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_City Overview Located to the north of the Bavarian Alps, on the River Isar, Munich (München) is a city that combines proud provincialism with international glamour. Founded by Duke Henry the Lion, in 1158, within a century, the city had become the seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled the duchy, electorate and kingdom of Bavaria until the end of World War I. Their influence is evident in the concentration of grand Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-classical architecture adorning Munich’s streets. Perhaps most importantly, the Wittelsbach’s patronage of the arts and extensive collections provided the basis for Munich’s world-class museums and galleries. The city acquired the name München (‘home of the monks’) from its first monastery, founded in the eighth century. Monasteries have since played an important role in the history of the city, not least by starting the beer brewing traditions for which the city has received worldwide renown. Successive rulers, detecting a profitable source of tax revenue, actively encouraged beer production as a means both of raising money and keeping the populace happy at the same time. Following recent mergers, the city’s six breweries have been reduced to four – Augustiner, Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner (who now own Hacker-Pschorr) and the merged Spaten-Löwenbräu. Beer quality is still based on the Reinheitsgebot (Purity Edict), introduced by the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm IV, in 1516, which forbids the use of anything other than the core ingredients of barley, hops and water in the brewing process. Drinking a foaming Mass of beer in one of the city’s beer halls or gardens is an essential part of the Munich experience. The period between the wars represents the low point in Munich’s history and tends to be glossed over by tourist brochures. The city was the cradle of the Nazi movement after World War I and was the scene of Hitler’s first attempt to seize power – the infamous ‘Beer Hall Putsch’ on 8 November 1923. Moreover, in 1938, the treaty that surrendered a large portion of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis was signed by Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy in Munich – an act of appeasement that started the slide towards World War II. The city suffered intensive bombing damage during Allied air raids at the end of the war but the economic success of the post-war years has supported a comprehensive rebuilding and restoration programme, making the city the one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany. The citizens of Munich demonstrate a cosmopolitan refinement as well as genuine passion for the region’s many traditions and tourists flock to the city for the world famous Oktoberfest, to indulge in an orgy of beer and revelry. The stereotypical images of lederhosen-clad Bavarians quaffing vast portions of beer and sausage might apply at this time, however, with a strong cultural scene, richly endowed art collections and excellent shopping, the city certainly has more to offer than just light entertainment. With warm summers accommodating lovely garden restaurants and open-air stages and snowy winters with romantic Christmas markets, Munich is a place to visit all year round. Language Although everyone in Munich can speak standard Hochdeutsch (High German), there is also a distinctive dialect known as Münchener Bayrisch, which distinguishes the real locals from the Zuag’roasten (immigrants). Like many German dialects, it is almost incomprehensible to visitors from outside the region – including those from other parts of the country. Even when speaking Hochdeutsch, Müncheners have a strong accent and use particular words or phrases that are peculiar to the city. As in the rest of the country, young people and those involved in tourism or international business are likely to speak good English. Phrases Yes - Ja No - Nein Hello - Guten Tag Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen / Tschüs (informal) Please - Bitte Thank you - Danke My name is … - Mein Name ist … How are you? - Wie geht es Ihnen? (polite) / Wie geht es dir? (informal) I’m very well - Mir geht es gut I feel ill - Ich fühle mich unwohl How much does it cost? - Wieviel kostet das? Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch? (polite) / Sprichst du Englisch? (informal) I don’t understand - Ich verstehe nicht Where is …? - Wo befindet sich …? Entrance - Eingang / Einfahrt (vehicles) Exit - Ausgang / Ausfahrt (vehicles) Danger - Gefahr / Vorsicht Open - Geöffnet Closed - Geschlossen Toilets - Toiletten / WC Doctor - Arzt / Ärztin (female) Hotel - Hotel Restaurant - Restaurant Beer - Bier Wine - Wein Menu - Speisekarte Today - Heute Tomorrow - Morgen Monday - Montag Tuesday - Dienstag Wednesday - Mittwoch Thursday - Donnerstag Friday - Freitag Saturday - Samstag Sunday - Sonntag One - Eins Two - Zwei Three - Drei Four - Vier Five - Fünf Six - Sechs Seven - Sieben Eight - Acht Nine - Neun Ten - Zehn Twenty - Zwanzig Thirty - Dreissig Forty Vierzig Fifty - Fünfzig Sixty - Sechzig Seventy - Siebzig Eighty - Achtzig Ninety - Neunzig One - Hundred Hundert One - Thousand Tausend Getting There By Air Flughafen München Franz Joseph Strauss – Munich International Airport (MUC) Tel: (089) 97500 or 9752 1313 (24-hour flight information); fax: (089) 9755 7906. Website: www.munich-airport.de The airport is located 28km (17 miles) northeast of the city centre and is Germany’s most important international gateway, after Frankfurt. Approximately 200 destinations are served by scheduled and charter flights. Major airlines: Lufthansa (tel: (01803) 803 803; website: www.lufthansa.com) is German’s principal airline serving the airport. Munich is also served by other carriers including Air France, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Go, Hapag Lloyd, Iberia, KLM, Ryanair, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. Approximate flight times to Munich: From London is 1 hour 45 minutes; from New York is 7 hours 45 minutes; from Los Angeles is 14 hours 40 minutes; from Toronto is 8 hours 20 minutes and from Sydney is 21 hours 55 minutes. Airport facilities: Facilities include banks, bureaux de change, tourist information, an automated hotel reservation service, a 24-hour medical emergency centre, pharmacy, post office, duty-free and other shops, bars, restaurants and executive lounges. Car hire is available from ADAC, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt. Business facilities: Located in the Munich Airport Centre (MAC), the Municon Business Service Centre, Conference Centre, Nord Ebene Level 08 (tel: (089) 9759 3200; fax: (089) 9759 3206; website: www.municon.de), has well equipped conference rooms. The main Municon Business Service Centre is located in the central area, MAC Level 03, and offers credit card phones, as well as fax and copying services. There are also a number of airport executive lounges. Arrival/departure tax: Included in the price of the flight ticket. Transport to the city: Autobus Oberbayern (tel: (089) 323 040; website: www.autobusoberbayern.de) operates a bus service to Munich Hauptbahnhof (central station) every 20 minutes, daily 0620-2140 (journey time – 45 minutes), costing €9 one way or €14.50 return. During large exhibitions, another service runs to the Messe München every 30 minutes, 0800-1800 (journey time – 45 minutes) and is free with a valid exhibition entry ticket (otherwise €9-14.50). MVV (tel: (089) 4142 4344; website: www.mvv-muenchen.de) commuter trains S1 and S8 run daily, every 20 minutes 0435-0015, Saturday and Sunday from 0535 (S1) and 0405-0105 (S8) to various stops, including Munich Hauptbahnhof (journey time – 40 minutes). The fare is €8 (concessions available). A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs approximately €50. Getting There By Road Germany is covered by an excellent and extensive system of major ‘B’ roads and Autobahnen (motorways) or ‘A’ roads. Generally, there are no speed limits on Autobahnen but individually marked speed limits appear on a large percentage of motorway miles. A maximum of 130kph (81mph) is recommended. Speed limits of 130kph (81mph) or 100kph (62mph) apply outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in towns. Traffic drives on the right. Seatbelts must be worn at all times and children under 12 are forbidden to travel in the front seat without a child restraint. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Foreign drivers require proof of insurance and their national driving licence – a Green Card is strongly recommended. A country identification sticker must be displayed on the vehicle. In Munich, Mitfahrzentralen (agencies that link motorists with travellers heading for the same destination) include Citynetz Mitfahrzentrale, Adalbertstrasse 10 (tel: (089) 19444; website: www.citynetz-mitfahrzentrale.de) and Mitfahrzentrale Hauptbahnhof, Lämmerstrasse 4-6 (tel: (089) 19440). General information on travelling by car in Germany can be obtained from the Allgemeine Deutsche Automobil Club – ADAC (tel: (0180) 510 1112; fax: (0180) 530 2928); website: www.adac.de). Emergency breakdown service: ADAC (0180) 222 2222 Routes to the city: The A9 runs south to Munich from Berlin via Würzburg and Nuremberg, the A92 from Passau enters the city from the northeast, while the A96 from Lindau is to the west, connecting with the A1 to Zurich. From the Alps, the main route is the A95. From Salzburg, the A8 heads northwest via Munich towards Ulm, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, where it connects with the A5 to Frankfurt. Motorways from all directions converge on the Mittlerer Ring (middle ring road). Approximate driving times to Munich: From Salzburg – 1 hour 40 minutes; Zurich – 3 hours 30 minutes; Frankfurt – 4 hours 10 minutes. Coach services: Deutsche Touring GmbH (tel: (089) 545 8700; website: www.deutsche-touring.com) operates international Eurolines services between Munich and numerous European destinations. Coaches depart from Munich Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofsplatz 2. Tickets are available for purchase at the station or on the bus. Getting There By Rail Deutsche Bahn – DB (tel: (01805) 996 633; website: www.bahn.de) is the national service provider. Germany’s rail network is modern, extensive and highly efficient. National and international services include high-speed InterCityExpress (ICE) trains, which run between major cities in Germany and further afield, InterCity (IC) and EuroCity (EC) trains, which serve cities in Germany and Europe respectively, and InterRegio trains, which link different regions of the country. DB offers a number of rail passes, including the Bayern-Ticket, valid for one day’s travel on local trains throughout Bavaria and on the MVV public transport system. The ticket costs €21, for up to two adults and three children. Munich Hauptbahnhof (central station) is situated at Bahnhofsplatz 2, in the centre of the city. The main ticket office is open Monday to Friday 0600-2200 and Saturday and Sunday 0630-2200. For national rail enquiries, DB has a service hotline (tel: 11861, for general enquiries, or (0800) 150 7090, for recorded timetable information). Information on pan-European rail travel is available in English from the EurAide office (tel: (089) 593 889; website: www.euraide.com), in room three, along platform 11. Facilities at the station are extensive and include a hotel, shops, travel bureaux, left luggage, cafés, restaurants, bicycle hire, a children’s museum, Internet café, showers, a pharmacy, hairdressers, bureau de change, newsagents, a bank, chapel and first aid. Rail services: There is an ICE service daily, from Dortmund via Düsseldorf, Cologne and Mannheim, from Hamburg via Hanover and Kassel, as well as from Berlin via Frankfurt and Stuttgart or via Nuremberg. The ICE-Sprinter between Frankfurt and Munich takes 3 hours 33 minutes. A sleeper service, the InterCityNight (ICN), runs between Munich and Berlin or Hamburg (journey time – 8 hours). InterRegio trains run from Dresden to Munich. International services arrive from Salzburg, Lindau and Venice, via Innsbruck (journey time – 7 hours). The fastest EC service to/from Paris takes 8 hours 30 minutes. Transport to the city: Munich Hauptbahnhof is at the heart of the urban transport network, with connections to most U-Bahn lines, all