Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [273]
Münchener Kammerspiele (Map; 2339 6600; Maximilianstrasse 28) This theatre stages large-scale productions of heavyweight drama by German writers or foreign playwrights translated into German.
Deutsches Theater (off Map; 5523 4444; Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 11) Recently decamped to a huge tent in Fröttmaning (near the Allianz Arena), Munich’s answer to London’s West End has touring road shows (usually popular musicals like Grease).
Kulturzentrum Gasteig (Map; 480 980; Rosenheimer Strasse 5) This is a major cultural centre with theatre, classical music and other special events held in several halls with excellent acoustics.
Other venues include the Prinzregententheater (Map; 2185 2959; Prinzregentenplatz 12) and the GOP Varieté Theater (Map; 210 288 444; Maximilianstrasse 47), which shows a real jumble of acts.
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SHOPPING
Fashionistas can crunch their credit in Maximilianstrasse, Theatinerstrasse, Residenz-strasse and Brienner Strasse. For high street shops and department stores try the pedestrian area around Marienplatz, Neuhauser Strasse and Kaufingerstrasse. For streetwear, head for the indie boutiques around Gärtnerplatz, Glockenplatz, Schwabing and Haidhausen. Beer steins and Mass (1L tankard) glasses are available at all the department stores and the beer halls themselves.
Deutsches Museum Shop (Map; 2138 3892; Museuminsel 1) Perhaps the most fascinating museum gift shop you’ll ever visit with heaps of man-gadgets, working models, kids’ science sets, unusual toys, unique 3-D postcards and museum-related knick-knacks and souvenirs. There’s another branch at Rindermarkt 17.
Foto-Video-Media Sauter (Map; 551 5040; Sonnenstrasse 26) This computer and photographic equipment superstore sells everything from the smallest memory card to industrial-size printers.
Holareidulijö (Map; 271 7745; Schellingstrasse 81; noon-6.30pm Tue-Fri, 10am-1pm Sat) Munich’s only secondhand traditional clothing emporium, and worth a look even if you don’t intend to buy. Apparently, wearing hand-me-down lederhosen reduces the risk of chafing.
Ludwig Beck (Map; 236 910; Marienplatz 11) Munich’s most venerable department store has some chic but reasonably priced clothes, a large CD shop, a trendy coffee bar and restaurant.
Manufactum (Map; 2354 5900; Dienerstrasse 12) Anyone with an admiration for top-quality German design classics should make a beeline for this place. Last-a-lifetime household items compete for shelf space with retro toys, Bauhaus lamps and times-gone-by stationary.
Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg (Map; 1791 9710; Schloss Nymphenburg; 10am-5pm Mon-Fri) It has made fine porcelain for Bavarian royals and quite a few commoners since being founded in 1747. There’s a more central store at Odeonsplatz 1 (Map).
Schuster (Map; 237 070; Rosenstrasse 1-5) Get tooled up for the Alps at this sports megastore boasting seven shiny floors of equipment, including cycling, skiing, travel and camping paraphernalia.
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
Air
Munich’s international airport (MUC; 089-975 00; www.munich-airport.de) is second in importance only to Frankfurt for international and domestic flights. There are direct services to/from many key destinations including most European capitals, New York, Los Angeles, Cape Town and all major German cities.
Almost 90 airlines fly to and from Munich including big-hitters such as Air France, British Airways, Delta Airlines, easyJet, Germanwings, Lufthansa and KLM. For contact details, Click here.
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Bus
Sinbad (Map; 5454 8989; Arnulfstrasse 20) specialises in long-distance coach tickets for almost any destination in Europe.
Munich is also a stop for Busabout (www.busabout.com), a system of circular routes that takes