Dust off your lederhosen a bit early this year at Munich’s annual Starkbierzeit festival happening around the city, March 15–April 6.
While the location is infamous for its annual beer-guzzling Oktoberfest celebrations each fall, this lesser known suds-forward event focuses on Munich’s stronger variation, called Starkbier. To locals, Starkbierzeit translates to “strong beer time,” and pubs and breweries throughout the region host an assortment of engagements connected to this celebratory brew.
And if you dig strong beers served in one-liter ceramic steins, called Keferloher, this party is for you. But don’t be alarmed by the name; while “stark” refers to the strength of the beer, it’s actually in reference to the number of solids it contains. It’s also known as Flüssiges Brot, or liquid bread.
Thankfully, there are plenty of regular, relatively inexpensive flights between Washington and Munich. We pulled from travel site Skyscanner to provide you with a short list of flights and hotels handpicked for the occasion.
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Cheapest Munich flights
The cheapest flights between Washington and Munich are if you leave on March 25 and return from Germany on April 1. Icelandair currently has roundtrip, nonstop tickets for $426.
There are also deals to be had later in March. If you fly out of Washington on March 26 and return from Munich on April 2, Southwest Airlines can get you there and back for $487 roundtrip.
Top Munich accommodations
To plan your accommodations, here are two of Munich’s top-rated hotels, that we selected from Skyscanner's listings based on price and customer satisfaction.
The Wombat's Munich (Senefelderstrasse 1)
For an all-around top recommendation, consider The Wombat's Munich. The hotel has a 4.9-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $21.
This friendly backpacker hostel is located close to Munich's central station, the Hauptbahnhof and Oktoberfest.
Bayerischer Hof Hotel (2-6 Promenadeplatz)
A pricier alternative is the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. The 4.8-star rated hotel has rooms currently set at $286/night.
Featured Munich food and drink
Don't miss Munich's food scene, with plenty of popular spots to get your fill of local cuisine. Here are two of the top-rated eateries from Skyscanner's listings.
Schneider Bräuhaus München (Tal 7)
One of Munich's most popular restaurants is Schneider Bräuhaus München, which has an average of five stars out of 10 reviews on Skyscanner.
"Breakfast in Munich: a steaming bowl of white sausages, a basket of pretzels and beer. This spot specializes in wheat beers," wrote visitor Rich.
Hofbrauhaus (Platzl 9)
If you're looking for a solid place to grab a drink, plan to visit Hofbrauhaus, with 4.3 stars from 88 reviews.
One of Munich's oldest breweries, the main dining hall features tables engraved with initials dating back to 1897. Order a liter of Hofbräu original beer and a brotzeiten plate of cheese, meat, bread and pickles to share.
"Hofbrauhaus cannot be missed while in Munich. The food was to die for and the beer was even better. The music was lively and the entire experience was a great time," wrote Marina.
Featured Munich attractions
To round out your trip, Munich offers plenty of popular attractions worth visiting. Here are a couple of top recommendations, based on Skyscanner's descriptions and reviews.
Marienplatz (Marienplatz 1)
First up is Marienplatz, with 4.5 stars from 124 reviews.
Marienplatz is a bustling square located in the center of Munich, and is characterized by the Gothic-style New City Hall on the square's north side. Visitors flock to Marienplatz to see the Glockenspiel in the New City Hall come alive: every day at a specified hour, the sculpted characters re-enact two stories from the 16th century.
The Englischer Garten (Munich)
Finally, spend some time at The Englischer Garten, with 4.5 stars from 73 reviews on SkyScanner.
"The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is Munich’s largest city park, covering over 910 acres of lush landscaped parks, streams and lakes," wrote visitor Mike.
This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