S-Bahn lines and several bus and tram lines. Taxis are also plentiful outside the station. Getting Around Public Transport The comprehensive transport network is run by the Münchener Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund GmbH – MVV, Thierschstrasse 2 (tel: (089) 4142 4344; website: www.mvv-muenchen.de). This consists of an integrated system of 20 Strassenbahn (tram) lines, more than 80 bus lines, 8 U-Bahn (underground) lines and 8 S-Bahn (suburban train) lines. The area covered by the MVV is divided into concentric zones. All transport runs daily 0500-0100, with additional hourly services on night buses and trams 0100-0500. Tickets are available for purchase from blue ticket machines marked with the MVV logo and from other ticket outlets. Tickets must be validated in blue Entwerter machines, marked with the letter ‘E’, upon boarding – except on new trams, for which pre-validated tickets are available. Passengers found without a valid ticket are subject to a €30 fine. Single fares start at €2 for one zone – the cost of a Kurzstrecke (very short journey) is €1. Strips of ten tickets (Streifenkarten) are available for €9 – two strips must be validated for each zone travelled through. A one-day pass (Single-Tageskarte) costs between €4.50 for the central area and €9 for the entire network. Three-day tickets for the central zone cost €11. All of the above are available as Partner Tickets, valid for up to five adults and costing a little less than two single passes. Taxis Taxis are usually beige Mercedes and can be safely hailed on the street. Taxi-München (tel: (089) 21610 or 19410) is the central dispatching service. The flat rate is €3.60, if ordered by telephone, or €2.60, if entered at a taxi stand or on the street, plus €1.35 for every kilometre travelled. A tip of 5-10% is common practice. Limousines Rent-a-limousine, Anselweg 2 (tel: (089) 1799 8787; website: www.rent-a-limousine.com), charges from €450 for an E-Class Mercedes sedan for three hours, including the first 60km (37 miles). For each extra kilometre, the price is €1.08. Alternatively, SEL Limousine Service, Neufahrner Strasse 5-9 (tel: (089) 3293 3222; fax: (089) 3293 3100; e-mail: info@limousines.de; website: www.limousines.de), charges from €72 for three hours, including 37.5km (23 miles), plus €1 for each additional kilometre. Driving in the City Traffic can be heavy, particularly during rush hour (roughly 0700-0900 and 1600-1800) and parking is often problematic. Drivers should note that trams always have priority in the city, although driving on their tracks is permissible and usually unavoidable. Buses have priority when leaving stops. The most useful car parks include those at Karlsplatz, particularly towards Munich Hauptbahnhof, and at Färbergraben, just south of the pedestrianised Kaufingerstrasse. Parking is generally around €1.50 for half an hour, €3 for an hour or €15 for the day, although prices can vary. Car Hire Drivers need to be at least 21 years to hire a category one car. Nevertheless, small cars, such as a Smart car, can be hired at 18 years. Insurance in Germany is mandatory and drivers must hold a valid national driving licence. There are numerous car hire firms, both at the airport and in the city. Central locations of representative major providers, with late hours, include Hertz, Bahnhofsplatz 2 (tel: (089) 550 2256; website: www.hertz.de), and Avis, Im Hauptbahnhof (tel: (089) 550 2251/2; website: www.avis.de). Autoverleih Sander, Leopoldstrasse 107 (tel: (089) 348 046; website: www.sander-autoverleih.de) is a local alternative. The average price for a small car is €45, plus €20 insurance per day, although prices can vary. Bicycle & Scooter Hire Call A Bike (tel: (0700) 0522 5522; website: www.callabike.de), operated by DB, has bikes spread over Munich. By calling the number (above), a credit card account is set up, which enables customers to release the electronically locked bike by inputting a pin code. When finished, the cyclist returns the bike to a bike rack, which are situated near any major intersection. The appropriate fee is then deducted from the credit card. Charges are €1.80 initial rate, plus €0.05 per minute – after the total reaches €15 (after 8 hours 20 minutes), rental is free until 24 hours, when the process starts again. Once an account and pin code are set up, any available bike can be used at any time. Bikes can be hired in the ordinary way for €17 per day, from May to October, at Radius Touristik, in Munich Hauptbahnhof, opposite platform 32 (tel: (089) 596 113; website: www.radius-munich.com). The company also offers maps and advice and can organise tours if reserved beforehand. Spurwechsel, Sankt-Martin-Strasse 9 (tel: (089) 692 4699; website: www.spurwechsel-muenchen.de), also hires out bicycles. Allround Auto- und Motorradvermietung GmbH, Boschetsriederstrasse 12 (tel: (089) 723 2343; website: www.allroundrent.de), hires out cars, motorbikes and scooters – the latter cost from €20 for 24-hours. Business Business Profile Since World War II, Munich has developed into one of Germany’s leading economic and industrial centres. Industrial production accounts for slightly more than half of the city’s annual turnover of €201 billion in 2000, with wholesale and retail trade contributing €36.6 billion. In terms of unemployment, Munich is faring much better than the rest of Germany, with an unemployment rate of just 4% compared to the national rate of 9.4% at the start of 2001. The city’s major industries include mechanical engineering, electronics (Siemens), automotive assembly (BMW), computer industry (IBM Deutschland GmbH and Microsoft GmbH), precision mechanics, optics and construction. Approximately 25.8% of the workforce is employed in manufacturing. Meanwhile, Munich’s world-famous breweries produce 5.6 million hectolitres (123 million gallons) of beer per year and employ some 2400 people. The media sector, including 1500 publishers, one national newspaper, four regional newspapers, the state broadcasting corporation and a film-studio, employs over 100,000 people. In recent years, there has been substantial growth in high-tech industries – especially microelectronics, computer software and hardware – making the so-called ‘Isar Valley’ one of Germany’s main IT locations. The city is a centre of medical research, biochemistry, biogenetic and medical technology, with companies including Glaxo Smith Kline Pharma GmbH and GPC Biotech AG. Also significant are communications technology, financial services, instrument engineering and new materials. Measured in terms of premium revenue, Munich leads the world as a centre of insurance. The city is home to 280 domestic and foreign insurance companies, which provide employment for some 30,000 people. Among these are the headquarters of four of Europe’s leading insurers – Allianz (direct insurance), Münchener Rück (reinsurance) and DAS (legal insurance). Munich is the country’s second most important banking city (after Frankfurt), with the HypoVereinsbank and the Bayerische Landesbank both headquartered in Munich. In all, some 80 insurance and banking firms have their national headquarters here. The favourable economic climate and impressive industrial calibre of the city, combined with its numerous tourist attractions, make Munich a popular congress, trade fair and incentive destination. The Internationales Congress Center München – ICM (website: www.icm-muenchen.de) is located in the east of the city, on the Messe München International (website: www.messe-muenchen.de) trade fair grounds. Business Etiquette Business hours are Monday to Friday 0900-1800 and, although rarely, Saturday 0900-1400. Some offices close early on Fridays, at 1400. Punctuality is absolutely essential in Germany and although Bavarians may appear more relaxed than their northern counterparts, they will regard lateness as rude and incompetent. A smart appearance is also important and it is wise for business travellers to enquire as to the dress code if socialising with business contacts outside work. The usual greeting in both business and social settings is a firm handshake. Business contacts should be addressed by their surname, prefixed by Herr for a man or Frau for a woman. Where applicable, academic titles should always be used (eg Herr Doktor). Germans are known for straight talking and they will expect business counterparts from other countries to be similarly direct. In some circumstances, instead of showing approval with applause, Bavarian businessmen and women may rap their knuckles on the table instead. Business may be conducted in a social setting although usually only with well acquainted business contacts. Germans rarely invite business associates to their homes. In a social situation, one should always wait for the host to initiate business discussions. Lunch meetings, often with alcohol, are most favoured. Visitors should remember that when drinking beer, the common toast is ‘Prost’, while with wine it is the more genteel version, ‘Zum Wohl’. Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview Marienplatz, where the main pedestrianised streets converge, is the undisputed centre of the city. Weinstrasse, which becomes Theatinerstrasse, runs north from Marienplatz to Odeonsplatz, while Kaufinger Strasse/NeuhauserstrasseStrasse, which becomes Neuhauserstrasse, runs west to Karlsplatz – known locally as Stachus. Many of the city’s main attractions are in the immediate vicinity, so sightseeing can easily be done on foot or by hopping on and off trams. Worth seeing are the 16th-century Michaelskirche, with its imposing barrel-vaulted interior, and the Asamkirche, considered a masterpiece of south German Rococo architecture. The oldest part of the city is the area to the east of Marienplatz, including the Alter Hof – the original royal residence – and the world-famous Hofbräuhaus. The Residenz complex lies to the north. The wide boulevard and grand palatial architecture of Ludwigstrasse and Leopoldstrasse stretches north of Odeonsplatz to the Siegestor. These grand building schemes were commissioned by Ludwig I, as were those around Königsplatz, in the part of the city known as Maxvorstadt – home to some of Munich’s most important museums and galleries. From the Siegestor, Leopoldstrasse forms the central artery of the popular district of Schwabing. The former artists’ quarter is now considered the most fashionable part of the city, with numerous cafés, bars, restaurants and nightlife venues. To the east of Leopoldstrasse, side roads lead off to the Englischer Garten, a quiet retreat from the busy city. Tourist Information Munich Tourist Office Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz 2 Tel: (089) 233 0300. Fax: (089) 2333 0233. E-mail: tourismus@muenchen.de Website: www.muenchen-tourist.de Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1830, Sun 1000-1800. A second tourist information office is located in the Neues Rathaus, on Marienplatz. Both offices provide a hotel reservation service. Passes The München Welcome Card – available from the tourist information offices and any outlet displaying the München Welcome Card sign – entitles the holder to free travel by MVV transport in the central area and to the castles at Schleissheim, as well as up to 50% reduction on admission fees to 35 attractions. The card costs €6.50 (one day) or €15.50 (three days). Group cards are also available. The Verbundkarte costs €15 and is valid for two weeks. It allows admission to 23 state museums and collections in Munich – including the Alte and Neue Pinakothek, the Residenz and Schloss Nymphenburg. The pass is available for purchase at any participating institution. Key Attractions Around Marienplatz Marienplatz has been at the heart of Munich since the city’s foundation in 1158. The area is now a major hub for the urban transport network. For centuries, it was known as the Schrannenmarkt – the place where farmers and merchants came to buy and sell their goods – but was renamed in 1854, after the statue of the Virgin Mary in the centre. The north side of Marienplatz is entirely dominated by the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in the 19th century. Miniature statues of Bavarian rulers and other characters adorn the hall’s façade, while the 85m (279ft) tower houses a Glockenspiel consisting of 43 bells. At 1100, 1200, 1700 and 2100 daily (1100 and 1200 in winter), the bells are accompanied by mechanical marionettes that perform scenes from Munich’s history. Visitors can ascend the tower by lift. Nearby, other buildings of note include the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), which houses a delightful toy museum, and the Frauenkirche – Munich’s cathedral. