Munich, the Allianz Arena and the Oktoberfest trap

Check for Oktoberfest before you check anything else

This is the single most useful thing in this guide. Oktoberfest runs from late September into the first days of October, it overlaps with the start of the football season, and it does extraordinary things to Munich hotel prices and availability.

A room that is reasonable in November can multiply during the festival, and the good family options disappear months ahead. If your dates are flexible, avoiding that fortnight will save you more money than any other decision. If they are not, book much earlier than you think you need to.

Getting to the ground is almost too easy

The Allianz Arena sits north of the city at Fröttmaning, on the U6 U-Bahn line, and the walk from the station to the stadium is part of the experience — a long approach with the whole crowd moving together.

German transport around fixtures is efficient and well signposted, and in many cases a matchday ticket includes public transport to and from the ground. Check what your ticket covers; it often removes the need to buy anything separately.

Bundesliga games are a different economy

German football has kept standing terraces and comparatively affordable pricing, and the atmosphere reflects that. For a family used to English prices it can be a pleasant shock.

That said, Bayern sell out, and general availability for a visiting family is not guaranteed. The stadium tour and the FC Bayern Museum are excellent and bookable, and worth building in regardless of whether you get to a match.

Note that Munich has a second club with real history in 1860 Munich, now playing lower down at the older Grünwalder ground. For some visitors that is the more interesting afternoon.

The rest of the city, with children

Munich is compact, safe, clean and easy to move around, which makes it one of the gentlest European cities to bring children to. Marienplatz and the glockenspiel are the obvious first stop.

The English Garden is enormous and free, and the standing wave on the Eisbach — where surfers ride a permanent river wave in the middle of a city park — reliably fascinates children who have no interest whatsoever in football.

The Deutsches Museum is one of the largest science and technology museums in the world and is the right answer to a wet day.

Neuschwanstein, the castle that inspired the Disney one, is a common day trip south. It is a long day with a steep walk at the end, so it works better with older children than toddlers.

Booking this trip

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