Great travel is made better by great connections and good fortune. And on a trip that included less than 24 hours in Munich, that’s how we wound up on a behind-the-scenes tour of Munich’s Hofbrauhaus, courtesy of good friend and former work colleague Dr. Martin Behle.
Of course, you know the Hofbrauhaus — Munich’s giant, iconic beer hall dating back to the late 1500 and now a global chain exporting German beer, food and fun around the world. Visit any day, and it’s a giant party. Inside, you’ll likely find an om-pa band in the cavernous dining areas, where wooden picnic-style tables create a cozy (and sometimes, suffocating!) closeness with locals and visitors alike. On warm days, the crowd spills out into the beer garden and on the balconies.
Our behind-the-scenes tour was not the public brewery tour, but a privately-arranged tour of the massive beer hall complex. While we greatly enjoyed the tour, that likely was because I spent more than 25 years in the restaurant equipment business, so my definition of “enjoyment” may be warped by regular travel standards. And yes, before and after the tour, we greatly enjoyed a selection of beers and food.
For those into the art of brewing, Hofbrauhaus does offer a brewery tour. It’s available Monday through Thursday, and only by reservation at least 14 days in advance. Groups are limited to a maximum of 30 people, and it’s recommended you book much earlier than the 14-day window to be assured your choice of tours.
Here are some thoughts on consuming the food, beer and hospitality that Munich has to offer — even in a mere 24 hours:
Focus on the City Center, Marienplatz. Don’t waste your short visit trying to do everything and wind up stuck in transit doing nothing. Instead, find a hotel near the city center, and start your visit at Marienplatz. We stayed at The Louis Hotel, an upscale location that TripAdvisor.Com lists as the No. 16 hotel in the city. In addition to a wide variety of restaurants and shops, the Neues Rathaus (new town hall), Altes Rathaus (old town hall) and historic churches like Alte St. Peter and the Frauenkirche are nearby. The two churches offer tower views of the city. Enjoy a pleasant walk and snap lots of pictures and Munich is a ready-to-frame photographers dream world.
Consider a Bike Tour. Munich is very bike friendly, and there are a number of bike tour operators that do a great job giving a city overview for the active visitor. Munich Bike Tours and Rentals and Mike’s Bike Tours offer a variety of small-group tours in English, and are located near Marienplatz. They also offer bike rental if you want to explore on your own.
Don’t Be Afraid to of Public Transportation. The trains of the underground U-Bahn and the above-ground trains and trams of the S-Bahn are clean, safe and (fairly) easy to navigate. Maps are easy-t0-understand, fares are reasonable, and the system goes everywhere. The Marienplatz station is the center of the system, and provides easy (if somewhat overwhelming and confusing) options to go almost anywhere. If you only have 24 hours, don’t spend it on the train. But if you have more time, use the U-Bahn and S-Bahn to travel easily.
Do Visit a Beer Hall or Beer Garden. Yes, go to Hofbrauhaus, and enjoy the beer, food and atmosphere. And, if you decide to go elsewhere, there are many great choices beyond this iconic location. Chinesischer Turm beer garden is located in the English Gardens. If your 24 hours starts in early afternoon, you may decide to go out for a visit and a beer, then head back into the center of the city. Other great choices — depending on your beer tastes and time available — include Augustinerkeller, Muffatwerk (in an old power plant), and Lowenbraukeller.
Look for Local Events. We were walking in Marienplatz, and a parade started to organize. We didn’t have time on a Saturday morning to follow along. If something like this happens to you in Munich (or almost anywhere in Germany, for that matter), join in and see where it leads. We’ve enjoyed any number of local festivals in small towns and larger ones just by following a crowd or getting a local tip.
More Below the Photographs:
Links to some of the businesses and locations mentioned here can be found following these photographs.
Helpful Links:
Here are links to topics and locations mentioned in this article:
- Hofbrauhaus Munich: http://www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en/index_en.html. The main page for the famous beer hall. Ompa, ompa!
- Brewery Tours: https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/en/the-hofbraeu-world/brewery-tours/. Check out the behind-the-scenes views and experiences.
- Hotel Louis: http://www.louis-hotel.com/ Beautiful, upscale, and close to the city center, train station and more.
- Munich Bike Tours and Rentals: https://www.biketoursmunich.com/. Like most European cities, bikes are everywhere.
- Mike’s Bike Tours: https://www.mikesbiketours.com/munich/. Another option for our biking enthusiasts.
- Chinesincher Turn Beer Garden: http://www.munichbeergardens.com/Chinesischer_Turm. Just in case you want multiple beer garden options — and who doesn’t?
