Munich Things To Do

Once home to Bavarian royalty, the Residenz (German for “residence”) is now an enormous museum dedicated to the 18th- and 19th-century art and life. Within its 10 courtyards and 130 rooms, expect to see a hall of portraits, thousands of silver plates and utensils, over 300,000 coins and pieces of currency, and the crown jewels of Bavaria. Tour the chapel, private theater, and such architectural gems as the “One-Pillar Room.” Don’t miss the majestic gardens outside.

This magnificent science museum on an island in the Isar River covers everything from computers to raw materials and includes car and airplane exhibits; children love the interactive presentations.

Three museums, all near one other, cover art from the Middle Ages to today. Alte Pinakothek exhibits 14th-18th centuries painters, including Dürer and Rubens (011-49-89-23805-216); Neue Pinakothek covers the years 1700 to 1900 (011-49-89-23805-195); Pinakothek der Moderne showcases contemporary art, graphics, and design (011-49-89-23805-360).

Munich’s trademark Church of our Lady is an austere, 15^th-century edifice, with two onion domes that are visible far and wide. Note the fine gothic carvings by Erasmus Grasser and the original stained-glass windows in the choir. 

Munich has many churches, but the Church of the Theatines is unique as an example of the Italianate late-Baroque style. Highlights include the delicate stucco work inside and the magnificent high altar.

The best place to learn about the city is in this renovated arsenal. The main exhibition, “Typical Munich,” shows objects from the city’s 850 years of history. Other collections include: photography, musical instruments, and puppets. The café is a favorite Munich meeting spot.

Located in a district south of Munich, Bavaria Filmstadt is one of the “Hollywoods” of Europe. Make the trip to go behind the scenes and see how feature films and television series are produced in Germany. The stunt show is heart-stopping.

The stadium, built for the ‘72 Olympic Games and now a venue for sporting events and concerts, is the main attraction in this landscaped park. The TV Tower offers bird’s-eye city views (011-49-89-3 06724); the nearby BMW Museum is for aficionados (www.bmw-welt.com).

Tired from the sightseeing? Munich has some great baths (Bad in German), such as the Müller’sches Volksbad, where you can recover. Discover their outdoor pools, spa, and fitness area; remember that bathing suits are discouraged in saunas and steam rooms!

Whether you’re buying or just dreaming, this BMW museum/factory/conference center, opened in late 2007, is worth exploring. The main attraction is what might be called the world’s largest vending machine: a 300-car vertical storage garage that allows new owners to literally pick their car out (with the help of a robotic arm) before picking it up.