Several tourists have already been caught smuggling sand, stones and archaeological remains from the Italian island of Sardinia this year.
28.04.2024 - 10:29 / lonelyplanet.com
Germany's most expensive city to live in certainly has its fair share of swanky restaurants and five-star hotels but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to visit Munich on a budget.
It's biggest attractions can be costly but there are still plenty of ways to have a great time if you know where to look.
From making the most of museum deals to discovering the best places to go for a quick bite, here’s how to explore Munich without breaking the bank.
Many of Munich’s top museums reduce their entry fee to €1 on Sundays – great news if you're looking for culture on a budget. The list of museums offering cheap Sunday entry includes Alte Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne and Museum Brandhorst, although full prices normally apply for special exhibitions.
A number of other cultural spots offer occasional free entry, including Haus der Kunst, which drops its entry fees on the last Friday evening of every month between 4pm and 10pm. Arrive early to avoid a crowd.
You can easily swap those touristy open-top sightseeing buses for regular public transport in Munich. One easy option is the number 100 bus (also a double-decker), which runs from Munich’s central station to Ostbahnhof, passing many of the city’s main sights along the way.
Stops include the grand squares of Königsplatz, Odeonsplatz and Prinzregentenplatz, as well as several of the big museums.
A single fare for the inner city (Zone M) costs €3.90, and the ticket is valid for two hours traveling in one direction, meaning you can hop on and off if you’re quick – long enough to snap some photos, but probably not long enough to tour any of the museums.
Bavaria is home to a fine collection of castles and palaces, and several beautiful examples can be found within Munich's city limits. Although you have to pay to visit most of the buildings, access to the grounds is normally free and still gives you a great introduction to the city’s history.
Don't miss the huge park surrounding Nymphenburg Palace in the west of the city, with its swans, canal and Venetian gondola service during the warmer months.
For a low-cost grandstand view over Munich, head to the city center and climb the tower of St. Peter’s Church. For just €5 and some cardio, you can visit the viewing platform at the top of its 92m (301ft) tower. The reward for scaling 300-plus steps is an incredible panoramic view of the old town, the surrounding city and – on a clear day – the distant Bavarian Alps.
Most beer gardens in Munich allow you to take your own picnic-style food as long as you buy your drinks on-site. This rule dates back to a royal decree in 1812 that permitted breweries to sell beer directly to customers, but not food, to avoid conflict with local innkeepers.
Some people bring their entire
Several tourists have already been caught smuggling sand, stones and archaeological remains from the Italian island of Sardinia this year.
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Of all the ways to explore southern Germany this summer, the most memorable is not by train, bus or hire car but by boat. Lake Constance, nearly 40 times bigger than Windermere and two hours south-west of Munich by public transport, is a wonderful water world ringed by harbour towns, and it makes an idyllic break from the Bavarian capital.
The Netherlands is known for many things – sublime art, sustainability initiatives, glorious countryside – but low prices isn’t typically one of them (especially not in Amsterdam, with the capital ranking as one of Europe’s most expensive cities).
Renowned for its rich history and stunning architecture, Florence is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and history buffs alike. From Michelangelo’s David and the Duomo, one of the largest churches in the world with its famous Brunelleschi-designed dome, to fashion museums from Gucci and Ferragamo and fabulous Tuscan food (including gelato), Florence offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Self-guided adventure travel is having its moment right now and there are many reasons for its rise in popularity. No one knows this better than Neil Lapping, founder of Macs Adventure, which offers more than 500 self-guided hiking and biking adventures in more than 40 destinations worldwide.
Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, announced record-breaking visitation numbers in 2023 across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, witnessing an extraordinary surge in destination visits and setting a new benchmark. Revealed during Arabian Travel Market 2024, Yas Island recorded over 34 million visits, a rise of 38% compared to 2022, which recorded 24.9 million. Similarly, Saadiyat Island saw a 44% visitation growth compared to 2022.
Summer on the coast or winter on the slopes? Anna Richards, one of the authors of the new Lonely Planet France guidebook, shares her tips for planning the best time to visit France for your perfect vacation.
‘Do you ever get seasick?” Timm Schirmer, a 27-year-old DJ with a fabulous blond moustache, asks me shortly before we board the Techno Train. “When you’re dancing on the train it can feel like you’re at sea, because you can’t always see that you’re moving.” Worryingly, I have indeed spent many a past holiday retching on boats. But Timm’s question comes after I’ve paid €100 for a non-refundable ticket for what social media suggests is the most intense train ride in Europe. I knew it wouldn’t be plain sailing.
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Thanks to a great public transport system, an extensive bike lane network and a growing number of shared-mobility initiatives, getting around Munich is not only easy, it's enjoyable.
More than 15 million visitors are expected to travel to Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. But as the world's attention turns to the City of Light, even non-Olympic related trips to France may feel the ripple effects of the games over the next few months.