her eleven children at the same time. From November 2024 on the Alte Pinakothek will present the world's first major monographic exhibition of her work.
A more comprehensive list of exhibitions is available here.
Winding alleyways, squares and rooftop terraces without the pressure to consume: the completely redesigned market is set to open at its historic location in Schwabing in summer 2024. It will have a total of ten market buildings with 22 stalls - the same number as before. The market was founded 120 years ago. It is named after the Austrian Empress Sissi and was considered the heart of Schwabing for decades.
Rosina Ostler is 31 and was recently awarded with her first Michelin star in Oslo. In January 2024, she returned home as the new head chef of Munich's fine dining restaurant Alois. There she now combines Bavarian tradition and Scandinavian innovation. The menu includes Norwegian, hand-dipped scallops with sultanas and bottarga or lobster with caraway and gin.
In autumn 2023, the Bavarian inn Haxengrill near Marienplatz (formerly Haxenbauer) opened completely renovated. In addition to meat specialties, there are now more vegetarian dishes on the menu, such as porcini mushroom ravioli, Bavarian cheese spaetzle with two types of onion and vegetarian gröstl with roasted dumplings, egg, spinach leaves and mountain cheese.
Meals are served in the restaurant or, if guest prefer this, directly next to the grill. For those in a hurry, pork or veal sandwiches are served from a small window. Another highlight at the Haxengrill is the new Haxen-Bar with freshly tapped Augustiner beers, wines, champagne and cocktails.
Since autumn 23, foodies have a new place to be in the colourfully spray-painted containers at Bahnwärter Thiel: Marie Herrmann, who is actually a pharmacist, has opened her sourdough bakery bageri there. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you can get breads, rolls, small lunch specials and delicious cinnamon and cardamom buns. Her specialties can be savoured at the many seating areas on the Bahnwärter Thiel premises, as there is no indoor seating area.
At Viktualienmarkt, culinary enthusiasts can indulge in a wide array of delights, from traditional Bavarian to exotic delicacies. In addition to third-generation family businesses, the market is also home to young faces, like 31-year-old master confectioner Lea Zapf, who opened her market patisserie in the middle of the corona pandemic. Her "Luftikus" cream puffs are a speciality.
Max and Moritz, both industrial engineers, kindled their passion for South African wines during their travels and have now secured a contract for a hip, young wine bar on the market.
Mete Gür and Sarah Lange offer organic reinterpretations of vegetarian Turkish cuisine. The Munich-based coffee roaster "Man versus Machine" supplies beans for the Turkish mocha, complemented by simit and pide, exclusively baked by Julius Brantner in Munich.
At Kraut & Müller Susanne Müller from Upper Palatinate offers fermented and pickled vegetables, as well as preserved fruit.
New since early 2024 is the Vegane Fleischerei (Vegan Butchery) from Dresden, which has now opened its first branch in Munich. Markus Dorsch runs the shop in Frauenstraße as a franchise and offers bratwursts, Leberkäs, salami, sausage spreads, roasts and cheese - but all exclusively in the meat-free, vegan version.
München Tourismus organises regular tasting tours on Viktualienmarkt.
In the centre of Munich - at Karlsplatz 25 - an architecturally spectacular new hotel is being built according to the plans of the Spanish architect Nieto Sobejano. The Königshof luxury hotel previously stood on the same site. It is therefore only fitting that the new owner, MHP Hotel AG, continues to use the name. The luxury hotel will have over 100 rooms and suites. The concept also includes a rooftop restaurant and a bar with spectacular views over Munich.
Experience luxury in the centre of Munich with the flair of bygone eras. 15 new suites at the Platzl Hotel invite guests to do just that. Bavarian shell limestone, oak panelling and bathrooms with marble and brass combine tradition and craftsmanship.
The suites are part of the historic Pfistermühle (mill) and tell the story of the building with loving details such as leather-covered coat hooks, forged nails and linen lampshades. The new spa offers pure relaxation with a view over Munich's rooftops. Bookable from April, suites available from August. Prices start at 950 euros.
In September 23, Germany's first Rosewood Hotel has opened its doors in Munich. It is the seventh hotel of the US luxury hotel group in Europe. Cutting-edge designs set the tone behind the historic neo-baroque and rococo façade of Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse 1 and the adjacent Palais Neuhaus-Preysing.
Here, on over 20,000 square meters, the hotel offers a total of 73 rooms and 59 suites. A special feature is the open-concept design with a spa, restaurant and bar, which is also accessible to the public through separate entrances from the outside.
Just in time for the Wiesn (Oktoberfest), the new Munich Marriott Hotel City West has opened in Munich's Westend district in September 23. It comprises 398 rooms, 12 suites, 20 twin rooms, a 2,400 square metre event space distributed across 20 flexible rooms, along with a 1,000 square metre ballroom.
A notable highlight is the rooftop terrace that offers panoramic vistas stretching all the way to the Alps on a clear day. The gastronomic offer includes an Italian restaurant with vineria, which is also accessible to non-staying guests.
The Cocoon Hotel Sendlinger Tor has been renovated in 2022 and extended by a new building. It boasts a very central location between the hip Glockenbachviertel (district) and the old town, as well as a trendy, young design, featuring distinctive elements, such as hanging chairs.
The hotel offers 101 rooms, as well as rental bikes to explore the city. Guests who want to contribute to resource conservation can book the Green Rate (from 2 nights) and opt out of daily room cleaning. In return, they receive a 10% discount on the daily rate, a 5 Euro voucher for the hotel bar per night and a bar of fair-trade chocolate.
