Munich’s English Garden is a 375-hectare city park with highlights such as the Chinese Tower, the Eisbach Wave and the Monopteros.
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On this page you will find compact information about Munich’s English Garden – from directions and park areas to beer gardens and the best walking routes.
The most beautiful sights in Munich’s English Garden
Monopteros: One of the park’s most striking landmarks stands on a small hill in the south of the English Garden: the Monopteros.
Chinese Tower: The beer garden of the same name around the pagoda is just as famous as the Chinese Tower. In the hot summer, you can experience Bavarian beer garden culture here, as a brass band traditionally plays on the tower and delights beer garden visitors. Did you know that the Chinese Tower was built at the end of the 17th century, burned down completely during the Second World War and was reconstructed and reopened in 1952?
Kleinhesseloher See: The oasis in the English Garden! Romantic rowing boats, Seehaus beer garden, winter ice skating. All information about directions & parking.
All the sights in the English Garden at a glance.
Tour magnet no. 1 – the Eisbach wave with the daring Eisbach surfers
Eisbach surfing on the Eisbach wave MunichThe Eisbach wave at the Haus der Kunst attracts curious Munich residents and tourists to the bridge on Prinzregentenstraße all year round.
In summer in swimming trunks, in winter in a wetsuit, the Eisbach surfers queue up in all weathers to rock the wave.
Surfing on the Eisbach wave is only for experienced surfers and experts! If you want to get in more easily, practise on the small Eisbach wave. Also called “E2” by insiders.
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Our top 5 activities in Munich’s English Garden
- Watching Eisbach surfers on the Eisbach wave and then enjoying a cappuccino at Fräulein Grüneis
- Experience the view and sunset at the Monopteros
- Visit the Chinese Tower and enjoy a cool beer in the traditional beer garden. Bavarian brass band music is available free of charge in summer
- Boat trip on Kleinhesseloher See
- Short visit to the Japanese teahouse Kanshoan
Many more activities in the English Garden in our overview.
Activities, sports and leisure
Munich’s English Garden is a true “public park.” On the expansive lawns, Munich residents play volleyball, badminton, and Frisbee. There’s space for soccer as well as outdoor sports and jogging groups. Slacklines and hammocks are strung up among the trees. Playgrounds for children of all ages delight families. The sunbathing lawns are dotted with sunbathers, and swimming is allowed in the Eisbach (including nude swimming in certain areas).
On warm summer nights, young people use the meadows (especially the Monowiese at the Monopteros) as a party location.
A 78-kilometer network of paths in the English Garden offers a variety of routes for joggers, cyclists and inline skaters.
The Eisbach wave with the Eisbach surfers is famous beyond the city and state borders. In summer and winter, they surf the Eisbach wave right by the bridge on Prinzregentenstraße.
English Garden Munich – the beer gardens
Beer Garden at the Chinese Tower: The heart of this beer garden is the Chinese Tower—the landmark of the English Garden. Its unique atmosphere comes from the diverse crowd—young and old, businesspeople and locals, tourists from all over the world, and Munich’s own eccentrics all come together here. Parents will also find a playground with a children’s carousel in the northern section.
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Seehaus am Kleinhesseloher See: The Seehaus is a renowned, upscale restaurant that also has a beer garden right on the lake. The clientele is mixed, although it is more likely to be Munich residents with a well-filled wallet. Nevertheless, it is well worth a visit, especially in the evening, as you can experience a beautiful sunset over Kleinhesseloher See.
Hirschau Biergarten – in the northern part of the English Garden: This family-friendly beer garden has a great children’s playground with a pirate ship and is therefore very popular with parents. Visitors will find typical Bavarian cuisine at normal prices. In spring and summer there is a music program with live bands.
Aumeister beer garden: The “Aumeister” beer garden and restaurant are located directly on the northern border of the English Garden. Built around 1810, the “Aumeister” used to serve as a royal hunting lodge. It is an ideal destination for all those who want to cross the entire English Garden.
Popular with dog lovers: The Mini-Hofbräuhaus beer garden in the central northern part of the park welcomes dogs and is therefore particularly popular with Munich dog owners.