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, on the site of the Romanesque Marienkirche, the austere cathedral houses the tomb of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and the legendary ‘Devil’s Footprint’ intriguingly embedded in the church floor. Neues Rathaus Marienplatz 8 Tel: (089) 2331. Transport: U-Bahn/S-Bahn Marienplatz. Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1300, Sat and Sun 1000-1900. Admission: €1.50. Altes Rathaus Toy Museum Marienplatz Tel: (089) 294 001. Transport: U-Bahn/S-Bahn Marienplatz. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1730. Admission: €3. Frauenkirche Frauenplatz 1 Tel: (089) 290 0820. Transport: U-Bahn/S-Bahn Marienplatz. Opening hours: Mon-Wed 0700-1900, Thurs 0700-2030, Fri 0700-1800 (cathedral); South tower open Mon-Sat 1000-1700 (Apr-Oct). Admission: Free (cathedral); €2 (south tower); concessions available. Münchener Residenz (Munich Residence) The Munich Residence embodies over 600 years of Bavarian history. Successive members of the Wittelsbach dynasty expanded the original 14th-century castle to create a complex of palaces around seven courtyards. The elaborate rooms contain antiques, sculptures, paintings and tapestries amassed by the Wittelsbachs between the 16th and 19th centuries – some rooms can only be visited during the morning or afternoon. Other royal treasures are on show in the Schatzkammer (Treasury). The entire Residenz complex, including the Rococo Cuvilliés-Theater, was rebuilt and restored after being reduced to rubble during World War II. Max-Joseph-Platz 3 Tel: (089) 290 671. Fax: (089) 2906 7225. Website: www.schloesser.bayern.de Transport: U-Bahn Odeonsplatz or tram 19. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600; the Cuvilliés-Theater may be closed at short notice, due to rehearsals. Admission: €5 (museum or treasury); €9 (combined ticket); €2 (Cuvilliés-Theater). The Three Pinakotheks The Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek), constructed in the 19th century, for King Ludwig I, is home to one of the world’s oldest and most important collections of paintings by European Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt and Rubens. The Neue Pinakothek (New Pinakothek), located opposite, in a modern building, was conceived by Ludwig I, as a showcase for contemporary art. The museum houses European painting and sculpture from the second half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. German painting of the 19th century forms the core of the collection. The entrance price includes an audio-guide, which is available in English. The third Pinakothek der Moderne (Pinakothek of Modern Art) is a collection of contemporary art, architecture and design, taken from disparate collections throughout the city to complement the works housed in the first two galleries. The Glyptothek (ancient Greek art) and the Antikensammlung (antiquities) are located nearby, at Königsplatz. Alte Pinakothek Barer Strasse 27 and 29 Tel: (089) 2380 5216. Fax: (089) 2380 5221. Website: www.alte-pinakothek.de Transport: U-Bahn Königsplatz; tram 27; bus 53. Opening hours: Wed and Fri-Sun 1000-1700, Tues and Thurs 1000-2000. Admission: €5; concessions available; free on Sun. Neue Pinakothek Barer Strasse 27 and 28 Tel: (089) 2380 5195. Fax: (089) 2380 5222. Website: www.neue-pinakothek.de Transport: U-Bahn Königsplatz; tram 27; bus 53. Opening hours: Mon and Fri-Sun 1000-1700, Wed and Thurs 1000-2000. Admission: €5; concessions available; free on Sun. Pinakothek der Moderne Barer Strasse 40 Tel: (089) 2380 5360. Transport: U-Bahn (U2) to Theresienstrasse. Website: www.pinakothek-der-moderne.de Opening hours: Tues, Wed, Sat and Sun 1000-1700; Thurs and Fri 1000-2000. Admission: €9 (daily card); concessions available; free on Sun. Deutsches Museum von Meisterwerken der Naturwissenschaft und Technik (German Museum of Masterpieces of Natural Sciences and Technology) The vast Deutsches Museum presents a dauntingly comprehensive survey of science and technology, from prehistoric tools to space age inventions. Permanent interactive exhibitions are organised around various themes, including Aerospace, Computers, Mining, Technical Toys and Telecommunications. Next door, the Forum der Technik (Technology Forum) houses a planetarium and an IMAX theatre. Flugwerft Schleissheim (Schleissheim Aerodrome), located at Germany’s oldest aerodrome, is a branch of the museum, which focuses on aviation history. Museumsinsel 1 Tel: (089) 21791 or 217 9433. Fax: (089) 217 9324. E-mail: info@deutsches-museum.de Website: www.deutsches-museum.de Transport: S-Bahn Isartor; U-Bahn Fraunhoferstrasse; tram 18. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700. Admission: €7.50, plus €2.00 for the Planetarium (concessions available). Flugwerft Schleissheim Effnerstrasse 18, Schleissheim Tel: (089) 315 7140. Fax: (089) 315 7145. E-mail: info@deutsches-museum.de Website: www.deutsches-museum.de Transport: S-Bahn Oberschleirssheim, then a 15-minute walk. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700. Admission: €3.50 (concessions available). Olympia Park The Olympia Park complex was laid out in 1972, for the 20th Olympic Games. It covers an area of 270 hectares (667 acres). At its heart is the giant tent-like structure of the Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium), which hosts national and international sporting events and concerts. A number of tours are available upon reservation. The Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) soars 290m (950ft) above the park, offering magnificent views from its revolving restaurant and observation terrace. Olympiapark Tel: (089) 30670 or 3067 2414 (tours). Fax: (089) 3067 2444 (tours). E-mail: besucherservice@olympiapark-muenchen.de Website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de Transport: U-Bahn Olympiazentrum; tram 20 or 21. Opening hours: Daily 0900-2400 (tower). Admission: €2.30 (tower); €4-8 (tours). Englischer Garten (English Garden) The English Garden is the largest urban park in Germany, is a quiet oasis in the heart of busy Munich. Attractions include the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), with its great beer garden, the Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse) and the Monopteros, a Greek-style temple. The Kleinhesselhoher See – a lake in the centre of the park – and the Amphitheater offer lots of activities in the summer months. The Haus der Kunst, home of the State Gallery of Modern Art (tel: (089) 2112 7137), which hosts excellent temporary art exhibitions, and the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, the Bavarian National Museum (tel: (089) 211 2401) are located on Prinzregentenstrasse, on the southern edge of the park. From Prinzregentenstrasse to Tivolibrücke Tel: (089) 3866 6390. Fax: (089) 3866 6392. Website: www.schloesser.bayern.de Transport: U-Bahn Universität, Giselastrasse or Münchener Freiheit. Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Haus der Kunst Prinzregentenstrasse 1 Tel: (089) 2112 7113. Website: www.hausderkunst.de Transport: U-Bahn Lehel; tram 17; bus 53. Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200. Admission: €5-8, depending on the exhibition. Bayerisches Nationalmuseum Prinzregentenstrasse 3 Tel: (089) 211 2401. Website: www.bayerisches-nationalmuseum.de Transport: U-Bahn Lehel; tram 17; bus 53. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700; Thurs 1000-2000. Admission: €3; concessions available; special exhibitions cost extra; free on Sun. BMW Building To place the famous car company, BMW, in an over-dimensional four-cylinder-engine was the original idea of Viennese architect K Schwanzer. The world's biggest ‘V4’, in the shape of a four-leaf clover, was erected in 1973, to accommodate modern offices. The unusual building consists of the four silver towers, flat factory halls below and a giant ‘egg cup’ at the end of the halls, which houses the BMW museum. The exhibition displays classic old-timers as well as the latest, technically up-to-date models of the prestigious German car producer. The highlight of the museum is the spectacular cinema-scope show at the end of the tour. Petuelring 130 Tel: (089) 3822 3306 or 3639. Website: www.bmw.de Transport: U-Bahn Petuelring (U2 or U3 direction Olympiazentrum). Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700 (last entry at 1600). Admission: €3 (concessions available). Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace) Located on the western edge of the city, the Nymphenburg Palace was built as the summer residence of the Wittelsbach family. Its stunning symmetrical lay out and the beautiful surrounding parkland was created in the 18th and 19th centuries. Highlights within the main palace include the late-Rococo Steinerner Saal (Hall of Stone) and the ‘Gallery of Beauties’ – a collection of portraits of beautiful women commissioned by Ludwig I. The extensive grounds conceal four miniature palaces within their landscaped confines, one of which, the Amalienburg, is considered the most attractive Rococo palace in Germany. The Nymphenburg complex also includes the Marstallmuseum, which houses royal coaches and riding equipment, as well as the Bäuml Collection of Nymphenburg porcelain, with exhibits from 1747 until the 1920s. Menzinger Strasse Tel: (089) 179 080. Fax: (089) 1790 8154. Website: www.schloesser.bayern.de Transport: Tram 17; bus 41. Opening hours: Fri-Wed 0900-1800, Thurs 0900-2000 (Apr-mid-Oct); daily 1000-1600 (mid-Oct-Mar); park is open from dawn to dusk. Admission: €3.50 (Nymphenburg Palace); free (park); €1.50 (Amalienburg); €2.50 (Marstallmuseum); €7.50 (combined ticket for all buildings); €6.50 (winter); concessions available. Further Distractions Westpark Laid out in 1983, for the International Garden Design Exhibition, Westpark offers 72 hectares (178 acres) of wilderness in the city. Three separate areas recreate the contrasting natural habitats of mountain, meadowland and dry grassland; human interference with the plants and animals is kept to a minimum. In among the natural attractions, visitors can find beer gardens, cafés and several playgrounds. In summer, a floating stage hosts concerts, theatre and open-air cinema events. Garmischer Strasse, Sendling-Westpark Transport: U-Bahn Westpark; bus 33. Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Zentrum für Aussergewöhnliche Museen (Centre for Unusual Museums) This place lives up to its name. Under one roof, visitors will find a chamber pot museum, a go-cart museum, a perfume museum, a lock museum, an Easter Bunny museum and a museum dedicated to the Bavarian-born, Austrian Empress, Sisi. Westenriederstrasse 41 Tel: (089) 290 4121. Fax: (089) 2280 2773. E-mail: info@zam-museum.de Website: www.zam-museum.de Transport: S-Bahn Isartor; U-Bahn Marienplatz; tram 17 or 18. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800. Admission: €4; concessions available. Bavaria Film Studios The tour of Germany’s ‘Film City’, where around 150 hours of cinema and TV films are produced every year, reveals the tricks of the film industry, including the making of films such us Das Boot (1981), Cabaret (1972) and Die Unendliche Geschichte, better known as The Neverending Story (1984), as well as many German TV series. English tours are available through advance booking. Bavariafilmplatz 7 Tel: (089) 6499 2304. Fax: (089) 6499 3452. Website: www.filmtour.de Transport: Tram 25. