12 pieces of classical music have been playing on a continuous loop in two underground stations for more than 20 years. From Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to Mozart’s Posthorn Serenade, the elegant soundtracks in Odeonsplatz and Goetheplatz stations aim to make commuters feel safer on their journey.
A beer is never too far away, with over 200 Biergärtens (beer gardens) to choose from. The first garden opened in the 17th century and they are now a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
Kaufingerstrasse was the first pedestrianised road in the city, transformed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Since then, the whole area surrounding Marienplatz has been made car-free and nearly 9,000 shoppers walk through Kaufingerstrasse every hour.
Contrary to its name, Oktoberfest actually begins in September and ends on the first week of October. In 2019, a huge 7.3 million litres of beer were consumed at the festival, a drop less than 2018’s bar tab of 7.5 million litres.
Munich is considered one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly cities. With car-free streets and skyscrapers moved out into the suburbs, the city also boasts a highly efficient transit system used by many of its inhabitants.
For 20 years, Munich was thought to be the most expensive city in Germany for renters, with the average person paying €9.74 per square metre. However, it was recently overtaken by Stuttgart where every square metre sets you back an average €10.41.
The beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria following his defeat in the Austro-Prussian War, which essentially took away his power as King. He authorised the build so he could indulge in his fantasy of remaining a successful monarch, but died before the castle was complete.
St Peter’s Church is the oldest recorded parish church in Munich and is thought to be the originating point for the city. A church has stood in its place since the 11th century and has been rebuilt and expanded multiple times since, now featuring 299 steps to reach the view at the top.
Students at Munich’s Technische Universiät (Tech University) can glide across multiple four-storey slides installed in the maths department to help them get to class quickly. The slides are actually an art installation, but extend to every floor in the building for fun transport with minimal effort.
During the Thirty Years War, Sweden’s King Gustav Adolphus invaded Bavaria and threatened to burn down Munich. A compromise of peace was eventually found by negotiating the surrender of some hostages and 600,000 barrels of Hofbräuhaus beer.
