Swimming Munich - wonderful places! and other Munich, Germany Sports Travel Tips

Theme: Beach Activities

Munich has many wonderful, clean and large public swimming places. No matter if outdoors or indoors. Some are very new, on others you swim in ancient buildings with beautiful architecture, mosaic floors and colourful windows.

A good selection (with directions) of all the famous swimming places is given on the weblink shown below.

I like to go to the Munich "WESTBAD" (because it is close to my home). This public pool has an 25m sports pool, a fun pool with many massage jets, a slide for kids, a streaming channel, an all year outdoor pool with warm salt water, three bubbling hot tubs and a suana landscape. The sauna landscape is not the most beautiful in Munich, but there is three saunas (60-95 deg. C), a steam bath and enough ice water to dive in as well as relaxing areas.

The cost is 8 Euro for 3 hours, which is a lot. If you go from 21:30 to 23:00 (when it closes) you only pay 3 Euro.

Equipment: - swimming suit, towel, shower supplies
- water bottle and fruits for sauna

Leave a Comment

Phone: 01801-796 223 (Munich pools)
Address: different areas in Munich
Directions: see the web link below and chose a public pool near to you.
Website: http://www.swm.de/english/english_mbaeder.htm

Theme: Extreme Sports

Paragliding is a fun activity, which lets you enjoy nature, the beautiful scneery south of Munich with many lakes nestled among rolling hills and meadows, framed by mountains and the feeling of absolute freedom. The Paragliding school in Oberaudorf, 1 hour south of Munich offers week-end classes on Saturdays and Sundays for 100 Euro (in summer). You get an instruction into paragliding theory and can use all the necessary equipment. Knowledgable and experienced teachers guide you via audio sensors when you make your first moves in the air, gliding down a nice little beginners ski slope. You need no prior knowledge or flying expereince to take such a week end class.

Equipment: - only stable shoes (hiking or running shoes)
- something to eat and drink for lunch

Leave a Comment

Phone: 49-(0)80 33 - 30 37 04
Address: Oberaudorf, Flugshop Oberaudorf, Rosenheimerstr. 2
Directions: Take Highway A-8 to Rosenheim and then continue on A 93 to Oberaudorf. Detailed driving instruction can be found on the webpage below...
Website: http://www.flugschule-oberaudorf.de

Theme: Skiing/Snowboarding

Between December and April go skiing in on of the many ski areas. There are too many south of Munich to give detailed descriptions here. If you want to spent 39 Euro for a day ticket the “Zugspitze” ski area is definitely worth a visit skiing and snowboarding on the glaciers below the nearly 3000m peak of Gernaby’s highest mountain. The gondola up to the summit starts close to the town of Garmisch Partenkirchen (take highway 95 from Munich to Garmisch) and in Garmisch follow the signs towards the “Zugspitzbahn” and “Gondel”. After skiing you can enjoy the public swimming hall of Garmisch, which is well marked. This swimming place features normal pools, some hot pools and sauna. The best way to relax after a day of skiing.

Equipment: - skis or snowboard (or rent it in Garmisch)
- warm clothes, goggles etc
- food and drink for lunch if you dont want to pay the high prices along the descents

Leave a Comment

Address: Zugspitze
Directions: One hour by car from Munich. Take Highway A-95 to garmisch and then follow the signs to the Zugspitzbahn.
Website: http://www.zugspitze.de/main.php

Theme: Other

Running and Inline skating at the English garden is a common activity during good weather. In summer you can additionally watch jugglers and diabolo-artists, people practising Tai Chi or Yoga ….etc.
The English Garden is the biggest city park of the world - bigger than New York's Central Park.
Running is furthermore good along the Isar north and south of the Museums-island (where the German museum is located). For ambitional runners there are several 10k and other runs all year round, which you can find on runners webpages. Famous is the Munich marathon as well as the New Year’s run.

Equipment: - running shoes and clothes
- inline skates
- all kinds of fun sports equippment

Leave a Comment

Address: English Garden
Directions: English Garden.
Exit the subway at "Münchner Freiheit" and follow the signs
Website: www.laufen.de

Theme: Other

The “Therme Erding” (>39.000 m²) is a large swimming and sauna paradise for the whole family and a whole day. It features the larges sauna landscape in Germany including many saunas and steam bath or different temperature and designed in different stiles. Relaxation rooms have comfortable arm chairs, fire places, panorama windows and solarium-areas or places to stretch under warming red-light lamps.

Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Saturday / Sunday / Holidays 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

early bird special EUR 7,50 (2 hrs) Mon - Fri; entry before 1:00 p.m. 2 hours EUR 10,-- 4 hours EUR 13,-- day ticket EUR 16,-- Sat / Sun / holiday surcharge + EUR 3,-- Sauna surcharge + EUR 7,-- excess time + EUR 1,-- each additional or part ½ hour children up to three years free entry

Equipment: - swim suit or bikini
- towel, shower supplies
- water bottles, fruit
- books and magazines

Leave a Comment

Address: Erding, details see web link below
Directions: by car: from Munich take B 388 to Erding; or A 94 exit Erding; or via A 92 exit airport from Landshut or Freising take A 92 exit Erding, continue via B 388 (Taufkirchen), immediately follow signs to THERME ERDING
Website: http://www.therme-erding.de/

Theme: Hiking

There are too many beautiful mountains close to Munich. It is difficult to highlight a special one. Mountains, which are close to Munich are usually crowded on sunny week-ends. Most hiking trails leading all the way to a summit are only snow free between May and late September.

An easy and typical family mountain is the “Jochberg”, 1565m high. The way up takes between 50 minutes and 2,5 hours – depending on your shape. There is a nice Alm (mountain hut with drinks and food) about 15 minutes below the summit. You get fresh kefir, Bavarian cheese noodles or Apfelstrudel (apple pie). The “entrance” to the trail and parking possibilities are hard to explain. Best is you look into a book at the bookstore Hugendubel (see shopping tips) or find directions and more details in the Internet.

Other mountains, which are within 1,5 hours drive of Munich and very very beautiful:

Kienjoch, 1953m (my favourite)
Ettaler Mandl, 1633m
Rosstein 1698m
Buchstein
Soiernspitze
Westliche Karwendelspitze, 2384m
Notkarspitze, 1889m

The is a good book (but it is in German): „Bayrische Hausberge“ by H. Bauregger. It includes height profiles, route descriptions and picture material. Also visit the web-link below.

Equipment: - hiking boots
- water bootle
- back pack
- first aid kit
- waterproof gear
- changing clothes
- camera
- some food
- if you leave for a loneley trip or several-day tour tell people, where you will be going

Leave a Comment

Address: Alps

Theme: Other

Badminton playing is a lot of fun. I am sure there are numerous places in Munich. However, I really like the “Aktivpark” in Gilching (a suburb of Munich). The Aktivpark is a complex with 4 Badminton courts, three tennis courts each inside, as well as outside, a large fitness studio with spinning machines, weight lifting equipment, cross trainers, rowing machines etc etc. The whole atmosphere is very nice – a lot of light wood and warm colours, not too loud music, great fitness hours (ski-gymnastics, yoga, tae bo, hot iron, step arobics etc etc.). Changing cabins are very large and safe, there are lockers, hair driers, very hygenic sanitary facilities… But the best is a supernice sauna. There are small saunas for men and women separated, but there is also a larger mixed sauna landscape including a hot sauna, a steam bath, foot baths, a cold pool, showers of all kinds, two relaxation rooms and an outside area to cool off. Furtermore, in the evening past 8 pm there are so called “Aufguesse”, where a guy heats up the sauna with herbal waters. Afterwards they serve oranges and lemons as well as cold tea for an immune system boost. Prices for weights, the fitness hours and sauna are about 10 Euro (you can stay as long as you want), for Badminton and Tennis prices depend on the time you want to play.

The center also has anice little restaurant with Apfelschorle, beer, lemonades and good salads and Italian food.

Equipment: Badminton racket (or you can borrow for 2 €)
Indoor shoes
Shorts and shirt
2 towels (1 for sauna, 1 after showering)
water bottle

For directions see description below, but also:
the URL below and
www.stadtplan.de

Unfortunately the Aktivpark cannot be reached conveniently by public transport. Directions coming from Munich downtown: take highway A-96 for around 10 minutes to the exit “Oberpfaffenhofen”. After the exit at the traffic light turn right into “Muenchner Str.”. Go straight until the second traffic light and turn left. You will then go drive through a small tunnel and go straight. Pass the upcoming traffic light. After the traffic light turn the third street to the left. Then again turn the second street right. There is sufficient parking in front of the studio. From Munich downtown it is half an hour drive.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 08105 238 38
Address: http://www.aktivpark.com/
Directions: see above
Website: http://www.aktivpark.com/

Theme: Other

Every Monday in the summer months (between Mai and August) there is the Bladenight in Munich. Many streets are closed for cars and other vehicles and only inline-skaters are allowed on the streets. The Blade night is a very well organized mass event with up to 32.000 participants one time. There are bands playing and companies displaying sports fashion or energy bars and drinks. The blade tour is about 15 km, but you can also shortcut or go several rounds. There is also a special tour for families. The recent directions can be found at the web page. The Blade Night Munich is a great way to exercise, get fresh air after a day in the office and meet interesting people at the same time. Plus it is for free.

Equipment: Inline skates (roller blades)
helmet for kids
protection for wrists, knees, elbows
something to drink and eat
maybe a headlight if blading in the dark

Leave a Comment

Address: http://www.muenchner-blade-night.de/
Directions: Please look at the website for the most recent starting points of the tours.
Website: http://www.muenchner-blade-night.de