München: A Travel Guide Straight from the Textbook

Last year, while studying German, one of my lessons focused entirely on a bike trip through Munich. Having that mental map made planning this trip feel like second nature—it was like walking right into my own notes.

From Baroque Beauty to Dancing Puppets

On my way to Marienplatz, I stumbled upon Asamkirche. This church is a hidden gem; its ornate Baroque facade stands out sharply against the surrounding buildings. Best of all? It’s free to enter.

I made it to the main square just in time for the 11 AM Glockenspiel at the New Town Hall (Rathaus). Watching the copper puppets reenact scenes from Munich’s history is a classic “must-do,” and it didn’t disappoint.

Local Bites and City Legends

For lunch, I stopped at Vinzenzmurr, a local favorite for quick eats. I ordered two sandwiches, and the Fleischpflanzerl Semmel (a Bavarian-style meatball roll) was incredible.

The area around Marienplatz is dense with history. There are countless churches to explore—all free and worth the detour. I especially loved the local “urban legends”: there are fountains where you can wash your wallet to attract wealth and sculptures you can touch to find love. I adore European cities that keep these quirky anecdotes alive.

Surfers and English Gardens

Passing through the Hofgarten, I reached the Eisbachwelle, where people actually surf on a standing wave in the middle of the city! My textbook called this area the English Garden and mentioned the famous Chinese Tower. To be honest, the tower felt a bit smaller in person than I had imagined.

Nearby stands the Siegestor (Victory Gate). Half of the gate was destroyed by bombing during WWII, and the locals chose to leave it partially ruined as a monument to peace and a reminder of the war.

The Schweinshaxe Dream

Eating Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) in Munich has always been a dream of mine. While restaurants charge upwards of €19.90, I found a “mini” version for just €4.00 in Lidl. It tasted amazing and was the perfect budget-friendly way to tick that off my bucket list.

Final Thoughts

There is still so much left to see—the BMW Museum and the Mercedes-Benz Museum will have to wait for my next visit. As I boarded my train to Prague, I was treated to the Bavarian countryside. Rolling hills and rustic farms looked just like a landscape painting.