With so much to discover on campus and in Munich, you’ll want to make sure you get out of the library or lab and join in the fun! There’s music, film, art, and all kinds of cultural events, so you’re sure to find something you love — for a discounted, student price.
There’s no shortage of cultural events and leisure activities in Munich. From Oktoberfest to various student festivals, you’ll have many chances to celebrate with your new friends!
And if you’re interested in getting involved in cultural events on campus, check out the Culture Bureau — a service run by the Student Union Munich that organizes all kinds of fun events, from dances to comics to culture-clubbing. You can also join student groups and go out together for a show, go shopping at a flea market, visit some of the historical sites, go swimming or surfing in the Eisbach, and more. There are a lot of possibilities!
Whether you‘re an art aficionado or are just looking for creative ways to unwind, there are many options to explore — visit an exhibition, listen to an art talk in English, or take an art class. Here are just a few venues to try:
If you sing, play an instrument, or just want to hear some good music, there are lots of opportunities for you to get out and enjoy yourself. Here‘s a list of some of your best options and their websites (mostly in German):
We can‘t even begin to cover everything there is to do in Munich! To get a glimpse of all the city has to offer, check out the city website and start daydreaming about how you’ll spend your free time.
Held at the Praterinsel, this party kicks off the semester for Munich students of LMU, Technical University of Munich (TUM), and the University of Applied Sciences (HM). Not only is it a fun event, it also gives new students an opportunity to get to know the student nightlife in Munich and make new friends and contacts.
A festival for students on the university campus Garching, GARNIX takes place on the lawn between the chemistry building and the campus pub. It features performances from both well-known and emerging bands, several food and drink stands for dining, and a cozy beer garden. There is also an open-air cinema and the GARNIX sports festival.
Munich has a new open-air spectacle: Rockavaria, held at the Olympic Park. About 70 bands rock three stages: the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall, and Theatron.
The Streetlife Festival is Munich's largest street fair, taking place each June and September along Ludwig- and Leopoldstraße. Experienced by up to 600,000 visitors, the festival features shopping, food, and information about environmentally conscious living in the city, as well as urban design projects for the future.
This student-organized theater and music festival is the largest of its kind in Germany. StuStaCulum takes place in the English Garden and features approximately 100 music and theater events, which are presented on five stages. For an entrance fee of just 5 euros for all four days of the festival, visitors will enjoy music in genres including rock, reggae, and ska; improvisational theater and cabaret performances; and much more.
The Tollwood Festival at the foot of the Olympic Hill is known for its theater productions from all over the world, as well as its concerts with regional, national, and international stars of the rock and jazz scene. It also features more than one hundred free shows featuring performance groups and bands from the genres of rock, pop, salsa, reggae, and the blues. Beyond music, visitors can stroll Tollwood’s "Market of Ideas," with hundreds of small stands peddling handcrafted arts and culinary treats from all over the world. All of the food offerings available at the festival are certified organic.
This outdoor festival is held on the Königsplatz by the students of the Technical University of Munich. It includes performances by aspiring singer-songwriters as well as nationally known bands in several different musical genres. In addition to the many bands, the festival also involves a traditional sheepshead tournament (card game) and breakfast.
LMU Munich opens its gates to students throughout Munich every year for the Uni-Sommerfest! With about 5,000 visitors, it is the largest student event in Munich. The festival, which began in 1995 and is organized by the Student Union, features a large open-air stage in the south courtyard where attendees can enjoy live music from local bands. Other events include a poetry slam, debates, and cabaret/improv theater performances, as well as film screenings and karaoke. The evening is capped off by an exhibition of various visual artists. For night owls, there is also a dazzling array of nightclubs, including an open-air dance club.