It’s best to think of Germany’s second city, Munich, as a capital in its own right. It is the state city of Bavaria, for one. But it also has the scale and grandeur of a capital city too. Packed full of art galleries, museums, great restaurants and of course, beer halls, it is the perfect getaway.
Like the national capital, Berlin, it has a rich history all of its own. There is plenty to explore over a few days. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to the very best accessible sights that Munich has to offer.
Enjoy a taste of Bavarian beer culture
We all know Munich is world famous for its beer culture. The centrepiece of this, Oktoberfest, attracts a lot of attention, and is now an international phenomenon.
But the people of Munich enjoy their beer all year around, and it is a traditional part of daily life there. It’s how people relax, catching up with friends and unwinding in beer halls and beer gardens across the city.
Of course, not everyone is a drinker. But even if you’re not, Munich’s beer gardens in particular are well worth a visit. Our tip is to go to the Englische Garten, which has a beer garden that holds up to 7,000 people.
It’s also just a great place to explore. It has many kilometres of accessible paths for mobility scooter users among the plants and flowers.
See the Devil’s footprint in the Münchner Dom
This imposing cathedral is a dominating piece of Gothic architecture which has ramped access to the main building. It was first built in the 1400s and has been a proud symbol of the city ever since. Architecture buffs will love the beautiful Gothic nave. And for the historians among you, there’s plenty to explore among the ancient tombs of the Bavarian princes housed here.
But one of the most fascinating aspects of the church is the infamous ‘Devil’s footprint’. Look out for this curiosity in the floor of the main building. It has a fascinating backstory. Legend says that the original architect made a deal with the Devil to build the original building. It was supposed to have no windows, but when the Devil saw it had them, he stamped his foot down in anger!
Explore the historic heart of Munich
Marienplatz is a large, pedestrianized square in the centre of this historic city. It is largely flat and easy to negotiate on a mobility scooter. Here, you’ll find the beautiful Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), with its remarkable clock. If you can time your visit right (get there for 11am, midday or 5pm) you’ll be treated to a beautiful chiming display.
It’s also the perfect place to people watch and pass the time one of the traditional Munich restaurants that line the square. One of the best is the Ratkeller. It has tables outside, a lift to the restaurant and serves an excellent schweinshaxe (pork knuckle).
Indulge yourself in the Viktuelmarkt
Speaking of local delicacies, we strongly recommend you spend some time exploring Munich’s wonderful food market. The Viktualienmarkt is full of wonderful Bavarian delicacies.
There are sausages, of course. But there is also a wealth of options for the non-meat eaters among us. No other country in Europe produces as much cheese as Germany, and Bavaria has some particularly great examples.
We recommend the obaztda – a soft cheese that goes perfectly with a salty pretzel. And if you need something to wash all that food down, there is also another (and fully accessible) beer keller next door. The excellent Der Pschorr is well worth a visit.
Did you know?
Munich is the home of plasticine. This kids’ favourite was invented in the city by a German pharmacist called Franz Kolb. Thank you, Franz!
Getting to Munich
As one the most important cities in Germany and a major economic centre, it’s no surprise that Munich is well served by flights. You can fly direct from the UK, with regular flights from the London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Most European airports now provide a special assistance service for passengers, and Munich is no different. As usual, just let your airline know a couple of days before you fly.
Getting from the airport into the city is also relatively straightforward.
You have a few choices, not least an accessible taxi from outside the terminal. But public transport in Munich is so good that we recommend you take the S-Bahn train instead. Lines S1 and S8 regularly travel into the centre from the airport. Once you’re in the city itself, you’ll also find that getting around on public transport is accessible and straightforward.
The S and U-Bahn (underground) trains are all accessible, with access via lifts or ramps. Almost all buses and trams are also fully accessible. If you want to find out more about getting around Munich, visit the official site here.
Travelling with scooters
Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth checking. Get in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines to check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme. This includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
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All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847