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3-2-1- It’s time to meet your new best friend
This Valentine’s Day, swap two feet for four – your furry soulmate awaits at Bark Date
Sana Ahmad
February 12, 2026
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.
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Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:
Happy holiday week! Fasching break starts next week. Get ready for busier roads, more traffic, and lots of glitter on sidewalks (and possibly in your washing machine for weeks).
But before the confetti takes over, Munich is entering full world-politics mode. The Munich Security Conference (Feb 13–15) will bring more than 450 global leaders to the Bayerischer Hof. That means tight security zones, road closures, and rerouted trams – especially lines 19 and 21.
On Saturday, Feb 14, things get even bigger. Up to 100,000 people are expected at Theresienwiese for a large rally against the Iranian regime. Several other demonstrations are planned across the city center the same day. If you can, skip driving downtown this weekend. Your stress levels will thank you.
3 bits of news
Childcare spots in Munich: The clock is ticking
If you need a Kita place for the 2026/27 daycare year, this is your reminder to act now. Around 40,000 of Munich’s 120,000 childcare spots will be reassigned this year and the main registration deadline is March 11.
Everything runs through the city’s Kita Finder+ platform. That’s where parents can browse facilities, compare opening hours, and register their child online. The first round of placements begins immediately after the deadline, on March 12.
It’s worth planning early. Many daycare centers host open houses at the start of the year so families can check out the space, meet staff, and understand the concept. Parents can also mark preferred facilities in the system, though this increases your chances, it doesn’t guarantee a spot.
If you’re unsure what type of care you need, Munich’s parental counseling service offers free guidance. They help families with children (up to age 10) navigate everything from crèches and kindergartens to after-school care.
Even if you don’t need care until later in the year, register by Wednesday, March 11. Missing the first allocation round can make the search much harder.
Find more information here (in German).
Newcomers more welcome than ever
Munich just launched a new Welcome Center at the KVR on Ruppertstraße designed to make arriving in the city a lot less confusing.
Think of it as a one-stop starting point. New residents can drop in without an appointment to get help navigating city services. That includes everything from registering an address and applying for residence permits to finding daycare or language courses.
The focus is especially on skilled international workers, who are a key part of Munich’s economy. Several partner organizations will also offer consultations on-site, including migration advisory centers, the Goethe-Institut, and the office that helps recognize foreign qualifications.
There’s a practical side too. Visitors can use free workstations to apply for city services online, with staff available to guide anyone who isn’t familiar with the process. The center will also host free info events on topics like integration, jobs, and navigating Munich life.
The goal is simple: make the first months in Munich smoother and turn the KVR into something a little more welcoming than its reputation suggests.
Coming soon: regional bike-sharing
It’s finally time! Munich and the surrounding region are getting a brand-new bike-sharing network. It’s called MyRadl, and it’s set to launch this spring.
This won’t be a small city-only scheme. The plan is big: nearly 1,000 stations across the MVV area with around 6,800 bikes, including both classic bicycles and e-bikes. The system will cover Munich plus dozens of surrounding towns and districts.
What makes MyRadl different is flexibility. You will be able to pick up a bike in one municipality and return it in another. That means easier connections between public transport, cycling, and walking – especially useful for commuters moving between suburbs and the city.
The contract has now been awarded to nextbike, a well-known bike-sharing provider. Preparations are already underway, and details on pricing and how the subsidized system will work are expected closer to launch..
Bonus:
In Partnership with finbird
It is our desire to bring our readers the best information about Munich — at zero cost to you. In keeping with this theme, we thank our partners for today’s newsletter. By just clicking the link below, you’ll support The Munich Post.
Photo by Nagarjun Kogaravalli Sathyanarayana on Unsplash
You want the buying process and financing basics—without the confusion. On February 17th (3 PM), Daniela from finbird breaks down the German home-buying journey in plain English: viewing to notary, financing to handover.
