Munich is the capital of Bavaria. A solo trip to the city is the best way to experience its elegant architecture and emotional atmosphere and dispel the German restraint myth. Sure, Germans can be inflexible on some fronts, but you can learn something from them about how to live and enjoy your day. So, open your eyes and souls wide and let the exciting facts about Munich help you get that perfect insight into Germany's most famous city.
1. Endless flow of guests
Munich is famous all year round, and during that time, approximately 3,000,000 tourists get to breathe its air, which is twice the city's population! It can be calculated that, on average, a new tourist touches the ground of the Bavarian capital every six minutes! Of course, this fact only serves the Germans well, as each travel adds a decent sum to the treasury.
2. One in four is a foreigner!
Continuing with fact number one, regarding the number of people, tourists will be surprised that only 35% of the population was born directly in Munich. The rest of the city's inhabitants are commuters. Also, 25% of the "non-native" population are foreigners. That's why Munich has been called one of the most cosmopolitan cities. This mix affects not only German culture, mentality, architecture and culture in general.
3. Oktoberfest — O’zapft is!
The world-famous annual Oktoberfest has been celebrated for over 200 years! The tradition was first initiated in 1806 with the support of King Max Joseph and was taken up by all Germans and is now celebrated on an unprecedented scale. In 1999, visitors drank almost 6 million litres of beer and ate 500,000 fried chickens, for which the festival was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Remarkably, the start of the festivities is accompanied by the firing of 12 cannons, after which the Oberbűrgermeister says in a loud voice: "O'zapft is!" ("It has been tapped").
4. The safe for beer lovers
Munich is famous for the largest beer hall in the world! The Hofbräuhaus was founded in 1589 and is a favourite destination for hop lovers. Here, a large safe is installed, with lockers for storing the beer mugs of regulars. Each box is lockable, and the key's owner can pass on its contents as a legacy. As a reference point, around 4,000 loyalty boxes are currently reserved in the beer hall.
5. The fearless taxman exists!
This fact concerns the German tax authorities and their brave actions during the Second World War. It may be a folkloric joke, but it is said that the Munich tax officials demanded an income tax return from Hitler himself! How the story ends is unknown, but the glory of their bravery and courage still resonates.
6. The "BMW" brand
Munich gave the world BMW, a car brand considered the most popular among Germans. Tourists can even visit the BMW Museum, where experienced guides will not only explain the brand's history but also reveal the company's plans for the future. Remarkably, the company celebrated its centenary in 2016!
7. Fun to be!
You've probably noticed by now that Germany has much to do with beer and beer traditions. There was an amusing incident in the history of the Hofbräuhaus beer hall called the "Lemonade Scandal". Out of spite or ignorance, one of the clients refused to drink his favourite amber beer and ordered lemonade, which surprised the servers, who declined to serve such a sober customer. Although the story is over 100 years old and service staff are less categorical these days, it hints to every guest that tradition should be respected.
8. It couldn't get any bigger!
No visitor to Munich can get past the city park, which offers many recreational areas, including for children. The English Garden is the largest park in the world! The fact is that it covers more than 4 hectares. It is almost 6 km long and surpasses the famous Central Park in New York! Don't forget to grab a map at the park, which is sold at the entrance.
9. The most punctual nation
There is no getting around the notorious German punctuality. This is evident in everything, especially in the transport system. Despite a very dense and confusing route network, public transport in the city runs on a timetable calculated to the minute. Buses, trams and trolleybuses handle the massive passenger traffic with mechanical precision, never straying, day or night.
10. A penniless celebrity
In one of Munich's basement gyms, Arnold Schwarzenegger lived as a poor young man just back from the army in the early days of his rise. Of course, we know that some things have changed in his life since then, but his story proudly hovers among the city's budding athletes and tourists.
11. For knowledge — in the most visited museum!
The most visited museum in Munich is the German Museum of Science and Technology ('Deutsches Museum'), founded in the 20th century by Oskar von Miller. Today the museum attracts over a million visitors a year. Visitors have a whole day to explore the exhibitions. There is something for everyone among the 28,000 science and technology exhibits. The history of Bavaria's capital city is rich and varied, and every exciting fact about Munich is a page in the book you have to read. There's plenty to do here for adults and plenty to do for kids, such as Tierpark Hellabrunn. Have a great holiday!
