Article body
Munich is ...
• The capital of Bavaria, and Germany's third largest city after Berlin and Hamburg.
• Home to world-famous orchestras and museums, such as the three Pinakotheks, as well as Siemens, BMW and Bayern München.
• Proud of its sense of 'Gemütlichkeit' (friendliness or good cheer) as exemplified by the celebrated annual Oktoberfest.
• Germany's gateway to the Alps, Munich stands on a mountain river which has green banks and is clean enough to swim in.
• The one-time home of Wolfgang Mozart, Richard Strauss, Thmas Mann, Albert Einstein, Freddie Mercury, Wassily Kandinsky and Donna Summer.
Where is it
In the south of Germany, and about 50km north of the Alps, Munich is roughly 500km from the German capital, Berlin, and around 700km east of Paris. Austria, Italy and Switzerland are all a matter of hours away.
Football Arena Munich
• Home of Bayern München, the Football Arena Munich was completed in April 2005, in time to stage games at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
• Can seat 70,000 fans for international games, and can be seen from the Austrian Alps on a clear night.
• The Fußball Arena München's outer shell consists of diamond-shaped foil panels, lit from within by LED lights, which can shine in 16 million different colours.
• Accessible by underground train, the stadium lies on Werner-Heisenberg-Allee, named after a German atomic physicist and 1932 Nobel Prize for Physics winner.
• Staged the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, which Bayern lost to Chelsea on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Matches at the Football Arena Munich
16 June, time tbc – Group F match
20 June, time tbc – Group F match
24 June, time tbc – Group F match
3 July, 21:00CET – Quarter-final
Getting to and around Munich
Munich International Airport handles around 42 million passengers a year and has links to 68 countries; it is 30km – or a 45-minute train ride – from the city. Easily accessible by train and car due to its central location in Europe, Munich has a tremendous public transport system, with the U-Bahn underground railway and S-Bahn overground service complemented by a bus system and tram lines which have been running since 1876. A cycle-hire scheme is also in operation, with cycle paths running parallel with most major roads and along the banks of the river.
Where to stay
The city has around 40,000 hotel rooms across all categories, ensuring plenty of room for visitors - even at the busiest times. Rates are very competitive, and approximately mid-range compared to other European cities. See useful links below.
What to see
For culture: The Kunstareal (art quarter) is home to the three Pinakotheks as well as well as the Lenbachhaus, Glyptothek, Egyptian Museum and the NS-Dokumentationszentrum (dedicated to how National Socialism impacted on Munich). The technologically-minded will enjoy the BMW Museum and science-oriented Deutsches Museum.
For atmosphere: The central Viktualienmarkt (food market) is unbeatable for local atmosphere, with its colourful stalls and a tree-shaded beer garden. The historic town hall, cathedral, opera house and royal palace are all within walking distance.
For fresh air: Stretching north from behind Munich University, the 990-acre Englischer Garten (English Garden) is bigger than New York's Central Park, while the old Olympiapark – which staged the 1972 Olympics – is worth visit too.
Eating and drinking
Munich has 11 Michelin-starred chefs, and local Bavarian cuisine is hearty and robust. The calorie count may be high, but so is the comfort factor. Munich classics include whole roast knuckle of pork (hax'n), served piping hot with potato dumplings, gravy and a crisp raw cabbage salad. The quintessential 'Munich' snack is plump white veal and herb sausages called (Weißwurst) with sweet mustard and a pretzel, ideally served at at one of the city's lively beer gardens.
Football in the city
Bayern and 1860 are the city's major powers, but when it comes to major honours, Bayern have hogged the limelight; they claimed their 28th German title in 2018, while 1860 have won only one, back in 1966. Derby games have been rare in recent years, with 1860 tumbling out of the Bundesliga. Dortmund may now be regarded as Bayern's most serious rivals.
Get out of the city
On clear days, the Alps in particular can seem close enough to touch, with their mountains and lakes, monasteries and atmospheric villages all a short drive away from the city, along with King Ludwig's fairytale palaces: Neuschwanstein Castle, Schloss Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee Palace.
Useful links
Tourism in Munich: http://www.simply-munich.com
German national tourist board: http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html
Lonely Planet: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/munich
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich
Football Arena Munich: https://allianz-arena.com/de
German Football Federation (DFB): http://www.dfb.de/index/