10 Best Outdoor Activities in Munich

Few can believe their eyes when they spot fearless surfers riding an artificially created wave on the Eisbach stream in the English Garden. Despite dangerous undercurrents and verboten (forbidden) signs, wetsuit-clad dudes surf the swell, much to the amusement of crowds on the bridge. 

Possibly the world’s biggest beer garden and among Munich’s best, Hirschgarten seats 8,000 merry folk under its chestnut trees. Sip a Mass (litre) of Augustiner beer, chat to locals and watch deer in the adjacent enclosure – a reminder that this was once a royal hunting ground. 

Hop on the S-Bahn train for a speedy ride north to tree-rimmed Feringasee lake. The clear water is perfect for a refreshing summertime swim and there’s even a sandy beach where skinny-dippers bare all. Get active over a game of volleyball. 

Seek solace in Munich’s Botanical Gardens with its 14,000 species of plant. Time your visit to see the gardens at their blooming best:  tulips in spring, rhododendrons in May, and dahlias in summer. The Alpine Garden and glasshouses bristling with palms and cacti are year- round highlights. 

Looming 91 metres above the Old Town, Romanesque St Peter’s Church provides an outstanding panorama from its steeple. Clamber up 306 steps for far-reaching vistas over Munich’s skyline that, when the warm Föhn wind blows, stretch to the frosted peaks of the Alps. Don’t forget your camera. 

Pyramids of glossy olives and vegetables, artisan cheeses, sausages, and oven-warm bread draw foodies to Munich’s outdoor Viktualienmarkt. Do as locals do: arrive early for the freshest produce and enjoy your picnic goodies in the chestnut-shaded beer garden. 

All are welcome to join New Munich’s free, 2.5-hour walking tours, held in English, Spanish and German, taking in trophy sights, from the Frauenkirche church to the English Garden. There’s no need to book – simply wear comfortable shoes and turn up at 10.45 am or 1 pm by the column on Marienplatz. 

Little has changed in the baroque Nymphenburg Palace’s grounds since Italian artist Canaletto painted them in 1760. Swans glide, fountains gush, and a canal leads past romantic follies. The gardens are at their best in the late afternoon, when light softens and crowds disperse. 

When the sun’s out, locals row boats around oak-fringed Kleinhesseloher lake in the English Garden. Join them to drift gently across the rippling water to the Seehaus beer garden. Skaters have an unofficial twirl across the frozen lake in winter.