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600 (Mar-Oct); daily 1000-1500 (Nov-Feb). Admission: €10. Tours of the City The Munich City Tourist Office (tel: (089) 2333 0234 or 0204) provides official guides for walking tours of the city, and coaches for group excursions. IPS München Sightseeing & Events (tel: (089) 871 2399; fax: (089) 871 39744; e-mail info@ipsmuenchen.de; website: www.ipsmuenchen.de) organises various tours by bike and on foot, as well as bus trips for a half or full day excursions. The trips explore a wide range, from Bavaria’s beer and food culture to music and arts, literary walks and romantic Munich by night. Walking Tours Stattreisen München, Frauenlobstrasse 24 (tel: (089) 5440 4230; fax: (089) 5440 4299; website: www.stattreisen-muenchen.de), offers a number of two-hour walking tours in German for €7. Tours in English are available for groups, costing approximately €121. These must be booked in advance. Themes include the city’s role in the rise and fall of Nazism and the history of the city’s brewing industry. Departure points vary depending on the tour chosen. Original Munich Walks (tel: (089) 5502 9374; website: www.munichwalks.com) operates a two-hour ‘Discover Munich Walk’, which takes in the major sites and includes a ride on a streetcar for €10. The walks set off daily 1000 (1 May-31 October) from Munich Hauptbahnhof at the EurAide office, track 11. Various themed walks, such as ‘Hitler & the Third Reich’ and ‘Dachau Memorial Walks’ are also offered at similar prices. Bus Tours Panorama Tours, Arnulfstrasse 8 (tel: (089) 5490 7560; fax: (089) 5490 7570; website: www.autobusoberbayern.de), offers one-hour ‘Munich Highlights’ city sightseeing trips for €11, in German and English. These depart from Bahnhofplatz, in front of the Hertie department store, and cover all the main sights, including the areas of Kõningsplatz, Schwabing and Maximilianstrasse. Less comprehensive but only costing the price of the public transport fare, is a ride on the 27 tram from Karlsplatz to the Pinakotheks, then the 53 bus past the Englischer Garten, followed by yet more tram rides. The free Entdecken Sie München/Discover Munich brochure, available from the tourist office, describes the sights along the way. Bicycle Tours Cityhopper Touren, Hohenzollernstrasse 95 (tel: (089) 272 1131; fax: (089) 273 1016), runs a number of cycle tours of the city. Shorter two-hour tours take in the sights of the Old Town, while longer four-hour tours explore the city’s parks and gardens. Tours cost €14-28 (including bicycle hire) and there is a minimum of six people. Departure points vary depending on the tour chosen. Spurwechsel (tel: (089) 692 4699; fax: (089) 6937 0002; website: www.spurwechsel-muenchen.de) promises a relaxed and leisurely survey of Munich’s main attractions on its three-hour city tour. The beer tour could also prove interesting to many visitors. Tours in English are available for groups of eight or more, costing €16.50 per person (including bicycle hire). Individuals can join in the German tours for €12.50. Departure points vary depending on the tour chosen. Mike’s Bike Tours (tel: (089) 2554 3987; fax: (089) 2554 3989; e-mail: mike@bavaria.com; website: www.mikesbiketours.com) is the best bet for the solo traveller. Meeting points and departure times are listed on the website. The four-hour tour, costing €22, departs from the Old Town Hall and visits the Old Town and Englischer Garten, while the longer ten-mile tour (June-July only), costing €33, adds the Olympic Park and Nymphenburg Palace. Mike’s also offers trips to Schloss Neuschwanstein (see Excursions) from mid May to mid August. These trips cost €49, including bus and bicycle hire but not admission. Excursions For a Half Day Dachau: About 15km (nine miles) northwest of Munich and easily accessible by public transport – on the S-Bahn S2 to Dachau, then bus 724 or 726 to Gedenkstätte – the former concentration camp at Dachau makes for an unmissable, if emotionally draining excursion. The free Konzentrationslager-Gedenkstätte (Concentration Camp Memorial), Alte Römerstrasse 75 (tel: (08131) 669 970; fax: (08131) 2235; website: www.dachau.de), is open Tuesday-Sunday 0900-1700. Guided tours take place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There is an introduction in English at 1230-1300 and tours from 1330-1600. The complex consists of a central building housing a poignant museum, a reconstructed barracks and the camp crematorium (including a gas chamber that was mercifully never used). Memorials to the victims can be found throughout the grounds. The entrance to the site is still guarded by the iron gates with their infamous message – Arbeit macht frei (‘working makes one free’). There is a documentary film shown September to May. A number of operators organise tours from Munich, including Radius Tours (tel: (089) 5502 9374; website: www.radius-munich.com), which runs three five-hour excursions a day, costing €18. For a Whole Day Schloss Neuschwanstein: Variously known as the Swan King, the Mad King and the Dream King, Ludwig II (1845-86) is a legendary figure in Bavarian history. His extravagance and artistic imagination are exemplified in three elaborate castles – Schloss Herrenchiemsee to the east of Munich, and Schloss Linderhof and Schloss Neuschwanstein, situated in the Alps, to the southwest of Munich. Schloss Neuschwanstein (tel: (08362) 81035 or 81801; fax: (08362) 8990; website: www.schloesser.bayern.de) is the model for the castle at Disneyland and fully lives up to its fairytale reputation, with elaborate turrets and a stunning setting. The castle is open Friday-Wednesday 0830-1730, Thursday 0830-2000 (April-September), daily 1000-1600 (October-March) and costs €8 or €8.60 if booked in advance (tel: (08362) 930 830; fax: (08362) 930 8320; website: www.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de). A number of the companies listed in the Tours of the City section provide excursions to Neuschwanstein. The castle can also be reached by car, on the A95 toward Garmisch, then west on the 187 to where it meets the 314, and north toward Füssen. Oberammergau: Famous for its Passion Play, the small village of Oberammergau, approximately 60km (37 miles) south of Munich, off the A95 toward Garmisch, is an attractive destination for a day trip, offering an Alpine setting, rural charm, elaborately painted houses and a heritage of woodcarving. The tradition of the play began in 1634 – as a thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague – and has since been performed every ten years. Further information is available from the Verkehrs- und Reisebüro Gemeinde Oberammergau OHG, Eugen-Papst-Strasse 9a (tel: (08822) 92310; fax: (08822) 923 190; website: www.oberammergau.de). Starnberger See: Munich’s nearest lake, approximately 35km (22 miles) southwest of Munich, is a popular place for the inhabitants of the city to escape to come the weekend, for sunbathing and fun on its shore. Many German TV stars and politicians own properties around this picturesque and quiet lake, which makes it a perfect location for celebrity spotting. The S6 S-Bahn line stops at a couple of towns along the lake, from where Bayerische Seen Schifffahrt (tel: (08151) 12023 or 8061; website: www.seenschifffahrt.de) offers one- to three-hour boat cruises (from Easter to mid-October) for €7-13.50. The local tourist office, Tourismusverband Starnberger Fünf-Seen-Land, Kirchplatz 3 (tel: (08151) 90600; fax: (08151) 906 090; e-mail: info@starnberger-fuenf-seen-land.de; website: www.starnberger-fuenf-seen-land.de), can provide further information. Hotels Munich entices both business and leisure travellers all year round and accommodation is among the most expensive in Germany, especially during the famous Oktoberfest, when prices hit the ceiling. However, it is always worth asking for special rates. Hotel prices usually include VAT at 16% and a buffet breakfast. The prices quoted below are the starting prices for double rooms, including breakfast and VAT, unless otherwise specified. Business City Hilton Like most hotels belonging to this international chain, including the older Park Hilton at Am Tucherpark, the City Hilton spoils its visitors with all the luxuries of a good five-star hotel. Franz Josef Strauss Airport is just 35 minutes away via a subway connection beneath the hotel. Catering for the hectic lifestyle of the business traveller, laundry, ironing and shoe polishing services are promptly available. Spacious rooms equipped with TV, mini-bar, air conditioning and modem point come as standard. The hotel is well geared up for conferences, corporate functions for up to 550 people and presentations of all kinds. After a hard day’s work, guests can enjoy the relaxing massage, fitness and spa facilities. If work gets in the way of using the hotel’s own restaurant, room service can be ordered around the clock. Rosenheimer Strasse 15 Tel: (089) 48040. Fax: (089) 4804 4804. Website: www.hilton.com Price: From €151. Forum Hotel Munich This hotel is popular with business travellers and airline crews – one reason is the fact that Munich’s underground system is located within the same building, giving the hotel speedy access to Munich International Airport and the new Trade Fair Grounds. Located in the heart of Munich, the Deutsches Museum, Marienplatz and Hofbräuhaus are all within easy walking distance. The hotel’s conference centre, with 2100sq metres (22600sq ft), can cater for up to 2000 guests. All rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art communication technology, such as ISDN lines, computer and fax modems, Internet access, satellite and cable channels, as well as PlayStation fun. For relaxation therapy, the ‘wellness area’, with swimming pool, sauna and Turkish steam bath, is ideal. Hochstrasse 3 Tel: (089) 48030. Fax: (089) 448 8277. E-mail: munich@interconti.com Website: http://forum-munich.interconti.com Price: €150. Hotel Advokat The atmosphere of this exquisite and tasteful design hotel is calm, light and fresh, which attracts young and trendy professionals. Its bright rooms and elegant layout present a welcome haven from the hustle of the city. The colour schemes and furniture are kept in creams and whites, natural woods and plush fabrics. The hotel has 50 rooms, each with private facilities and Internet access. There are no conference facilities, although the hotel is just a short walk away from the Forum der Technik, which provides such facilities. Business travellers will enjoy the opportunity to relax on the quiet roof terrace; reading, resting, being spoilt by complimentary hot and cold drinks, fruit and snacks. Its impressive breakfast buffet, served until 1100, is well suited for morning business meetings. Centrally located, next to the Isartor Gate, the start of Munich’s main shopping, the hotel offers a great base from which to explore nearby galleries and museums. Baaderstrasse 1 Tel: (089) 216 310. Fax: (089) 216 3190. E-mail: info@hotel-advokat.de Website: www.hotel-advokat.de Price: €145. Queens Hotel Especially suited for business travellers, the modern conference centre of the Queens Hotel can accommodate all corporate gatherings. All five conference rooms come supplied with overhead projectors, ISDN lines, flipcharts and plenty of daylight. While most guest rooms impress with contemporary features and technology, ten, however, are furnished in typical Bavarian style, allowing the visitor insight into authentic traditions. The hotel is located close to the English Garden and just a short walk from the famous beer festival at the Chinese Tower – another way to find out about local customs. Effnerstrasse 99 Tel: (089) 927 980. Fax: (089) 983 813. E-mail: info@Queensgruppe.de Website: www.queens-hotels.de Price: From €125. Luxury Bayerischer Hof This prestigious residence houses a legendary institution on Munich’s hotel scene. Privately owned and run by one family for over 100 years, Bayerischer Hof welcomes an upscale international clientele. The industrialist Ernst von Siemens apparently rented one of the luxurious suites here for most of his life. The grand hotel boasts classical halls and foyers, a swimming pool on the top-floor terrace, designer shops, a theatre and a jazz nightclub all under one roof. Its opulent rooms vary in decorative style – some are very romantic and English, designed by Laura Ashley, others feature a south European country house theme or a French 19th-century palace ambience. Located in the heart of Munich, the hotel hosts many prominent functions and award parties for Germany’s high society. Nevertheless, special rates on rooms or wining and dining in its various restaurants and bars are regularly offered. Promenadeplatz 2-6 Tel: (089) 21200. Fax: (089) 212 0906. E-mail: info@bayerischerhof.de Website: www.Bayerischerhof.de Price: €235. Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten This renowned hotel is one of the most luxurious and stylish places to stay in Bavaria’s sophisticated metropolis. Situated on the splendid boulevard of Maximilianstrasse, amid the finest art galleries, theatres and shops of the city, the hotel accommodates the rich, famous and beautiful. Each of its 316 elegant rooms, which are divided into business, classic and deluxe categories, combine historic charm and magic with every possible high-tech comfort, such as telephone with voice-mail, modem point, TV with Internet and PlayStation games. The hotel’s restaurant serves award-winning traditional cuisine. If the budget is too tight for all of this, then at least the hotel bar is worth a visit, seeing as it claims to have the best pianist in the world. Maximilianstrasse 17 Tel: (089) 21250. Fax: (089) 2125 2000. E-mail: reservation@kempinski.com Website: www.kempinski-vierjahreszeiten.de Price: €345. Moderate Hotel Mercure Königin Elisabeth Situated in the pretty but more remote quarter of Neuhausen, with the airport only half an hour away and Munich Hauptbahnhof within ten minutes, Königin Elisabeth is a traditional hotel that offers good value for money. All rooms are a comfortable size and come equipped with shower, TV and mini-bar; the ones facing the courtyard at the back are quieter. Leisure is also at hand, with access to the large fitness area featuring a sauna and solarium. Leonrodstrasse 79 Tel: (089) 126 860. Fax: (089) 1268 6459. Website: www.accorhotels.com Price: €100. Monachia This fairly small hotel belongs to the mid-range Garni Hotel chain and is proof of the chain’s reliable and affordable reputation. The area might not be the most fashionable but it is conveniently close to Munich Hauptbahnhof, which is the hub for the urban as well as the national transport network. The hotel fulfils general basic standards, with TV and telephone in every room, so is for travellers with simple needs. There are 25 en-suite rooms – ten with baths and 15 with showers – and five rooms without en suite facilities. The modern decor might not be brand new but the professional team offers a friendly and generous service above expectation. The hotel also operates a special scheme for the young traveller on a low budget, called McBed. Senefelderstrasse 3 Tel: (089) 555 281. Fax: (089) 592 598. Website: www.monachia-hotel.de Price: €85 (en suite with bath). Other Recommendations Olympic This is where spoilt journalists and actors love to stay – partly because of its beautiful and trendy location and partly because of the combination of English colonial style and traditional Bavarian architecture of this rather unusual hotel. Its 32 rooms are tastefully furnished and follow a unique design scheme throughout. Olympic is the perfect hotel for anybody who requires comfortable but stylish living – and will satisfy the modern traveller. Definitely a hotspot to be seen at but still kept a secret from all but the in-crowd. Hans-Sachs-Strasse 4 Tel: (089) 231 890. Fax: (089) 2318 9199. E-mail: info@hotel-olympic.de Website: www.hotel-olympic.de Price: €130. Opera Hotel Only a short walk from the English Garden and the Bavarian National Museum, the perfectly restored and charming Opera Hotel profits not only from its central location but also from its style and originality. With attention to detail, the previous owner has decorated each room in a different colour and furnished all of them with original antiques. All floors are marble and add a majestic touch to this intimate little hotel that glows with a special private ambience. While the facilities are standard, such as TV, telephone and en-suite bathroom, the rooms are spacious and a concierge service can provide assistance for business or leisure arrangements. The Renaissance-style garden, with its shady arcades, provides peaceful shelter in hot summers, while the luxurious conservatory can be enjoyed on cold winter days. St-Anna-Strasse 10 Tel: (089) 210 4940. Fax: (089) 210 49477. E-Mail: reception@hotel-opera.de Website: www.hotel-opera.de Price: €165. Restaurants The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. Only a small percentage of all restaurants in Germany accept credit cards and visitors should check before getting a table. Prices usually include 16% VAT. Normally, a tip between 5% and 10% is expected for good service. The prices quoted below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent; they include VAT but not tip. Gastronomic BistroRestaurant, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten This hotel’s own restaurant keeps the high quality promise one would expect from a five-star hotel of its reputation. Usually a very pricey place to wine and dine, a business lunch is available from 1200 to 1500 for only €29. It is definitely one of Munich’s most glamorous places to impress a demanding client or spoil a spouse, with its elegant setting and versatile menu containing things like wild fowl and wild strawberries. Maximilianstrasse 17 Tel: (089) 7479 0611. Fax: (089) 2125 2000. E-mail: reservation.@kempinski.com Website: www.kempinski-vierjahreszeiten.de Price: €51. Wine: €26. Käfer-Schänke This very typical Bavarian gourmet restaurant has a long history of famous chefs as well as guests. Although it is one of the most upmarket places in town, the delicious Bavarian dishes with a kick of innovation, such as stuffed breast of veal or marinated rabbit, can be comfortably enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere. This big traditional restaurant is divided into 12 cosy rooms, seating from a romantic two to a jolly 40. Prinzregentenstrasse 73 Tel: (089) 41680. Fax: (089) 416 8623. E-mail: info@feinkost-kaefer.de Website: www.feinkost-kaefer.de Price: €31. Wine: €20. Königshof Located inside a grand hotel of the same name, the Königshof is a modern first-class gourmet restaurant with all the luxuries of the old school in a cultured yet sumptuous setting. Perfect service and classic haute cuisine, such as the superb loin of venison or the bouillabaisse of Bavarian fish, are generously offered with the added bonus of a fantastic view over the Stachus marketplace, the heart of Munich. Karlsplatz 25 Tel: (089) 551 360. Fax: (089) 5513 6113. E-mail: koenigshof-muenchen@geisel-hotels.de Website: www.koenigshof-muenchen.de Price: €51. Wine: €26. Restaurant Dining at Restaurant ‘Mark’s’, the signature restaurant of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (formerly Rafael), is a good way of tasting the luxurious experience of staying at this hotel. Diners arrive at the mezzanine restaurant by climbing a grand marble staircase, which opens out onto a lavish but intimate setting, with fine crystal and china, flowers and fruit nestling on the wooden tables. The cuisine is just as sumptuous – merging traditional Bavarian ingredients with Oriental influences, to create dishes like the Bavarian cream of artichokes with Breton lobster wrapped in strudel dough. Neuturmstrasse 1 Tel: (089) 227 753. Fax: (089) 222 539. E-mail: momuc-reservations@mohg.com Website: www.mandarinoriental.com Price: €54. Wine: €28. Tantris Red and black are the dominating colours of this dramatically decorated, long-established restaurant. Spaciously designed, Tantris offers an extraordinary dining room, the Garden Salon, for special occasions or conferences. In summer, tables on the elegant terrace are much sought after. The creative food, such as lobster terrine with truffle salad or squid risotto and tomato juice, follows the restaurant’s motto – a pure celebration of the senses. Johann-Fichte-Strasse 7 Tel: (089) 361 9590. Fax: (089) 3619 5922. E-mail: info@tantris.de Website: www.tantris.de Price: €60. Wine: €36. Business Acquarello This highly decorated Italian restaurant is considered by many to serve the best Italian food in Munich. Cool and upmarket, it attracts an affluent set and is a good place to impress a client. Dishes are a world away from standard pasta and pizzas and might include choices such as ravioli in white tomato sauce or braised beef. Muhlbaurstrasse 36 Bogenhausen Tel: (089) 470 4848. Fax: (089) 470 6464. E-mail: acquarello@tiscalinet.de Website: www.acquarello.de Price: €35. Wine: €30. Andechser am Dom The private brewery of the Andechs Monastery has opened a gourmet temple in the heart of Munich. The decor is unusual, with a strikingly painted ceiling, while the beer is guaranteed to be of highest brewing standards and quality. Some say it is Bavaria’s best. Nevertheless, extravagant traditional specialities, from a simple shredded sausage salad to a more deluxe pike-perch fillet with truffle, can also be enjoyed with excellent wines in a holy environment. Weinstrasse 7a Tel: (089) 298 481. Fax: (089) 291 891. E-mail: info@andechse-am-dom.de Website: www.andechser-am-dom.de Price: €31. Wine: €15. Bogenhauser Hof The ideal distraction from work and frequently visited by affluent locals, particularly politicians and businesspeople, the Bogenhauser Hof turns even business meetings into an experience. Situated in a wonderful garden with an open terrace in summer, traditional German cooking with a hint of French nouvelle cuisine – such as asparagus tart on baby spinach or beef fillet with stuffed baby pepper – is served up by an attentive, highly trained and professional staff. Ismaninger Strasse 85 Tel: (089) 985 586. Fax: (089) 981 0221. Price: €41. Wine: €26. Makassar The cuisine of this Mediterranean restaurant is bound to be influenced by its chef, who was once cook onboard Jacques Cousteau’s oceanic excursions. Not only has he brought back a lot of exciting stories but also, along various coasts, he picked up recipes and decor ideas for his tavern-style restaurant, which has a colonial ambience. Spicy dishes dominate the menu, such as the Oriental meatballs with Creolean rice, as well as traditional Mediterranean fish specialities and meat stews. Dreimühlenstrasse 25 Tel: (089) 776 959. Fax: (089) 725 4830. E-mail: info@makassar.de Website: www.makassar.de Price: €31. Wine: €15. Vinaiolo This rustic yet elegant restaurant has one Michelin star and is run by one of the best Italian chefs in Germany – Francesco Galucci. In true Italian manner, everything is taken at a relaxed pace, although with very intense flavours. Decor is low key but very stylish and there is always time for one of Francesco’s personally selected bottles of wines to accompany his original recipes, such as pumpkin risotto or lobster cannelloni. Steinstrasse 42 Tel: (089) 4895 0356. Fax: (089) 4899 7774. Website: www.vinaiolo.de Price: €40. Wine: €23. Trendy Geisel’s Vinothek This little restaurant, which specialises in excellent wines, is located in the quarter around Munich Hauptbahnhof – definitely not the most fashionable area but this does not detract from the restaurant’s charm. With a comfortably cool and almost classic interior, with vaulted ceilings calling to mind a wine cellar, this venue is a paradise for aficionados of fine wine. Its delicious food, such as ravioli filled with ricotta and other homemade pastas and fish dishes, has recently earned it a star. It deserves even more for its wonderfully friendly ambience. Schützenstrasse 11 Tel: (089) 551 370. Fax: (089) 5513 7121. E-mail: excelsior-muenchen@geisel-hotels.de Website: www.geisel-hotels.de Price: €26. Wine: €20. Orangha The trendy restaurant in the typical minimalist and understated Wallpaper style frequently holds parties for the popular lifestyle magazine. All sorts of creative people come here to meet and greet their species. Nevertheless, the service is friendly and very personal. The innovative cuisine, such as pineapple chicken or pumpkin soup, makes up for the uncomfortable but fashionable seats. Klenzestrasse 62 Tel: (089) 2023 2675. Fax: (089) 2023 2683. E-mail: office@orangha.com Website: www.orangha.com Price: €31. Wine: €26. Reitschule Open from early morning until late evening, Reitschule is one of Munich’s trendiest meeting places. Situated next to the English Garden and the University, it attracts a wide audience. Students, horseriders or businesspeople all enjoy the simple inside space in winter or the big garden in summer, the occasional live bands and the celebrity spotting. This busy but posh restaurant serves up an eclectic menu, containing dishes like the unbeatable gnocchi in prosecco sauce with spinach and parma ham or grilled chicken breast with guacamole and vegetable burrito. Königinstrasse 34 Tel: (089) 388 8760. Fax: (089) 333 422. E-mail: webmaster@cafe-reitschule.de Website: www.cafe-reitschule.de Price: €20. Wine: €15. Zest Zest has become a smart gathering place for the young in-crowd, with a cool and contemporary decor. Although very trendy with its spartan minimalism, the management has not lost the focus on serving high-quality wines and superb dishes. The fish dishes, which change daily and include exotic varieties, can be highly recommended, for example the crabcakes with pak choi or the mussels on orange noodles. Adalbertstrasse 23 Tel: (089) 280 0666. Price: €20. Wine: €15. Zoozie’s Zoozie’s is still the favourite place for a late brunch on Munich’s yuppie scene. But the huge plates, loaded with a great selection of Bavarian specialities, such as pork fillet rolls or fricassee of veal, mean that it is almost always packed, no matter what time of day or night. The venue has a continental flair and an effortless arty ambience, with café-style tables spilling onto the much sought after sun terrace – the place to be seen in the city. Unfortunately, the rich and successful clientele is reflected in the high prices charged. Wittelsbacherstrasse 15 Tel: (089) 201 0059. Fax: (089) 202 1886. E-mail: zooziez@t-online.de Website: www.zooziez.de Price: €20. Wine: €15. Budget Chinesischer Turm Not one of the most stylish places in Munich but definitely one of the most famous and popular. This is the setting for the main action during the annual Oktoberfest. Situated in the picturesque English Garden and open all year round, the Chinese Tower serves huge amounts of original Bavarian beer and traditional food, such as crispy Viennese schnitzel with potato salad or fried roesti (grated potato). Punk or politician, student or star, everybody can be seen here. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for every visitor. Englischer Garten 3 Tel: (089) 383 8730. Fax: (089) 3838 7327. E-mail: info@chinaturm.de Website: www.chinaturm.de Price: €26. Wine: €15. Friesische Teestube This small and cosy coffee shop is a secret insider’s tip for delicious but inexpensive brunch, although it is open until late evening, with options for dinner including pork patty salad or vegetable gratin. With its comfy atmosphere, it is undoubtedly the perfect place to indulge in a good book, while sipping one of the 150 different tea flavours that are on offer. Pündterplatz 2 Tel: (089) 348 519. Price: €15. Wine: €10. Hofbräuhaus Probably the most famous brewery and restaurant in Germany, the world-renowned Hofbräuhaus guesthouse is no longer appealing to the true Bavarian, seeing as it has turned into an expensive beer hall that primarily caters for tourists. The venue sprawls over three floors, with the typically Bavarian banquet hall boasting long wooden tables and dramatically low chandeliers. Vaulted ceilings and heavy decor make this a highly atmospheric venue. During summer, it is possible for guests to sit outside in the courtyard and music is often played. For those still interested, it does still serve amazing beer and original dishes, such as the typical Munich white sausages with sweet mustard or the rich roast pork. Am Platzl 9 Tel: (089) 221 676 or 290 1360. Fax: (089) 227 586. E-mail: webmaster@hofbraeuhaus.de Website: www.hofbraeuhaus.de Price: €20. Wine: €10 or €5.70 for a litre of beer. Il Soprano This is, without doubt, Munich’s smallest, loudest and busiest pasta and fish restaurant. Situated directly at the great market hall in the ice house, Il Soprano exudes Italian flair, making customers feel they are in the middle of Naples. Great, inexpensive food, like spaghetti in sun-dried tomato sauce or penne with creamy prawns, can be enjoyed as a quick snack or indulged in all evening, while chatting about Italian politics and football with the waiters. Kochelseestrasse 8 Tel: (089) 725 5288. Price: €15. Wine: €15. Tizian This relaxed and friendly restaurant serves great pasta and pizzas and is a good place for one to chill. On hot days guests can sit on the terrace near the fountain. Tizian is a lively place on Friday and Saturday night, when there is live music on offer. The restaurant is decorated in an Art Nouveau style, with yellow walls hung with a changing series of paintings and photographs. Lunch is good value and evening meals are tasty Italian dishes, such as gnocci with white wine, cream and mushrooms or tagliatelle with lamb and white wine sauce, as well as some good pizzas. Breakfast is served until 1700 at the weekend and costs from €3.45 to €29. Maxburgstrasse 4, Innenstadt Tel: (089) 2916 3938. Price: € 15-20. Wine: €25. Personal Recommendations Dallmayr Dallmayr is a vast delicatessen most famous for its coffee – which is available to buy as delightful brown beans or in a cup, for one to sit down and savour, as a break from a shopping trip just outside at Marienplatz. The light and airy first-floor restaurant exudes elegance and is often occupied by the aristocratic circle, wearing horseriding and hunting outfits. It does classy lunch snacks, such as seafood and carpaccio, and is also fantastic for indulging in oysters and lobster in the evening. Dienerstrasse 13-14 Tel: (089) 21350. Fax: (089) 213 5167. E-mail: partyservice@dallmayr.de Website: www.dallmayr.de Price: €23. Wine: €18. Durnbrau This no nonsense restaurant is decorated in rustic Bavarian style, with long wooden tables and a terrace where guests can eat in the summer, enjoying the lunch for €6.50. It is a good place in which to indulge in hearty German fare, with huge glasses of beer and big plates of ox meat served in traditional style with potatoes and cabbage. Durnbraugasse 2, Innenstadt Tel: (089) 222 195 Fax: (089) 221417 Price: €15. Beer: €3. Hunsingers Pacific The chef, Werner Hunsinger, personally enjoys cooking extraordinary fusion food for adventurous palates. Octopus with red beans is just a minor challenge. Nevertheless, his creations are most ingenious and worth a try. Asian surprise specialities and extraordinary fish dishes are on the menu. Dark colours and discreet lighting make it the perfect place to get to know somebody better, although a good business lunch is also available, costing €9.50. Maximilianplatz 5, Innerstadt Tel: (089) 5502 9741. Fax: (089) 5502 9742. Price: €50. Wine: €23. Mangostin United under one roof are three exotic experiences – Papa Joe’s Colonial Bar and Restaurant, serving colonial food, Keiko, a Japanese restaurant, and Lemon Grass with Thai cuisine and an open wok kitchen. All three are in the same price range and offer Asian delicacies, from sushi, tempura and bento to a variety of stir fries and noodle dishes. Decor is Asian with East Asian sculptures and plants decorating the space. The biggest attraction, however, must be the huge Mangostin garden – the first Asian beer garden in Munich. A real pleasure on a warm summer evening. Maria-Einsiedel-Strasse 2, Thalkirchen Tel: (089) 723 2031. Fax: (089) 723 9847. E-mail: mangostin@kuffler-gastronomie.de Website: www.kuffler-gastronomie.de Price: €50. Wine: €18. Stadtcafe There might be some similarities with a rather cold and unwelcoming waiting room of a train station but despite its modest interior design, Stadtcafe is usually packed with movie directors, talented new actors and film critics – it is close to the film museum. Conversations about movies get spiced up over great French wines and seductive nouvelle cuisine, such as a simple tomato mozzarella caprese or a mouthwatering duck parfait. St-Jakobs-Platz 1 Tel: (089) 85748. Website: www.stadtmuseum-online.de Price: €20. Wine: €15. Sport Football is arguably Munich’s favourite sport. The city supports two first-league (Bundesliga) football teams – FC Bayern-MüncheneV, Säbener Strasse 51 (tel: (089) 699 310 or 6993 1333, for bookings; website: www.fcbayern.de) and TSV 1860 (tel: (089) 6427 85100 or (01805) 601 860, for bookings; website: www.tsv1860.de), otherwise known as the Lions. The former is the biggest club in the country and one of the most successful clubs in Europe. Both teams play at the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21 (tel: (089) 30670; website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de). Two major tennis tournaments are held in Munich each year – the BMW Open (website: www.iphitos.de) takes place in the summer/spring, while the indoor Compaq Grand Slam Cup is in the autumn. One of the biggest events of the year is the November Six-Day Bicycle Race in the Olympiahalle. Regular horseracing events take place at the Galopp-Rennbahn, in München-Riem, Graf-Lehndorff-Strasse 36 (tel: (089) 945 5230; website: www.galoppriem.de), and at the Trabrennbahn München-Daglfing, Rennbahnstrasse 35 (tel: (089) 9300 0010; website: www.daglfing.org). The best general source for tickets to sporting events is München Ticket (tel: (089) 5481 8181; fax: (089) 5481 8154; website: www.muenchenticket.de). München Ticket also has a counter in the tourist information office in the Rathaus, Marienplatz. In addition to enjoying the plentiful sports facilities and parks in the city, residents and visitors can make use of Munich’s enviable proximity to the Alps, by heading south for hiking, mountain-biking and climbing during the summer, or for skiing and other snow sports in the winter. The Bayerischer Landessportverband, Georg-Brauchle Ring 93 (tel: (089) 1570 2400; website: www.blsv.de), can provide information on sporting opportunities throughout the state. The Sportamt, Sachsenstrasse 2 (tel: (089) 2333 2103; website: www.sport-32103 or www.sport.musin.de), has details of all sports clubs and facilities in the city. Fitness centres: The Olympia-Schwimmhalle, Olympic Park, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21 (tel: (089) 3067 2290; website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de), has a fitness centre, sauna and solarium. The centre is open 0700-2300 (except Tuesday and Thursday, when it is closed 1730-2100). Entrance is €3 or €11 with a sauna. Golf: Non-members are welcome at Golf München-Riedhof, Egling-Riedhof (tel: (08171) 21950; website: www.golf.de/riedhof). This 18-hole course is open from Tuesday to Sunday. The same applies for Golf Club München Nord-Eichenried, Münchenstrasse 57, in Eichenried (tel: (08123) 239 3080; website: www.gc-eichenried.de). Rates are €50-90 for one round. A valid golf pass stating a maximum handicap of 32 is required. Swimming: There are 17 municipal pools in Munich, ranging from outdoor Freibäder, set in spacious parkland, to indoor pools with spa facilities. The Olympia-Schwimmhalle, Olympiapark, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21 (tel: (089) 3067 2103; website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de) is Europe’s largest indoor swimming venue, complete with a fitness centre, sauna and solarium (see above). Müllerisches venue, complete with fitness centre, sauna and solarium. The centre is open 0700-2300 (except Tuesday and Thursday, when it is closed 1730-2100) and a swim costs €3, while a sauna plus swim costs €11. The Müllersches Volksbad, Rosenheimer Strasse 1 (tel: (089) 2361 3434), has an indoor pool and steam rooms all housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building. Tennis: Tennis courts, costing between €16 and €33 per hour, are located at Rothof, Denningerstrasse 120 (tel: (089) 9280 8080), and Sport Scheck, Allwetter-Nord, at Unterfohring (tel: (089) 9928 7420). The Tennisanlage im Olympiapark, Olympiapark (tel: (089) 3067 2690; website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de), charges between €6.50 and €12 per hour. Wintersports: The highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze (website: www.zugspitze.de), is located a one-and-a-half-hour train ride south of Munich, near the popular ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A day’s ski pass for the Zugspitze costs €34 for adults (concessions are available). Season passes for the whole Garmisch area are also available for €449. Shopping Shopaholics are in for a treat in Munich. The city’s shops combine international names and designer goods with traditional Bavarian crafts. Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, in the city centre, are the main shopping areas and are lined with large department stores and international chains. Smaller, more exclusive boutiques can be found around Maximilianstrasse and Theatinerstrasse. In Schwabing, Leopoldstrasse is a trendy shopping street with interesting boutiques tucked away on the surrounding streets. Viktualienmarkt, the bustling, colourful food market at the eastern end of the Marienplatz pedestrian zone, is one of the city’s major attractions. The market is open Monday-Friday 1000-1800 and Saturday 1000-1500. It has existed on the site since 1807 and is a focal point of life in Munich. At the heart of the market is a traditional maypole surrounded by a beer garden. Typical Bavarian gifts might include traditional clothing (Trachten) such as Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women, beer steins (Bierkrug), wood carvings (Holzschnitzereien), pewter-ware (Zinn), the famous Nymphenburg porcelain and speciality foods – such as Lebkuchen and Christmas Stollen. Loden-Frey, Maffeistrasse 79, and Rudolf Mooshammer, Maximilianstrasse 14, are the shops to head for traditional, Bavarian-style togs. Larger shops, department stores and supermarkets are open Monday to Friday 0900-2000 and Saturday 0900-1600. Smaller outlets are open Monday to Friday until 1830 and might close for lunch. Mehrwertsteuer (VAT) of 16% is included in the price of purchased items. Visitors from non-EU countries are entitled to a tax refund of up to 10% on goods worth more than €30 from participating stores displaying the Europe Tax-Free logo. Culture Munich can boast an impressive cultural pedigree. It is significant that the head office of the German cultural organisation, the Goethe Institut, is based here. The city was a major centre for the arts during the 19th century, under the patronage of Ludwig I and II. At the beginning of the 20th century, Munich found itself at the forefront of the new Expressionist movement. Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) group – founded in 1911, by Russian-born Wassily Kandinsky and Munich-born Franz Marc – is considered a seminal influence in the development of modern art. Other members of the group included August Macke and Paul Klee. The most important works of the group are on permanent show at the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Luisenstrasse 33 (tel: (089) 2333 2000; website: www.lenbachhaus.de). The gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1800 and entrance is €4-6. The English-language monthly Munich Found (website: www.munichfound.de) provides cultural listings information. The tourist office also puts out a useful monthly programme. In addition to the box offices mentioned below, the best general source for tickets is München Ticket (tel: (089) 5481 8181; fax: (089) 5481 8154; website: www.muenchenticket.de). München Ticket has a counter in the tourist information office in the Rathaus, Marienplatz. Music: Munich’s musical heritage is dominated by the imposing figure of Richard Wagner, who composed many of his works for Ludwig II. His successors, Richard Strauss and Carl Orff, were both born in Munich. In addition, Mozart often performed in the city and Gustav Mahler conducted the world premiere of his eighth symphony here, in 1910. Nowadays, Munich boasts three international orchestras – the Münchener Philharmoniker (website: www.muenchnerphilharmoniker.de), the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (website: www.br-online.de/symphonieorchester) and the Bayerische Staatsorchester (website: www.staatsorchester.de). The Gasteig, Rosenheimer Strasse 5 (tel: (089) 480 980; website: www.gasteig.de), is the city’s main cultural and performing arts centre, which includes the Konzertsaal, the Carl-Orff-Saal and the Kleiner Konzertsaal. The Nationaltheater, Max-Joseph-Platz 2 (tel: (089) 218 501), is the home of the Bavarian State Opera (website: www.bayerische.staatsoper.de) and hosts the annual international Opera Festival in July. Opera and chamber music can also be enjoyed in the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, Gärtnerplatz 3 (tel: (089) 2024 1363; website: www.staatstheater-am-gaertnerplatz.de), and in the lavish 18th-century Rococo surroundings of the Altes Residenztheater, Residenzstrasse 1 (tel: (089) 296 836), usually known as the Cuvilliés-Theater, after its original designer. Tickets for the Nationaltheater, Staatstheater and Cuvilliés-Theater are available from a central bookings hotline (tel: (089) 2185 1920). Theatre: Classic German drama is performed by the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel (website: www.bayerischesstaatsschauspiel.de) at the Residenztheater, Max-Joseph-Platz 1 (tel: (089) 218 501 or 2185 1920, for bookings). The Münchener Kammerspiele, Maximilianstrasse 26-28 (tel: (089) 2333 0368; website: www.muenchner-kammerspiele.de), is one of the most important theatres in Germany and counts the young Bertolt Brecht among its former dramatists. The company will be performing at other venues, until renovation work is completed in spring 2003. Brecht also worked at the Deutsches Theater, Schwanthalerstrasse 13 (tel: (089) 5523 4360; website: www.deutsches-theater.de), which now stages popular shows and musicals. Experimental theatre venues include Theater im Marstall, Marstallplatz 4 (tel: (089) 2185 1940), and Teamtheater Tankstelle, Am Einlass 2a (tel: (089) 260 4333). Circus-Krone (tel: (089) 545 8000; fax: (089) 550 4255; website: www.circus-krone.de), the world’s largest touring circus, performs in a permanent big top, at Zirkus-Krone-Strasse 1-6, during the winter. Dance: Immobile but enchanting, the carved figures of the Moriskentänzer (Morris Dancers) by Erasmus Grasser (1480) are a highlight of the Stadtmuseum (City Museum), St-Jakobs-Platz 1 (tel: (089) 2332 2370; website: www.stadtmuseum-online.de). The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1800 and costs €2.50. More lively is the Bavarian State Ballet (website: www.bayerisches.staatsballett.de), which performs at the Nationaltheater, Max-Joseph-Platz 2 (tel: (089) 218 501). The group hosts an international ballet week in spring each year. Film: About 50 films are produced in Munich each year. The city has connections with some of the key directors in new German cinema, including Rainer Werner Fassbinder of Lili Marlene (1980) fame, who studied drama here, and Werner Herzog, who was born in Munich in 1942. Both directors worked at the Bavaria Film Studios, in Geiselgasteig, which were founded in 1919. Visitors can enjoy a tour through the film studios (see Further Distractions). Films set in the city include white-knuckle-ride thriller Das Experiment (2001), based on the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment, and Carnival Story (1954), the high-wire, old-world romance directed by Bavarian born Kurt Neumann, who is probably more famous for his later work, The Fly (1958). The Filmmuseum in the Stadtmuseum, St-Jakobs-Platz 1 (tel: (089) 2332 4150; website: www.stadtmuseum-online.de), has a monthly schedule of classic and arthouse films dedicated to a particular director, actor or genre. Most films are shown in the original language. There is a huge IMAX screen at Forum der Technik, Museumsinsel 1 (tel: (089) 2112 5180; website: www.fdt.de), while Cinema, Nymphenburgerstrasse 31 (tel: (089) 552 555; website: www.cinema-muenchen.com) has a strong programme of international and English-language screenings. Cultural events: Oktoberfest takes place at the end of September each year, on the Theresienwiese (known as the Wiesn). It is an orgy of beer, men in lederhosen, women in dirndls, drunken tourists, oom-pah bands and terrifying fairground rides, all centred around 14 huge beer tents representing the city’s breweries. The 16-day festivities are opened by the Lord Mayor, who taps the first barrel with the exclamation ‘O’ zapft is!’ More high spirits are on display during the January-February Fasching, Munich’s carnival season, characterised by fancy dress balls. A sedate alternative is offered by the three traditional street markets/fairs (Dult) that are held annually (April, July and October) on Mariahilfsplatz, in the Auer district (website: www.auerdult.de). In December, Marienplatz is transformed into the world-famous Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market). Bavarian choirs sing from the town hall balcony and a huge Christmas tree illuminates the scene. The summer (June-July) and winter (November-December) Tollwood festivals (tel: (089) 383 8500; website: www.tollwood.de) provide a popular mix of theatre, opera, music and modern circus performances. Literary Notes Thomas Mann moved to Munich as a young man and worked for the satiric journal, Simplicissimus, before taking up writing as a career. His first great novel, Buddenbrooks (1900), was finished in the city. The 20th-century writers associated with Munich include Siegfried Sommer, who wrote Und Keiner Weint Mir Nach (1996), and Alfred Andersch, author of Sansibar oder der letzte Grund (1999), who was born in Munich in 1914 and spent a short time in the concentration camp in Dachau, for his left-wing views. Young visitors will enjoy the works of Erich Kästner – Emil und die Detektive (1929), otherwise known as Emil and the Detectives, and Das doppelte Lottchen (1949), which was filmed as Two Times Lotte (1950). Nightlife The area around Münchener Freiheit in Schwabing is the best known nightlife district, with innumerable bars, cafés, restaurants, jazz venues, dance clubs and crowds of students and youthful revellers, especially on Occamstrasse. Haidhausen offers a more alternative scene. The Glockenbachviertel, located south of Sendlinger Tor, is the focus of the gay scene, meanwhile just to the east, hip new bars are opening up on the streets radiating from Gärtnerplatz. Attracting young partygoers out of the centre is Kunstpark Ost, on Grafingerstrasse (website: www.kunstpark.de), the biggest cultural, entertainment and sports complex in Germany. Located on the site of a former dumpling factory, the 80,000-sq-metre (860,000-sq-ft) venue includes concert halls, numerous bars, clubs and live music venues, restaurants, several art studios and sports facilities. The city has a range of bars and clubs to suit most tastes but admission and drink prices can be shockingly high and bouncers have a reputation for being particularly choosy. There is a trend towards bar-bistros, bar-cafés and, as in the rest of Germany, Feierabend discos, which run 1800-2200 on weeknights and are increasingly popular with a slightly older crowd, bopping to 60s, 70s or 80s music. The hippest club nights in the city are often one-offs, so it pays to ask around. Licensing laws are not restrictive and Munich’s clubs and pubs stay open until late. The legal drinking age in pubs and clubs is 18 and the average price of a drink is €3 for half a litre of beer at a beer hall, or a bottle of beer in an average bar or club. Munich Found (website: www.munichfound.de) has English-language listings, while Flyer (website: www.flyer.de) and Prinz (website: www.prinz.de) are its German-language counterparts. Bars: One of several good bars and cafés on Türkenstrasse, Alter Simpl, 57 Türkenstrasse, is famous for its links to the satirical magazine Simplicissimus. It retains its bohemian ambience and is open until 0400 at the weekend. Havana Club, Herrnstrasse 30, offers an atmospheric interior reminiscent of 1950s Cuba, not to mention a vast array of Cuban rum and cigars. Starsky’s, located in the Kunstpark Ost, is true to its name, with lurid 1970s decor and retro funk and soul music. Tresznjewski, Theresienstrasse 72, has got that arty flair and long after midnight, when it is usually jam-packed, it becomes very flirtatious, as does legendary Schumann’s, Maximilianstrasse 36, where the cocktails are to die for. Sax, Hans-Sachs-Strasse 5, draws a mixed crowd. If you want to find the latest hip gay bars, the SUB gay centre, Müllerstrasse 43, serves up info as well as drinks. The Hofbräuhaus, Platz 9, is a Munich institution, although for a less raucous experience, head to the Augustiner Gaststätte, Neuhauser Strasse 27. If you prefer your beer al fresco, visit the beer garden in the colourful Viktualienmarkt (see Shopping). For an alternative to beer, head to the Pfälzer Weinprobierstube, Residenzstrasse 1, for a good selection of German wines and a buzzing atmosphere. Casinos: The Spielbank Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Am Kurpark, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is open daily 1500-0200 (slot machines from 1200). Players need to provide a valid ID showing they are 21 years or older when paying the €2.50 entrance fee. Dress code is smart (jacket and tie for men). The Casino-Bus makes the 90-minute trip from Munich (Monday-Friday at 1715, Saturday at 1400) for €7.50 return. Clubs: Kunstpark Ost, Grafingerstrasse (website: www.kunstpark.de), has many good nightclubs. These include the Bongo Bar, an elegant club, with live entertainment that attracts a thirty-something clientele, Natraj Temple, a