car hire Munich

Munich is Germany’s second-most popular travel destination (behind Berlin). Its name derives from the 8th-century Benedictine monks who settled there (Munichen means “monk settlement”). Munich began to develop a reputation as an active trade centre in the 1300s when it landed a lucrative salt-trading monopoly. In the 16th century, Munich was a key player in Germany’s Counter-Reformation. The city really hit its stride in the 1800s, when Germany’s first railway was built and Munich began to cultivate its cultural and artistic identity. The 1900s saw artistic luminaries like Klee, Kandinsky, Ibsen, and Mann descend the bohemian sector of town called Schwabing. Later years saw heavyweight corporations like Siemens and BMW set up shop in Munich. These days, the city’s character is built on this balance of big business and cultural richness.

You can pick up your car hire at Franz Josef Strauss International Airport. Munich’s surrounding areas are rewarding for road trips. A popular destination is Bad Tölz, which is located at the point where the majestic Alps meet the foothills. The Isar River splits the town into two halves. On one side of the river you can get your history fix, with ancient attractions like Stadtpfarrkirche, a quintessential example of German late-Gothic architecture dating back to 1466. When you’re all toured out, cross the river to relax at the luxurious modern spa, Kurverwaltung.

Munich has a lot to offer shoppers on holiday. The Altstadt section of town is home to more mainstream department store fare, while the streets extending from the Viktualienmarkt are the place to search for more offbeat finds. Viktualienmarkt itself boasts a long line of open-air stalls offering choice Bavarian meats, cheeses, and wines.

Munich’s calendar brims with fun-filled festivals. The city’s world culture festival, Tollwood, is held at Olympiapark in June. The Munich Film Festival also takes place that month. Munich’s three-day gay and lesbian festival, Christopher Street Day, happens in July. Beginning in late September, the world-famous Oktoberfest spans two-plus weeks and owns the distinction of being the world’s largest fair, with attendance of about six million people each year. This blowout features music, a huge parade, traditional German foods like sausage and käsespätzle, not to mention prodigious amounts of beer. The Munich Frühlingsfest, or Spring Festival, is a somewhat quieter, less crowded affair held in April or May and known as “Little Oktoberfest.”