Travel
City Break | Munich
Munich is a city known for its beer, culture and rich history. Many would immediately think of visiting for the infamous Oktoberfest. However, with fl ights between Manchester and Munich costing from as little as £26 (incl. taxes) each way it makes an ideal city break location at any time of the year. Whether you are looking to explore architectural delights, indulge in retail therapy, browse art galleries or let loose on an exuberant night out, Munich has all this to offer and more. Here’s what Kathryn Bell managed to pack into two days and two nights in the Barvarian capital:
Fünf Höfe
Marienplatz- City Hall
Englischer Garten Munich
I arrived late into Munich, but easily caught the shuttle train (€11) from the airport straight to the city. My fi rst night’s stay was at the ideally located Louis hotel, a stone’s throw from the central station of Marianplatz. Despite it being 11pm on a Wednesday, with only three days to see what this city had to offer, I was eager to get out and about. I left the hotel and wandered down the back alleys, looking for something interesting. As luck would have it after a mere fi ve minutes stroll I stumbled across Pusser’s Bar. Named after the oldest rum in the world, this cocktail bar is one of Munich’s longest standing watering holes, said to have been a favourite with visiting Americans such as Ernest Hemmingway,
F.Scott Fitzgerald and Gene Kelly back in the day. A treat for anyone wishing to savour some perfectly mixed drinks accompanied by live jazz music, I recommend their signature – the aptly named ‘Painkiller’ (€9). A delicious tropical concoction, it certainly ensured my fi rst night’s sleep was a sound one!
Awakening in the Louis Hotel was charming, with a perfect view of Viktualienmarkt Square and the surrounding traditional buildings. The busy marketplace was bustling below my balcony – an abundance of food stalls selling everything from sausages and hot food to pastries and beer.
An avid fashion enthusiast, I couldn’t wait to check out Maximilianstraße,
Munich’s answer to Bond Street.
With every store from Chloe to Bottega Veneta, it didn’t disappoint! The wide streets and gothic architecture made everything feel more grand and I enjoyed my morning stroll, stopping for a light breakfast of tomato and mozzarella omelette (€7.50) at Brenner’s - a stylish bistro tucked in behind Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski.
After breakfast I wandered down Maximilianplatz, admiring the luxuries on display in the windows as I followed the road to Marienplatz square. Rich in history, the square has breathtaking architecture with the New City Hall on the north side and the Old City Hall on the east side. Café Glokenspeil is a good place to rest your feet. Take the lift fi ve fl oors up, ask for a balcony table and observe the hustle and bustle of the square from above, whist indulging in the German tradition of Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake).
To really get a feel for Munich it is worth resisting the urge to take public transport and making the effort to walk everywhere. For the rest of the day this is exactly what I did, and I came across some delightful places in the process. Check out the city map overleaf showing my three favourite hotspots.
View from The Louis
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