Dirty weather attracts people to museums and cafés. And it's a great opportunity to discover other exciting places. Some tips for rainy days in Munich.
- An overview
- City centre
- Let's go shopping
- Museum and café - that always works on rainy days
- Tips for Munich in the rain with children
- Immersive and interactive exhibitions
When you think of Munich, you probably think of the sunny Viktualienmarkt (food market), the blue sky above the Olympiapark (Olympia Parc) or the Frauenkirche (cathedral) against a clear mountain panorama. But even the northernmost city in Italy – as Munich is also often called – is surprised by bad weather from time to time. Then it's time to put on your rubber boots and go! To one of the numerous museums in the Kunstareal (art quarter), to the nearest cosy café or to go shopping in the city centre. We have collected many good tips for rainy days in Munich!
The world-famous neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) offers much more than the Glockenspiel (carillion). A ninety-minute tour leads through representative rooms to the town hall balcony, the stage of the FC Bayern championship celebrations, and into the reading room of the law library, which has already been a film set for the filming of the musical “Cabaret“ with Liza Minelli and for the children's adventure film “Bibi Blocksberg“. The tour also explains the building history and the human backgrounds of the numerous figures from the city's history that adorn its façade. Tickets for the town hall tour are available online or on site at the Tourist Info.
You can also make the most of rainy weather to take a look at all of Munich's special sights from the inside – such as the magnificent Residenz (city palace) or the Hofbräuhaus (tavern). A nice idea is a church tour through Munich's old town from the Asamkirche (church) to the Theatinerkirche (church). In the Alter Hof (Old Court) at the end of Burgstrasse you will also find the Infopoint Museums & Palaces in Bavaria. In the late Gothic vaulted hall of the Burgstock, you can learn about the history of the oldest seat of power in Munich, its most prominent landlord, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, and the history of the city of Munich in a free multimedia show.
If the drumming of the rain inspires you musically, a few steps away on Marienplatz (main square) at Kaufhaus Ludwig Beck you will find Europe's largest CD and LP selection with over 120,000 titles of classical, jazz and world music. If you want to stick to shopping, take a closer look at the unique department stores in Munich's city centre – such as the historic Kustermann with its numerous household goods, the expansive Lodenfrey with its famous traditional costume department or the luxurious Oberpollinger.
Not to be forgotten are the shopping arcades in Munich's city centre such as the Fünf Höfe or the Brienner Quartier. Here you'll find classy boutiques next to cafés, bars and restaurants – and thanks to the roofing, you can enjoy a wonderful shopping trip here even on rainy days. Also in the old town are many of the former Bavarian purveyors to the court – these addresses have been selling hand-painted porcelain, fine delicacies or selected fragrances for centuries.
Art enthusiasts will be happy about bad weather – finally enough time to explore Munich's museum landscape. A visit to the Kunstareal in Maxvorstadt district is particularly worthwhile, as there are 18 museums and exhibition houses, as well as over 40 galleries within one district and within walking distance of each other. The most famous addresses are the Pinakotheken, the Lenbachhaus and the Museum Brandhorst. Football fans should not miss the FC Bayern Museum, car enthusiasts visit the BMW Museum.
The Haus der Kunst (art gallery) near the Englischer Garten (park) offers changing contemporary exhibitions. Every last Friday of the month there is also an open house, where admission is free. Always worth a visit are also the witty Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum at the Isartor (gate) in honour of the comedian Karl Valentin and the modern Kunsthalle in the pedestrian zone – one of the most visited exhibition halls in Germany. With the München Card or the City Pass, admission to many museums in Munich is even free!
A rainy day is a particularly good time to hang out in a café, restaurant or bar after visiting an exhibition. It's all the more practical when the gastronomic area is integrated directly into the museum – as in the Alte Pinakothek, for example, where you can enjoy scones and English tea at Café Klenze. The street art museum MUCA has no less a neighbour than the one-star restaurant Mural and the Haus der Kunst invites you to have a fantastic drink at Goldene Bar after your visit.
By the way, it's not only the city centre that offers weatherproof adventures. There are many other highlights within easy reach by public transport - also for children and families. The greenhouses of the Botanical Garden take you on a journey through the plant world of humid tropical regions, mountain forests and hot deserts. The Hellabrunn Zoo allows its guests almost up-close encounters with diving penguins, curious giraffes or playing gorillas. And the large aquarium Sea life in the Olympiapark offers insights into fascinating underwater worlds, and in Bavaria Filmstadt the world of film and television can also be experienced interactively.
A visit to the interactive astronomy experience centre of the European Southern Observatory ESO in Garching brings topics from astronomy and physics closer in an entertaining way. Astronomy shows in German and English are shown daily in the in-house 3D cinema. Munich also has its own children's cinemas – for example, every afternoon at the Museum Lichtspiele or the Mathäser Filmpalast.
Another absolute highlight for children is the Deutsches Museum: for the little ones and their parents there is a children's kingdom with various attractions, while older children can join in at the experiment workshop.
Another absolute highlight for children is the Deutsches Museum: for the little ones between three and eight years and their parents, there is a children's kingdom with various attractions, while older children can take part in the experimental workshop. There are also lots of workshops and guided tours exclusively for children and teenagers. Exciting for youngsters and adventurous parents is the Jochen Schweizer Arena in Taufkirchen: Float along in the 30-metre-high tower with wind tunnel, surf on a standing wave or climb in the high ropes course.
Immersive and interactive exhibitions that thrive on illusion and audience participation are also becoming increasingly popular in Munich. The lives and works of famous artists are illuminated in a very eventful way, special city tours beam you back into Munich's past, or you move in wonder through unknown worlds on the border between reality and illusion.
