MUNICH AND ADELE CONCERT
We were lucky enough to attend one of Adele’s mega-concerts in Munich. As I mentioned in my London post, she’s one of my all-time favorite singers, and it had always been a big dream of mine to see her in concert. In February, a TikTok video announced that the singer would be touring Europe and would only be performing in Munich. After a series of attempts- roughly the distance of a drive from Lake Balaton to Budapest - I managed to buy a ticket. So in August, we set off and traveled to Munich, by train.
We debated at length which mode of transportation to choose (car, plane, train), since each has its pros and cons. In the end, the train seemed like the most comfortable option and the best choice price-wise as well.
We departed from Keleti Train Station/Budapest on Thursday morning and, after a transfer in Salzburg, arrived at Munich’s Hofbahnhof. We were a bit wary of MÁV’s unpredictability, but the train ran smoothly in both directions without any disruptions or delays.
Our accommodations were at the Gambino Hotel Werksviertel, located in Munich’s former industrial district, where it blends perfectly into its surroundings. The industrial design is evident both on the facade and in the interior spaces.
The former industrial site has become one of the most exciting development projects in the Bavarian city. The Pfanni factory has been modernized and renovated, and a development combining office buildings, entertainment venues, and residential buildings is now underway.
We spent our first half-day exploring the area around the hotel. Charming restaurants, streets, graffiti, and one of Munich’s giant Ferris wheels made this gloomy afternoon a pleasure.
The next day promised to be a long one. In the morning, we took the subway to Marienplatz, the city’s main square. It has been a major hub of Munich since the 12th century, though these days, instead of jousting tournaments, tourists battle it out in the hustle and bustle. On our way to the square, we passed the Isar Gate, one of the three remaining gates of the Old Town.
Instead of visiting historical landmarks, we started our walk at the Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s largest market. The name derives from the Latin word "victus", meaning "food”. A market has been operating at this location since the 1800s. Amid the fruit and vegetable stands, you’ll also find places offering excellent street food where you can sample authentic Bavarian specialties.
Munich’s Maypole (Maibaum) stands tall in the middle of the market square. It was erected in 1862 by the mayor at the time, who argued that if Munich were a village, it should have a Maypole too. The idea proved so successful that the pole became one of the city’s emblems.
Next to the Viktualienmarkt stands one of Munich’s oldest churches, the Church of the Holy Spirit (Heilig-Geist-Kirche). It was originally a hospital church, and later became a city church. During its renovations, the Romanesque style was replaced by Gothic and Baroque styles.
The main building on Marienplatz is the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus), built in the Neo-Gothic style. The architectural features are enhanced by a row of balconies and windows overflowing with flowers. Tourists are primarily drawn to the carillon. The mechanical carillon, featuring 32 life-size figures, depicts two historical events: the wedding of Prince William II of Bavaria and the coopers’ dance. According to legend, at the end of the plague epidemic, the coopers danced through the city to celebrate life.
Also located on the square the Old Town Hall, which originally served as the seat of Munich’s city council and municipal government. Built in the Gothic style, the Town Hall is decorated with lancet windows and arches. A characteristic feature is the bell tower (Rathausturm), which is 55 meters high and was once part of the city’s eastern gate.
Munich’s largest church, the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), stands near the square. A remarkable feature of the church is its two 99-meter-high twin towers, which are, surprisingly, topped with onion domes. The green domes have become a symbol of the city. Its interior was designed in the spirit of late Gothic architecture: simple and clean. A particularly interesting feature of the church is a footprint referred to as Satan’s footprint. Legend has it that during the church’s construction, the Devil visited the building to curse it, but was unsuccessful.
Our last stop in the city center was the Hofbräuhaus. We had hoped to have lunch there, but the room was incredibly loud and noisy. Since we don’t like beer anyway, we weren’t disappointed to have to skip this part of the itinerary. The building’s history began more than 400 years ago, when Duke William I of Bavaria established a brewery. The purpose of the brewery was to produce high-quality dark beer for the royal court, since local brewers were unable to ensure the required quality. Later, the brewery was opened to the public as well. Today, it is one of Munich’s best-known and most famous breweries.
Leaving the city center behind, we walked across one of the bridges spanning the Isar River and caught a glance of downtown Munich from a different viewpoint.
The Isar River flows through the city for about 14 km and offers numerous recreational activities: sunbathing, walking, running, biking, kayaking, and rafting.
Colorful graffiti adds a cheerful touch to the seaside promenade.
A short distance from the city’s bustling center, we took the subway to another major attraction, the BMW Museum. The BMW building, shaped like the brand’s iconic four-cylinder engine, houses an exhibition showcasing the brand’s history, while across the street at BMW Welt other brands belonging to the group, such as Rolls-Royce and Mini, are also featured. We’re BMW fans, so we’re biased. That apart, they’ve managed to create a brilliant exhibition on the brand’s history.
We walked from BMW Welt to the Olympic Park (Olympiapark). The park was the venue for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. Unlike many poor examples, the site has been given a new purpose here, and this "reuse" has turned the park into one of the city’s most popular attractions. Shortly before our trip, several photos and videos of the park had been circulating in the media, showing groups of fans who hadn’t been able to get into Taylor Swift’s nearby concert but were still able to hear and see the performance from there.
We finished our program around 3. We went back to our hotel, and after a short rest, we took the subway to the real destination of our trip: Messe München. We left on time because we were worried that the 80,000 fans would crowd the place and we’d have a hard time getting in. We were pleasantly surprised. The lines were moving smoothly at several gates, even though there were heightened security checks. A few days earlier, Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna had been canceled due to a bomb threat, and unfortunately, there was a chance that could happen here as well.
A concert venue with a capacity of 80,000 spectators was built specifically for these 10 shows on the grounds of the Munich Trade Fair. Despite the many videos that appeared online (pouring rain, poor seating arrangements, etc.), we can consider ourselves very lucky. We had a perfect view of the stage, and the setting sun followed by the starry sky, provided a natural and breathtaking backdrop for the concert. Adele was brilliant. She sang with crystal-clear vocals, linked the songs together in her own unique style, and “rocked” the entire two hours without any star-like airs and graces. It was one of my best concert experiences to date.
After the concert, we made our way out of the fairgrounds just as smoothly as we’d gotten in. The subway arrived almost every minute, transporting fans still buzzing from the concert.
We headed home early the next afternoon, and this time the MÁV performed well, too.
Our short two-day trip to Munich turned out perfectly. The city is beautiful, but I don’t think there’s much more to it than that. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything that would make me want to return as a tourist. Well, of course, I’d go back anytime for an Adele concert .-).
August, 2024
