Englischer Garten München

For more than 225 years, Englischer Garten has been the main recreation area in Munich. Especially during the summer, locals and tourists alike can be found at the beergarden by the Chinese Tower, or enjoying the view from Monopteros. Whether it is for a nice picnic, a cold beer in the sun, or to play football on the lawn - half of Munich comes together in the Englischer Garten when the weather is good.

Beergardens at Englischer Garten

Approximately 7000 seats make the beergarden at the Chinese Tower one of the biggest in Munich. Typical Bavarian brass music can be heard from the afternoon on, and guests come together under the trees by the tower until late in the evening.

Other beergardens include Biergarten Hirschau, with 2500 seats or the Mini-Hofbräuhaus's beergarden. If you're on a bike ride through the park, Biergarten Aumeister in the very north of Englischer Garten is a good destination.

From Action to Romance

Who would have thought that you can even go surfing in the middle of Bavaria's capital? All year round, spectators stand on the bridge at Prinzregentenstraße and watch the surfers on Eisbach. The wave is only suitable for experts, as the low depth of the water makes surfing extremely dangerous for beginners.

Another popular activity is a long walk from Mini-Hofbräuhaus to Isar River and on to the weir in Oberföhring. The ultimate tip for lovers: at the north of Englischer Garten you can walk along Oberstjägermeisterbach to the so-called "Schwammerlweiher". The small lake comes with its own little romantic island.

Englischer Garten has been in constant change during the past two centuries. New green areas and buildings keep being added. The cornerstone dates back to the year 1789. Back then, Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria, commissioned a public park by Isar River. It was meant as a recreational area especially for soldiers. In 1792 it became open to all citizens of Munich.

Back in  that time, parks used to be layed out after the manner of strictly geometrical French formal gardens. This park, however, had a more liberal landscape concept, which is why it received the name "Englischer Garten" (= English Garden).

The best way to get to Englischer Garten is on public transport. Bus lines 54 and 154 stop right by the Chinese Tower. Anternatively, you can take tram line 18 to Tivolistraße or subways U3 or U6 to Giselastraße.