Munich’s Marienplatz with the famous Glockenspiel

Over Thanksgiving, I was invited to visit Munich with my amazing touring partner, Pure Germany, Austria & Switzerland. It was a fantastic trip with lots of little Bavarian touches that made it truly special. I love to feel like I am somewhere else!

In Munich, we were guests at The Charles Hotel, a Rocco Forte property. I am a Rocco Forte Knights travel agent, which means I can VIP your stay. We had beautiful rooms on the 6th floor, flooded with natural light and looking over the park. The Charles is also a Virtuoso hotel. The hotel has everything you could want: great food, a great location 10 minutes from the Old Town, and a great spa. It is more European in feel than Bavarian but I will come back to that later.

The cute welcome amenities at The Charles Hotel. That Obatzkase on the right, a Bavarian beer cheese!

Airport Transfers in Munich

Pure Germany picked me up from Munich airport in a strikingly new Mercedes with all the bells and whistles—my driver James met me after baggage claim with my name on a sign. It’s about a 35 minute ride into central Munich. 20 years ago, I remember taking the train to/from the airport but with two suitcases, a backpack, and Florida jetlag, I was so glad to have a private driver waiting for me. This is the type of thing I can organize for you. If you need more space, I also have access to minivans and buses.

Touring in Munich

In Munich, I had the opportunity to visit Lenbachhaus Gallerie on my own — think Kandinsky and Klee — as well as the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art, where there was a Damien Hirst exhibition. After living in London for so long, I am very familiar with Damien Hirst, so I thought this was funny. To be honest, I am a “whistlestop” museum goer. I like to go to museums but I blitz through them very quickly.

Thanks to Pure Germany, my group of travel advisors were lucky to have a private tour of Munich with an excellent guide. She was able to blend history with pop culture along with a little food as well. Her sense of timing was impeccable. At exactly 11 am, she led us into Marienplatz, where we watched the famous glockenspiel do its dance. (Seriously, the characters dance and joust.) This was followed by a stop at the Viktualienmarkt for leberkase (German spam, essentially) and good German bread. We ended the tour at The Residenz, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs. My favorite part? The Treasury! For all the diamonds.

The highlight of the afternoon was visiting the Christmas Market in the courtyard of The Residenz. There are many Christmas markets across Munich but this is really the best one. It’s away from the crowds of the Marienplatz and feels more local in style, with higher quality goods on offer.

Eating & Drinking in Munich

My first day in Munich, I took a walk through my old neighborhood by the Theresianstrasse U Bahn stop. It’s been 20 years so it comes as no surprise that it is entirely different than it used to be. Now, there’s a restaurant on every corner. (20 years ago, there was a sushi place and a McDonald’s and that was it. The McDonald’s is still there.) I had heard great things about Mamma Bao, a Chinese bao and noodle restaurant around the corner from my old apartment, so I made a beeline to it and got here just before a huge queue formed. Yes, I travel thousands of miles for good Chinese food. American Chinese food is still stuck in the 1980s. You can’t convince me otherwise.

That night, my colleague Martha and I struck out at every restaurant we wanted to go to. Then JB, the delightful concierge at The Charles, suggested Shandiz, a Persian restaurant around the corner and down the street from the hotel. We both perked up immediately. Shandiz!! It was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel and totally packed on a Saturday night. They managed to find us a table and we settled in for absolutely outstanding lamb dishes and friendly service.

I love finding restaurants like these when I travel. I’m so tired of chicken parmigiana.

We also enjoyed a delightful Italian dinner at The Charles Hotel in their lovely restaurant that feels like a garden. Veal cheeks!

The best dinner of the trip though? Wirsthaus Ayinger! Here we had a true Bavarian feast. (Pictured above.) We even got to tap the beer keg and eat all the German soft pretzels. This restaurant has a true sense of place — it’s when you really realize that you are somewhere else.

The Platzl Hotel, Munich

While in Munich, we also toured the Platzl Hotel, owned by the same family that owns Wirsthaus Ayinger and the Ayinger Brewery outside Munich. The Platzl Hotel in Munich offers a perfect blend of traditional Bavarian hospitality and modern luxury. Situated in the heart of the city, right nextdoor to the Hofbrauhaus, guests enjoy easy access to iconic attractions such as Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt. The beautifully appointed rooms reflect a cozy yet elegant design, ensuring a comfortable retreat after exploring the vibrant surroundings. I really loved this property. It is a 4 star hotel but it’s really a very well done hotel. If you book The Platzl through me, I now have the connections to VIP your stay.

Visiting Ayinger Brewery Outside Munich

After saying goodbye to Munich, we made our way to Aying, about 30 minutes outside of Munich. This is home to Ayinger Brewery, Visiting Ayinger Brewery in Germany offers a unique opportunity to experience a rich brewing tradition that dates back to 1878. Known for its exceptional craftsmanship, Ayinger produces a variety of award-winning beers, including their renowned Märzen and Celebrator Doppelbock. Thanks again to Pure Germany, we enjoyed a private tour of the brewery that provided insight into the brewing process, as well as tastings that highlighted the distinct flavors of Ayinger’s offerings. It was hard not to hum the Laverne & Shirley theme song as we watched the bottling facility!! Ayinger Brewery is a great day trip for the beer lover in your life.

Hotel Brauereigasthof Aying

After our tour of the brewery, Pure Germany arranged for us to tour the cozy Hotel Brauereigasthof Aying, owned by the same family as Ayinger Brewery and Wirsthaus Ayinger. This hotel makes for a nice romantic getaway. It’s also great for beer lovers. A secret tip? If you want to go to Oktoberfest in Munich and can’t find any hotels, stay here! You can take the train into central Munich for Oktoberfest and then head back to the hotel afterwards to escape the craziness.

We ended our stay in Aying with another amazing meal! This was another true Bavarian experience. A platter stacked with Bavarian meats and cheeses was brought to our table and we all enjoyed the brewery’s delicious beers with our lunch. Plus fantastic pretzels!

Summary of My Trip to Munich

This was a fantastic trip. I got to see parts of Munich that I had never seen before. When I was here 20 years ago, I didn’t have the connections to experience Munich in a Bavarian way. And now I do! Let me know if I can help you with your next trip to Munich, Germany.

About Krista

I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to moving to Florida to take care of my elderly mom with Parkinson’s Disease, I spent over 11 years living and working in London, England, selling financial data. My career and personal travel have taken me all over the world. To date, I’ve been to 78 countries. Now I bring the joy of travel to others as a Virtuoso travel advisor. I offer a 30 minute complimentary vacation consultation for anyone looking to plan their next trip.

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Just Back from Munich with All the Holiday Market Magic