Munich: Exploring Germany’s Southern City and Bavarian Traditions

Rich history, beautiful architecture, and beer gardens— this is home to the Oktoberfest — the world’s largest beer festival.

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany — All photos by author

After two days in Vienna, Austria, I took a train from Vienna to Munich, a pleasant four-hour-and-a-few-minutes ride.

When the train arrived at München Hauptbahnhof — Munich’s main train station, I went outside to find a ride to my hotel. The weather couldn’t have been any better for early May. It was around 4:30 pm, and as I made my way out of the station, the city was bustling with people.

I booked my taxi ride using an app called Freenow by Lyft, which I had previously discovered in Vienna. This app operated differently from traditional taxi services, allowing payment to be processed through the app rather than the fare being paid directly to the driver. It provided an efficient and often cheaper way to book rides than Uber. Since it worked well in Vienna, I was confident it would be effective in Munich too.

I rushed and got into the taxi, but after less than five minutes of driving, the taxi driver dropped me off near a random street, and told me that I had arrived. I replied, “No, this is not my destination. Please check the address I entered in the app.” He glanced at his phone and said something in a language I couldn’t understand, all while waiting for me to get out of the car.

I said to him, “Why would I take a taxi for a block away?” We went back and forth as he used his phone to translate in English what he was telling me. He then quoted me a new price to reach my original destination, which was double the initial fare. I told him, “In that case, let me get out of here and take a different taxi.”

This was the kind of situation I had wanted to avoid: having to negotiate with taxi drivers about the price of the ride, which was why I had used an app. When I opened the car door to exit, he told me he would call the police if I didn’t pay him for the one block he had driven me. I wasn’t sure if he was just bluffing, but as a traveler in a country where I didn’t speak the language, the last thing I wanted was to get involved with the police, even though I knew I was in the right. In the end, I reluctantly agreed to his demand out of concern for my safety.

Once I agreed to pay, he suddenly became fluent in English and revealed that Turkish was his first language. I found his English to be much better than he had pretended. He then asked me, “Where are you from, since you speak English?”

I was hesitant to mention where I was really from, and so I said, “Canada.” He responded excitedly, “Oh, I love Canada!”

His demeanor changed dramatically, and he became very friendly and chatty in English. He asked me if I had any favorite music that I wanted him to play on the car radio, and I replied, “Play whatever you want.” I was upset by his lack of integrity and didn’t want to engage in conversation. He then played Eminem’s rap songs so loud, one after another. Whether you’re a fan of his rap music or not, some of the lyrics were far from soothing, and I felt the atmosphere tense with each song. I couldn’t wait to reach my destination so I could get out of the taxi.

When I arrived at my hotel, I was exhausted from the trip and the ordeal with the taxi driver. I immediately filed a complaint through the app, but the response I received was in German, which I didn’t understand. I requested assistance in English and soon realized I was communicating with a chatbot rather than a real person. It took almost a week for someone to respond to my complaint in English. A representative from the Freenow app sent me a message apologizing for my experience with the taxi driver and refunded me the overcharged amount.

Can a language barrier be used as an excuse for causing harm?

I enjoyed reading June’s monthly challenge by Anne Bonfert, “We speak to understand, and we understand we don’t all speak the same,” in which she explores the global influence of the German language, particularly in Germany’s former African colonies, such as Namibia and East Africa. Anne asks an important question: “What languages teach us about the world?”

My experience with the taxi driver taught me that language can connect people, but that connection relies on intentions, regardless of whether we share a common language. It may not be about using the same language, but rather about communicating with honesty and integrity.

The next day, I decided to visit Marienplatz and a few other must-see attractions. Located in Munich’s old town, Marienplatz is a pedestrian-only square. You can take the entire stretch and enjoy the historic architecture without the pressure of cars driving around. But be ready for heavy foot traffic because, aside from being a historic area, Marienplatz is also where some of the major department stores can be found — so it is a pretty busy area.

Nymphenburg Palace

Nymphenburg Palace

On my third day in Munich, I decided to take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. After stopping at a few locations, I got off to visit Nymphenburg Palace. There were many other tourists there, primarily from Asia, who were traveling in groups and participating in guided tours.

The bus tour guide briefed us on the history of the palace and said that Nymphenburg Palace was one of Munich’s most famous palaces and served as the summer residence of the Bavarian rulers. It was constructed in the 1600s and expanded over the following centuries into a vast royal complex adorned with gardens, small lakes and a park.

I wanted to tour inside the palace, but I discovered that I needed a ticket and didn’t have enough time to wait in line. Instead, I strolled around the palace grounds and found a seat to take it all in. It was a perfect day to enjoy the outdoors.

The Theatine Church of St. Cajetan

The Theatine Church of St. Cajetan is a Catholic church in Munich that was commissioned by Ferdinand Maria, a ruler of Bavaria from 1651 until 1679, alongside his wife, Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. She was a descendant of the rulers of the House of Savoy, the dynasty that ruled in the region of Savoy through many generations.

According to our tour guide, the Theatine Church was Ferdinand Maria’s most famous architectural legacy — built to celebrate the birth of his and his wife’s long-awaited son: Maximilian II Emanuel — who later became the heir and one of the most prominent rulers of Bavaria.

The Olympic Tower

The Olympic Park

After a few more stops, I got off at the Olympic Park to take a bathroom break and explore where Germany hosted the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. These were the second Summer Games held in Germany since 1936. The Olympic Park features the Olympic Tower, built for the 1972 Olympic Games, and our tour guide indicated that the tower is Munich’s tallest structure and features a revolving restaurant and observation deck, offering panoramic views of the city and the Alps.

BMW Museums

Car enthusiasts can visit the BMW Museum, which is located near the Olympic Park. Germany has a long-standing reputation for high-quality automotive engineering, so I was excited to visit the country where BMW originated.

I was reminded of my university days back in my home country in East Africa. It made me smile, reminiscing about how students used to joke that BMW stood for “Be My Wife.” Thus, any man driving a BMW was seen as quite the catch for dating and considered marriage material among university female students. Forget about the Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen guys! Yeah. Fun times.😊

Munich is a wonderful destination known for its rich culture, history, and beautiful landscapes. And let’s not forget…the beer! There are beer gardens on nearly every corner. I found the city to be more laid-back and relaxed, with a diverse population that adds to its Bavarian charm.

Check out my other stories here. Until next time, happy and safe travels.