Simple things they don't tell you (yet) in the guidebooks. As a non-German speaking foreigner I am always grateful to be there with my SO who is from Munich.
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Get the right ticket for public transport right from the start - Since the 1972 Olympics Munich as a fantastic public transport system. Even at 2am in the morning we had no problems getting home using a combination of buses, trams and/or the underground. The times we used a car were frustrating and proved a much less effective way to move through Munich. The public transport tickets are expensive but if you get a ticket the best reflects your situation (sightseeing plans, duration of stay and number of people in your group/family) you have wonderful convenience and freedom of movement. To find out what's available and download maps go to the MVV website. Whatever you do, don't try and buy a ticket in a bus or tram - they use ticket machines that only accept coins and never enough of your coins to actually get to the price of a ticket. You'll go slowly red in the face feeding in coins and retrieving them from the bottom again and again and again.
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Always have cash to pay for coffee, snacks and meals - Small establishments often do not accept credit or debit cards, certainly none that we found. Look for 'Credit cards accepted' signs or ask if in doubt.
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Be very careful crossing roads - If you come from a country that drives on the other side of the road (as I do) crossing roads can be tricky. It's true, I didn't know where to look! It's strange because driving was not that big a deal - you know it's different so you pay more attention, and it's easy as the driver to simple orientate yourself to the middle of the road (and accept you're going to bash the door with your left hand occasionally looking for non-existent gears). Best advice is to follow what the locals do which is to cross at the correct places when the lights indicate that this is what you should do (surprise, surprise). You can do this with your eyes closed and nothing will touch you. Amazing!
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Beware of cyclists - As a driver you have to pay attention. But also as a pedestrian! Often the pavements are divided such that one side is smooth. Don't walk or stand there - it's for cyclists and they come flying past with their bells ringing angrily in German at you.
Quirky aspects of Munich I enjoyed
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It's clean without feeling sterile.
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Dogs (and their owners) are extremely well disciplined and are allowed on trains.
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Everyone is out walking and cycling as a normal method of getting around. People appeared fit, healthy and highly capable (no 'suffering' from old age) and, combined with the public transport, there is such a positive feeling of people being active, out and about. So nice to see the range of people on bicycles from whole families to ladies in evening dresses with smart shoes.
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You can transport you bicycle on trains.
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Their bread is fantastic and the bakeries are everywhere.
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In the English Garden you can take off all your clothes and lie naked in the sun amongst thousands of other people and no one would pay any attention - they even have an acronym for it: FKK (Frei Körper Kulture = Free Body Culture). This is a fun read: Getting Naked with the Germans.
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Recycling is taken seriously with sorting drop-off points everywhere.
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In Munich they take their traditional dress quite seriously and find any excuse to get dressed up (even if it's just for spending the afternoon in a beer garden - okay, this in itself is a very serious activity). While I really can't see myself in Lederhosen, I could certainly entertain some delicious fantasy around the Dirndl!
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It was asparagus season - yummy!
More pictures from the trip
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