Walk or Bike in the Englischer Garten

Munich’s English Garden is not only the largest city park in Germany – it covers an area of 910 acres – it’s also one of the most beautiful. Naturally arranged groups of trees and plants offer ever-changing vistas, and nine kilometers of winding streams and an artificial lake complete the impression of a natural landscape.

Designed in 1785 as a military garden, the English Garden attracts walkers, joggers, and cyclists to its 78 kilometers of pathways and bridle paths. It’s also a pleasant place to sunbathe and picnic, and you can stop for a snack or drink at the Chinesischen Turm (Chinese Tower), a 25-meter-tall pagoda.

In 1972, a Japanese garden was created on an island at the southern end of the garden to house an authentic teahouse, a gift in honor of the 1772 Olympics. The park also contains the Bavarian National Museum, with its fine collection of medieval German sculptures and tapestries, and the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection, which displays local prehistoric artifacts.

A curiosity in the park is the Eisbachwelle, a wave created by the emergence of the Eisbach river from its underground course. Crowds gather to watch surfers’ stunts; except for experienced surfers, it’s a spectator sport and not for beginners.