Tag Archives: bavaria

Best Day Trips from Munich in Germany and Austria

Travel

Munich is a great home base for exploring nearby Germany and Austria. Here are 20 of the best day trips from Munich!

With its location in the heart of Bavaria, Munich makes the perfect home base for exploring southern Germany and nearby Austria. And there really is so much to explore. Whether you’re looking for towns rich with history, adventures in the mountains and beautiful nature, visiting castles, there is something to appeal to everyone! With great transportation connections and lots of interesting sites within an hour to three hours by train, it’s a no brainer. Here are my picks of the best day trips from Munich!

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Post by . Originally published January 19, 2020. Last updated February 23, 2020.

Enjoy the Best View in Munich from Alter Peter

Travel

St. Peter's Church offers the best view in Munich of the Frauenkirche and the Neues Rathaus.

For the best view in Munich, you need to visit St. Peter’s Church, or Alter Peter, in the heart of the city’s old city. Part of Munich’s magic and charm is its low skyline. In most of the city, especially the Altstadt, no building is permitted to be taller than the Frauenkirche, the city’s iconic double-domed church. But with no dedicated observation tower centrally located, how to get a peek at this beautiful city from above and enjoy the Alps in the background? Around Marienplatz there are a few options, including an observation deck within city hall (Neues Rathaus). But Alter Peter’s tower offers stunning unobstructed views.

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Post by . Originally published September 23, 2019. Last updated September 23, 2019.

Befreiungshalle Kelheim Offers Art, Stunning Views

Travel

The Befreiungshalle, or Liberation Hall, at Kelheim, Germany.

Around the world, there are towers, arches, and monuments that honor important statesman, war battles, and, well, anything a country or region deems important. In the Bavarian town of Kelheim, Liberation Hall (or Befreiungshalle in German) honors the victory over Napoleon during the Wars of Liberation in 1813. The massive round building sits overlooking the town and the surrounding Danube River Valley. Needless to say, the Befreiungshalle in Kelheim leaves a big impression.

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Colossal Walhalla Memorial Impresses Near Regensburg

Travel

People sit on the steps in front of Walhalla, as it overlooks the Danube in Donaustauf, near Regensburg, Germany.

Walhalla isn’t merely a Norse myth. It stands commandingly on the edge of a hill overlooking the Danube River Valley at Donaustauf just outside of Regensburg, Germany. But for those approaching from the street, a small forest of trees hides this spectacular neo-classical building. As you approach, and the trees thin to show off the secret it’s keeping. It’s more than a little striking — and that’s before you even venture inside to see the Hall of Fame it contains. Whether you visit the Walhalla Memorial to admire the architecture, the stunning view, or to go inside and see the collection of busts honoring famous Germans, you can’t lose. It’s an impressive outing.

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Post by . Originally published August 21, 2019. Last updated August 29, 2019.

What to Expect Visiting Munich in Spring

Travel

A close up of pink-tipped tulips at the Botanical Garden gives a taste of Munich in spring.

With Oktoberfest not starting until September and the delightful German Christmas markets merely a fond memory, what can you expect visiting Munich in spring? Like so many popular travel spots, spring means warming temperatures and blooming flowers. And in Munich, it means a return to the outdoors as Biergarten culture resumes and a plethora of festivals begin. Spring brings a special excitement to Munich.

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Post by . Originally published August 5, 2019. Last updated March 4, 2020.

Experiencing German Tradition: Maypole Raising (Maibaum Aufstellen)

Travel

Painted white and blue for Bavaria and with signs depicting the town's businesses and trades, the Maypole (or Maibaum) stands proudly at the center of the German town of Aying.

While the tradition of the Maypole isn’t unique to Germany, the Bavarians seem especially fond of what they call the Maibaum. Across the southern German state, you’ll find wooden poles in the region’s trademark white and blue shooting up into the sky. They’re in small villages, big cities, and popular destinations like farmers’ markets and your favorite Biergarten.

But how do these giant landmarks get there? While some towns embrace modern technology and use a crane, others are still doing it the old fashioned way with manpower. In the town of Aying, just outside of Munich, the local Burschenverein (a local men’s club) hoist the Maibaum by hand — and it takes the whole day!

