Experience Munich from river surfing to beer gardens

Munich may be best known for Oktoberfest, but Germany’s third-largest city offers far more than beer. Grand squares give way to leafy riverside parks, while lively beer halls sit alongside Michelin-starred restaurants. Here’s how to experience the city at its best.

Begin at Marienplatz, the city’s historic heart. Dominating the square is the Neo-Gothic New Town Hall, whose famous glockenspiel draws daily crowds as its elaborate figures re-enact scenes from Bavarian history. Just beyond the old town lies the Englischer Garten, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks.

Climb the hill to the Monopteros viewpoint for sweeping views, before continuing to the Chinesischer Turm beer garden for an unmistakably Bavarian scene of chestnut trees, traditional brass bands and one-litre steins.

Inhale the aromas of Munich at Viktualienmarkt, the beloved open-air food market. The fragrant warm pretzels that emerge steaming hot from bakery ovens will be sure to make your mouth water, while the scent of herbs, sizzling sausages and aged cheese mingle with fresh cut flowers for an unmistakably local bouquet.

One of the city’s most unexpected soundtracks lies just a short walk from the centre. At the edge of the Englischer Garten, the Eisbach canal surges through a narrow channel, creating the Eisbachwelle – a powerful standing wave that has become one of Munich’s most distinctive landmarks.

Here, the roar of rushing water mingles with the slap of surfboards and bursts of applause as wetsuit-clad surfers take turns carving across the wave, creating an unlikely slice of surf culture in the heart of Bavaria.

Munich’s culinary traditions are rooted in hearty Bavarian cooking. However, the city’s dining scene has evolved well beyond its beer hall reputation.

At the three-Michelin-starred Jan by Jan Hartwig, German cuisine is reimagined through refined contemporary techniques, while the one-Michelin-starred Werneckhof by Sigi Schelling serves elegant contemporary cuisine rooted in classic French traditions and regional produce.

Munich is ever-changing with the seasons, best experienced through the feel of the city beneath your feet. In the medieval Altstadt, centuries of footsteps have polished the old cobblestones smooth, each uneven stone a reminder of the generations that have passed before.

Spring invites you to sink into soft lawns and wander through gardens bursting into bloom. By autumn, crisp leaves crackle beneath every step, while winter wraps the city in a blanket of snow that muffles footsteps and turns every walk into a quieter, softer experience.

For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to Munich, visit singaporeair.com.