Hi -
I'm heading to Munich next week for the first time. My partner is interviewing for a position in Garching and I want to do a bit of recon while I'm there to figure out what life would actually be like if we moved there. I plan to get some touristy stuff in too, but what should I do with my time that would give me a better sense of the day-to-day experience of life there? I speak no German, but don't mind feeling out of place, since that would probably be a frequent experience if we moved there! Where should I go? What should I buy? What neighborhoods should I wander? Any suggestions are very welcome!
Thanks!
You are viewing a low-graphics version of this page. Click the headline to view full version:
How to get a sense of life in Munich
Getting to know the city during a short visit
Visiting Munich ...
Hi Lara,
I suppose the question would be - what kinds of things do you see yourself doing when and if you move here?
I suppose the question would be - what kinds of things do you see yourself doing when and if you move here?
Hmmm... Very good question! My partner is a scientist, so he'll be doing his scientisty thing. I'm a radio producer, so I'll probably by making radio stories for American outlets. I'm also an artist and I love food. I guess I'm hoping to find a few experiences to have while I'm in Munich that would be representative of what life feels like there - for better or worse - ideally, a bit of each. So, it could be like ride the xxx train during rush hour, check out the selection at such and such grocery store, sit and have coffee here. Just experiences that feel, to you, to be typical life in Munich experiences. Does that make sense? Every town has its own feel and rhythm, and I want to get a peek inside before I pick up my whole life and move there!
Lara, I think your idea to find out about "normal" life in Munich is definitely a good one. I'd do all the walking around I can. Taking any of the U-Bahns (except possibly the 4/5) at any time of the day will give you an idea of what your main form of transportation will likely be if you live in the city. Take the U6 up to Garching to get an idea of how long it takes to get from there to the center.
Have a look at the Kaufhof Galleria food market in the basement of the big store in Marienplatz: that's just about the best you will get in terms of the quantity, quality, and variety of everyday food you will find in one place. This could be something of a shock to you if you're used to large American supermarkets. A neighborhood supermarket is more like what you would consider to be a convenience store (only without the extra expense.) The Viktualienmarkt is a nice destination, but I don't know many people who do most or all of their food shopping there, as it's pretty expensive.
The downtown area around Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, and Sendlinger Tor are the main shopping areas, but you could check out a shopping mall at Neuperlach Zentrum (U5) or Olympia Einkaufzentrum (U1/U3). Almost all of the shops are closed on Sundays, and consequently very crowded on Saturdays. Turn on the TV in your hotel to get an idea of the broadcast offerings there.
There are quite a few aspects of everyday life that you won't be able to see as a visitor. I was surprised when I moved back that the decor in your average medical or dental practice here is much more plush and comfortable than in the offices there. This is only by way of saying that if you're used to painted walls and coordinated sofas at your doctors' offices now, you're likely to feel as if you've stumbled into some seedy practice the first time you need to visit a doctor or hospital in Munich. But I was happy with the quality of medical care I received there.
When I first moved to Munich, I was immediately impressed with how vibrant the city is, compared to what I was used to. The fact that most people are out walking or taking the trains instead of driving individually in their cars contributes to this. I also loved all the beautiful buildings. It seems like a small thing, scenery, but it continued to be uplifting for me right up until I left.
Have a look at the Kaufhof Galleria food market in the basement of the big store in Marienplatz: that's just about the best you will get in terms of the quantity, quality, and variety of everyday food you will find in one place. This could be something of a shock to you if you're used to large American supermarkets. A neighborhood supermarket is more like what you would consider to be a convenience store (only without the extra expense.) The Viktualienmarkt is a nice destination, but I don't know many people who do most or all of their food shopping there, as it's pretty expensive.
The downtown area around Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, and Sendlinger Tor are the main shopping areas, but you could check out a shopping mall at Neuperlach Zentrum (U5) or Olympia Einkaufzentrum (U1/U3). Almost all of the shops are closed on Sundays, and consequently very crowded on Saturdays. Turn on the TV in your hotel to get an idea of the broadcast offerings there.
There are quite a few aspects of everyday life that you won't be able to see as a visitor. I was surprised when I moved back that the decor in your average medical or dental practice here is much more plush and comfortable than in the offices there. This is only by way of saying that if you're used to painted walls and coordinated sofas at your doctors' offices now, you're likely to feel as if you've stumbled into some seedy practice the first time you need to visit a doctor or hospital in Munich. But I was happy with the quality of medical care I received there.
When I first moved to Munich, I was immediately impressed with how vibrant the city is, compared to what I was used to. The fact that most people are out walking or taking the trains instead of driving individually in their cars contributes to this. I also loved all the beautiful buildings. It seems like a small thing, scenery, but it continued to be uplifting for me right up until I left.
