In July the best way to spend the day in Munich is outdoors: very early in the morning at the traditional Kocherlball, at the open-air classical music concert on Odeonsplatz and at the popular Sommernachtstraum fireworks in the Olympic Park.
The Tollwood (festival) in the Olympiapark (park) stands for summery lightness - and this year, from 15.6. to 16.7.2023, serious topics will again be on the agenda: Tolerance, diversity of cultures, fair animal husbandry and a sustainable approach to nature, which is also lived out at the festival. People from all over the world chat at wooden tables and green hills over beer and international organic food. Famous musicians play jazz, rock or pop in the circus tents. There are also unusual theatre productions and fascinating performances by artists and acrobats. All this is surrounded by the stands of the "Market of Ideas", where all kinds of handicrafts are offered for sale.
Tollwood, 15 July to 16 July 2023, Olympic Park
Also the Munich Rock-n-Roll-Band "Spider Murphy Gang" will play a concert at Tollwood in the Olympiapark on July 06th - the songs "Skandal im Sperrbezirk" and "Schickeria" with Munich dialect and joy of life included.
Spider Murphy Gang, 6 July 2023, Tollwood Music Arena, Olympic Park
Every summer visitors can marvel at an overwhelming sea of lights in the Olympic Park. Then the open-air event "Sommernachtstraum" dips the sky and the green hills in bright colours. The highlight is a spectacular fireworks display. There is the right sound to go with it: bands and artists perform on several stages.
Sommernachtstraum, 15 July 2023, Olympic Park
In the middle of the English Garden , the dirndls turn here at around six in the morning: during the traditional folk dance "Kocherlball" at the Chinese Tower, the sun and the heart rise simultaneously. In the 19th century, simple cooks, errand boys, nannies and domestic servants met here to dance before work. Since 1989, thousands of people have been gathering to twirl around with each other during waltzes, polkas, doubles and Munich Française - often in old uniforms and bourgeois clothes from the 19th century. People also party around it in the beer garden and picnic on the meadows.
Kocherlball, 16 July 2023 from 6 to 10 o'clock, Chinese Tower in the English Garden
It doesn't get much more Munich than this: on Mariahilfplatz in the Au district of Munich, people like to get together in traditional costume for the Auer Dult - or to be more precise, the Jakobidult. From 29 July to 6 August 2023, around 100,000 guests celebrate summer here - each to their own liking: children love the nostalgic chain carousels, handmade dolls' clothes, small furniture for their playhouses at home and the candy floss. Adults browse pottery, knitted jackets or practical household goods - and treat themselves to a beer or a fresh steamed dumpling in between. Dult is cult!
Auer Dult, 29 July to 6 August 2023, Maria-Hilf-Platz
The Munich district of Pasing has a long folk festival tradition. After a two-year break due to Corona, the people of Pasing and their guests can once again look forward to five days of funfair hustle and bustle with a fairground, beer garden and beer tent, where the Stadtmüller family takes care of the visitors' thirst. Many people know the family as the hosts of the Fischer-Vroni at the Oktoberfest. In Pasing they serve fish specialities and Bavarian classics as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes. And the best part: every evening a different band plays, from Bavarian brass band music to casual rock, pop and indie covers.
Pasinger Vorwiesn, date follows in spring 2023, Munich-Pasing, fairground at the corner of Silberdistelstraße and Weinbergerstraße.
The Munich Opera Festival will take place from 23 June to 31 July 2023 to close the season. With opera premieres, ballet, concerts and song recitals, the Bavarian State Opera presents an extensive festival programme, which this year focuses on three major works by Richard Strauss.
Munich Opera Festival, 23 June to 31 July 2023, Bavarian State Opera House
In a wonderful atmosphere between the Hofgarten, Feldherrnhalle and Theatinerkirche, around 16,000 guests experience music of the highest standard at the "Classic at Odeonsplatz". For more than 20 years now, the classical music concert has been delighting its visitors with the best orchestras and world-famous stars in the open air.
Classic at Odeonsplatz, 8 and 9 July 2023, Odeonsplatz
After the successful start last summer, new folk music will once again set the tone at the Gasteig HP8 on 29 July. Archaic tones and multimedia sounds resound on five stages at the Alpenrausch Festival. Yodelling meets percussion and an alphorn plays techno beats. In addition, workshops invite you to participate and try things out. Films whet your appetite for alpine culture and nature. And if you want to start climbing right away, you can do so on a climbing wall. In addition to the Austrian duo "Attwenger", the brass group "Federspiel" and the Swiss duo "Albin Brun & Kristina Brunner" will be on stage.
Alpenrausch, 29 July 2023, Gasteig HP8
Enjoying the most beautiful summer weather outside and a film at the same time - that seems to be contradictory. Unless the screening takes place outside. There are several open-air cinemas in Munich: including the Frischluftkino of the One World House or theKino, Mond und Sterne (Cinema, Moon and Stars) in the Westpark. But the city's best known and most popular open-air cinema makes a guest appearance in the Olympic Park: the Cinema at the Olympic lake is also the only one with 3D films in its programme. Instead of cinema chairs, deck chairs are waiting; couples make themselves comfortable in Love Seats, an extremely wide beach lounger version. From here, one comfortably has a view to the 4K-screen and the lake. Those who turn around can additionally have a look at the impressive arquitecture of the Olympic hall, stadium and swimming pool. The program changes daily, tickets and information are available online. Reserved tickets must be picked up at the box office by 8 p.m., which is recommended anyway: those who arrive before 8 p.m. can get two drinks for the price of one at the cinema bar. For the case of rain there is even an umbrella rental available. Roll the film!
In southern Bavaria there are several summer toboggan runs, one of the most famous is the one on the Blomberg, the local mountain of Bad Tölz. The ascent to the summit takes about one hour and leads along well constructed paths. At the top, the Blomberghaus lures with snacks and a panoramic view over the northern limestone Alps. Alternatively, part of the ascent can be bridged with the chairlift - the last few metres to the summit must still be covered on foot. The fastest way down to the valley is on the toboggan run, which starts a little way below the middle station. Over 1300 metres, 41 chicanes and 17 steep curves it winds its way down the mountain. If necessary, braking is done with a lever in the middle of the sledge. The Blomberg can be reached either by car (Am Blomberg 2, 83646 Wackersberg) or by bus lines 9612 and 9591 from Bad Tölz.
Munich is often glorified as the northernmost city in Italy. The many Italian ice cream parlors with their homemade gelato also contribute to this flair. Opinions differ as to which of these is the best. The Ballabeni at Theresienstraße 46 is definitely among the top three. On hot summer days people queue up around the block. In Maxvorstadt and in the Schlachthofviertel, the Del Fiore is causing a sensation; there are even people who claim that the ice cream there is better than in Italy. For those who can't make up their mind, Chef Stefano might hand them a spoon to try. The Sarcletti on Rotkreuzplatz (square) is cult - and old: Peter Paul Sarcletti sold his first ice cream here 130 years ago. Today there are more than 60 varieties to choose from. No Italian, but in a class of his own is the Verrückte Eismacher ("Crazy Ice Cream Maker"). Matthias Münz basically only appears with a top hat and sometimes creates interesting flavours like gyros or wheat beer ice cream. His restaurant behind the university reminds of "Alice in Wonderland", the branch in the Glockenbachviertel (Holzstraße 24) of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".
You can find a detailed calendar of events here.
Curious? You can book a guided bicycle tour through the city and the English Garden with us. The experienced guide will show you Munich's most important sights - rental bike and city map are included!