Planning your Next Staycation in Bavaria
With 5 Tips from Munich locals
Staycations are Trending
With international travel restrictions and chaos at the airports, this summer, many Freeletics employees are choosing to recharge their batteries on a staycation. What is a staycation, you ask?
stay·ca·tion (informal noun)
1. a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
Proving that you don‘t have to travel far to have an amazing time, check out these 5 staycation tips from our Freeletics employees.
Tip 1: Try stand up paddle boarding yoga
“One of the best places for me to visit is the Mandichosee, located just one hour from Munich. While there, I like to do stand up paddle board yoga. Even if it sounds difficult, nobody takes themselves too seriously and if you fall into the water, it‘s no big deal. The mood is really relaxed. For me, this is the perfect combination of balance and strength training and cooling down on the water on a hot summer day. After the day is over, my head is clear and I feel completely refreshed.” –Valerie: Team Lead Customer Engagement
Tip 2: Go hiking to Brauneck — Bavaria’s most beautiful leisure mountain
“Ever since I was a child, the highlight of my family vacations was hiking in the Alps. Each year we went to a farm, met friends, and explored the surrounding nature together. At the end of each hike there was a new souvenir that we could attach to our walking sticks. Today, the mountains still play a big role in my life and they are the place I go when I need to find absolute peace and quiet. The feeling that you get when you sit there and let your gaze wander over the peaks of the mountains opens up a great deal of beauty and serenity.
One of my favorite hikes starts at the old mule station in Brauneck. There are several routes you can take depending on your fitness level. The goal of the hike is to end up at the Stie-Alm which is 1600m of elevation. Depending on the time of the day, I also like to take my small gas stove and enjoy a delicious Weißwurstfrühstück (white sausage breakfast) or an espresso. After hours of ascent, the Stie-Alm welcomes you with delicious smells of traditional Bavarian food and an opportunity to cool down with a small Kneipp pool and a barefoot path.
The descent can either be via the Kot-Alm to the Jaudenstadl with the summer toboggan run Jaudenhangflitzer or with a mountain cable car to the starting point.
Holidays at home don’t have to be boring, as the areas surrounding Munich offer the right adventure for anyone.” –Toby: Office & Wellbeing Manager
Tip 3: Ride to Schlosswirtschaft Mariabrunn
“One of my favorite things to do in the area is go on a bike tour. I can personally recommend biking the Zum alten Bad Mariabrunn route (tour #18). It’s only an hour and a half from Munich and ends at the beautiful beergarden Schlosswirtschaft Mariabrunn, where you have a stunning view of Munich. All in all, it’s a great way to keep your body active while also treating yourself to some traditional German food once you reach the garden. If you are on a tight budget, you can even bring your own food. Once you finish enjoying the tour, you can either go back to Munich by bike or public transport. This is the perfect day out for people who like to be active and enjoy relaxing outdoors. Plus, even if you don‘t own a bike, it‘s easy to rent one.” –Natascha: Senior Legal Counsel
Tip 4: Go rafting on the river Isar
“In the summer I love to float down the Isar, the river flowing through Munich. We generally start our 5-hour trip at Wolfratshausen (reachable by public transport) and bring plenty of cold beer and sunscreen. It’s awesome to be able to float down the river while enjoying the company of friends and nature. During the summer season, there are plenty of other boats on the Isar and some even have a separate “cooling” boat full of beer so you can get a real Bavarian experience! And don‘t worry, there are plenty of signs along the way that help to keep you alert and safe. As a side note, I think you can also count it as sport because you’re on the move all the time. Just a different style of cardio.” — Olga: Senior Data Analyst
Tip 5: Watch the sunset at the Olympia Park
“The Olympia Park will always hold a special place in my heart. Having a 360° view of the city where I live at the top of the Olympiapark hill is simply fascinating. You can see everything that makes Munich so unique. By simply turning your head you can see the mix of old buildings and new architecture, the forests and even the Bavarian Alps. There are always lots of friendly people there and even a beergarden. It shows what Munich is all about — a friendly, busy city with a diverse history and culture. Venturing to the park and watching the sunset became a ritual for me after a day of work or during the weekend. (Fun fact :Our crazy colleagues love to run sprints to the top!)” — Florian: E-Commerce Manager
Adventure is Out There!
We hope these tips from our employees inspire you to look differently at your city or country and make you feel more excited about your next staycation. And if you have more tips on what to do in Munich or the surrounding areas, please share in the comments below.
