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Munich is undeniably a city of revelers. Yet there's much more to Munich than Oktoberfest and the city's reputation as the beer-brewing capital of the world. Munich is also Germany's high-tech hub (Silicon Bavaria), one of its film and publishing centers, the historical residence of Bavarian royalty, the headquarters of automakers BMW and Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace, and the city in which most German professionals currently say they would like to live.
General Information:
Munich throbs with haute-couture shopping, grand cathedrals, opulent palaces, vigorous music and art, and an abundance of gourmet restaurants, beer gardens and popular nightspots. Whether you go to Munich for business or pleasure, you're bound to be exposed to a pleasant mix of the two.
Getting Around:
Munich can suffer from traffic jams and a limited number of parking spaces, so driving in the city is not recommended. Taxi stands are plentiful throughout the city, but taxis are considerably more expensive than public transportation and, given the traffic, may also be slower. Fortunately, the mass transit system is far-reaching and efficient - the best reason not to drive. The interconnected network consists of subways (U-Bahn), commuter trains (S-Bahn), buses and trams.
Shopping:
Munich has an immense central shopping area, a 2km 'Fussgängerzone' (pedestrian zone) stretching from the train station to Marienplatz and north to Odeonsplatz. The two main streets here are Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, the sites of most major department stores. For upscale shopping, Maximilianstrasse, Residenzstrasse, and Theatinerstrasse are unbeatable and contain a fine array of classy and tempting stores that are the equal of any others in Europe.
Nightlife:
Munich likes jazz, and some beer gardens have taken to replacing their brass bands with jazz ensembles. Some city pubs and brewery taverns set aside Sunday midday for jazz. Munich has scores of theaters and variety-show venues, although most productions will be largely impenetrable if your German is shaky (note that most theaters are closed in July and August). Schwabing is discoland, although it's getting ever greater competition from Munich's other "in" area, Haidhausen. Schwabing claims more than a dozen dance clubs and live music venues between its central boulevard, Leopoldstrasse, and the area around its central square, the Münchner-Freiheit.
Gastronomy:
For many, the true glory of Munich's kitchen artistry is to be experienced in the traditional eating places that serve down-home Bavarian specialties in ample portions. The city's renowned beer and wine restaurants offer superb atmosphere, low prices, and as much wholesome German food as you'll ever want. Plus they're open at just about any hour of the day or night.
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