I don’t know about you guys, but I need a mental break from the coronavirus news. We’re not on full lockdown here in the Netherlands, but bars, restaurants, and gyms are closed, public transportation has been reduced, and people are encouraged to work from home. Long story short, it’s all anyone can talk about.
So, for a little mental re-charge, I want to talk about our trip to Munich!
Previously, I raved about our mode of transportation, and Shane finally admitted why we went to Munich. I guess it’s time to talk about the city itself!
Day 1:
I dropped off my honey at his interview (literally, I walked him there) and headed out for a day on my own –
aka: Strong Independent Woman Day!
Tip: Use the public transportation – it’s cheap!
The LMU campus is about 20 minutes by subway (U-bahn) outside of the city center, near the suburb of Martinsreid. I bought an unlimited day ticket (buses, tram, U-bahn (subway), and S-bahn (above ground train)) for €7.80 – a single trip ticket is €3.30, so this quickly pays off.
If you’re part of a group it’s even cheaper. An unlimited group day ticket for 2 – 5 people is €14.80 TOTAL. It’s a steal!
First stop:
The Residenz
Cost: €14 (combo ticket)
Tip: If you arrive from the Odeonsplatz U-bahn station, walk up the stairs, go straight, then take a left to find the entrance.
If you get distracted by statues and a garden and happen to walk up the stairs and take a right then you’ll find yourself in the Hofgarten and walk a very long perimeter to eventually get back to the entrance. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.
The Residenz is the former royal palace for the Bavarian monarchs, and it is split into two sections: the residence (with the royal apartments) and the treasury (with the crown jewels). You’ll need to buy the combo ticket if you want to see both. If you’re just going for that Instagram-able shot, then you only need to visit the residence side, as it has the the Antiquarium – the oldest and most impressive room (built in 1568).
Royal palaces make me hungry (ok, fine – everything makes me hungry), so
Take a people-watching snack break in the Max-Joseph-Platz
Cost: Free!
Just outside the entrance to the Residenz is the Max-Joseph-Platz. It was sunny that day, a rarity in February (especially in the Netherlands), so I grabbed a snack and did as the locals do – sat in the sun!
Tip: For a quick snack head to the nearby supermarket, Rewe.
Or, if you want a fancy looking pastry, I drooled over (and later regretted not purchasing) the pastries in the window at Maelu.
Recharged, I headed on to my next destination.
Hi-Sky Munich
Cost: €14.50 (adults)
Let me just say: I LOVE me a good observation wheel. You know what’s even better? When you get the entire gondola to yourself. Dreams do come true!
Did I set up my Go-pro and take a million shameless selfies? You betcha!
Shane HATES. H.A.T.E.S. observation/ferris wheels. He was more than happy for me to take full advantage of my strong independent woman day and tick this off my Munich list. Which, I did, and had a grand ‘ole time with beautiful views of the city from one side and the mountains from the other.
and finally
Viktualienmarkt
Cost: Free to visit, €4.50 1/2L beer, snacks vary.
Located just around the corner from the Marienplatz is the Viktualienmarkt – a 200 year old farmer’s market smack in the city center! Today, you can find flowers, herbs, cheeses, veggies, SO MUCH FOOD and beer. A hungry tourists dream!
After the observation wheel, I headed back to city center to wander for food and genuinely stumbled on this market by accident… and then didn’t leave.
Curry worst. Duh. 
Pretzel count: 2 
Tip: Take enough selfies and a kind stranger will offer to take your picture for you! 😆
Day 2:
Strong Independent Woman Day was grrrreat!, but it was nice to have my travel partner back the next day. Especially, since he spent the entire previous day interviewing – it was time to enjoy the city!
We intended to do a walking tour, but we got a later start than anticipated so missed the 10am start time. Instead, we started at the history museum.
Munich Stadtmuseum
Cost: €7 (all exhibits), €4 (permanent exhibits only)
If you’re into learning about the city’s history, then start here! Not only will you discover what’s “Typical Munich”, but there is an excellent exibihit on the rise of National Socialism and Munich’s role in the rise of Hitler.
anti-Hitler poster. 
pro-Hitler poster.
Hofbräuhaus
Cost: €9.20 L beer, meals vary.
Ok, lets face it. After 2 hours of history and Nazi history at that, it was time for a drink! And you don’t got to Munich and not visit the most famous beer hall!
I will say I was underwhelmed by the facade. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t that. The inside made up for it though.
Tip: Don’t be shy – just walk in and find an empty spot!
We had a great time here! There was such a festive feeling, even for the middle of the day on a Friday in February – February 14th to be exact! ❤️ It was a little pricey compared to some of the other beer halls, but you’re also paying for the experience.
The hall was originally built in the late 1500s, and opened to the public in the 1820s. It was here (as we learned in the Stadtmuseum) in 1920 that the National Socialist Party held a huge public meeting and Hitler gave his first address. Most of the hall was destroyed during WWII and has since been restored, but the main hall survived.
Ok so I won’t lie. The rest of our day was visiting beer halls. I’m not sorry about it either!
Löwenbräukeller
Cost: €7.80 L beer, meals vary.
The Löwenbräukeller (bräukeller, meaning brewery) first opened it’s doors in 1883’s with an architecturally (for the time) impressive building. Shortly thereafter, it became the first brewery in Munich to provide tablecloths and napkins, and patrons didn’t have to rinse out their own beer glass!
In my opinion, the atmosphere here was ‘fancier’ than the Hofbräuhaus, but still relaxed. There was also a huge outdoor area, which would be nice in the warmer months.
It was slightly further from the Marienplatz, which was reflected in the beer prices, and they had delicious red cabbage & potato dumplings so you really can’t ask for much more.
Augustiner-Keller
Cost: €7.90 L beer, meals vary.
I’m just going to come out and say it. This one was my favorite.
First – The beer hall reminded me of Game of Thrones.
Second – Pretzel baskets lived on the table. You pay at the end for what you eat. Dangerous? Yes. Delicious? Also yes.
Third – We found out that Shane got the job AT THIS VERY SPOT!
It’s cozy, it’s festive, it has a huge beer hall and garden, and easy to find (near the hauptbahnhof). A perfect way to cap off the night.
And that is how we spent 48 hours in Munich! Obviously, there is a ton we didn’t see. If we had another day, I would suggest taking a walk through the English Gardens or the Deutsches Museum (science and technology).
Tip: Free city center walking tours are available daily.
We love a good walking tour – you can learn something before you go spend the rest of your time in the beer halls! 😉
As of May 1, 2020 we will call Munich our new home – so until then…
Auf Wiedersehen,
The Shwits 
Looks like a nice couple of days in Munich. We gave up getting served in the hofbrauhaus they were just so slow. Btw I think you made a typo – the adress must have been a lot earlier maybe 1921.
That’s disappointing they were so slow! When were you there? I’m sure being in the ‘off season’ helped us out. And yes, typo but now corrected. Thanks! 😉
December looking at the christmas markets of the city
Ah, yeah I can imagine it would be much busier then. I hope the Christmas markets made up for it! We haven’t been to the markets in Munich, but I love the Christmas markets in general!
Yeah the brauhaus was packed. The markets were nice though i think Berlin had a wider selection of markets.