What we'll cover:
The Process:
Timeline from first viewing to getting keys: what happens at each stage
How the notary appointment works and why older properties can stall if seller documents are incomplete
What the land register check tells you before you commit
Financing Essentials:
What Munich banks ask for: employment status, residence permit, payslips, equity requirements
How down payments work and what percentage you actually need
Hidden costs in Bavaria: notary fees, land register, property transfer tax
Market Intelligence:
Local quirks: contested inner-city districts (Schwabing, Glockenbach) vs. better value in family areas (Pasing, Trudering, Gauting)
How to evaluate resale value and property age when deciding if something's a smart buy or a risk
2 upcoming events
A full weekend of gaming, cosplay & nerd culture
Gamers, mark your calendars: GG Bavaria – Munich’s biggest gaming convention is back from March 6–8, at the Kleine Olympiahalle.
This means a full-on celebration of gaming culture. We’re talking indie games, esports tournaments, cosplay, trading card games, artist alley, content creators, and a packed stage program. Basically: if it lives on Discord, Twitch, or Steam, you’ll probably find it here.
It’s not just about playing. There’s also a strong future of gaming angle. The Career Space will host talks and workshops for anyone curious about breaking into the games industry, from development to design to storytelling.
The event is inclusive to all but keep in mind that children under 4 are not allowed entry.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 Kleine Olympiahalle, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 München
⏰ Friday, March 6 – Sunday, March 8
🎟️ Day ticket: 19 €, 3-day pass: 39 €
Bark Date: Munich’s cutest Valentine’s plan
Skip the awkward small talk, instead opt for cute paws. This Valentine’s weekend, you can go on a date with up to 30 rescue dogs instead. Yes, all of our dreams are coming true.
The Bark Date lands at the Hirschgarten dog park on Saturday, Feb 14 (11am–1pm) and it might just be the most wholesome event happening in the city that day.
The idea is simple. Animal welfare organizations bring dogs looking for homes. You meet them in a relaxed park setting. No pressure. No forms. Just vibes and lots of wagging tails.
You’ll spot the adoptable pups easily. They’ll be wearing red Adopt Me bandanas. If sparks fly, you can arrange a second meeting and talk adoption properly afterward.
There will be all personalities. Big, tiny, shy, chaotic, fluffy, dignified. The focus here is chemistry because as the organizers put it, character counts.
Find more information here (in German).
General information:
📍 Hundewiese im Hirschgarten München
⏰ Saturday, Feb 14, 11am–1pm
🎟️ FREE
Bonus:
We’d like to thank our second sponsor
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1 new restaurant/café to try
Restaurant Ksara
Ksara in Schwabing brings the rich flavors of Lebanese cuisine to Munich with a warm, laid-back atmosphere that’s perfect for long, shared meals. The menu focuses on classic mezze from creamy hummus and fresh tabbouleh to smoky moutabal and crispy falafel, making it ideal for ordering lots of small plates and eating tapas-style with friends.
Their mixed appetizer platters are especially popular for groups, and if you have room for dessert, the Ismalihe (angel-hair pastry with milk cream) is a must-try.
Also, don’t go by their restaurant images on Google Maps, the interior is much nicer and cozier now. Unfortunately due to the limited space furry friends are not allowed to join.
General information:
📍 Haimhauserstraße 7, 80802 München
🥘 Lebanese
⏰ Monday–Sunday, 5pm–11pm
Visit Restaurant Ksara
We want to thank our third sponsor.
Adventure outside the ordinary
Trusted specialty outdoor retailer, REI Co-op, has teamed up with the world’s largest adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, to create a collection of active trips. From farm stays in Costa Rica to sunrise summits on Kilimanjaro, each trip is led by a local expert with small group sizes capped at 16.
For T&Cs and to view the full collection of trips in 85+ destinations, visit rei.com/travel.
Meme of the week 😂
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Aazar, Christina, Heidi and Sana
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