After going through the most embarrassing and also the funniest mishaps of my life in a camper van with my friend, dogvisor and dogpanion, Gino, we arrived in Munich.
Before getting here, I already had a really good feeling whenever this city crossed my mind, but I had no idea I’d fall so in love with it that I’d end up reconsidering my original plan to live in Italy.
It was 45 days with zero monotony and maximum enchantment with the Bavarian capital. What did I like most about it? Hard to say, since it might just be the most incredible city I’ve ever visited, but a few things really caught my attention. I’ll break it down into a few sections to make it easier:
Sports
The highlight here was the Munich Olympic Park, also known as Olympiapark. The park was built for the 1972 Olympics and is still fully functional to this day, which is impressive on its own. It’s frequently renovated, expanded, and hosts countless events throughout the year, like fairs, concerts, festivals, sporting competitions, and much more. Besides walking Gino and biking many times through the impeccably maintained green areas, I got the chance to swim in the Olympic pool where great Olympic athletes once competed. Anyone can access the water park and spend the day there for a symbolic fee, considering the quality of the facilities.
Entertainment
Besides the countless bars and restaurants spread across the city, including good options for celiacs, the concert calendar is packed. During our stay, I had the chance to catch Linkin Park live at the Allianz Arena, which was an incredible event from start to finish — public transportation works perfectly well, and it’s clean and safe. Whether or not you’re into concerts, the stadium visit alone is worth it. Bayern Munich’s official stadium is truly grand and beautiful.
Culture
I could write a whole book about this one, because Munich breathes culture through its art galleries, bookstores, museums, and palaces. I’ll admit I always preferred nature and open spaces over indoor places, but that was before I got to know Munich. Places like the Deutsches Museum, Pinakothek der Moderne and Bayerisches National Museum are simply fascinating — you can’t help wanting to understand more than what’s on display. I love seeing works crafted with such perfection in times when resources were so much scarcer. And if you’re a car or motorcycle enthusiast, or simply enjoy them, don’t miss the BMW Museum and BMW Welt. In these two places, you’ll learn how the BMW Group got started, follow its journey, and be captivated by the past, present, and future of the great Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, founded in Munich in 1916.
Nature
This is where my biggest surprise came from, and also the main reason for my enchantment with the city. The stunning Englischer Garten is one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the world. Spanning roughly 4 km², the park features gorgeous gardens, open-air beer gardens, trails, and crystal-clear streams. I couldn’t resist jumping into one of them myself, right alongside the happy Germans cooling off from the summer heat and then drying off on the green lawns that stretch all across the park.
Gluten-Free Life
The range of gluten-free products in grocery stores is quite impressive, even though there’s no rule requiring every product to state whether it contains gluten or is gluten-free on the label, which makes things pretty hard for anyone who doesn’t speak German and needs to read the ingredient list — not to mention the tiny print for those of us who are a bit older. But major brands like Schär, along with a few lesser-known ones carrying the gluten-free icon (usually a crossed-out wheat stalk), are available in the Glutenfrei sections of the best supermarkets, like REWE and Edeka. If you want a restaurant recommendation, I suggest Mixto Verde and Palmtreeclub. For coffee, I recommend Das Metta and Isabella Glutenfreie Pâtisserie. All of these were tested by me personally and are exclusively gluten-free, meaning no risk of cross-contamination for those of us who, like me, don’t want to take any chances.
A Dog’s Life
Just like everywhere else we’ve been so far, Gino was treated like a true celebrity in Munich. He got plenty of requests for photos and videos, along with all the affection that came with it. He was always warmly welcomed everywhere, including on public transportation. To keep him socially active with other dogs and having fun while I did activities he couldn’t join me for, once or twice a week he stayed at We Are Dogs, a top-tier dog daycare. With an impeccable setup, plenty of space for the dogs, and a team of well-trained professionals, I could enjoy my outings knowing I’d pick him up happy and tired at the end of the day.
And yes, I wavered. More than once, the thought of staying in Munich crossed my mind — it’s hard to find a city so complete, clean, organized, beautiful, and still able to blend urban life and nature so harmoniously. On top of that, as always, I was treated wonderfully by the Germans on every occasion — always polite, kind, and patient. But my Italian blood spoke louder, and the day finally came to leave for Italy. Today we’re heading to Verona, the place I chose as a base to find the best spot to live in northern Italy. Will it be Verona, Riva del Garda, Arco, Brescia, Trento? I don’t know. And not knowing is delightful. I hope my heart beats just as strong in some Italian city as it did in captivating Monaco di Baviera — strong enough to make me want to stay.