IAt other times of the year, you're less likely to see people in such traditional dress, though you'll no doubt see one or two - especially among the waitresses at any beer hall or garden you might just happen to frequent. There you'll undoubtedly also come across another Bavarian tradition: Weisswurst, or white sausage, served in a pot of warm water and accompanied by sweet mustard and a large, soft pretzel. Traditionally eaten no later than lunchtime.

Sitting outside of one of the restaurants on the Viktualienmarkt is an ideal place to enjoy such a lunch, being just around the corner from Marienplatz, a public square at the heart of Munich's central pedestrian zone. Facing the square is the 'new' town hall, with its famous Glockenspiel clock and a balcony from which Bayern players in particular have celebrated countless trophy wins with the thronging fans below..

The third-largest city in Germany (after Berlin and Hamburg), it's home to BMW, Siemens and Allianz, the latter being the naming rights sponsor of Bayern's stadium since 2005, the Allianz Arena. Prior to that they'd played for many years at the Olympic Stadium, where back in my student days I became a Forest fan for a day and saw a diving header from Trevor Francis clinch the European Cup for Cloughie and co. 1860 too played there at times, and at the Allianz, but their spiritual and current home is the Grünwalder Stadion.

Munich's official tourism website has lots of ideas for things to see and do. In addition to that I've listied below a few tips of my own, plus ideas of where to eat, drink and stay. If you have any tips of your own and would like to share them, I'd be happy to add them here. Please just e-mail me at footballingermany@gmx.com.

To keep this page uncluttered, I've not included any photos. Instead, I've put together a selection in this Munich City and Stadium Gallery.

You'll also find plenty of photos and a few ideas for things to do over at GetYourGuide.

For hard copy guide books, see my Books page.

Getting to Munich

If you're flying into the city from the UK, see my UK Airports page for departure airport information and my Munich Airport page for details of your arrival airport. If you're travelling to the Euros by rail, an Interrail pass will cover all your train journeys, while for individual trips within Germany see this page for Deutsche Bahn times and fares. And if your'e coming by coach, then FlixBus have you covered.
 

Eat/Drink

Augustiner Stammhaus 
I remember being in here as a neutral before a Bayern vs Bochum game years ago and was pleasantly surprised to find two groups of fans from the respective clubs exchanging chants and songs across the tables without the remotest hint of any trouble. Good beer and solid German food, as you’d expect in a traditional ‘beer hall’ type of bar/restaurant. In the pedestrian zone, on the way from the main station to the main Marienplatz central square.

Hofbräuhaus 
Very touristy, but a must-do when in Munich. Probably the most famous beer hall in the world. Just around the corner from the Marienplatz central square. In fact, it's from in front of the New Town Hall on Marienplatz that the Munich tourist board offer a guided walk to and around the Hofbräuhaus, with a Maß (one litre) of beer included.

Biergarten am Viktualienmarkt
Beer garden with seating for 800 on Viktualienmarkt, just round the corner from Marienplatz. All six of Munich's main breweries take turns at providing the beer here, and you can also eat from a menu of traditional Bavarian fare. The chestnut trees, which were just saplings when the beer garden opened in 1970, provide welcome shade on hot, sunny days. As the website linked to above is in German only, here's the relevant page on Tripadvisor.
 

See/Do

Marienplatz 
Pedestrianised central square dominated by the Rathaus, the neo-gothic town hall, which in turn attracts thousands of tourists to see its famous Glockenspiel with 43 bells and carved figures that perform a joust and a symbolic dance at 11am and noon every day, plus at 5pm in the summer. 

Olympiastadion
The Olympic Stadium, with its iconic wave-like transparent roof, was built for the 1972 Olympics, was home for many years to both Bayern and 1860 and is where once "even Heskey scored". My first visit there, as mentioned above, was to see the European Cup Final in 1979. Today, you can walk around and admire the stadium and Olympic Park free of charge. If you're feeling brave, you can also walk up and over the stadium roof.

BMW Welt and Museum
Right next door to the Olympic Park. BMW Welt is all about the group's current vehicles, including not only BMW cars, but also their motorbikes and the MINI and Rolls Royce marques. Admission is free. Directly opposite is the BMW Museum, which takes you back through the group's 100-year history with numerous exhibits of historic BMW vehicles. I went there several years back and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Adult admission at time of writing is €10.

There are more ideas on things to do here and elsewhere in Germany on my '100 things to do' page.
 

Stay

Hotels/hostel:

Eden Wolff Hotel
Liverpool and Union fan John stayed here for an Union away day a couple of seasons ago, picking it for its “convenient location”.

Meininger Hotel Munich City Centre
Another of our Union Berlin 'gang', Felix, recommends this hotel, which is a 10-minute walk from the main station and offers, says Felix, "a great breakfast".

Wombat's City Hostel Munich Werksviertel
A 5-minute walk to Munich Ostbahnhof underground station, from where you can reach Marienplatz in 6 minutes and the stadium in around 40 minutes. Double rooms with en-suite, plus beds in dormitories available. Bar and 24-hour reception.

Campsites:

Camping München-Obermenzing
Bus stop right outside the campsite. Bus to Untermenzing and then the S-Bahn (metro) to Munich Hauptbahnhof (main station). Total journey time: 27 minutes.

Camping am Pilsensee
S-Bahn 1500m from the site with direct services to Munich Hbf in 45 mins