Living In Munich: Travel Tips From An Inside Look At Our First Week Adventures

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Have you ever made a big move? Maybe across a state, across the country or even across the world? I can honestly say that for Charlie and I, we are about a week into the biggest move of our lives up until this point. Having never permanently moved outside the borders of South Carolina within our working memory, we have had a fun, hilarious and adventurous experience this past week as we have begun adjusting to living in Munich. From transportation runarounds to furniture shopping to our new favorite travel items, we have learned so much in the past week. While living in Munich is quite different from visiting for vacation or traveling as a tourist, I believe many of these lessons can cross over to be extremely helpful when adventuring around Munich, Germany and Europe as a whole. With that, I hope that if you are planning on moving abroad, or even if you see yourself visiting for only a week, you might find these next paragraphs helpful for your future travel endeavors. 

Living In Munich: Learning Transportation

Like many European cities, Munich is known for their amazing public transportation. Between the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, bikes, scooters, cars and buses, there are almost always a million ways to get to any one particular point. While we had gotten a good taste of learning how to use the public transportation during our look and see trip (you can read about our experience on that trip HERE!), we recently got to try them ALL, because you see, on the day before I arrived, the major segments of public transit (U-Bahn, S-Bahn and buses) were on strike. Thankfully, Charlie was already there and was able to come by a car to pick me up from the airport, but we still had to discover the other non major transportation options to get around the center city where parking is limited or on our way to buy bikes. That being said, we started off on a crazy foot trying to navigate our new city, but became familiar with all of the options really quickly. Should you ever visit Munich (or decide to live here!), here are all your transportation options: 

Cars:

While cars are the staple method of transportation in the US, they are not the primary mode of transportation for most people within the city. Some areas of the city are best accessed by car, especially if they are further out or if you are buying bulky items, but within the city center, parking can be challenging to find and parking garages are TINY. If you do have a car or decide to rent a car, be sure that before you enter the parking garage, you are aware of the car size restrictions. Most SUVs (and trucks, but there are not many of those) are not allowed in parking garages due to the tight turning radiuses and parking spots. Even with our small 2 door car within our hotel parking garage, I typically had to get out of the car with our belongings BEFORE Charlie backed into the space to ensure the doors would not hit the walls. If you are given a larger car, just be sure to find good street parking options and you will be fine. 

U-Bahn & S-Bahn:

Buses:

Much like the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, the buses run on the same system with maps, and screens to describe the stops ahead. Sometimes several bus stops are located at an intersection, so be sure that the bus you are looking for does indeed come to that particular stop. To determine this, just look at the bus stop marker and see if the bus you need is labeled on the sign. If not, you might need to check out a different stop in that same area. 

Once on the bus, unlike the subway systems (which almost always stop at each location), you must select which stop you would like to get off on to indicate the driver to open his doors. While slightly different, this process is actually very easy as each seat (or standing) section has little red buttons to press. When your stop is announced, just hit the button and the screen will flash STOP on the sides to indicate that the bus driver is planning to stop there. On the flip side, if you are waiting for the bus at a bus stop, just be sure to walk up to the edge of the sidewalk to signal that you would like for the driver to open their doors. 

Scooters:

Placed all around the city, scooters are available to rent whenever you need! These became our saving grace when the rest of the transit was shut down on strike, but many people use them for their daily ride. Ranging in cost from 20 to 40 cents a minute, you just download the app of that particular scooter company (like Voi), make an account and start riding! Before you start though, be sure to check that your scooter can in fact be parked at your final destination, because the further you go from the center city, the more restricted they are in parking zones. To park, just pull the scooter to the side and end your trip on the app!

Bikes:

While most locals own their own bikes (which you can purchase in store at small bike shops or online at Kaufland (Munich’s version of Walmart)), you can also rent bikes like you can rent the scooters! Like the scooters, they will be placed around the city for ease of use. Just download the app of that particular bike company (there are a variety of bikes and scooters placed), unhook the bike and start riding. Many of the parking rules and payment details that apply to scooters also apply to the bikes, but they are cheaper, typically costing around 9 cents per minute instead of the 20 to 40 cents. Munich is a pretty flat city, so biking is a great way to check it out!

