Where can you see the Olympic grounds circa 1972, sea life in an underground aquarium and palace to marvel Versailles, these are places to see outside of city center Munich! Here is a list of sights to see:
Nymphenburg palace
The palace owes its foundation as a summer residence to the birth of the long-awaited heir to the throne, Max Emanuel, who was born in 1662 to the Bavarian Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife, Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, after some ten years of marriage.
Highlights of the Palace
Gallery of Beauties: A collection of 30 portraits of beautiful women chosen by King Ludwig I. The sudden fame, like today’s reality star culture, changes many of their lives. Helene Sedlmayr, a simple 17-year-old daughter of a cobbler, went on to marry the king’s valet and have 10 children. Look for the painting of Lola Montenz, she was a mistress of the king, but wanted life’s luxuries “What Lola Wants Lola Gets” and scandalized the king who was forced to abdicate the throne.
Great Hall: An elaborately decorated central hall. A huge ceiling painting depicts the Olympian heaven, symbolizing the duty of the ruler to bring and receive peace. On the park side nymphs pay homage to the nymph Flora who has become a goddess, a reference to the name of the palace.
Queen’s Bedchamber: Queen Caroline’s bedchamber still has its original furnishings. Its mahogany furniture was made in 1815 in Munich. Parents Bavarian Crown Prince Maximilian (II) and his wife Marie of Prussia welcomed a son on Aug. 25, 1845, future King Ludwig II (Mad King Ludwig) in this room.
Lackabinett: This room has a detailed Chinese black laquer motifs on wood paneling designed by François Cuvilliés and is a site to behold.
On the Grounds
Palace Gardens: Includes canals, fountains, and large ornamental pools. It is free to wander these beautiful grounds.
Marstallmuseum: Former stables that house carriages and sleighs belonging to past Bavarian rulers including the gilded state carriage of Ludwig II.
Porcelain Factory: Started in 1747 by Franz Anton Bustelli, it is one of the oldest porcelain factories in Europe.
Museum Mensch und Nature: Museum devoted to geology and human biology.
Magdalenenklause: Maxmilian Emaneul commissioned a hermitage where he could pray and mediate.
Amalienburg: Hunting lodge considered a masterpiece in European Rocco and includes a striking hall of mirrors.
Pagodenburg: 18th century pavilion with octagonal floor is impressively ornamented.
Badenburg: Pavilion with a ballroom and a two story bathing hall with heated swimming pool, the first heated one in Germany since the Roman era. Three rooms are lined with Chinese-style wallpaper.
Hours: Daily April-Mid-Oct. 9 am – 6 pm, mid-Oct. – March 10 am – 4 pm—Amalienburg and other small palaces in the park are closed mid Oct. – March. The grounds are open daily 6:30 am – dusk.
Admission: Palace €6, Royal Stables Museum €4.50; Combo-Ticket €11.50 (€8.50) Off Season) covers the palace, Royal Stables Museum, and outlying sights open in the summer.
Address: Schloß Nymphenburg 1, 80638 München, Germany
Olympiapark
Built for the 1972 Olympic Games and includes sports facilities, an artificial lake, hills, stadium, a 950 foot high television tower, all in a one mile square area. The sports facilities are covered by vast transparent canopies stretched between a series of tall masts.
Olympiaturm
A lift takes you up to an observation deck and revolving restaurant in the 951 foot tall tower. On a clear day you can see the Alps.
Olympia Schwimmhalle
A large aquatic center with five pools, a 33 foot diving board, saunas, sun-bathing area and a gym.
Olympia-stadion
Capacity of almost 70,000 people and now used for concerts and events.
Sea Life Aquarium
On the grounds there is an aquarium where you can see aquatic life and includes a shark tunnel. Look for stingrays, huge fish and even a jellyfish aquarium that my son enjoyed going back to over and over.
Hours: 10 am- 5 pm, Monday – Friday; Saturday – Sunday until 6 pm.
Admission: Check the Website for best prices.
Other sites include: Kino am Olympiasee- open-air cinema on the lake, Olympic Hall—Venue for 15,000 people under a tent-like roof, and the grounds with the lake is park area worth exploring.
