Welcome to Munich!

The Glockenspiel in Marienplatz

So you are going to Munich… which is awesome because I loved that city! Before I get into all the fun things you can check out while in Munich (or München, if you want to sound local), I wanted to cover some of the basics in this post.

General Info

• Currency – Germany is one of 19 countries that uses the Euro, and unlike some other countries, the currency is working fairly well for them. This is handy for you if you plan to travel to other countries while in Europe: fewer currency exchanges!
• Time zone – Munich is 9 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. It will still be possible to talk with family and friends, but it will take some planning.
• Language – This will likely come as no surprise, but Germans speak German. Hallo, bitte and Tschüss should be on your list of phrases to learn.
• Electricity – voltages will be between 220 and 240. You will need a standard European plug adapter, which looks like two round prongs in a horizontal line (imagine a smiley face emoji, but with no smile). I found that most computers and phone chargers can handle up to 250 volts, but definitely check before you plug!

Not-So General Info

• Airport – The Munich airport was not at all overwhelming after a long flight from the Western US. Customs was a breeze, although it may take a while to get your bags. It’s fairly easy to take a train or a taxi from the airport to your lodging. Make sure to buy your train ticket at the airport level before descending to the tracks!  I imagine the bus is fairly easy as well, but can’t speak from experience.
• Transportation – Walking, bus, taxi, train, bike… you name it, Munich has it! Well, except for Uber. Germany does not have Uber. I’ll let that sink in for a bit…
• Safety – Overall, I felt fairly safe in Munich. The one time I was a bit concerned about my surroundings was soon after I had landed, so I believe that jet lag contributed more than any actual threat to my well-being. All the same, be smart about your surroundings and you will be fine.
• Food – You can find just about anything to eat in Germany. I am sad to admit that my first night there I ate… a quesadilla. I had a genuine German beer with it though, so I am hoping that helps make up for it! Speaking of genuine German food, pace yourself: German food is fairly rich, and between the bratwurst, the pretzels, and the spaetzle (do NOT leave Germany without at least trying the spaetzle!) you will get fatigued fast.
• Nightlife – ha! Who am I kidding, I spent most of my nights in Munich being victim to jet lag induced narcolepsy. I’ll see if I can find a guest poster in the future to cover Munich’s nightlife.

That’s all for now! I’ll try to update this post in the future as I think of more information I’d want to know prior to landing in Munich.