How to Travel Munich with Kids – Marienplatz and the English Gardens
Join us as we travel to Munich, Germany, with our four American kids as we show them Marienplatz, attend a Halloween party, and play in the English Gardens!
Join Our Family as We Travel to Munich, Germany
Here is part two of our fun Halloween weekend in Munich! Click here for part one, where we visit Hirschgarten and the Nymphenburg Palace. Many thanks to the Hard Rock Cafe of Munich, which invited us to attend their Halloween party and made this holiday so special for our kids. We had a blast!
In this video, we show the kids at Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus and Marienplatz for the first time, and again, they give you their honest opinions! Then, we have fun at the Halloween party and spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the English Garden. (Just an FYI – Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated in Germany. It’s an American creation, but the Hard Rock recognizes that Americans who live in and near Munich might want to get together to celebrate. More about Halloween in Germany here.)
What’s Special About the English Gardens?
When you travel to Munich, the English Gardens are the perfect spot to relax and take in the local culture. They are one of the largest urban parks in the world, covering an area of 900 acres. It is located in the heart of Munich and attracts over 6 million visitors annually. The park was created in the late 18th century by Sir Benjamin Thompson, an American physicist and inventor who later became Count Rumford in Bavaria. The park was originally designed to serve as a public green space for the city’s residents, and it has since become an important landmark and cultural institution in Munich.
One of the unique features of the Munich English Garden is its beautiful landscape and natural beauty. The park is home to several lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as over 78 kilometers of cycling and walking paths. Visitors can enjoy a picnic or a stroll through the park’s many gardens. The most popular gardens are the Japanese teahouse, the Chinese pagoda, and the Greek temple. The park is also famous for its “Eisbach,” a man-made river that flows through the park.
Believe it or not, the Eisbach is popular among surfers as they ride the river’s standing waves! The park also hosts several events throughout the year, including outdoor concerts and festivals. It is a hub of cultural activity in Munich. During the warm months, you’ll see many out sunbathing on the lawns, even during their lunch breaks. You might even catch a naked older man or two, as they are known for sunbathing “ohne Kleidung!”
It’s Great for Kids!
When we visited, there were many families walking and biking through the park and playing on a playground. Our children spent the afternoon getting out their energy on the playground and really enjoyed themselves! If you’re visiting Munich with kids, this is the perfect spot to stop and just let them be kids for a while.
Marienplatz and the Town Hall (Neus Rathaus)
The most famous and stunning part of Munich is definitely in Marienplatz. It’s HUGE and features the Neus Rathaus, which is truly a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Our kids don’t always enjoy seeing churches and buildings, but they were quite impressed with the town hall. Read more about the town hall and its history in this post.