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:

Wishing you were lounging under palm trees instead of battling Munich’s November frost? Good news: you don’t need a plane ticket, just an hour and a towel. Therme Erding, the largest spa in the world, sits right outside the city. With 40 steaming pools, tropical palms, indoor lagoons, slides, and water that stays a blissful 24°C all year long, it’s the best place for driving away winter blues. 

Get a taste of this place by viewing this video. 

Find more information here (in German and English).

3 bits of news

Munich’s integration guide just got a big upgrade

If you’re new to Munich or know someone who is, there’s good news. Integreat, the city’s digital guide for newcomers, refugees, and anyone trying to navigate German bureaucracy without losing their mind, has launched a brand-new AI chatbot. And it speaks 24 languages.

Integreat already serves as a one-stop hub for everything you need to get settled: health insurance basics, finding a flat, German courses, work rules, childcare, school enrollment, and even where to find affordable leisure options. The new chat function takes that a step further. You can now ask questions in your own language and get instant, AI-powered answers that feel like someone finally translated Munich admin into human.

What makes Ask Integreat different from all the usual stiff government chatbots is the human backup. If the AI can’t answer your question or things get too complex, a real advisor can jump in seamlessly. The chat also auto-translates in real time, so both sides speak naturally without scrambling for Google Translate.

Already in use by more than 60 cities and counties for integration work across the country, it's breaking down language barriers and creating transparency for newcomers. 

Find more information here, here (in German) and a summary from our newsletter edition from June 2023 here (in English).

Time to saw a tree and send a wish 

If you’re ready to lean all the way into the festive spirit, Munich has two very wholesome traditions kicking off right now: one for your living room, one for your mailbox.

🌲 Chop your own Christmas tree (yes, really)

Instead of grabbing the last slightly wonky fir from a Baumarkt, you can head out to one of the Christmas tree farms around Munich and cut your own. Most spots offer the full cozy package: campfires, Glühwein, Bratwurst, playgrounds and sometimes even pony rides.

All you need to bring along are waterproof shoes, some cash and your Christmas spirit, everything else will be provided. 

View the list of Christmas tree farms near Munich here. 

✉️ The direct line to Santa, Christkind & St. Nikolaus is now open

Germany’s Xmas VIPs: the Weihnachtsmann, Nikolaus and the Christkind have officially opened their holiday mailrooms. Kids can write their wish lists, send them off, and actually get a reply back. 

Starting mid-November, Santa (yes, the Weihnachtsmann himself) joins forces with his elves and a crew of Deutsche Post helpers to sort through letters from children all over Germany’s 16 states as well as from 59 other countries. If your little ones want to write, you’ve got two options: 

• An den Weihnachtsmann, Weihnachtspostfiliale, 16798 Himmelpfort – deadline Dec 7

• An den Weihnachtsmann, Himmelsthür, 31137 Hildesheim – deadline Dec 14

Since 1985, more than three million letters have found their way to Germany’s Christkind. 130,000 of them just last Christmas. Address your envelopes to “An das Christkind” and mail to: 

• 51777 Engelskirchen – deadline Dec 20

• 97267 Himmelstadt – deadline Dec 17

• 21709 Himmelpforten – deadline Dec 7

Kids in Germany can also write to St. Nikolaus, the original shoe-filling saint of December 6. Letters can be sent to:

• An den Nikolaus, Nikolauspost, 49681 Nikolausdorf – deadline Dec 14

• An den Nikolaus, 66351 St. Nikolaus – deadline Dec 21

Find more information here (in English) and here (in German).

Pensions in 2025: Who’s footing the bill?

Germany’s pension debate is heating up, and yes, it’s unfortunately as complicated as anything bureaucratic in Germany. Chancellor Merz backs the coalition’s pension plan, but the Junge Union (CDU/CSU youth wing) isn’t impressed. They want tweaks that could save, or depending on who you ask, cost billions.

What’s the fuss? The pension level shows how much retirees get compared to their average income. Today, someone who earned the average salary for 45 years receives about 48% of that. Forty years ago, it was 57%. Aging populations and longer life expectancy are shrinking this number but don’t panic: Germany has a safety net called Haltelinie. Their controversial draft law proposes extending this limit to 2031 and keeping it at 48% until 2031, after which it may dip again.

