Biking and Walking tours of Munich and the surrounding area
How much of munich can you really see from the inside of a bus? With the number of English-guided walking and biking tours mushrooming in recent years, more customized alternatives are available. With your camera and some sunscreen, you’re set to explore, or re-explore, Munich. Books about Munich’s history line the Radius Bikes office. Patrick Holder, founder and owner, stresses the importance of his tour guides having a broad understanding of German history and culture. “We want our customers to have an intelligent tour.” The company was founded twelve years ago, offering only bike tours, but has since expanded to include walking tours of Munich and Dachau. Although the tours are for all ages, Holder recommends a minimum age of 12. The tour price includes bike rental and a bottle of mineral water, or bring your own bike for a DM 10 savings. All groups are limited to 20 participants, so reservations are recommended. Customized tours, including evening tours, are available upon request. Radius also offers bike rentals at DM 5 per hour or DM 25 for the day. Meeting Point: (Bike and Dachau tours) Radius Bikes in the Hauptbahnhof opposite tracks 27-36 (Footstep City Walk) in front of the Rathaus at Marienplatz. Times: (Bike tour) May 15-Sept. 5, 10:30 and 14:30 daily. (Footsteps City Walk) June -Oct., 11:15 daily, no tours Sept. 18 & 19. (Dachau tour) May 15-Oct. 3, 14:00 daily, except Mondays. Prices: (Bike tours) 25 DM (walking tours) DM 12 for adults, accompanying children under 15 free; (Dachau tours) DM 20, plus public transportation ticket. Tel. (089) 59 61 13. Now in their fifth season, Mike’s Bike Tours offers standard tours (4 miles/4 hours) and extended tours (10 miles/6 hours), the latter including the Nymphenburg Palace and Olympic Park. Both tours, the brochure promises, are “not the least bit strenuous.” The fun-loving guides at Mike’s hit most Munich highlights, including a 45-minute stop at the English Garden’s Chinese Tower beer garden to refuel. Reservations aren’t necessary and discounts are available for groups and families. Child seats are available. Tours are only cancelled in the event of heavy rain. Meeting Point: Altes Rathaus. Times: (Standard tour) 11:30 and 4:00 daily. (Extended tour) 12:30 daily, from June 1st-Aug. 16th. Prices: (Standard tour) DM 33. (Extended tour) DM 43. Tel. (089) 651 4275 or 0172 852 0660. Munich Walks’ Nick Gay says rainy days are great for his business. “So many people don’t know what else to do when it rains.” Rain or shine, Munich Walks offers two tours of the city. The “Discover Munich” route leads participants through the heart of city, including principal churches, theViktualienmarkt and some lesser-known sites. The “Infamous Third Reich Sites” tour explores the darker side of Munich’s history. Munich Walks offers an under-26 discount (DM 12) and half-price tickets for residents on the weekends. While comfortable shoes are a must, reservations aren’t. Meeting Point: Outside the Euraide office in the Hauptbahnhof. Times: (Discover Munich tour) May 1-Aug. 31, 10:30 daily, and 14:30 daily (except Sundays). (Third Reich tour) May 1-Aug. 29, Mon., Thurs., and Sat., 10:30. Prices: DM 15 for adults, children under 14 free with adult. Tel. (0177) 227 59 01. If you are curious about beer history and culture then this is the tour for you. Ex-pat Cindy Petersen saw a gap in the touring industry and filled it this year. Her beer tour includes visits to two traditional Wirtshäuser in Munich, where participants can sample the Bavarian beverage. The roughly two-hour tour not only includes two beers and German pretzels, but a lesson on the brewing process, the history of the amber potable, and the cultural traditions that go hand-in-krug with beer drinking in Munich. The knowledgeable guides also point out the main sites of the old city while leading the pleasantly inebriated group from bar to bar. The tour ends at the famous Hofbräuhaus. Petersen also offers a lunch tour, including two beers, soup, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and apple strudel for dessert (vegetarian meal option also available). Reservations are required. Meeting point: Isartor under the main gate. Times: (Beer tour) Sat. and Sun. 16:00. (Lunch tour) Saturday, noon. Prices: (Beer tour) DM 25 (Lunch tour) DM 50. Tel. (0179) 696 1447.