- The Munich Post
- Posts
- 3-2-1- It’s time to get your driver’s license for less
3-2-1- It’s time to get your driver’s license for less
Apps, simulators, and savings wait for you on the road ahead
Sana Ahmad
November 06, 2025
In partnership with
Servus an Alle!
Welcome back to the Munich Post! The purpose of this newsletter is to share: 3 bits of news, 2 upcoming events, and 1 amazing restaurant/café for expats living in and around Munich. This way, you have a pulse on what’s going on without scrolling through thousands of pages.
Hey there! Did a friend pass along this awesome newsletter to you? Well, guess what? You can easily subscribe below and get all the latest news and events from us every Thursday. Join our amazing community of over 11,600 Munich lovers with just one click!
Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:
Munich’s joining the national walking challenge for the first time and it’s exactly what it sounds like: a 21-day competition starting November 1. Whether you’re power-walking to work, chasing your toddler, or just picking up Semmeln, every step counts.
Participation is free, just register on stadtlandzufuss.de and log your kilometers solo or with friends. Tracking can be done on the website or via the app.
And if your bike feels jealous, give it some love as Munich’s FREE bike checks come back to town. From Nov 6 at Stephansplatz, Nov 17 at Josephsplatz and lastly on Nov 25 at Willy-Brandt-Platz. Drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm without an appointment.
3 bits of news
Germany plans to make driving school faster and cheaper
Good news for future drivers (and their parents’ wallets): Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport wants to make getting a driver’s license simpler, shorter, and less expensive. The plan includes learning theory via an app, simulator training for night and highway drives, and a shorter practical test.
The average license costs anywhere between €2,500 to €4,500 right now, and the ministry says it’s time to cut that down. Under the proposal, driving schools will be free to teach theory however they like and even without a physical classroom. Learners could complete manual driving practice in simulators instead of specialized cars, then take the test in an automatic vehicle.
The number of mandatory special lessons would also shrink, and theory exams could drop a third of their current 1,169 questions. Officials insist road safety remains top priority, but they say there’s room to modernize without dumbing things down.
The reforms are expected to roll out in 2026, meaning the next generation of drivers might earn their licenses with fewer euros and hours.
Here’s how you can earn cash for empty shampoo bottles
Recycling just got a glow-up. Munich startup reo has launched a one-year pilot project that lets shoppers return empty cosmetic packaging into deposit return machines to get money back.
It works exactly like bottle returns: drop your empty bottle of shampoo, sunscreen and more into the designated machines, get 29 cents back, and go on with your day feeling more eco-conscious. Here you can find a list of participating brands. The products are clearly marked with stickers, so you’ll know which ones to bring back.
The project, backed by Munich’s Zero Waste Innovation Hub, is a first-of-its-kind in Germany and aims to see how people really behave when sustainability is made simpler. The pilot runs across 10 Kaufland and 3 VollCorner locations in Munich.
Find more information here (in German).
Meet Munich’s award winning building
It’s not often a building makes headlines before it even opens its doors – but MONACO, the future office landmark rising at the edge of the Werksviertel, just did exactly that.
Designed by Rotterdam-based architects at MVRDV, Monaco isn’t your typical glass-and-steel box. It’s being built with recycled bricks, PVC shingles made from old window frames and pipes, and pocket gardens tucked between terraces and rooftops. Even the lights are insect-friendly – a rare architectural feature, but an impressive one nonetheless.
Across 4,500 m², the building promises flexible workspaces, a sustainability-first approach, and what the developers call an Immune Office designed to boost air quality and employee well-being. When finished in 2027, it’s aiming for the architectural triple crown: LEED Platinum, WiredScore Platinum, and WELL Platinum certification.
Bonus:
We’d like to thank our primary sponsor this week.
Join Granite Financial for a free, practical, no-fluff webinar on the smartest year-end moves to lower your taxes 💶 and build lasting wealth 📈 in Germany.
You’ll learn:
✅ How to maximise your tax rebate with a Basisrente (Rürup) or Riester-Rente before year-end
✅ Smart investment strategies for long-term growth — even in uncertain markets
✅ How retirement planning, fund investing and tax efficiency all connect
✅ Simple, actionable steps you can take now that could make a big difference on your 2025 return
👥 About Granite Financial
Granite Financial is an English-speaking financial advisory firm based in Munich, helping expats and professionals across Germany make smart, tax-efficient financial decisions. Trusted advice. Tailored strategies.
