The Eisbach wave
A standing river wave surfed in the middle of the city all year round — free to watch and hard to forget.
Carsten Steger — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY-SA 4.0
The English Garden is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, bigger than Central Park in New York. Laid out in 1789, it stretches north from central Munich along the river Isar, with wide meadows, woods, streams, a lake and long walking paths. It is free and always open. Its most famous feature is the Eisbach wave at the southern entrance: a standing river wave surfed all year round in the middle of the city, and free and enjoyable to watch. There is also the Chinese Tower with Munich's largest beer garden around it, and the little Monopteros temple on a hill with a view over the city.
A standing river wave surfed in the middle of the city all year round — free to watch and hard to forget.
An eighteenth-century wooden tower ringed by Munich's largest beer garden and plenty of family seating.
A small round temple on a rise, with the best view over the meadows and the city towers beyond.
A calm lake in the north of the park, with small boats for hire in summer.
Englischer Garten, 80538 München
SiegestorThe Siegestor is a large three-arched stone gateway at the end of the broad Ludw9 minutes walk4.7
Archaeological State CollectionThe Bavarian Archaeological State Collection sits at the southern tip of the Eng12 minutes walk4.5
The Eisbach WaveIn the middle of Munich, on a small watercourse at the entrance to the English G13 minutes walk4.9
Haus der KunstThe "House of Art" is a vast exhibition hall at the edge of the English Garden, 13 minutes walk4.3
Bavarian National MuseumThe Bavarian National Museum shows applied art and the history of craft in Bavar13 minutes walk4.5An hour covers the southern section — the Eisbach wave, the Monopteros and the Chinese Tower, the three best-known stops, all close together. The whole park needs half a day on foot, or two hours by bike.
Yes — one of the best family spaces in Munich: safe open ground, a beer garden serving food and welcoming children, a lake and boats. The one thing to know is that German custom allows nude sunbathing on certain meadows; these are well known and defined, and staying on the main paths and around the Chinese Tower avoids them.
April to September, when the park is green and the weather allows sitting out. It stays open and handsome in winter, though the beer garden closes or shortens its hours. The Eisbach wave runs all year, even in the cold.