Munich

Trendy district

The center of the queer scene is located in the Glockenbachviertel, southwest of the old town around Müllerstraße and Hans-Sachs-Straße. For locals, the quarter is called the queer quarter as a matter of course, and there is also a lot going on here during the day: in cafés, small shops and on the Isar. If you walk through the streets without a fixed destination, you will almost stumble into the first bar by yourself.

Directly adjacent is the Gärtnerplatz district. Around the green square there are restaurants that go well with the end of the day. The distances are short, so that both districts can be connected on foot in one evening.

Nightlife

Among the fixed addresses where the evening often begins are Bar New York, Prosecco and Paradiso. The Deutsche Eiche, a hotel with restaurant, bar and sauna under one roof, is cult. Dancing takes place in the NY.Club, where pop is played on Fridays and house on Saturdays.

For the leather and fetish scene, the Ochsengarten and the leather club MLC are the well-known places to go, plus a lot around the main station. Because most of the shops are so close to each other, you can easily move from bar to bar without needing a taxi.

Best time to visit

Between May and September, the city is at its best, with long evenings on the Isar and in the English Garden. The biggest highlight falls at the end of June: Christopher Street Day with the big PolitParade and the three-day Pride Mile on Ludwigstraße between Odeonsplatz and Siegestor.

If you want to experience the Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese, plan for the end of September to the beginning of October, but then you should expect full trains and expensive hotels. In winter it becomes quieter and much colder. On the other hand, accommodation is often cheaper.

Arrival

For travelers from Germany, Munich is easy to reach. Via ICE connections, the main station is well connected to the long-distance network. Northeast of the city is Munich Airport, which is connected to the center by S-Bahn (S1 and S8) in about 40 minutes.

On site, you can get anywhere by subway, tram and bus, and the Glockenbachviertel can be easily reached via the Fraunhoferstraße and Sendlinger Tor stations. Nobody needs their own car in the city centre, and parking spaces are scarce and expensive anyway.

Safety & LGBT Rights

In Germany, same-sex partnerships are legally protected, marriage for all has been in force since 2017, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law. Munich is considered safe and well-maintained, and in the Glockenbach district, holding hands is part of everyday life.

As in any big city, it is worthwhile to stay attentive at the train station and in the nightly party mile. Nevertheless, you can travel relaxed here. However, the city is expensive, which is why accommodation and going out remain a noticeable item in the budget.