Walking:

Finally, last but not least, be prepared to walk a lot! If you track your steps, have no fear, you will hit your daily 10,000 before you know it. Even with taking the scooters, bikes, or other public transit, you likely will walk quite a bit traveling to stops or searching around the city. Just be sure to have a good pair of comfortable shoes and you will be set… which brings me to my next big lesson of our first week. 

Living In Munich: My Favorite 5 Products So Far

While it can be challenging to know exactly what you need when you are learning a new place, these five items have become vital to our life in Munich as I described in my latest Instagram reel (check it out and follow for stories!). Thank goodness we have the sweetest parents who thought to send us with a couple of these items as they have turned out to be lifesavers. 

Comfortable Shoes:

As I mentioned above, you will do so much walking, as Europeans live wonderfully active lives. As the weather can be quite chilly and rainy (or snowy), I have found these shoes to be extremely comfortable for long periods of time, in addition to being waterproof. My Sorels are certainly the warmest and are fabulous for the winter months, while each of the pairs of my Nisolos can be used at least through the fall, winter and spring seasons. Each come in a variety of colors and can be dressed up or made more casual to fit in well with the general aesthetic of Munich. While they are more of an investment, you most certainly will get lots of use out of them (and are great for asking for as gifts – thank you in-laws!). 

Sorel Kinetic Conquest Boots | Nisolo Everyday Chelsea Boots | Nisolo All Weather Amalia Boot

Universal Adapter:

Once inside, whether your apartment, Airbnb or hotel, take note of the outlets – they are a totally different plug style! While the power voltage in Munich is very similar to the US (running on 100 – 240V, meaning you won’t need a converter), you will need an outlet adapter! We have lived by this particular World International Travel Plug Adapter as it can charge normal US plugs, USB, and USBC and can adapt to outlets throughout the EU, UK, AUS, Caribbean and US. If something you plug in does happen to have a challenge with the voltage and cause a surge, simply flip this adapter over to the back and pop open the “Spare Fuse” tab to change out the old one to the new spare. 

We recently learned this new hack after discovering the breaker in our room had been flipped when Charlie’s very old and very cheap TJ Maxx beard trimmer tried to charge. A hot smelling trimmer, full warm fridge, outlet search and phone call to the reception desk later, we discovered both this spare fuse gem and how to find the electric panel in our hotel room! We have used this adapter with all of our phones, computers, straighteners, curling irons, and other smart devices in both this hotel and others throughout Germany and the Caribbean, and never had a problem before Charlie’s beard trimmer so I believe the old technology was on it’s last leg and wanted to give us a further adventure. Either way, whether you get this adapter or another (preferably one with a spare fuse like this one – it can save you!), bring something with you so that you can make the exchange for the EU plugs. If you try to find an adapter over here, they all are geared toward someone FROM the EU visiting the US and not the other way around. So if by chance, a particular socket is a little hotter than others and it does blow a fuse, learn from us and be sure to change it out for the spare and discover your electrical panel before your fridge of food goes bad 😉

Packable Bags:

Another amazing product that has been so useful has been the small packable bags that fold down into a tiny square. Gifted to me by my mom, these Reusable and Foldable Tote bags pack perfectly in my small purse or Charlie’s backpack and are great for spontaneous trips to the grocery store or any other goodies we might need to carry. As most Germans grocery shop every or every other day, being able to stop in at Aldi, Edeka or Rewe on the way back to our hotel or apartment from the U-Bahn to pick up a few necessities is very helpful. If you are visiting for a shorter amount of time, these are the perfect bags for traveling light while maintaining the ability to shop as grocery bags and disposable shopping bags are not the norm for a city like Munich that is seeking green sustainability. 

