Discover Munich, a city that enchants with its perfect blend of tradition and modernity.

Stroll through the elegant Marienplatz and admire the famous Glockenspiel of the New Town Hall, a masterpiece of mechanics. Immerse yourself in Bavarian culture by exploring the historic markets and iconic Hofbräuhaus, where hospitality is at home. Art lovers will find treasures in the Pinakotheken, while car enthusiasts can visit the futuristic world of BMW. Relax in the immense Englischer Garten, larger than Central Park, where you can even watch surfers on the Eisbach river.

In Munich, every alleyway tells a story and every beer hall is an experience.
Come and discover why its motto is “München mag dich” (Munich likes you): you'll fall in love with its charm and vibrant atmosphere.

🏛️ OLD TOWN AND MONUMENTS

Marienplatz and Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall): The beating heart of the city. Don't miss the Glockenspiel show on the tower of the New Town Hall, which takes place every day at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (and from March to October also at 5:00 p.m.).

Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady): The unmistakable symbol of Munich with its two onion domes. You can climb one of the towers for a spectacular view of the city and, on clear days, the Alps.

Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church): The oldest church in Munich. Climb the tower (called “Alter Peter”) for the best panoramic view of Marienplatz and the old town.

Residenz München: The former royal palace of the Bavarian rulers. It is the largest city palace in Germany and offers a sumptuous experience among courtyards, magnificent halls (such as the Antiquarium) and treasures.

Viktualienmarkt: A lively and colorful food market, perfect for sampling local specialties, buying fresh produce, and enjoying the atmosphere in an outdoor Biergarten.

🍺 BAVARIAN CULTURE AND TRADITION

Hofbräuhaus: The most famous and historic beer hall in the world. An unforgettable experience to immerse yourself in the true Bavarian beer culture, with traditional music and giant beer mugs. It is also a place of historical importance: here, on February 20, 1920, Adolf Hitler gave one of his first speeches announcing the 25 points of the National Socialist Party program.
Englischer Garten (English Garden): One of the largest urban parks in the world, even larger than Central Park in New York.
Don't miss the Eisbachwelle, the artificial wave where surfers ride the river water (located near the Prinzregentenstraße Bridge).
Stop for a beer at the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), the famous Biergarten inside the park.

🖼️ ART AND SCIENCE

Kunstareal (Art District): An area that brings together some of the most important museums, including the Alte Pinakothek (Old Masters), the Neue Pinakothek (19th century), and the Pinakothek der Moderne (modern and contemporary art).

Deutsches Museum: The world's largest science and technology museum, a must-see attraction for young and old alike.

👑 PALACES, PARKS, AND CARS

Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace): The splendid summer residence of the Bavarian royal family, with its immense Baroque gardens.

Olympiapark: The park built for the 1972 Olympic Games, now a recreational area. You can climb the Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) for spectacular views.

BMW Welt and BMW Museum: Perfect for car enthusiasts and fans of futuristic design.

🗺️ DAY TRIPS OUTSIDE MUNICH

Neuschwanstein Castle: If you have an extra day, King Ludwig II's “fairytale castle” is an unforgettable excursion that is worth the trip on its own, one of the most iconic places on the entire planet. Walt Disney was inspired by this castle for Cinderella's castle at Disneyland. The villages of Upper Bavaria Garmisch Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, and Berchstesgaden are worth a trip in themselves!

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial: A moving and unmissable visit, especially for LGBT people who are often unaware of the horrors perpetrated against homosexuals by Nazi-Fascist barbarism, a short train ride from Munich.

🖼️ MUSEUMS AND CULTURE

Visit the free exhibition halls. Some modern art spaces always offer free admission, such as the Rathausgalerie or the Kunstarkaden.

Take advantage of €1 museums on Sundays. Many of Munich's major museums (such as the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, and Museum Brandhorst) charge a symbolic €1 admission fee every Sunday.

Explore the smaller science museums. The Paleontological Museum and the Geological Museum often offer free admission.

Visit the Documentation Center on the History of National Socialism (NS-Dokumentationszentrum). Admission is free to this important place of remembrance and historical learning.

⛪ CHURCHES AND ARCHITECTURE

Admire the Asamkirche (Church of the Asam Brothers). A hidden Baroque and Rococo gem, admission is free.

Step inside the Theatinerkirche (St. Cajetan Church). This imposing Italian Baroque church with its yellow facade is free to enter.

Explore the courtyards of the Residenz. Admission to the inner courtyards of the royal palace (such as the Hofgarten) is free.

🏞️ PARKS AND VIEWPOINTS

Head to the Olympiaberg. The hill created from war debris inside the Olympiapark offers a great free view of Munich and the Alps at sunset.

Admire the Friedensengel (Angel of Peace). This golden monument on the banks of the Isar also offers a beautiful perspective of the city.

Stroll through the Hofgarten. The elegant and peaceful garden near the Residenz is perfect for a break.

🚶 URBAN ART AND ALTERNATIVE AREAS

Discover street art in Werksviertel-Mitte. This redeveloped area, built with shipping containers and industrial structures, is full of murals and urban art.

Listen to free music at the Olympiapark. During the summer (especially in August), the Theatron Festival offers free concerts at the amphitheater.

Explore the Isar paths: enjoy a walk along the river, a popular meeting place for Munich residents.

Munich has a long, rich, and complex LGBTQ+ history, marked by periods of great cultural flourishing, repression, and then rebirth.

BELLE ÉPOQUE AND WEIMAR REPUBLIC (Late 19th Century - 1933)

Munich, like Berlin, was a center of relative tolerance and artistic ferment at the end of the 19th century and during the Weimar Republic.
As early as 1897, Munich saw the work of Magnus Hirschfeld: although his institute was in Berlin, his ideas on sexuality and the third sex were spreading. Paragraph 175 (the law criminalizing homosexual acts between men) existed, but its application varied.
In the Schwabing district (the artists' and intellectuals' quarter), homosexuality was accepted in certain elite circles. During the same period, the first discreet meeting places developed.

THE HORROR OF NAZI REPRESSION (1933-1945)

Munich was the “Capital of the Movement” (*Hauptstadt der Bewegung*), and this led to brutal and systematic repression against the LGBTQ+ community, especially homosexual men.
The Nazis tightened *Paragraph 175*, making arrest possible even for intent or suspicion, and not just for the sexual act itself.
Thousands of homosexual men were arrested throughout Germany; those from Munich and Bavaria were often sent to the nearby Dachau Concentration Camp, where they were identified with the “ROSA WINKEL” (the Pink Triangle, a symbol of persecution for male homosexuality, just as the black triangle was for lesbians and “asocial” women).
The clubs and cafes that welcomed the community were closed and dismantled.

POST-WAR AND SILENCE (1945 - 1960s)

After the war, the Nazi horror ended, but the repressive law did not: “Paragraph 175” was retained by the West German government*(BRD) in its form exacerbated by the Nazis. This meant that legal persecution continued, albeit less violently. The LGBTQ+ community remained in the shadows, forced to live a life of extreme caution.

THE REBIRTH AND THE DEUTSCHE EICHE (1970s - Present)

The real turning point came in the 1970s, with the gradual abolition of Paragraph 175 and the civil rights movement.
In 1969, the first part of Paragraph 175 was amended, but its complete abolition did not occur until 1994, after German reunification.

Within a few years, the central district around Glockenbachviertel established itself as the heart of gay and lesbian life.

The DEUTSCHE EICHE (German Oak) with its hotel, sauna, and restaurant is now a fundamental institution in Munich's LGBTQ+ history.
Founded as an inn in the 19th century, it became a crucial and discreet meeting place for the gay community throughout the period when homosexuality was illegal. Having survived Nazi repression and post-war silence, it continued its hospitality business with the hotel and restaurant, adding Europe's first and most famous gay sauna. Even today, it remains a symbol of the community's resilience and continuity.

Today, like every other major European city, Munich hosts a vibrant and well-attended Christopher Street Day (CSD, as PRIDE is called in Germany), and the community is well integrated. Monuments have been erected in memory of the victims of Nazism and Paragraph 175.

The history of Munich is a powerful example of how, through culture and resistance, a community can survive even the most extreme forms of persecution. The DEUTSCHE EICHE and the Glockenbachviertel district are now visible reminders of this long struggle for freedom.

MUNICH offers rich and flavorful traditional Bavarian cuisine. Here are some specialties you absolutely must try:

🍖 MAIN COURSES

* Schweinshaxe (Roast Pork Knuckle): This is the signature dish. A pork knuckle that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, often served with Knödel** (dumplings) and sauerkraut.
* Weißwurst (White Sausage): Traditional sausage made from veal and pork belly, flavored with parsley, lemon, and spices. It is boiled and typically eaten for a quick lunch, accompanied by Brezel and sweet mustard (Süßer Senf).
* Leberkäse: Literally “liver cheese,” but it contains neither cheese nor, often, liver. It is a mixture of meat (veal, pork, bacon) cooked in a mold, served hot in thick slices, often in a sandwich or with potato salad.
* Wiener Schnitzel: The famous breaded and fried veal cutlet, also very popular here.
* Bratwurst: Grilled sausages, a street food classic, often served with bread or potatoes.

🥨 SIDE DISHES AND SNACKS

* Brezel (or Pretzel): A salty, dark, shiny bread in the shape of a twisted ring. Perfect with beer or as an accompaniment to sausages.
* Knödel (Dumplings): These can be made from stale bread (Semmelknödel) or potatoes (Kartoffelknödel). They serve as a hearty side dish to accompany meat and sauces.
* Kartoffelsalat (Potato Salad): The Bavarian version is often dressed with vinegar, oil, and meat broth instead of mayonnaise.
* Obatzda: A spread made from cheese (often Camembert), butter, paprika, and onions. Ideal to enjoy with Brezel for an aperitif (Brotzeit).

🍺 AND OF COURSE...

* Beer (Bier): Munich is the beer capital of the world! Try the different varieties, especially wheat beer (Weißbier) and classic lagers. An unmissable experience is dining in one of the large beer halls such as the Hofbräuhaus or in a typical beer garden (Biergarten).

🍰 DESSERTS

* Kaiserschmarrn: A kind of sweet, shredded omelet with raisins, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with apple or plum compote.
* Prinzregententorte: A layered cake (seven layers, like the original Bavarian districts) made of chocolate sponge cake and chocolate buttercream.

Try some of these specialties at our partner restaurant in Munich, DEUTSCHE EICHE!

Munich is generally considered a very safe and inclusive city for LGBTQ+ people.

Germany, in general, is at the forefront in terms of rights and social acceptance, and Munich, while maintaining a more traditional image than Berlin, is in fact very open and welcoming.
The city is often mentioned in international rankings as one of the safest destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers. In general, in Munich, you can feel comfortable openly expressing your sexual orientation and gender identity in public.
Despite the high level of safety, it is important to be aware of one aspect that affects all of Germany: as documented by the authorities, there has been an increase in hate crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Germany, often linked to far-right groups. As a result, it is advisable to exercise the same caution you would in any large European city, especially in less central areas or late at night.

In conclusion, MUNICH is an extremely safe and progressive destination for the LGBTQ+ community. Visitors can enjoy the city, its historic venues, and its events with great peace of mind.