New energy in Munich between urban redevelopment and beautiful exhibitions

Frauenkirche, Allianz Arena, Englischer Garten. The symbols are the same as always, but Munich is much more than the sum of its monuments. It is a city that thrives on exciting contrasts: a metropolis that retains the spirit of the village; a treasure trove of history that is not afraid to appear loud, colourful and decidedly trendy. For an auteur weekend in Germany, the key is to get off the beaten track and immerse yourself in the life of its neighbourhoods, each with an identity sculpted in time and architecture. From the underground atmospheres of the Schlachthofviertel to the treasures of the Kunstareal and the imperial green of Nymphenburg: the Bavarian city is reinventing itself for 2026 between urban redevelopments and exhibitions. The trip to Munich is part of a 2026 full of celebrations throughout Germany: from 150 years of the Bayreuth Festival to 60 years of the Upper Swabian Baroque Road.

If you are looking for the more authentic side of Munich, you should head for the Schlachthofviertel. Referred to as the 'belly of Munich', this district is undergoing a metamorphosis similar to that of the world's great metropolises: the outsourcing of the old slaughterhouses (in operation since 1878) and wholesale markets has freed up huge areas, now a refuge for artists and creative young people. Street credibility is at home between the city's longest legal graffiti wall and the Bahnwärter Thiel cultural area. The symbol of the renaissance is the Alte Utting, a former tourist steamer hoisted onto a railway bridge that now houses a beer bar with a breathtaking view of the Volkstheater (one of the city's three famous theatres, together with the Residenztheater and the Kammerspiele). The new theatre, with its brick façade reminiscent of the Bohemian Forum, is the most spectacular building in the district. Director Christian Stückl wanted it that way: a place of high but accessible culture, where you don't have to dress up to feel at home.

For gourmet advice, a stop at Ludwig Wallner (Gaststätte am Großmarkt), where they serve some of the best Weißwürste (white sausages) in the city as early as seven in the morning. For those looking for specialities to take home, the butcher's shop Magnus Bauch on Thalkirchner Straße is an institution: the queue at weekends reaches the street, but the quality of the sausages justifies the wait.

Just a few steps away from the lively Maxvorstadt university is the Kunstareal, one of Europe's most important cultural districts. In just half a square kilometre, 18 museums and 42 galleries are concentrated. From the Glyptothek, the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to ancient art, to the three picture galleries, the journey ranges from antiquity to the expressionist avant-gardes of the 'Blue Rider' on display at the Lenbachhaus. Incidentally, the district is also nestled in the lively Maxvorstadt area, which with its universities, boutiques, extensive parks and cafés steeped in history invites you to wander around, take a break and enjoy the day. For 2026, the must-see is the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum. From 26 March to 24 May, Georg Tappeiner's photographic exhibition 'Ephemeris - Dolomites | Wadden Sea' brings together the rocky peaks of the UNESCO World Heritage site with the endless horizon of the Wadden Sea, i.e. that part of the North Sea between the German coast and the Frisian Islands and characterised by a marked difference between high and low tide. An artistic dialogue between stone and water that reminds us how, millennia ago, the 'pale mountains' were submerged by a primeval sea.

One cannot say one has seen Munich without a visit to the Altstadt, the old town. Central, pulsating and incredibly beautiful, it is almost like a city within a city. That's why when locals go to the city centre at the weekend, they also say: 'I'm going to the city'. The heart of the district is Marienplatz, where the chimes of the new town hall (Glockenspiel) mark time in the city. The ritual is a gastronomic tour of the Viktualienmarkt, the market where gourmets, connoisseurs and top chefs stock up on food.