🗓️ Date & Time: 13th November at 7pm CET
💻 Location: Online – Free to attend
🏢 Hosted by: Granite Financial
2 upcoming events
Shop for a cause at the MS Winter Bazaar
If you love vintage finds, handmade crafts, or just the thrill of spotting something beautiful for a good cause, the MS Winter Bazaar is your best bet this weekend. Taking over the MVG Museum on November 15 and 16, this long-running charity event has been raising funds for people with multiple sclerosis since 1973.
Here you will find tables piled high with clothes, books, home décor, and handmade gifts – all donated and all for a good cause. Every euro goes to support the local German Multiple Sclerosis Society (DMSG), which offers assistance and programs for those living with MS.
Come to browse, shop, and chat with the volunteer team behind one of Munich’s kindest traditions.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 MVG Museum, Ständlerstraße 20, 81549 München
⏰ Saturday, November 15 10am–5pm
Sunday, November 16 10am–4pm
🎟️ FREE
Step inside Munich’s House of Dragons
Are you a fan of fantasy and dragons? Well you’re in luck. Game of Dragons brings more than 20 life-sized, smoke-breathing animatronic dragons to our city. They’re no ordinary dragons, they come complete with booming sound, dramatic lighting, and enough special effects to make even Queen Daenerys jealous.
The hour-long walk through includes a magical light park, glowing projections, and an optional VR dragon flight (for ages 10 and up). Every dragon has its own backstory, from ancient guardians to fiery newcomers, making it as much storytelling as spectacle.
By day, it’s a fairytale forest. By night, it’s pure magic – illuminated, immersive, and unforgettable. There’s even a souvenir shop and food stalls for post-adventure refueling.
General information:
📍 Lucky Star, Moosacher Straße 70, 80809 München
⏰ Friday, October 31 - Sunday, January 11, 2026
🎟️ Adults: 16€, kids between 6–15: 9 €, children under 6 are FREE
Bonus:
We’d like to thank our second sponsor.
Most coverage tells you what happened. Fintech Takes is the free newsletter that tells you why it matters. Each week, I break down the trends, deals, and regulatory shifts shaping the industry — minus the spin. Clear analysis, smart context, and a little humor so you actually enjoy reading it.
1 new restaurant/café to try
Park Café
Brunch, but make it special. That’s exactly the vibe at Park Café. Every Sunday, the Park Café turns into Munich’s happiest corner with its Soul Food Jazz Brunch – a mix of good food, good music, and good mood.
Picture this: a twenty-meter buffet overflowing with everything from free-range eggs and pancakes to Bavarian Weißwurst, cheeses, muesli, and wild forest honey. Add in live cooking stations and you have a Sunday plan worth setting an alarm for.
At the cooking stations, chefs whip up mini-burgers, Kaiserschmarrn, and American pancakes right before your eyes, while a jazz band keeps the vibe relaxing and warm. Despite its popularity, the buffet is spread out enough that you never feel rushed.
And if brunch isn’t your thing, their lunch and dinner menus are just as impressive. On sunny days, you can grab a table out in the beer garden and soak up the sun.
General information:
📍 Sophienstraße 7, 80333 München
🥘 Modern Bavarian
⏰ Monday and Tuesday 11:30am–11pm
Wednesday–Friday 11:30 am–1am
Saturday 10am–1am
Sunday 10:30a m–10:30pm
Visit Park Café
We’d like thank our third sponsor.
Your career will thank you.
Over 4 million professionals start their day with Morning Brew—because business news doesn’t have to be boring.
Each daily email breaks down the biggest stories in business, tech, and finance with clarity, wit, and relevance—so you're not just informed, you're actually interested.
Whether you’re leading meetings or just trying to keep up, Morning Brew helps you talk the talk without digging through social media or jargon-packed articles. And odds are, it’s already sitting in your coworker’s inbox—so you’ll have plenty to chat about.
It’s 100% free and takes less than 15 seconds to sign up, so try it today and see how Morning Brew is transforming business media for the better.
Meme of the week 😂
Thanks for reading and sharing the Munich Post 3-2-1 newsletter.
Aazar, Christina, Heidi and Sana
Hey there! Just wanted to let you know that this newsletter is absolutely free for you to enjoy. We genuinely value your feedback as it inspires us to continuously improve and bring you even more amazing news and content. It would mean the world to us if you could spare a moment to share your thoughts and leave us some comments. Your input is truly appreciated!
What do you think about this newsletter? |
Reply