The Schwan Locke in Munich is the first European hotel for the lifestyle aparthotel brand, Locke. It opened in 2021 and is just a few minutes’ stroll from Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest fairground) and the central station. The hotel offers 151 modern studio apartments designed in mid-century industrial flair, an art collection featuring local works and a co-working lounge.
The team of the Michelin-starred restaurant Mural caters for the Bambule! Bar and restaurant. In addition to an excellent wine list, the menu features international cuisine with regional products, e.g., fish & chips with fish from the Schliersee (lake).
The group's second European hotel, the WunderLocke, opened in the summer of 2022 in the Sendling district. It offers 360 studio apartments, a co-working space, meeting and event rooms, a workout studio and a small, heated outdoor swimming pool. The Mural’s catering team oversees the hotel's four restaurants and bars. Highlights include the urban rooftop farm, where some of the vegetables and herbs are grown for the Mural Farmhouse restaurant, as well as the cocktail bar boasting panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps.
The family-run design hotel Stadt Rosenheim has been renovated and reopened in 2021 under the name Moma1890 Boutique Hotel. It is located right on Orleansplatz (square), nestled in the charming district of Haidhausen. Each of the 51 rooms is unique and creatively integrates accessories, colours and materials.
This is a treat for all those who like vibrant wallpaper. One charming detail: Instead of minibars in the rooms, there is a lounge on the first floor. All non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are free for hotel guests there.
Munich offers a green side that caters to residents and visitors alike: At times, it can be very innovative, as seen with the vegan Weißwurst (sausages) by the Munich start-up Greenforce, or the rooftop football pitch of Bellevue di Monaco, a residential and cultural centre for refugees and non-refugees in the heart of Munich. Other times, it is traditional, like with its Kronfleischküche (innards cuisine) , (e.g., from Schneiders Brauhaus), utilising every part from the animal – long before the nose-to-tail trend became popular.
Then again, it boasts hidden gems, such as the sustainable fashion studio “Khala Design“ at Atelierpark of Bahnwärter Thiel, or the vegan Bavarian inn Bhodi tucked away in the Westend-Viertel district. Sometimes, Munich presents itself striking as with the barrier-free experiences at the world-famous Deutsches Museum, or through themed city tours, such as the eco-social guided tour by Stattreisen e.v..
More tips for a sustainable visit to Munich are available here.
Freddie Mercury loved the nightlife on the Isar (river). Giorgio Moroder developed the legendary disco sound here and Nirvana staged their last concert in Munich. If you want to experience Munich on the tracks of pop today, you have several options: join a guided Freddie Mercury tour (private tours in English upon request), explore music history with Herbi Hauke, the director of the (currently closed) Rock Museum on a tour of the Olympiapark (Olympic Park, private tours in English upon request) or the Schwabing district.
Dance the night away at Blitz-Club, home to one of the best sound systems in the country, buy electric guitars at MJ Guitars, the shop owned by the Scorpions’ guitarist, or enjoy local DJ performances while sipping a drink at the Goldene Bar in Haus der Kunst (art gallery).
More nightlife tips are available here.
It's a well-known fact that the most fascinating treasures are the ones you discover yourself. And Munich's districts are the ideal hunting grounds. Although not far apart, each is a world on its own. Munich tourism has scouted new local love embassadors for 2024, who have many personal tips what do to in their favourite quarters.
The Schlachthofviertel (slaughter house district) is particularly popular at the moment, as everything is a bit more unpretentious than elsewhere. Here, traditional butcher's shops exist alongside hip bars like the Alte Utting, craft beer brewers and new cultural hubs, for example the recently opened Volkstheater.
The Werksviertel-Mitte aspires to shape a neighbourhood of the future and is well on its way. In 2023, it received the Deutscher Städtebaupreis (German Urban Development Award) for its forward-thinking planning and urban development culture. The area covers 40 hectares in total. Werksviertel-Mitte, which is around ten hectares in size, has a particularly large number of things to experience. Visitors are greeted by a piled-up pop-up city made of converted shipping containers.
The new urban quarter owes its distinctive aura to the repurposing of numerous former industrial buildings of the food manufacturing company Pfanni. The disused production lines of WERK3 now house loft offices, artists’ studios, bars and clubs, as well as restaurants and shops. Only a few metres away, in WERK4, the 30-metre-high silos where potato flakes used to be stored, have been converted into a climbing and bouldering hall.
The German graffiti scene pioneered in Munich. In the years 1985 to 1988, graffiti experienced such a boom in Munich that sprayers came from all over the world to get at least one chance to spray in this city. Today, there are three museums/galleries dedicated to this topic: The Museum for Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA) presents top-class artists. The interim use project KUNSTLABOR 2 offers space for experimentation.
Two of the six floors are being transformed into a walk-in work of art by more than 100 artists. Among them are famous names like Loomit and rapper Samy Deluxe, but also newcomers like Pepe. The latest addition is the quaint and fine Amuseum of Contemporary Art. In cooperation with the art association Positive Propaganda e.V. and individual artists, Amuseum develops avant-gardist exhibitions on socially relevant topics. Good to know: Entry to the museum is free of charge. Until June 30th 24 the museums shows Peace Off – An ESCIF Solo Show. Since 2016, the Valencia-born artist ESCIF - who is internationally one of the most important players in the street art movement - has realised several large-scale murals in the centre of Munich at the invitation of the Positive-Propaganda art association. Now they succeeded in winning the Spanish street artist for his first solo exhibition in Germany to date.
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