Things to do in Munich
Munich is full of exciting and entertaining things to do for all types of travellers.
The city's subway system provides cheap and quick travel around Munich and offers visitors the chance to get in a lot of sightseeing in a relatively small space of time. Unlike the Tube system in London, the subway trains are often quiet and even at rush hour do not extend to the frenzy associated with the English capital's underground network.
For those who enjoy keeping fit, there can be little better than a trip to the Olympic Park, which is often full of Munich's joggers and runners working hard to keep fit. Whether in the heat of summer or the snow-laden winter, visitors to the park will no doubt find many joggers punishing themselves in the glorious surroundings of the Olympic Park. However, for the more sedate traveller, a visitor to the park can enjoy a calm stroll or even simply relax sitting on the rolling green hills which make this park so attractive and unusual compared to the generally flat surroundings of the city. The mounds were created from the debris created during the Second World War, when the city was largely flattened by bombing. Rising like a phoenix from the flames, the park is a beautiful place in summer and for sports fans it contains a number of spots worth visiting.
First there is the huge Olympic Stadium, which, as all England football fans will know, was the scene of England's famous 5-1 defeat of Germany in the qualification for the 2002 World Cup finals. Then, there is the swimming pool in its glass surroundings, while close by is the stadium which will host some of this year's World Cup final matches, the brand new World Cup Stadium. During the summer months, a market springs up around the park and the area comes alive with outdoor events.
Another place which is ideal for summer travellers to Munich is the English Garden. This vast park has various trails and a large lake, making it the perfect spot to spend a lazy afternoon in the summer. Many of Munich's inhabitants take time out at lunch to spend an hour or so in the relaxing surroundings of the English Garden and it is also a good plan for tourists after a hectic morning of sightseeing to do the same!
The heart of Munich can be found in Marienplatz, the famous square of the old town centre. Cafes and small shops line the streets leading off the square, but due to the popularity of the area with tourists it can often be cheaper to look elsewhere. The Rathaus, or city hall, contains a beautiful, ancient glockenspiel, which still works to this day.
For a look at some of Munich's history, a visit to Konigsplatz is well worth the trip. The huge area was created under Ludwig I and is surrounded by the city's main art galleries. In these galleries paintings by van Gogh, Kandinsky and Botticelli can be found and the huge Greek-revivalist structures which house them are impressive works of art in themselves.
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Things to do
