Munich Travel Guide
9/18/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Germany Travel, Oktoberfest, Beer, Politics (all tags)
With the beer kegs ready to pour at Munich's Oktoberfest on Saturday, the big news in Bavaria is that the premier, Guenther Beckstein, says you can drink two liters of beer (well over 4 pints) and still drive back to your hotel or home.
With a local election looming mid-Oktoberfest, the media grabbed Beckstein's comment that you could drink two one-liter glasses of beer in two hours without a problem--but police, doctors and other politicians are politely disagreeing.
The premier has since gone back on his statement--saying it was a "rather unsuccessful contribution"--but it wouldn't have mattered much to budget travelers: Beer has become so much more expensive this year that two liters might be financially out of the question, even if it apparently won't make us too drunk to drive.
Related Stories:
· Two Litres of Beer OK for Drivers [news.com.au]
· Breaking Economic News: Oktoberfest Devastation in Munich [Jaunted]
[Photo: Landfeldt]
by amandak
9/15/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Festivals, Germany Travel, Oktoberfest, Beer (all tags)
Tragic news out of Germany: When Munich's fabulously beer-laden Oktoberfest kicks off on September 20, the beer will cost 5 percent more than last year.
Due to higher production costs, apparently, the average price of a stein of brew will set you back €8.13 (US$11.50), which is pretty expensive compared to many parts of the world.
But it's Oktoberfest, so you're paying for the atmosphere and those large-biceped women carrying a hundred steins as well. Scrape together your €8.13 and get to Munich quick--remember that once October comes around, Oktoberfest is all but over.
Related Stories:
· Beer Prices Go Up for Oktoberfest [The Age]
· Bring on the Beer, Oktoberfest's Here! [Jaunted]
· It's September, It Must Be Oktoberfest! [Jaunted]
[Photo: .myke]
by amandak
7/16/2008 at 11:30 AM
Tags: Airports, Layovers, Sports Travel, MUC (all tags)
If we weren't the ones running our Airport Layover Contest, we'd definitely enter this idea: "Airport Beach" at Munich Airport.
Starting August 1, pros and amateurs alike will set, spike and dig between Terminals 1 and 2 at the Munich Airport Center. August 10 is family day, and the German women's volleyball league champs--the Vilsbiburg Red Ravens, didn't you know?--will be on-hand to give pointers on the game. The fun wraps up August 15-17 with the 16-team Bavarian beach volleyball championship.
Admission to everything is free; if you're already in Munich, you get up to five hours of free airport parking if you're going to the games.
Related Stories:
· Airport Beach [Official Site]
· Airport Beach Opens Season at Munich Airport [PTT]
· Layovers coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
3/31/2008 at 9:35 AM
Tags: Bruno the Bear, Bears, Germany Travel, Museums (all tags)
We've been trying to let poor ol' Bruno the Bear rest in peace since he was killed in Bavaria after famously being the first wild bear to enter Germany since 1836.
But we just have to mention that Bruno the Bear has finally become a permanent part of the tourist landscape in Germany. As promised, a well-stuffed Bruno is now on display in the Museum of Man and Nature inside the Nymphenburg Palace near Munich. The realistic-looking diorama opened last Thursday and the nice thing is you can get into the museum for just €2.50 ($4).
And while we're pleased that Bruno can take a rest now, we don't want you to forget that if you're traveling through western Austria this summer, you might catch some of the location shoot for the movie based on Bruno's story. If you think we're champing at the bit to visit Bruno in the museum, just imagine how much we're dying to see this film.
Related Stories:
· Famous Stuffed Bear Goes on Display [Spiegel]
· The Belated Return of Bruno the Bear [Jaunted]
· We Can't Believe the Bear is Loose [Jaunted]
[Photo: Spiegel]
by amandak
3/30/2007 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Museums, Religion, History (all tags)
While Germany already has an internationally renowned (and architecturally stunning) Jewish Museum in Berlin, another one entered the scene this month with the opening of the Jewish Museum Munich. In fact, they'd been thinking about doing this for 78 years, so it was probably about time that a new building (including a synagogue) opened for visitors on St Jakobs Platz. Like the Berlin museum, it's not simply a memorial to the Holocaust, but also a collection of displays on Jewish life in general.
The opening of another cultural attraction is great news for those looking to add to their collection of excuses to return to Munich--even when every reason is just a cover-up for another outing to Oktoberfest. Who said drinking beer can't be part of an educational experience? Prost!
[Photo: NiceBastard]
Related Stories:
· Munich Welcomes New Jewish Museum [Spiegel]
· It's September, It Must Be Oktoberfest! [Jaunted]
by amandak
9/25/2006 at 7:40 PM
Tags: Celeb Travel, Paris Hilton, Oktoberfest, Alcohol (all tags)
Vast quantities of beer? Check. Lots of drunken boys? Check. All in a day's travels for Paris Hilton. The infamous heiress has resurfaced in Munich, screaming "Vilkommen," enthusiastically becuase she is prepared for Oktoberfest. Paris told reporters, "Munich is one of the coolest cities," and proudly arrived at the festivities in traditional Dirndl clothing, just a few sizes too small. What, Munich's not even worthy of a "that's hot"?
Paris is traveling with bajillionaire friend Kim Kardashian, who was also decked out for the drink-fest. P-Slutty is in town to promo her new canned sparkling wine, "Rich Prosecco," and is ever-so-onveniently working in a few days at Oktoberfest. Enough time to dress up, get drunk, and score we assume.
Related Stories:
·Germany Says Vilkommen to Paris [TMZ]
by sedona
9/22/2006 at 9:45 AM
Tags: Munich, culture, museums, Germany (all tags)
Apparently Germans don't feel the need to sleep. That's the message we get, anyway, from the success of the
Long Night of Museums concept. For nearly 10 years now, cities around Germany have picked one night a year when, after buying just one general admission ticket, you can spend all night visiting the various museums and cultural sites a city has to offer, connected by free shuttle buses and other transport.
Now, whether or not you really want to be reading about the history of German public transport at 3am, then taking a bus to the office for monument protection, the point is not that you want to but that you
can. Munich's got its
Long Night coming up on 21 October (you should know that this one only runs until 2am), so save up some sleep and hit the Bavarian streets and museums. You won't be alone.
[Image via mcmumpitz/Flickr]
Related stories:
Long Night in Munich [Go Travel News]
It's September, It Must Be Oktoberfest [Jaunted]
by amandak
9/19/2006 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Germany, beer, beer festivals (all tags)
It always feels a bit like the Germans are cheating us, opening Oktoberfest, as they do, in September. But those who have the beer rule, so you should know that this week is the first official week of Munich's ale-swilling
Oktoberfest for 2006. Local businesses are hoping the World Cup happiness hangover will encourage visitors to exceed last year's effort of drinking 6.1 million litres of beer and eating almost 480,000 roast chickens.
But it's not all beers and chickens. Locals like the billion-euro income but are not so impressed with some of the results of all that alcohol:
The festivities tend to turn rowdy in the evenings with drinkers yelling, thumping the tables and lunging at passers-by.
So drink your beer in moderation, sing a hearty German folk song but beware of dangerous thumpers and lungers.
[Image via Office Geek/Flickr]
Related stories:
Germans Crack Open the Beers [The Age]
10 Very Unofficial Oktoberfest Tips [boarding.no]
by amandak
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