Family Time in Munich

Of all the major cities in Germany I visited on this trip, I’d argue that Munich was my favorite. It wasn’t as sketchy as Frankfurt and seemed to have more character than Berlin. Ironically, it was also the only place where I experienced an actual rainfall (a rarity for this part of Europe).

The train from Füssen to Munich was roughly two hours. After arriving, I went to the hotel where my parents were staying so we could explore together and I’d have somewhere to store my luggage until I could check into my hostel. 

We made our way over to Karlsplatz, an area full of shops (and occasional churches) that eventually led to the well-known historic square, Marienplatz.

For 7 euros each, my dad and I got to go up to the top of the Munich Frauenkirche, a famous cathedral there. The journey to the top of the tower began with climbing stairs, followed by an elevator ride the rest of the way. I definitely recommend doing this; you get great city views and there are also displays that explain different areas of the city. If you’re not sure what to see and where everything is, this gives you an idea of the city's layout and what to do during your stay.

After all that, it was time to go to my hostel to check in and get settled. The Euro Youth Hostel was conventionally located near the central station and reminded me of a college building inside. This was a great hostel, and the service was fantastic; the man at the front desk didn’t even ask for a towel deposit. I especially liked their bar and lounge area. There was plenty of space to work and just hang out. They even give you a free welcome drink ticket. I ordered a 'toastie' sandwich, and it solidified that I’ve been experiencing grilled cheese sandwiches wrong my entire life. During my time at this hostel, I met fellow travelers from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Canada – all of whom were absolutely fantastic. 

Day 2

My second day in Munich was the rainy day. The plan was that we’d go to Schloss Nyphemburg, a famous palace in the area.

To get there, we took the 16 bus from Hbf Nord heading toward Romanplatz. After getting off at Romanplatz, it was about a 20-minute walk to the bridge, where you’ll see the palace on your left. 

Schloss Nyphemburg is insanely huge! I can’t imagine being a German royal back in the 18th and 19th centuries with access to that. As much as we got to see inside, it was probably a tenth of the entire palace. An audio guide tour costs 10 euros. 

Security is also tight here. I’m still not convinced half the people working here weren’t former spy operatives by the way they operated.