thoroughly exotic and progressive venue featuring a soporific chill-out room and hippie decor, and Nachtkantine, the best place for house and techno music, with guest appearances by well-known DJs. At Milchbar, also in Kunstpark Ost, late-night clubbers party on past daybreak. Elsewhere, top spots include the Alabamahalle, Domagkstrasse 33, with varied club nights in a massive space. Far more intimate, the Atomic Café, Neuturmstrasse 5, is a trendy spot in the city centre, featuring pop and rock music, touring DJs and some live bands. New York, Sonnenstrasse 25, is the most reliably fun gay club. If you’re feeling flash, head to Maximilian’s, Maximilianplatz 16, or P1, Prinzregentenstrasse 1. These upmarket clubs, frequented by Munich’s jet set, are exclusive, expensive and notoriously difficult to get into. To warm up for these high-profile locations, go to Park-Cafe, Sophienstrasse 7, or Reitschule, Königinstrasse 34. Live music: Muffathalle, Zellstrasse 4, is a major popular culture venue with live music, theatre and dance performances. The on-site café serves food and drink during the day, transforming into a fun and friendly club venue in the evenings. Big-name acts perform at the Olympiahalle, next to the Olympic Stadium, as well as at the Colloseum and Babylon clubs in Kunstpark Ost, Grafingerstrasse (website: www.kunstpark.de). Up-and-coming rock bands also perform at Kunstpark Ost, in the informal atmosphere of the Keller. The Nachtcafé, Maximiliansplatz 5, serves up excellent live music, daily from 2100; as the name suggests, the venue closes late (0600). Admission is free but food and cocktails are pricey. If country and western is your scene, try the Rattlesnake Saloon, Schneeglöckchenstrasse 91, on the outskirts of town. Top-quality live jazz, including appearances by world stars, can be enjoyed daily from 2100 at Unterfahrt im Einstein, Einsteinstrasse 42, and at Mister B’s, Herzog-Heinrich-Strasse 38. City Statistics Location: Bavaria (Bayern), southeast Germany. Country dialling code: 49. Population: 1,247,934 (city); 2,446,800 (metropolitan area). Ethnic mix: 77.5% German, 22.5% other. Religion: 46.4% Roman Catholic, 16.5% Protestant, 0.2% Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian minority groups, remaining 36.9% are undeclared (to avoid paying religious tax). Time zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard. Average January temp: 1°C (34°F). Average July temp: 23°C (73.5°F). Annual rainfall: 905mm (35.7 inches). Special Events Fasching, Munich’s carnival season, characterised by fancy dress balls, early Jan- early Feb, various venues Fasching Sunday, parade, first Sun of Mar, city centre Ballet Week, Mar, Bayerisches Staatsballett Starkbierausschank (Strong Beer Season), mid-late Mar, traditional breweries Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival), mid Apr-early May, Theresienwiese Documentary Film Festival, late Apr-early May, Filmstadt München and various cinemas Auer Maidult (May Fair), nine-day traditional street market and fair (website: www.auerdult.de), late Apr-early May, Mariahilfplatz BMW Open, tennis championship (website: www.iphitos.de), late Apr-early May, Tennisstadion Iphitos Lange Nacht der Musik (Long Night of Music), music performances (website: www.muenchner.de), May, 100 various venues Stadtgründungsfest (City’s Founding Festival), Munich’s birthday celebrations, early/mid Jun, city centre International Film Festival (website: www.filmfest-muenchen.de), late Jun-early Jul, Gasteig and various cinemas Open Air auf dem Odeonsplatz (Open Air on Odeonsplatz), Munich Philharmonic Orchestra open-air concert (website: www.klassik-am-odeonsplatz.de), late Jun, Odeonsplatz Münchner Stadtlauf (Munich City Run), late Jun/early Jul, throughout the city Opernfestspiele, opera festival (website: www.muenchner-opern-festspiele.de), late Jun-late Jul, various venues Tollwood Sommerfestival (Tollwood Summer Festival), music, cabaret and theatre (website: www.tollwood.de), mid Jun-mid Jul, Olympiapark Süd Christopher Street Day, gay and lesbian pride festival (website: www.csd-munich.de), mid Jul, Marienplatz Auer Jakobidult, nine-day traditional street market and fair (website: www.auerdult.de), late Jul-early Aug, Mariahilfsplatz Summer Festival, Aug, Olympiapark Oktoberfest, beer festival, late Sep-early Oct, Theresienwiese Medien Marathon, city marathon (website: www.medienmarathon.de), mid Oct, start at Olympiapark, finish at Stadium of the Zentralen Hochschulsportanlage, Connollystrasse 32 Auer Kirchweihdult, nine-day traditional street market and fair (website: www.auerdult.de), mid-late Oct, Mariahilfsplatz Münchner Bücherschau (Munich Book Show), book fair (website: www.buchhandel-bayern.de), Nov, Gasteig Tollwood Winterfestival (Tollwood Winter Festival), music, cabaret and theatre (website: www.tollwood.de), late Nov-late Dec, Theresienwiese Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market), late Nov-24 Dec, Marienplatz Cost of Living On 1 January 2002, the Deutschmark was replaced by the Euro. One-litre bottle of mineral water: €0.90 33cl bottle of beer: €0.70-1 Financial Times newspaper: €2.40 36-exposure colour film: €4 City-centre bus ticket: €2 Adult football ticket: €34-90 Three-course meal with wine/beer: €25 1 Euro (€1) = £0.68; US$1.07; C$1.62; A$1.80; DM1.96 1 Deutschmark (DM1) = €0.51 Currency conversion rates as of February 2003 Business Services Business Contacts: Industrie- und Handelskammer für München und Oberbayern Max-Josef-Strasse 2, 80333 Munich Tel: (089) 51160. Fax: (089) 511 6306. E-mail: ihkmail@muenchen.ihk.de Website: www.muenchen.ihk.de German-British Chamber of Industry and Commerce (UK) Mecklenburg House, 16 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB Tel: (020) 7976 4100. Fax: (020) 7976 4101. E-mail: mail@ahk-london.co.uk Website: www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk German-American Chamber of Commerce (USA) 31st Floor, 40 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 Tel: (212) 974 8830. Fax: (212) 974 8867. E-mail: info@gaccny.com Website: www.gaccny.com Canadian-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Canada) Suite 1410, 480 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1V2 Tel: (416) 598 3355. Fax: (416) 598 1840. E-mail: info.toronto@germanchamber.ca Website: www.germanchamber.ca German-Australian Chamber of Commerce (Australia) Level 2, St Andrews House, Sydney Square, Sydney, NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9265 2200. Fax: (02) 9265 2211. E-mail: info@germany.org.au Website: www.germany.org.au Business centre Instant Office Management Stefan-George-Ring 29, 81929 Munich Tel: (089) 930 860. Fax: (089) 930 5184. E-mail: info@iom-center.de Web site: www.iom-center.de IOM offers a one-stop business support service. The centre in Zamilla Park includes well-equipped office space and conference rooms. It offers video-conferencing, word-processing, secretarial, call-forwarding and translation services. Business library Bayerische StaatsBibliothek Ludwigstrasse 16, 80539 Munich Tel: (089) 286 380. Fax: (089) 2863 82200. Email: info@bsb.badw-muenchen.de Website: www.bsb.badw-muenchen.de Convention and meeting planners Convention Bureau Munich Tourist Office, Sendlinger Strasse 1, 80331 Munich Tel: (089) 2333 0213/6. Fax: (089) 2333 0251/64. E-mail: tourismus@ems.muenchen.de or tourismus.kongressbuero@ems.muenchen.de Website: www.munich-tourist.de This should be the first point of contact for anyone planning a convention, congress or meeting in Munich. Icontas Service Wamslerstrasse 7, 81829 Munich Tel: (089) 427 4250. Fax: (089) 4274 2525. E-mail: icontas-service@t-online.de Website: www.euromic.com Icontas offers a comprehensive convention organisation service. Accommodation and sightseeing programmes can also be arranged. Interplan Kongress- und Besucherdienst Albert-Rosshaupter-Strasse 65, 81369 Munich Tel: (089) 548 2340. Fax: (089) 5482 3444. E-mail: info@i-plan.de Website: www.i-plan.de Interplan offers advice on convention and exhibition management, sponsorship, acquisition, publicity, public relations and advertising. Convention and meeting venues Internationales Congress Center München (ICM) Messe München GmbH, Messegelände, 81823 Munich Tel: (089) 9492 3001. Fax: (089) 9492 3009. E-mail: info@messe-muenchen.de Website: www.icm-muenchen.de The trade fair complex (website: www.messe-muenchen.de) incorporates this state-of-the art venue, which has seating and facilities for more than 6500 people. Kleine Olympiahalle Olympia Park München GmbH, Louis Spiridon Ring 21, 80809 Munich Tel: (089) 30670. Fax: (089) 3067 2222. E-mail: info@olympiapark-muenchen.de Web site: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de This vast congress/exhibition area offers the latest technical equipment. Europäisches Patentamt (EPA) Erhardtstrasse 27, 80331 Munich Tel: (089) 23990. Fax: (089) 2399 4465. This venue has a foyer for exhibitions, simultaneous translation equipment and video conference facilities. The largest room accommodates 460 people. Translation services Baker and Harrison Bergsonstrasse 65, 81245 Munich Tel: (089) 811 9310. Fax: (089) 814 4222. E-mail: cb@vermont.m.isar.de or cb@bakerharrison.de Website: www.bakerharrison.de Elling Übersetzer Team GmbH Landwehrstrasse 35, 80336 Munich Tel: (089) 595 438. Fax: (089) 557 250. Unusual conference venue Circus Krone-Bau Zirkus-Krone-Strasse 1, 80335 Munich Tel: (089) 545 8000. Fax: (089) 550 4255. Website: www.circus-krone.com The winter residence of the world’s largest touring circus is available in the summer months for conferences and receptions with a seating capacity of up to 2800. History 14 Jun 1158 Munich is founded by Duke Henry the Lion 1175 First fortification built 1214 Earliest documentary evidence of Munich as a Stadt (city) 1240 Power in the city passes from the bishops of Freising to the Wittelsbach family 1293 Construction of the new city wall begins 1385 Construction of the Neuveste royal residence begins 1468 Foundation of the Frauenkirche is laid 1470 Old City Hall is constructed 1487 ‘Beer Order’ by Duke Albrecht IV forms the basis for the quality of Munich beer 1504 Munich becomes the capital of the Duchy of Bavaria 1516 Reinheitsgebot,introduced by Duke Wilhelm IV, establishes a standard for future beer production in the city 1583 St Michael’s Church is constructed 1623 Munich becomes the city residence of the Prince Regent of Bavaria 1632 Occupation of Munich by King Gustav of Sweden (Thirty Years’ War) 1663 Construction of the Theatinerkirche and Nymphenburg Palace begins 1705-14 Munich is ruled by the Hapsburgs 1751 Construction of the Residenztheater begins 1759 Bavarian Academy of Sciences is founded 1789 Englischer Garten is created to Count Rumford’s specifications 1806 Munich confirmed as the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria 1810 First Oktoberfest inaugurated to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen 1818 Bavaria becomes the first German state to receive a written constitution. The Landtag (parliament) sits in Munich, which is also the seat of the archdiocese of Munich and Freising 1825-48 Reign of Ludwig I; many of the city’s finest buildings are constructed by architects Leo von Klenze and Friedrich von Gärtner 1826 The Bavarian university moves from Landeshut to Munich 1848-64 Reign of Maximillian II 1864-86 Reign of Ludwig II – culture flourishes; Richard Wagner is based in Munich and many of his operas receive their world premieres in the city 1867 Start of construction begins on the new City Hall 1882 Munich hosts the first exhibition of electricity in Germany; electric light is introduced to the city 1906 Foundation of the Deutsches Museum is laid 1907 Peter Ostermayr establishes a film production company at Geiselgasteig 1918 Kurt Eisner proclaims the Free State of Bavaria 1923 Adolf Hitler attempts to seize power in the ‘Beer Hall Putsch’ 1933 National Socialists (Nazis) under Hitler seize power at City Hall 30 Apr 1945 American troops occupy the city 1963 Reopening of the Nationaltheater, home of the Bavarian State Opera 1972 Olympic Games held in Munich 1974 Football World Cup held in Munich 1981 Opening of the rebuilt Neue Pinakothek 17 May 1992 Operation begins at Munich ‘Franz-Josef-Strauss’ Airport 1994 500th anniversary of the Frauenkirche, which reopens after extensive restoration Copyright © 2003 Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd.