If you like to travel a lot (I mean who doesn’t!), you may freak out about managing your time, money or making sure you make the most of the people, places and things around you. Here is the D.L.—you don’t have to worry!
First thing’s first when you plan a trip 1) you look on your explore page of Instagram to find someone who has been to the same desired location 2) you binge search pictures of your beautiful destination, and 3) you look up popular activities on travel blogs. Travel blogs are a popular resource. You trust them and they are a good place to start, but once you arrive, ask a local for a second opinion.
Why It’s Newsworthy: Blogs are a fun and lighthearted way to read and gather information about an upcoming trip, but don’t hesitate to ask someone who really knows the area—get the locals to spill the tea on their secrets to the city.
Here’s the Tea
More than 70 million people from all over the world travel to visit Munich each year, according to the Visitor’s Guide 2017. Soon-to-be tourists who read the same travel blogs could cause you to wait in a line or two for any one of the 80 museums. Get your Guide lists the “Top 10 things to see in Munich” as the Deutches Museum, Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, Allianz Arena, Nymphenburg Palace, BMW Museum, Oktoberfest, Hofbräuhaus München, Englischer Garten and the Munich Residenz.
Locals offer advice for preferred venues or destinations to kick back and relax. The botanical gardens, with roses blooming and a captivating aroma filling the air, is like escaping to a colorful paradise. Many locals suggest a stroll through the English Gardens (48.5 miles long to be exact) to develop a different view of the city. If you see a Chinese-looking tower in the middle of the park, you are about to discover the beer garden that features a distinctive design and atmosphere. A popular local spot in the Marienplatz by the Apple store, down the alley to the left and up the elevator, is Café Glockenspiel–a rooftop bar.
More to Munich
I know…not a lot of time with 80 museums, thousands of restaurants, and don’t forget all the platz’s–Marienplatz! Rosenheimer Platz! Karlzplatz! The blog post by TripAdvisor called “How to Spend 1 Day in Munich,” suggests a walking, biking or bus tour for the morning, a visit to the Nazi’s first concentration camp Dachau for the afternoon followed by an evening exploring Hofbräuhaus beer hall.
Carole Schmitt, a frequent Eisbach wave surfer, described the English Gardens as a place for “sunbathing.” As the chilled water dripped off the tips of her dirty blonde hair onto her wet suit, she mentioned the Hofbräuhaus beer house and described the area of Ostbahnhof as “a little hipster place for Heineken and you can stay for the evening.” Yes, she mentions popular tourist attractions, but Carole gave the down low on her local perspective on how to spend time in Munich, Germany.
Secrets, Serendipity, Splendor—More from the Locals
Chrissy Dam, who has lived in Munich for two years, was coincidently giving a tour to her best friend from Brazil. Her favorite things to do as a local include spending time in Königsplatz, which “is quite impressive, it’s super beautiful just to hang around and chill.” To avoid tourists and crowds and become immersed into a local environment, Chrissy suggested the northern English Gardens because “it’s amazing up there!”
Getting out of your comfort zone and asking a local adds to the overall experience of exploring a new place. Get inspired by a local and get to know Munich for all of her secrets, serendipity and splendor. Pack your bags and don’t forget to ask a local once you arrive in Munich. Plenty of Germans speak English, so ask away…they are happy to help!
Agnes Coppage is a third year majoring in advertising in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
