Visiting the English Garden
The English Garden was established in the 18th century in Munich. Originally conceived as a recreational space for the military, it opened to the public in 1792. A remnant from that era is the Rumford-Haus (Rumford House), a former military mess hall that later served the royal court before being repurposed in 1966 as a center for youth nature and culture programs. The English Garden ranks among the largest urban parks in the world, exceeding the scale of Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London. It was inspired by Count Rumford, a war minister of American origin, and designed by Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell, a German urban planner and landscape architect.
A massive recreational park in Munich
Spanning over 400 hectares, the park offers countless ways to relax in Munich. This starts with its four Biergarten (beer gardens), outdoor terraces where you are welcome to bring your own food as long as you purchase your beer on-site. The Biergarten is a Munich invention that remains a staple of Bavarian popular culture. For instance, the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), a 25-meter-tall pagoda, hosts the second-largest Biergarten in Munich, with a capacity of nearly 7,000 guests.
Unexpected activities
Beyond its nearly 80 kilometers of walking paths, you can try water sports on the Kleinhesseloher See (Kleinhesseloher Lake), though swimming is not permitted. High-level river surfing is one of the more surprising sights in the park. Demonstrations take place on the Eisbach canal, which runs along the park at a point where the water forms consistent, high waves suited for the sport.
The must-see green space in Munich! I was really surprised by the size of the place. I spent an afternoon there and didn't even cover half of it. I started by heading up to the Monopteros, a small Greek temple perched on a hill that gives a nice view of the city center. Then, I went to see the park's main attraction, the surfers on the Eisbach wave, before enjoying a good beer near the impressive Chinese Tower. Tons of activities and trails to explore, you could easily spend the whole day there.