Munich has a whole host of amazing places to enjoy a spur-of-the-moment picnic in the great outdoors. Simply sit down, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy. Here’s a quick guide.
Anyone who fancies a picnic on the banks of the River Isar will need a barbecue to feel like a true Municher. Locals barbecuing along the Isar is now a familiar sight, and has become as much a summer tradition in Munich as a trip to the beer garden. Single-use barbecues can be bought cheaply from supermarkets and some petrol stations. The next step is to visit one of the many butchers close to the Isar, like Metzgerei Magnus Bauch (Thalkirchner Strasse 61-63). Metzgerei Wachter (Hans-Mielich-Strasse 1A) is slightly closer and serves up sausages with a good dose of Bavarian humour. Good to know: Flaucher is the barbecuing hub. In the city, barbecuing is permitted on the entire section of shoreline between Brudermühlbrücke bridge in the north and the city limits in the south. There are large rubbish bins which are ideal for disposing of your barbecue later on.
The Englischer Garten is a huge park – anyone can find a picnic spot to suit their taste here. There’s lots going on at the southern end between the Nationalmuseum and the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) and, as you would expect, plenty to see, too. The Eisbach and Schwabinger Bach waterways are both close by. The area to the north of the Chinesischer Turm is a little more tranquil, inviting you to sit in the meadows and enjoy views of the lake. If you prefer to get off the beaten track, take tram 16 to Sankt Emmeram: visiting this part of the Englischer Garten in northern Munich feels like going back to nature. If you order in advance, you can pick up a ready-made picnic basket from nearby St. Emmeramsmühle.
Westpark is one of the city’s most beautiful parks. The meadows around Westsee lake are particularly good for a picnic, affording marvellous views over the lake, lakeside stage and the Asian pagodas. Children can also enjoy the spectacular playgrounds nearby. A lovely alternative is to visit the eastern banks of the slightly smaller Mollsee lake, offering a small hill to spread your blanket on. If you are not keen on sitting in a beer garden and fancy a walk instead, stop by Metzgerei Probst (Waldfriedhofstrasse 68). This butcher’s shop has been open for over 100 years, and is now on its fourth generation of owners. As well as sausages and meat, they also sell salads and cheese – perfect for any picnic. It’s located at Werdenfelsstrasse bus stop. Bus 54 takes in stops which include the Partnachplatz U-Bahn station, from where you can either set off on a stroll around the park, or travel one stop on an U-Bahn train to Westpark.
If you need a quick time-out from big city life, then Hirschgarten is the place for you. It is easy to reach by S-Bahn (get off at Laim or Hirschgarten) or trams 16 or 17 (get off at Steubenplatz). The 40-hectare park is home to 150-year-old trees and huge meadows, making it particularly popular for playing football. Children love the beautifully designed playgrounds and the deer enclosure – which is also what the Hirschgarten takes its name from. Small snacks are available from the beer garden, or from supermarkets along the route.
Stemmerwiese is pretty easy to miss; this hidden gem of a park is located at the heart of the Sendling district. You’ll find it right behind the Stemmerhof building (on the Plinganser corner of Jägerwirtstrasse). The former farmyard was first mentioned in official city documents back in 1381, making it a true Munich original. For a long time, it was the city’s last working farm; it was still home to 46 dairy cows right up until 1992. Nowadays, Stemmerhof is home to a number of small shops that primarily sell regional and organic produce – ideal for a healthy picnic. The only tricky bit is getting there: From Harras (on the U6 line), you can either walk or take the 53 bus to Sendlinger Kirche. Implerstrasse (on the U3/U6 lines) is also close by, and from there you can take the 132 bus to Aberlestrasse.
For an evening picnic after a long day, there is only one place to go: Königsplatz. In this square, the stone steps leading to the Glyptothek museum are the ideal place to soak up the last rays of sunshine. However, finding a spare spot on the steps is a big ask on a sunny day, so you may need to squeeze together. There’s a supermarket selling everything you need near the southern stairs to Königsplatz U-Bahn station. Make sure you don’t forget your Prosecco or a bottle of white wine – both go perfectly with the unique atmosphere at Königsplatz.
