A Bit of History

Munich is the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria. It was founded by Benedictine monks in 1158. The name Munich as a matter of fact means “By the monk’s place.” In those days it was the seat of German royal power. During World War I the city was ravished by French Air Raids, and was thrown into political chaos. This lead to a rather infamous time in Munich’s history when in 1923 when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party attempted to overthrow the Weimar Republic known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Their plot was foiled and Hitler was arrested. But not for long, because soon he would be released and take over full control of Germany. During WWII Munich was a Nazi stronghold. In many cases you may need to get visa to Germany before you can enter the country.

Present Day Munich

Today Munich is a thriving city with where a population of about 1,400,000 people enjoy a high quality of life thanks to a thriving economy. Its main sources of income are from information technology, biotechnology, and publishing. Environmental pollution is low, so feel free to leave your face mask at home. Munich is said to be the safest city in Germany thanks to a large police presence, but you still might want to avoid going to Hasenbergel district alone at night.

Exploring Munich On a Budget

If you’re exploring Munich on a budget avoid Oktoberfest, which runs from late September to October. During Oktoberfest the prices go way up and safety also goes way down. The best month to visit is in November. The weather in November is cold, so bring a jacket. Flights to Munich at this time of the year are extremely affordable. The weather for the rest of the year looks like this: Winter is from December to March. The coldest month being January with an average temperature of −2.2 °C (28 °F). Do expect snow. Summer is from May until September. The hottest month is in July with an average temperature of 24.0 °C (75 °F). Expect sudden rainstorms during this time.

Cheap Accommodations and Travel

November is also the best time to find cheap accommodations in Munich. The Wombats City Hostel is highly recommended and starts at 24 Euros a night. A family sized hotel starts at around 84 Euros a night. The cheapest form of travel is by train. Prices range from 2.50 to 5.20 Euros a ticket. If public transportation doesn’t excite you then the next best thing is bike travel.

If you ever want to stay in Munich check out the list of quality and affordable Munich vacation rentals on Live like a German.

The other aspect of today’s travel is importance to be always connected. Roaming is prohibitively expensive especially if you travel with the family. Before the start of the journey order pocket wifi – your money savior, so that you and your loved ones are connected 24×7.

Tourist Destinations

Like I said, there is a lot to see in Munich. The top tourist destinations are the Bavarian Castles. If you’re planning on seeing some Bavarian Castles and Palaces like the Nymphenburg Palace, then get a season pass. An annual pass for 1 person is 45 Euros. For 2 people the pass is 65 Euros. The passes are good for all locations. Normally each attraction is 15 Euros each per a day. The Bavarian Museum is only 1 Euro on Sundays Tuesdays are the best time to see a movie when tickets drop from 8 Euros to 5.9 Euros

See Munich for Free

If you’re looking for something free to do then there’s lots. The Munich walking tour is always free. Some places you can visit for free are Munich’s Church of Our Lady, Field Marshal’s Hall, Munich’s Residence Palace, Theatine Church, Viktualienmarkt, The English Garden, St. Peter’s Church, St. Michael’s Church, Dachau Concentration Camp, Deutsches Museum, and the Olympic Stadium.

When you’re done seeing the sites save money on food by avoiding the main tourist spots. Food prices for quick eats ( kabobs and gyros) start at 2 Euros. However the most affordable food can be found at the local markets. I Hope you enjoy your time exploring Munich on a budget.