WhatsApp:

On a technological note, we have LOVED WhatsApp. Used as the preferred communication app throughout Europe (and much of the world), WhatsApp provides international calling, texting and video chatting entirely free over WIFI or fairly inexpensively over your data plan. With this app (which can be tied to your normal phone number), gone are the days of international phone calls costing a mint. For keeping up with loved ones, sending pictures and all around maintaining communication with our friends and family in the US, this resource has been wonderful. 

Laser Measure:

Lastly, but certainly not least, our Bosch Blaze Laser Measure has been such a fabulous treasure which has saved our sanity. As a gift from my dad in a family Christmas scavenger hunt, this laser measure has been wonderful for measuring our apartment for buying furniture. With units in both imperial and metric systems, it has been so easy to discover the measurements we have needed without converting each number from a measuring tape. With a US imperial based interior design brain, I was very curious on how converting to metric would be when looking for furniture, but this tool changed the game on that process entirely! Honestly, I wish I had had this laser measure during all of our own personal renovations and past client projects as this speeds up measuring a space by about 1000%. 

Living In Munich: Apartment Settling

In addition to all we have learned in regards to important products and transportation, we have been figuring out how to settle our apartment! Located on the fourth floor (without an elevator… 60 stairs one way is going to be a great workout!), our apartment is a rooftop apartment, so I am thrilled about the many roof angles and skylight windows; they add so much character! We have been very blessed that our apartment (and particularly the kitchen) is a phenomenal size considering the size of most European dwellings, and while we are not right downtown center city, we believe it will be a great home for us while we are here. (Looking for an apartment? A guide to apartment searching in Germany is HERE!)

After a seven hour day at Ikea and many more cleaning, shopping and styling days to come, our apartment is slowly, slowly showing promise of coming together. As we are setting it up entirely from scratch, stay tuned for an apartment walk through, DIY projects and home settling in the future. We have so many ideas for our space (achievable within reason – budget and apartment rules definitely apply!), but currently are first working on finding a store with an air mattress to tide us over between our hotel stay ending, and our recently ordered furniture / air freight of clothes from home arriving. 

Living in Munich: Church Hunting

Much like the South, Munich is sprinkled with churches all throughout the city but instead of them being Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian, most are Catholic. Bavaria (the state of Germany in which Munich is settled) is one of the most Catholic regions of the country, so it is wonderful to hear the church bells tolling throughout the city. While many of these churches are gorgeous to explore the art and architecture throughout the centuries, many do not have large local congregations within them. Even with this, Catholicism is the main Christian sect, with Lutheran, Episcopal and evangelical churches spread throughout the city as well.  As Charlie and I are not Catholic, we found a local evangelical church (that actually is in English!) that is geared towards those within Munich’s expat community. Upon our first Sunday experience, Munich International Community Church (MICC) was extraordinarily welcoming with wonderful music and a strong sermon during service. With the congregation filled with people from over 50 nationalities, it truly gave me a beautiful glimpse of heaven with choruses of people from every tribe, tongue and nation. As Munich is such a popular destination around the world for short term studies, temporary expats and long term stays, MICC caters to all backgrounds with Sunday services, events and weekly small groups in English, so we are thrilled to have a place where we can get involved so quickly. If you are in Munich, will be living in Munich or are visiting Munich and want to attend MICC, please do! But do be aware that their Sunday services start at 3:30 pm instead of in the morning. 

Final Thoughts

Wow! What a week. From U-Bahn strikes and 7 hour Ikea runs to warm fridges from blown electrical panels and amazing church services, we have had so many adventures! But through all the ups, downs and crazy turns, the Lord has blessed us tremendously with good spirits, safety and views of the next phase of life to come which we are excited about. Moving abroad (really moving period!) is not without its challenges, but I believe that in each of them, we are afforded glimpses into God’s wonderfully present provision. I hope that whether in your next move or next travels, these tips and products might help your trips go smoothly (although adventures they still will have!) and might encourage you to look for God’s provision in each moment. 

Happy traveling!

Chloe

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