Olympia Park Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 München
BMW Welt
Architecturally stunning building that you can see the newest vehicles and learn about the BMW brand.
Hours: Monday- Saturday, 8:30 am – 12 am; Sunday 9 am – 12 am. Exhibitions Monday- Sunday, 9 am – 6 pm.
Admission: free
Address: Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 München, Germany
BMW Museum
You can learn BMW’s history including engines, vintage vehicles, new cars and motorcycles in a 1,000 meters of space. Information on plant tours and other types of tours can be found on the website. The museum and the Welt also have a shop and restaurants.
Hours: Tuesday- Sunday 10 am – 6 pm, closed Mondays
Admission: Single tickets are €10
Address: Am Olympiapark 2, 80809 München, Germany
Hellabrunn Zoo
The zoo is on the banks of the Isar River and has 750 exotic and native animals. Animals are arranged by continent and they are enclosed in spacious areas.
Hours: Oct. 29- March 31, 9 am – 5 pm; April 1- Oct. 27, 9 am – 6 pm.
Admission: Adults €15, Children (4-14) €6. Annual Pass: 1 parent, 1 child €49.
Address: Tierparkstraße 30, 81543 München, Germany
FURTHER AFIELD
Linderhof Palace
Royal Villa” of Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845–1886), originated as a hunting lodge belonging to his father Maximilian II – the “Königshäuschen”. This building is the only palace King Ludwig II was able to complete in 1878. The palace has a Hall of Mirrors and Staircase and furnished in the style of the “second Rococo” period.
The Palace Park was completed in 1880 from designs by Carl von Effner. It includes baroque gardens and terraces and cascades in the Italian Renaissance style. The adjoining landscape garden continues into the mountain forest of the Ammergau Mountains. Look for Oriental elements such as the Moorish Kiosk and the Moroccan House.
Hours: April – Oct. 15, 9 am – 6 pm; Oct. 16- March, 10 am – 4:30 pm.
Admission: Park and Palace Buildings €8.50, Reduced €7.50; In winter the park buildings are closed €7.50, Reduced €6.50. Combo ticket with Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and Neuschwanstein €26.
Address: Linderhof 12, 82488 Ettal, Germany
Herrenchiemsee New Palace
In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel as the location for his Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee (New Palace). Modelled on Versailles, this palace was built as a “Temple of Fame” for King Louis XIV of France, whom the Bavarian monarch fervently admired.
In Herrenchiemsee Palace Park top priority was given to copying the palace and gardens of Versailles as an epitome of monarchic splendour, in the construction of the dream worlds of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Admission also includes a visit to the Augustinian Monastery.
Hours: New Palace and Augustinian Monastery — March 31- Oct. 27 9 am – 6 pm; Oct. 28- March 30, 10 am – 4:45 pm.
Admission: Cash payment amounts above 50 can pay by credit card. €9 euros, children 18 and under free. Ticket includes New Palace, King Ludwig II Museum and Augustinian Monastery – visit to only monastery is €4. Combination ticket “Königsschlösser” (King Ludwig II’s palaces): 26 euros. The combination ticket is valid for six months; you can visit each of the palaces Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and Neuschwanstein once.
Address: 83209 Herrenchiemsee, Germany
How to Get There? You will have to take a boat to the palace since it is on an island. You can take a train from Munich to the Chiemsee-Bahn and then leave from the ferry landing next to it serviced by Chiemsee-Schiffart. Tickets are Roundtrip Adults €9.70, Children (6-15) €4.80 and under 6 are free. More information at https://www.chiemsee-schifffahrt.de/de/home/
Zugspitze
Highest point in Germany and you can go up to the top either by cogwheel train or cable car.
Admission: Adults Non-Skier €46.50 and children under 6 are free and includes Gletscherbahn Cable car or cogwheel train and Cable car Zugspitze
Hours: 8 am – 5 pm
How to get there: Take a train from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and from their take another train to Zugspitze.
Dachua Concentration Camp Memorial
The first Nazi concentration camp started in 1933 located 12 miles outside of Munich. For more information on tours go to www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachua.de
Hours: Daily 9 am – 5 pm
Address: Alte Römerstraße 75, 85221 Dachau, Germany
