Englischer Garten, Munich

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5 Stars - 94 Reviews

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  • Sarakowloon's Profile Photo

    Munich trip

    by Sarakowloon Written Apr 12, 2010 2 reviews

    3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

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    In English garden one time a year they having traditional festival wearing there traditional clothing i don't know how they called it by the German but for me it was really fantastic, i saw also different kinds of sausages in the street wow i love it.But please be careful when i get back home from holiday in Germany i got 2 sizes bigger so funny.....
    fresh air,good foods,good place for sight seeing

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  • Stu700's Profile Photo

    Englischer Garten - Spendor in the park

    by Stu700 Updated May 15, 2009 1 reviews

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    RELAX: The grass around the Monopteros is a favori
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    I’ve whiled away some of my most contented hours here, lying shirt off besides a summer stream, listening to the sounds of nature and the chatter of other delinquent timewasters in the distance.

    The Englischer Garten is a wild but well-tended green corridor that rolls right into the heart of Munich.

    The park is the world’s largest within a city and a prime place to relax, stroll, ride, drink, flirt and about anything else you can think of.

    This is where Munichites come to relax when they couldn’t be stuffed getting out of the city. They sit about in the sun, fry up on barbecues, ride bikes, horses and waves. They walk along the river, float along on rafts, dip in the streams and smell the roses.

    Viva la Munich

    Prince Elector Karl Theodor and his architect Friedrich Sckell created the Englischer Garten in 1789. This was the same year the French stormed the Bastille starting their revolution.

    The park’s name comes from its wild style, imitating untamed expanses around England’s grand estates. There are meadows, forests, streams, ponds and a big old lake in the middle.

    The surf’s that way

    You’re on assignment in Munich from your Californian hometown. You want to ride the breakers like you did in the old days but the nearest beach is a long, long way. What do you do?

    Find an artificial wave created by a bridge and surf on it, of course! Near a bridge over the Eisbach stream on Prinzregent Strasse there’s surfing to be had. It’s crazy but there’s wave-catchers there all year round.

    Munich-based GIs started the trend after World War Two. It’s officially forbidden but police turn a blind eye these days. In stricter times surfers dug narrow trenches along the stream banks and buried their boards when the cops approached.

    Danger in paradise

    Head downstream to a series of small waterfalls where the young and the restless often jump in for a wild ride.
    In summers’ heights it’s carefree scene, but beware the currents if you decide to dive in.
    Swimmers can be swept into submerged rocks and now and then don’t resurface. If you don’t feel safe stay on the dry side.

    The “T” in Garten

    On an island in the stream is the dainty Japanische Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse). Japan bequeathed the cottage to Munich for the 1972 Olympics.

    You can join in a Japanese tee ceremony here from April to October on every second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of the month at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. Phone: 089 22 43 19

    Chinese Cake

    A helluva lot of toasting, drinking and dancing goes on around most wedding cakes and this one is no exception. The Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) is the Englischer Garten's most-loved meeting point and looks like and “I do” dessert.

    A Bavarian band blows out tunes from the upper tiers while dozens relax at benches in the beer garden below. A popular Christmas market takes place here in December.

    The tower was built in 1790, burned down in 1944 at the height of World War Two and rebuilt 1951-1952.

    Roll-your-own temple

    Like something out of a Greek tragedy is the Monopteros, built in 1838. It’s a circular temple crowning an artificial hill and offers views all the way to the Old Town. This was a favourite spot to smoke a few joints in the 1960s, now it’s just a nice place to gad about.

    Yet more beer gardens

    Munich’s best-placed beer garden is the Seehaus on the edge of the park’s lake. It pulls a lot of celebrities and the uppity breed they call “schicki-micki” here in Munich. A bit expensive but worth it. You can rent a paddle-boat and go for spin around the islands on the lake, called the Kleinhesselohersee.

    If you really want to stretch your legs you can walk 3km up into the northern section of the Englischer Garten along quiet, leafy paths to the former royal hunting cottage of Aumeister. It’s now more famous for pouring the amber fluid for those who have made the trek.

    Nuding up

    Many Germans like to get naked. Those in Munich often do it here, especially in the southern section between the Monopteros and the Schwabinger Bach stream. Nudism has a long tradition in Germany and they call it Frei Korper Kultur, meaning Free Body Culture.

    There’s a club that’s even organised nude bike rides through the park. The sight of dozens of people starkers can be a tad cringe-worthy, particularly if they’re oldies with more fault lines than the Pacific Rim. On the other hand I think it’s a tradition that radiates equality and acceptance, so don’t be afraid to go with the flow.

    Related to:
    • Eco-Tourism
    • Surfing
    • Arts and Culture
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  • moirholj's Profile Photo

    Get away from the city without leaving it.

    by moirholj Written Jan 27, 2009 149 reviews

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    Chinese Pagoda in the Englischer Garten, Munich
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    I grew up a hop, skip and a jump from Central Park in NYC, and as lovely as it is, I learned to be afraid of it. Especially at night....Especially after the whole 'Central Park Jogger' incident. I bring this up here because I was AMAZED at how Müncheners just strolled through this city park without a care in the world through all hours of the day and the dark, dark, night. What a beautiful experience to walk into the Englischer Garten as the sun begins to set and stroll through the woods, enjoy the turning leaves, the streams, the occasional passing horse with rider, and countless folks on foot, without having to look over your shoulder to wonder who is creeping up behind you.

    Not only is the park beautiful, sizeable, and filled with carefree people and their dogs (who are equally as carefree, because none of them are on leashes), but it had just the thing I want to run into on any good outing: A number of beer gardens!

