3 Essential Things to Do in Munich if You're Visiting for the First Time

Munich, Germany — “Home of the Monks” — is host to centuries-old churches, bell towers, and historic buildings (and they are gorgeous)— with a plethora of museums to boot.

But the best way to get a sense of the city like a local is to look past these obvious attractions. Munich is a cultural hotspot that offers many fun and unique experiences for travellers that don’t have to cost a lot or make you climb up endless stairs for a view.

Here are three essential activities in Munich that I believe every first-time visitor should do.

1. Visit Eisbachwelle

Eisbachwelle, literally “Eisbach wave,” is a river surfing hub (yes, surfing in landlocked Munich!!!) at the edge of Englischer Garten, on Eisbach River (which itself is a channel of the main Isar River that flows through the city).

Professional, advanced, and amateur surfers, men and women both, come here to show off their skills.

On any given day, there’s always a crowd of spectators.

Watching those surfers is incredibly therapeutic like you wouldn’t believe. Bring a cup of tea or an ice cream cone and be prepared to while the time away.

Eisbachwelle is essentially a standing wave — where the water moves but the wave stays in place — formed by a combination of several manmade and natural factors:

How the Wave is Created:

Fast, Constricted Flow – The Eisbach is a narrow, man-made channel with a strong, consistent current (flowing at about 5 m/s or 11 mph). The water is forced through a tight space, increasing its speed.  

Underwater Obstruction – Just upstream of the wave, there’s a concrete block (originally placed to prevent erosion) that disrupts the water flow. This creates a hydraulic jump, where fast-moving water abruptly hits slower water, forming a standing wave.  

Adjustable Wedge – The wave’s shape can be fine-tuned using a metal ramp (or "wedge") at the riverbed. Surfers and city workers adjust its position to control the wave’s height and shape.  

Consistent Water Level – The flow is regulated by upstream weirs, ensuring a steady volume of water year-round (unlike natural rivers, which fluctuate with seasons).  

Wave Characteristics:

Height: ~1 meter (3.3 ft)

Type: Stationary (standing) wave – the water moves, but the wave stays in place.

Surfable: Unlike ocean waves, it doesn’t break, allowing surfers to ride it indefinitely with skill.

Why Is It Unique?

One of the world’s first and most famous urban river surfing spots (since the 1970s).

The wave is rideable 365 days a year, unlike tidal or wind-dependent waves.

Requires no ocean—just engineered hydraulics!  

- Source: DeepSeek AI

The best part is it's completely free to watch.

If you're itching to get a go yourself, there are local agencies and private guides who will tailor a lesson for you (which you will have to pay for)– just be sure you actually know how to swim. Some people show up without any swimming experience at all, which is definitely not wise when you wipe out (and you will).

Airbnb Experiences is a great place to search for affordable, English-speaking tour guides for Eisbachwelle.

2. Go swimming at a state pool

I've mentioned German swimming pools several times in different articles, but I can't stress enough how impressive they are. State- or municipal-managed pools and beaches are one of the best, most affordable, and relaxing ways to chill out in Germany. They're clean, big, and have tons of amenities on site, not to mention some of them are enclosed in beautiful architectural buildings that are tourist attractions in their own right.

Pool culture is a huge part of German life, and you can expect to find wide grass lawns for sunbathing, playgrounds for children, and cafes along with the pools.

In Munich, I tried out Dantebad and Schyrenbad, both open-air pools highly popular with locals.

Dantebad is my favourite. It's further from the city centre, near Olympiapark, but its facilities are top-notch. Dantebad is unique because it features heated pools (it's not that great of a temperature change, but if you try a non-heated pool like Schyrenbad, you'll feel the difference). The kiddie whirlpool is so much fun, hehe. The lane pool is Olympic-size. Dantebad is the go-to for swimmers looking to get some real exercise in.

You enter the facilities through a large community centre, where you can find the change rooms. Out the back are the pools and a huge grassy park.

I paid 6 EUR for entry to Dantebad.

Plus, if you're not a fan of sitting on grass like me, surrounding the main Dantebad pools are raked concrete steps that are perfect for laying out a towel and sunbathing on.

Another tip is to go at night. Dantebad is open until 11 PM. There are less people, and because of its heating, you get to see the steam rising from the water on a colder evening in a very cool picturesque experience.

Schyrenbad is easier to get to and more crowded (with lots more children). It's still a huge park with lots of grass to rest on, more kids' playgrounds, and clean-as-heck pool bottoms. Both Dantenad and Schyrenbad use stainless steel in their pool construction to keep everything hygienic. I don't know why more pools in the world aren't like this -- I can't stand seeing dirt and unidentified residue lurking at the bottom of a pool.

On a bright, clear day, the sunshine reflecting off of the water is beautiful. Even from a quick video I sent to my dad, he could tell this community pool was great quality.

I paid 6 EUR for entry to Schyrenbad.

For architecture appreciation, try Müllersches Volksbad (an art-nouveau-style indoor pool) or Nordbad (tradition-meets-modernity design). Unfortunately, I ran out of time to try these pools, but they are definitely on my list next time I go to Munich.

3. Eat a schmalznudel

If I were to go on about all the things you could eat in Munich, the list would go on forever (and, indeed, I've published a post about my two weeks of food in Munich).

But if there's anything that screams both history and affordability, it's a schmalznudel.

(Not the famous white sausage, you ask? I have conflicted feelings about the white sausage. It's flavour and texture are extremely polarizing, comparable only to durian -- you either hate it or love it.)

A schmalznudel is a traditional German fried dough pastry that looks like a wide, flatter doughnut with a caved-in centre but no hole. It's dipped in or sprinkled with white sugar as its final step, but you can ask for less sugar as needed.

The most famous shop for these Bavarian pastries is the aptly-named Schmalznudel - Cafe Frischhut, right opposite the street from Viktuanlienmarkt, the world's oldest farmers' market.

One schmalznudel costs only 3 EUR at the time of writing. The same goes for the other featured pastries. You can pick one or order one of each, which many tourists like to do.

The cafe is incredibly popular with tourists and locals alike. Since the schmalznudel (and every other pastry they offer) is the perfect size for a grab-and-go snack, businesspeople line up by the dozens for it. Seriously, the line goes out the door, in part because it tastes amazing and in part because there's no space inside the entrance.

If you're dining in, you can opt for the patio or sit upstairs/downstairs in the back of the cafe. There are also some tables right inside the doorway if you need a quick retreat.

Bonus: ASTOR Film Lounge im ARRI

Typically, watching a movie is not what you'd consider a wise use of time and money when you're exploring a new place for the first time. But I give ASTOR Film Lounge an exception.

I personally didn't have time to check out what's showing at ASTOR, but it caught my eye on Google Maps thanks to its stunning library design within one of the cinema rooms (all three look exceptional). Imagine watching a movie in an intimate, 38-seat cinema with red velvet seats, books all around you. It's a retro lover's dream.

I included it here because I'd love for anyone to have gone to tell me what it's like (or who will go due to this article :P). You can send a message to hello@lonelypirouette.com and share your experience!

Conclusion

Munich puts up an unassuming front, but it's rich in timeless activities and cultural hotspots that really pull you in deep. I felt very comfortable in Munich, and I hope you do too. Go surfing-or-observing at Eisbachwelle, swim in a state pool, and eat a schmalznudel. You won't regret them.