Celebrate Munich’s 851st Birthday Weekend!

In the year 1158, Munich was founded, or at least it’s the earliest date in which the city is mentioned in documents from that time. The name Munich or, München derives from the Old German word Mönche, which means monks, referring to the group of Benedictine monks who officially founded the city. The city’s official coat of arms was originally an image of a monk, but in the 16th century, it began to change into the image of a small child.

In celebration of it’s birthday, Munich is throwing it’s enormous annual party and everyone is invited! From June 13th-14th, Odeonsplatz, Marienplatz and everywhere in between will be closed off for birthday celebrations. Beginning at 10am with a massive parade down Leopoldstraße to Odeonsplatz, villages from all around the city, as well as city cultural organizations will be decked out in their traditional costume for a day of performances, parades, sausages, shopping, beer and dancing.

Travel Tip: I can imagine that it will be very difficult to navigate around the Marienplatz or Odeonsplatz train stations, as they’ll be packed with visitors. So I would suggest to either get off 1 stop away from your destination and just walk there. It’ll be much easier.

So bring some money, wear your tracht if you like and join in on the celebrations! Munich’s Birthday is always super fun from free operatic performances to puppet shows, antique booths to tourist shops, you’ll find something to keep yourself vastly entertained.