There are some cities I’ve visited where I felt like I knew roughly what to expect. Munich was not one of those places. When we visited in July, I expected a big and bustling city, but instead I was met with a quaint village feel, a city that felt comforting and intimate.

There were a few things that especially surprised me about this city. Here are 3 cool things about Munich!

3 cool things about munich

(1) how lush it is

Perhaps the thing that surprised me most about Munich is the forest that winds through the city. Munich has about 1.5 million people, so I assumed it would be filled with buildings and cobblestone and concrete like a lot of other European cities of that size.

But it was refreshingly green, with huge parks and trails and a river that curves along the streets.

One of our favourite spots was the English Gardens, which is even bigger than Central Park at 375 hectares. There is ample space to follow trails, run, bike ride, or lay in the sun. This is also where you can spot locals river surfing!

(2) how cozy it feels

Munich is one of those cities that looks like it was plucked right out of a fairytale. The Bavarian architecture is whimsical and ornate, but somehow makes everything feel comforting instead of opulent.

High rises are also forbidden in Munich, which adds to the coziness and feeling of intimacy throughout the city. We kind of felt like we were walking through a fairytale story, and were super happy to just stroll and look around because everything was so lovely.

(3) how fresh the food is

I assumed most restaurants in Munich would be serving more traditional Bavarian meals. While you can definitely seek out authentic German food (and much loved bier gartens!), there is a lot of diversity in the cuisine. I found that all the meals I ate were incredibly fresh and made with in-season ingredients. The food scene is relaxed and contemporary for what I expected would be a very traditional city.

We loved exploring Munich, and would absolutely go back to enjoy the gardens, lounge along the river, and eat our way through its food scene.

Have you ever been to Munich? What’s something that surprised you about it?