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Post by . Originally published July 29, 2019. Last updated February 17, 2020.

Munich Frühlingsfest Celebrates Spring with Beer Festival & More

Travel

Inside the Festhalle Bayernland beer tent at Munich Frühlingsfest.

There is no doubt about it: Germans know how to party! And Munich beer festivals are famous for a reason. Roughly six months before Oktoberfest and only weeks after the winter beer festival of Starkbierfest, revelers head to the famous Theresienwiese for the Munich Frühlingsfest, or Munich spring festival. Like Oktoberfest, Frühlingsfest features the raucous beer tents, carnival rides, games, and dozens of food options. There are even a number of great events that are a part of the festival, including the opening parade with free beer, Bavaria‘s largest flea market, and a classic car show. Spring has sprung and there’s no shortage of fun things to do at Munich Frühlingsfest!

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Post by . Originally published July 22, 2019. Last updated August 5, 2019.

Take a Danube River Cruise to Kloster Weltenburg

Travel

Kloster Weltenburg sits along the Donaudurchbruch, or Donau River Gorge, near Kelheim, Germany.

These days, river cruises are all the rage and a Danube River cruise is, perhaps, one of the most popular. But for a magical day trip, visitors can take a river cruise to Kloster Weltenburg, the oldest monastic brewery in the world, from Kelheim, Germany. Although brief, the cruise takes travelers through the Danube Gorge (or Donaudurchbruch), a stunning nature reserve lined with remarkable rock formations, to the tip of a peninsula where the famous Weltenburg Abbey offers solace and award-winning beer.

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Post by . Originally published July 1, 2019. Last updated August 29, 2019.

Kloster Andechs: Beer & Hiking Day Trip from Munich

Food, Travel

Kloster Andechs church steeple peeks out over the treetops.

Visitors to Germany, and the southern state of Bavaria, in particular, could easily spend months seeing all of the beer breweries that cover the picturesque landscape. But Klosterbrauerei Andechs is special. Less than an hour outside of Munich, Kloster Andechs sits on a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside of small towns, farms and, to the west, a lake. The brewery is still run by the monks of the Benedictine abbey. While the brewery exports Andechs beer around the world, you can try it for yourself by visiting Kloster Andechs. And while you could easily drive or take the bus to reach the monastery, Andechs is a popular pilgrimage — that is, you can reach Andechs on foot from nearby Herrsching. I only had to experience it once. Now the hike to Andechs is a favorite Munich day trip!

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Post by . Originally published June 24, 2019. Last updated June 24, 2019.

Free Things to Do in Munich, Germany

Travel

The view east from Munich's Neues Rathaus tower observation deck.

Munich is famous for many things, but being free or low cost isn’t one of them. The Bavarian capital city is in high demand and, as any student of even an introduction to economics can you tell you, that equals high prices. There is no shortage of things to do and enjoy in Munich, from world-class museums to visits to a tempting Biergarten. But it can quickly add up. But why not supplement those expenses with some great free things to do in Munich? The city is full of wonderful spots to enjoy and things to do that don’t cost a single Euro. Here’s my list of 29 fun free things to do in Munich!

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Winter Day Trip to the Tegernsee, Germany

Travel

The dock along the Tegernsee.

The Tegernsee is just one of the many lakes in the German state of Bavaria. But there’s so much that makes this specific lake special and worth visiting. I had a chance to visit the town of Tegernsee for a winter afternoon day trip from Munich. It’s the kind of charming lakeside getaway you expect in Bavaria, with a small town feel that’s electrified by small shops and restaurants while the Alps provide a beautiful backdrop.

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Cuvilliés Theatre at Munich Residenz

Travel

An angel decoration at the Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich, Germany.

Mozart, Salieri, and Metastasio are just of the few distinguished names in the history of music who debuted world premieres on the stage of the Cuvilliés Theatre at Munich’s Residenz. The one-time court theater has provided a home for entertainment for more than 250 years and it continues to do so to this very day. Whether your interests lie in the lavish interior, the history within the walls or just the arts in general, you can visit the Cuvilliés Theatre and experience it all in person.

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