    We made our way to the Chinesischer Turm with beer garden. Even in the chill of the fall air, the outdoor beer garden was lively and the beverages were being served in quantity. As the sun disappeared, the Chinese Pagoda was lit and created just the right atmosphere for enjoying a drink with friends at sunset. Compared to the 'in season' it was quiet I'm sure, but I imagine it even more lively and lovely in the warmer weather.

    We had heard much about the Seehaus (another beer garden with fance restaurant on a lake) and started to make our way over there in the dark in search of some more wonderful beer.

    It is worth mentioning that on our walk from the Chinesischer garden to the Seehaus is when it became very clear that I was doing something that I would NEVER have dared done in Central Park or any other city park for that matter: and that is walk in the pitch dark in a wooded public place while I can hardly see my hand in front of my face. As dark as it was, we would often come upon an unearthly glow in the distance only to arrive and find some small stand selling pretzels and beers with half a dozen people and their content dogs milling about at the counter. Nice! The paths are not lighted, yet the park is open and there are many lovely people walking about, jogging, walking dogs, enjoying a snack or a pint... how wonderful is that?

    Perhaps some will find me foolish, but it left such an impression on me that I felt perfectly safe in this environment...something I could never do comfortably in the USA. It was so freeing.

    Sorry to say that the Seehaus beer garden was just closing when we arrived, but I can see how it ranks so high on the list of beer gardens to visit in Munich... what a beautiful setting right on the lake!

    In short, I think one could easily spend an entire afternoon, if not the better part of a day in the Englischer Garten and enjoy every minute of it. How could you not... they serve Bavarian Beer!

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  • slothtraveller's Profile Photo

    Englischer Garten

    by slothtraveller Written May 29, 2008 266 reviews

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    Englischer Garten, Munich

    The English Garden is a sprawling park with extensive paths, brooks, beer gardens and other features. It covers around 900 acres so pack your walking shoes if you plan on walking around the whole park.
    Parts of the garden include a Japanese and Greek themes.
    Pleasant place to enjoy a drink or an evening stroll. Nude sunbathing is also permitted here!

    Related to:
    • Arts and Culture
    • Hiking and Walking
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  • enjoytravelling's Profile Photo

    Green paradise

    by enjoytravelling Written May 25, 2008 44 reviews

    Englischer Garten is a huge and lovely park where locals go for a walk, riding a bycicle, sunbathing on the grass in the summer or just having a drink in the big biergarten that is placed inside the park, with the wery well-know Chinese Tower.

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  • sourbugger's Profile Photo

    Now I feel at home !

    by sourbugger Updated Apr 3, 2008 2975 reviews

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    If there is an afterlife, then the English Garden in Munich seems a pretty good model for it to be based on.

    One of the largest of urban parks (and one of the oldest in Europe) is extends either side of a main road from the very centre out to the northern rim of the city.

    I'm not entirely sure why it got named the 'English' garden, but I presume it has something to do with the landscaping of the place which looks to be very strongly influenced by capability Brown.

    The park peatures miles and miles of attractive walks and streams, but I would have to say that it's greatest attraction lies in the copious servings of beer that can be had in either of the beer gardens. I've never visited during the Octoberfest, but sitting out in such a setting with a large stein in hand and good company for conversation takes some beating. The fact that they also encourage nude sunbathing is just the icing on the cake.

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  • kmohandas's Profile Photo

    ENGLISH GARDEN (ENGLISCER GARTEN)

    by kmohandas Updated Mar 22, 2008 109 reviews

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    THE LAKE
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    English garden is a very popular and scenic park right in the heart of Munich city. This huge garden houses a Greek temple,Cinese pagodas and a Japanese tea house.It was founded in1789 by Benjamin Thomson, who is also known as Count of Rumford (German: Reichsgraf von Rumford). With an area covering 3.7 km² the Englischer Garten is one of the world's largest urban public parks.
    This garden is divided into two portions by the busy street Isarring. The south is around 2 kms long, while the northern part, called the Hirschau is about 3 kms. The Hirschau has the opposite character of the south part, which on sunny days attract many people. It has the serene character typically found in a forest. Two beer gardens, the "Aumeister" and the "Hirschau", are located at the north and south end of the Hirschau.

    Related to:
    • Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
    • Family Travel
    • Beer Tasting
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  • seasonedveteran's Profile Photo

    Sunday Afternoon

    by seasonedveteran Written Mar 9, 2008 159 reviews

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    What a wonderful way to end your sightseeing day in munich? There was african music playing when we went, and people playing, and quiet entertainment here and there.

    It is big, so try not to get lost in the wonderful walking paths. haha. Not the best park in the world but the atmosphere is great when there are lots of people. bring a frisbee!

    In the winter, get some Punch wine (Mulled wine), which is excellent on a cold day.

    In the summer, get yourself a currywurst, a german classic, or half a chicken or something.

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  • Relaxing Walk

    by Manyana Updated Sep 30, 2007 413 reviews

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    pure stream as crystal
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    it was winter, it was cold, yet it was pure as crystal and relaxing as a whisper.

    i believe it's the biggest park in munich, huge and walkable. it was sunny the day we'd been there, with the lake half frozen (not good for skating tho!), and the streams were just shiny and reflecting the sunshine.

    Related to:
    • Hiking and Walking
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  • MichaelFalk1969's Profile Photo

    Englischer Garten

    by MichaelFalk1969 Updated Jul 13, 2007 1856 reviews

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    Chinese Tower

    This lovely and extensive landscape garden is Munichs best-known recreational area. A good place to rest your weary feet if you are done with sight-seeing! Or maybe visit the crowded beergarden at the Chinese Tower.

    Related to:
    • Hiking and Walking
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