A Day in the University District
Morning
Begin your day in true
bohemian style at the Café Münchner Freiheit. Afterward, stroll down
Leopoldstr. and turn into Kaiserstr., with its pretty houses. Lenin
lived at No. 46. At Kaiserplatz, follow Friedrichstr. to the corner of
Ainmillerstr., with its Art Nouveau houses (Nos. 20–37). Continue along
Friedrichstr. to Georgenstr. 8 and the Palais Pacelli, next door to the
Palais Bissing. From here return to Leopoldstr. and the Academy of Fine
Arts near the Siegestor. Walk to the university and cross the inner
courtyard of the main building, which will bring you to the student
district around Amalienstr., with its many cafés and restaurants. If you
like French cuisine, try the excellent Terrine in Amalienpassage.
Afternoon
Depending on weather and inclination, you can devote these hours to nature or culture. If you love the outdoors, take a walk in the Englischer Garten
and treat yourself to a beer-garden visit. Art lovers turn from
Amalienstr. onto Schellingstr. and walk to the corner of Barer Str.,
which leads to the three Pinakotheken .
Having feasted on art, take a break in one of the cafés (either at the
Neue Pinakothek or the Pinakothek der Moderne). At the Glyptothek on
Königsplatz, the cafe is also very pretty; if you prefer strolling,
explore its sculpture collection and the adjacent Antikensammlungen .
Best of the Rest
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Erlöserkirche
This Protestant Art Nouveau church occupies the northern end of the Münchner Freiheit.
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Wedekindplatz
Once
the heart of rural Schwabing, the square on Feilitzschstraße is now
somewhat rundown. It was the site, in 1962, of the local riots, known as
“Schwabinger Krawalle” .
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Elisabethplatz
A
piece of old Schwabing, this square is named after the Austrian
empress. A market, the largest in the city after Viktualienmarkt, has
been held here since 1903.
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Alter Nördlicher Friedhof
There’s
nothing morbid about this park-like former cemetery that dates back to
1866 and has since been given over to the public for recreation and
relaxation. Children play on the lawn among old tombstones while adults
seek shade on the benches beneath the trees.
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Luitpoldpark
This
park was created out of rubble from World War II. The restaurant in the
Baroque Bamberger Haus features ornate dining rooms and a pretty
terrace for outdoor dining during warm weather.
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Nikolaiplatz & Seidlvilla
At
the corner of Sieges- and Josephstraße you’ll come upon this tranquil
square. The Seidlvilla (1905) houses a centre for readings, concerts,
and exhibitions.
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Kaiserplatz & Kaiserstraße
Russian
Expressionist painter Vasili Kandinsky captured the silhouette of St
Ursula’s church on canvas. Ornate buildings from the Foundation Period
flank the Kaiserstraße. In 1902, Lenin lived at No. 46.
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BMW-Museum
The
clover-leaf BMW-tower and the bowl-shaped museum at its base
reopened in 2008 following major renovations. Exhibits focus on the
history of automobile design and the old model BMWs on display will
delight car buffs.
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Museum Reich der Kristalle
Next door to the Pinakothek der Moderne, this museum houses a large collection of crystals and minerals.
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Museums on Prinzregentenstraße
The upper end of Prinzregentenstraße is home to the Haus der Kunst, the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, and the Schack-Galerie .
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Elisabethplatz is also home to a small, cosy market café.
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Boutiques & Shops
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Buchhandlung Lehmkuhl
This fine bookstore on Leopoldstraße has a distinguished inventory. Author readings are held here regularly.
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Natascha Müllerschön
Understated and elegant designer fashion – and couture for those special occasions. Definitely worth a visit.
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Kandis & KandisMann
Ann Dörr uses quality materials throughout her designer fashion collections. There are a few extravagant pieces too.
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Japanalia
From Japanese teaware to crafts, kimonos, and furniture, Japanalia features a wide range of new, old, and antiquarian objects.
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Autorenbuchhandlung
As
the name indicates, this bookshop was founded by authors who wanted to
break free from the dictates of the book industry. Many author readings
are held here.
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Mashallah
Oriental decor for the home. This subsidiary of Kokon carries textiles and home accessories in an East-meets-West style.
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Momento
Arche shoes are among the popular labels sold here. Nearby, at Hohenzollernstr. 76, Fabri has last year’s designs at a discount.
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Antiquariat Kitzinger
A
treasure chest located right next to the university’s Institute of
German Studies. Filled to the brim with books, the old-fashioned
antiquarian shop is perfect for browsing.
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Small Bag
Take
the time to rummage at Gisela Rädlein’s shop. You will find the trendy
and the antique, the bizarre and the practical, from delicate silver
jewellery to old clocks and busts.
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Silver & More
Silver & More is one of the city’s best boutiques for silver jewellery, lamps, objets d’art, and furnishings.