The Junge Union argues that keeping pensions high beyond 2031 could cost around €120 billion. Merz and coalition partners insist the plan is fair and necessary to support older generations. Experts like Veronika Grimm warn that this could burden future generations and slow economic growth.

Proposed reforms include incentives for working longer and expanded benefits for mothers. But without backing from younger CDU/CSU MPs, the coalition lacks a majority to pass the law. In short: the pension debate is far from over, and whoever thought retirement planning sounded boring clearly hasn’t been following this fight.

Find more information here and here (in German).

Bonus:

• Municipal funding: Munich reiterate urgent appeal to the federal government

• Special bike check: Safe travel in the dark - Nov 27&28

• EU abolishes duty-free allowance for Temu & Co

• Flying to and from Germany may get cheaper from July 2026

• Housing and living costs: Munich remains Germany's most expensive city

We’d like to thank our primary sponsor this week.

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2 upcoming events

The fans strike back

Calling all Padawans, Jedi, and casual Star Wars fans: the galaxy is landing in Munich. From November 18 to February 28, Pineapple Park transforms into the ultimate fan playground with over 1,000 collectibles, life-size figures, 50+ sculptures, and VR adventures.

Curated by fans, for fans, The Fans Strike Back event celebrates 40 years of saga mania. Highlights include Anakin Skywalker’s fan-built podracer, a Snowspeeder straight from Episode V, the Star Destroyer command bridge, and over 120 R2-D2 items. The ultimate fans can grab a lightsaber or hop on a life-size speeder bike for their photo-op.

The entire exhibition is accessible, provides fun for all ages (VR recommended 8+), and no pets as the Ewoks are shy. The exhibition is in German but audio guides in English will be available too. Expect to spend about an hour exploring the exhibition. 

Find more information here (in German). 

General information:

📍 Pineapple Park, Arnulfstraße 195, 80634 München
⏰ November 18–February 28, Daily 10:30am – 7:30pm
🎟️ Adults €27, Children 4–17 €22 and under 4 are FREE

Magical water circus comes to Munich for the first time

If the circus is too mainstream for you, then a sparkling and absolutely mind-blowing wet version is coming to Munich this December. Waterland will be turning the ring into a pool of 120 tons of water, dazzling fountains, and a light-and-sound spectacle that feels straight out of a dream.

Dive into a world where mermaids, pirates, clowns, and jellyfish bring a magical love story to life on the mysterious island of Waterland. There’s even aqua ballet, where performers seem to dance with water itself. 

There will also be high-flying stunts and daring water acts, making it a show that wows kids and adults alike. On top of all of this, add designer costumes, cutting-edge tech, and a pool that literally becomes the stage, it’s definitely not your average circus.

Find more information here and here (in German). 

General information:

📍 Festival grounds on Silberdistelstraße, 81241 München-Pasing
⏰ Saturday, December 18 – Wednesday, January 11
🎟️ Tickets starting from 26€

Bonus:

• Photography of post-war Munich - Nov 21–Dec 17

• Octagon 80 – an MMA event - Nov 22

• Laim up Bazaar - Nov 22–23 & Nov 26–27

• Heiliger BimBam – Hands on Christmas Market - Nov 28–Dec 20

• Grand opening: First Taylor Swift Bar in Munich - Nov 29

1 new restaurant/café to try

SOY 

Craving Vietnamese food but without the meat? Soy in Schwanthalerhöhe delivers vibrant, 100% vegan dishes that prove tofu can be anything but boring. From fresh summer rolls with peanut sauce to warming hot-and-sour soups, every dish is crafted in a way that will leave you wanting more. 

If you’re not sure vegan food is for you, ease yourself into it by trying out their amazing and economical lunch deal. For only €10.90, you get a starter and a main dish which can be topped off with a drink for €2.90. 

The ambience is fun and lively, the food delicious and the drinks unique with their plant-based options – all in all, an experience you will definitely be recommending to others.

General information:

📍 Theresienstraße 93, 80333 München

🥘 Vietnamese

⏰ Daily, 11:30am–2:30pm and 5pm–11:30pm

    Visit Soy Vegan München

Meme of the week 😂

Thanks for reading and sharing the Munich Post 3-2-1 newsletter.

Aazar, Christina, Heidi and Sana

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