Munich is a city that captures both the heart and the imagination, a place where centuries of history sit effortlessly alongside the relaxed pace of Bavarian life. We recently spent a long weekend wandering its tree-lined streets and beer gardens, soaking up the atmosphere of this beautiful southern German city.
From peaceful park walks to powerful historical sites, it was a trip filled with contrasts, character and moments that stay with you long after you’ve left.
Strolling Through the English Garden
We began our weekend in the English Garden, one of the largest urban parks in Europe, even bigger than New York’s Central Park. We spent hours wandering beneath the chestnut trees, watching locals cycle past, unfortunately due to a horrible accident, there were no surfers riding the river’s standing wave, so instead we took the time to spend at minute at the memorial that had been erected. When we needed a rest, there was no better spot than one of the park’s traditional beer gardens, where we sat with a stein of Bavarian beer, a Pretzel Pizza and a bratwurst, soaking in the easy-going charm that Munich does so well.
City Sights and Skyline Views
No trip to Munich would be complete without a visit to Marienplatz, the city’s lively main square. We joined the crowd to watch the Glockenspiel chime and dance high above the town hall, its charming figurines telling stories from Munich’s past.
From there, we climbed the 306 steps up St Peter’s Church for one of the most breathtaking views in the city, terracotta rooftops stretching into the distance, framed by the peaks of the Bavarian Alps on the horizon. It was worth every step.
Later, we stopped by the Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s world-famous beer hall, where the clinking of glasses and the sound of oompah music filled the air, a joyful reminder of Bavarian tradition at its best and a great place to pick up some memorabilia for our travel wall.
Markets, Museums and Moments of Reflection
We loved wandering through the Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s 200-year-old open-air market bursting with colour and life. Stalls overflowed with fresh produce, flowers, handmade woodwork, and local delicacies, and we couldn’t resist stopping for another beer at one of the market’s small outdoor bars. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel part of the city, even just for a moment.
When rain arrived one morning, we visited the Deutsches Museum, an incredible space dedicated to science and technology, we enjoyed exploring everything from historic aircraft to astronomy.
But our visit to Dachau Concentration Camp, just outside the city, brought a very different atmosphere, a sombre and deeply moving experience that left us reflecting on Germany’s history and resilience. It was a stark reminder of how important it is to remember, and how travel can change the way you see the world.
From Bavaria to the Atlas & I Archive - Munich Maps
Back home, we delved into our vintage Munich map archive to see how Munich looked long before our weekend visit. We uncovered two incredible finds, one map from 1888 and another from 1725, each beautifully detailed and offering a glimpse into the city as it once was.
It’s extraordinary to think how much Munich has evolved since those maps were created. The landmarks we explored, from Marienplatz to the English Garden, were already part of the city’s story, yet so much else has changed. That’s what makes vintage maps so magical: they capture a single moment in time, forever preserving the way a place once looked and felt.
Author: Adolph Hartleben
Year: 1888
Author: Gabriel Bodenehr
Year: 1725
A City to Remember
Munich’s mix of beauty, history, and warmth made our weekend unforgettable. Whether you’re exploring its parks, enjoying a stein with friends, or standing quietly in a place of remembrance, the city has a way of staying with you.
For us, it’s exactly what Atlas & I is about, celebrating places that mean something, capturing them through maps and memories, and creating timeless prints that tell your own story of travel and discovery.