Bavarian and idyllic: under large chestnut trees, the Osterwaldgarten serves delicious Bavarian delicacies on tables with red checkered tablecloths and, in our opinion, the “best duck in town”. Located right at the entrance to the English Garden, close to Münchener Freiheit near Kleinhesseloher See.
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Snacks, cappuccino and beer – overview of the kiosks
Fräulein Grüneis: Right next to the Eisbach surfers is the popular kiosk “Fräulein Grüneis.” It’s really nice to take a break in this little green-and-white “Swedish cottage.” Over soup, beer, or a cappuccino, you can enjoy a relaxed chat while sitting on casual “beer crate seats.” The kiosk is located between the Eisbach wave and Lerchenfeldstraße, set back a bit at the southern end of the English Garden. By the way, it used to be a restroom. Over 50 tons of rubble were dug out of the cottage during the renovation to make room for the sweet café.
Milchhäusl – Bio Kiosk: The Milchhäusl in the English Garden is a traditional snack bar with a small, charming beer garden that is very popular with Munich locals. Organic products, snacks and small Bavarian dishes are offered here. Particularly fun: in winter, discarded cable car cabins equipped with sheepskins ensure a warm stay. Parents appreciate the direct proximity to the children’s playground.
More than just a kiosk: Fräulein Müller: Fräulein Müller is very popular with Schwabing locals and is more than just a snack bar. On the way from “Münchener Freiheit” to the English Garden, you will find it on Gunzenrainerstraße. There are tables and chairs in front of the little house and next to it, on the smallest beach in the world, there is space for exactly four deckchairs. In summer, the sun shines long into the evening on the beach. PS: I’ve also seen a small wedding there.
You can find more information about the more than 10 kiosks on our overview: Kiosk in the English Garden
The most important facts and figures about Munich’s English Garden
With an area of 3.7 square kilometers, the “English Garden Munich” is one of the largest city parks in the world. It is even larger than London’s Hyde Park or Central Park in Manhattan New York.
Strictly speaking, the English Garden stretches from the very central Hof- und Finanzgarten at Odeonsplatz far out into the north of the city. The trail network covers over 78 kilometers, of which around 12 kilometers are for horseback riding.
The English Garden was founded in 1789 by Elector Karl Theodor. The length is about 5.5 km, the width about 2 km.
The largest body of water is Lake Kleinhesseloher, which covers around 8 hectares. All streams together have a length of 15 kilometers with over 100 footbridges and bridges. The English Garden is visited by over 5 million people every year.
The Palaces and Lakes Administration, which is responsible for the park, employs over 60 people to manage and maintain the English Garden. (Source: Castles and Lakes Administration).
With its streams, lakes, meadows and beer gardens, it is the most popular meeting place for activities or relaxing in Munich.
History and origin
Until 1788, the English Garden was a meadow landscape. As a floodplain for the Isar, it was occasionally used by farmers as a pasture for cattle. The impenetrable forest was also the hunting ground of the Bavarian princes. The name “Hirschau” has survived to this day.
The initiator of the park was the American Benjamin Thompson – later ennobled as the Imperial Count of Rumford from Massachusetts. His basic idea was initially to create a “military garden” in which soldiers could largely provide for themselves in peacetime. After the ground-breaking ceremony in 1788, the idea of creating a public garden in the English landscape style developed. The shell of the Chinese Tower was completed as early as 1790. Benjamin Thompson also introduced the potato to Bavaria.
South and north part with English Garden Map
The Isarring, a multi-lane city road, divides the English Garden into a southern and northern section. The busier southern section is located further into the city and is used intensively by Munich residents as a leisure park.
The northern part stretches from Schwabing (bridge crossing) to almost the edge of the city in the north. It is more of an oasis of calm, and even today still offers secluded and secluded spots to relax and take a deep breath. You can also find a detailed map on our website.
With our free Munich English Garden Map as a PDF download, you will not only find the best-known spots, but also the quiet corners where you can relax and unwind.
Further links and the quick overview: Parking, food and drink, surroundings, toilets, further information for optimal visit planning, bike and Segway tours, what rules apply
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