Thanks, cinzia!
That was exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for!
That was exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for!
Lots of good suggestions from Cinzia there. Uh, I don't quite get the bit about the U4/5 though. How are they different from any other U-Bahn routes?
Another thing I'd suggest would be to take a stroll through Schwabing. Why Schwabing? Well, it's a district to the north of the centre where you might want to consider living if your hubby gets the job. It's convenient for Garching as the U6 subway line passes through there, it has shops and restaurants mixed in with residential areas, and it's quite a popular area. To get a feel for it, take the U-Bahn (U3 or U6) to Gisela Strasse, and walk north along Leopoldstrasse, Schwabing's main thoroughfare, towards Muenchener Freiheit. Explore the side streets around Muenchener Freiheit. Also take a walk along Hohenzollernstrasse, a long street which goes west from Leopoldstrasse, and explore the side streets. If you need to give your feet a rest, you can take the bus number 53 along Hohenzollernstrasse. Alternatively, you could take the U-Bahn line U2 to Hohenzollernplatz, and walk east from there along Hohenzollernstr. to Leopoldstr.
For a contrast, take the U6 to Garching, and get off at the penultimate stop "Garching" (not Garching-Hochbrueck, and not Garching-Forschungszentrum). This will bring you out right in the centre of Garching, with shops and residential areas around. Garching is a fairly small place (I think between 15,000 and 20,000 inhabitants) with some nice quiet residential areas, but not much happening if you're a night-life person. The research campus, where I suppose your husband will be working, is one stop away from the centre of Garching on the U-Bahn, or 20-30 minutes walk or a pleasant bicycle ride. If you think you want to live in Garching, and you expect to be using the U-Bahn a lot, it's worth noting that Munich's football stadium is located on the U6 line between Munich and Garching, and the trains can get very crowded when there's a football match on. That's one of the reasons I prefer to live in Munich, even though I work at the Garching research campus.
If you have nothing planned for Wednesday night, you might like to join the Munich Curry Night and talk to some TTers in person. This week it will be at the restaurant Shanai, right by the U-Bahn (U6) stop Dietlindenstrasse. Maybe see you there?
QUOTE (cinzia @ Jan 28 2008, 5:09 am) 
Taking any of the U-Bahns (except possibly the 4/5) at any time of the day will give you an idea of what your main form of transportation will likely be if you live in the city.
Another thing I'd suggest would be to take a stroll through Schwabing. Why Schwabing? Well, it's a district to the north of the centre where you might want to consider living if your hubby gets the job. It's convenient for Garching as the U6 subway line passes through there, it has shops and restaurants mixed in with residential areas, and it's quite a popular area. To get a feel for it, take the U-Bahn (U3 or U6) to Gisela Strasse, and walk north along Leopoldstrasse, Schwabing's main thoroughfare, towards Muenchener Freiheit. Explore the side streets around Muenchener Freiheit. Also take a walk along Hohenzollernstrasse, a long street which goes west from Leopoldstrasse, and explore the side streets. If you need to give your feet a rest, you can take the bus number 53 along Hohenzollernstrasse. Alternatively, you could take the U-Bahn line U2 to Hohenzollernplatz, and walk east from there along Hohenzollernstr. to Leopoldstr.
For a contrast, take the U6 to Garching, and get off at the penultimate stop "Garching" (not Garching-Hochbrueck, and not Garching-Forschungszentrum). This will bring you out right in the centre of Garching, with shops and residential areas around. Garching is a fairly small place (I think between 15,000 and 20,000 inhabitants) with some nice quiet residential areas, but not much happening if you're a night-life person. The research campus, where I suppose your husband will be working, is one stop away from the centre of Garching on the U-Bahn, or 20-30 minutes walk or a pleasant bicycle ride. If you think you want to live in Garching, and you expect to be using the U-Bahn a lot, it's worth noting that Munich's football stadium is located on the U6 line between Munich and Garching, and the trains can get very crowded when there's a football match on. That's one of the reasons I prefer to live in Munich, even though I work at the Garching research campus.
If you have nothing planned for Wednesday night, you might like to join the Munich Curry Night and talk to some TTers in person. This week it will be at the restaurant Shanai, right by the U-Bahn (U6) stop Dietlindenstrasse. Maybe see you there?
Thanks for the great advice everyone! We got back home on Weds, otherwise I would have gone for a curry! We actually stayed in Garching, and ran into (luckily, going the opposite way) the football fan crowd. I had a really great time in Munich! Hopefully, I'll meet some of you this fall if I can convince my boyfriend to take the job! Thanks again!
You are viewing a low fidelity version of this page. Click to view the full page.