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 our weekly roundup:

Have you aced your exams this year? Well, pack your bags and grab your train tickets! On the first day of summer vacation, Monday, July 29, all school kids in Bavaria with an A grade on their report card can travel across Bavaria for FREE. Thanks Deutsche Bahn!

3 bits of news

Pitch perfect 

Camping in Munich offers the perfect mix of budget-friendly accommodation and an immersive experience in nature. Plus, Munich’s campsites offer a unique chance to meet fellow travelers from around the world. With easy access to public transportation, these campsites are a smart choice for both local and international visitors.

Top 7 Campsites in Munich

• Oktoberfest-Camping München

📍 De-Gasperi-Bogen, 81829 München

• Wiesn Camp

📍 Schichtlstr. 46-48, 81929 München

• Campingplatz Langwieder See

📍 Eschenrieder Str. 119, 81249 München

• Campingplatz Nord-West

📍 Auf den Schrederwiesen 3, 80995 München

• Campingplatz Obermenzing

📍 Lochhausener Str. 59, 81247 München

• Campingplatz Thalkirchen

📍 Zentralländstr. 49, 81379 München

• The Tent

📍 In den Kirschen 30, 80992 München

An average overnight stay costs around €27 and prices can vary depending on the season and the facilities available, but overall, it’s a great deal for the experience you get.

Find more information here (in English).

What's the cost of living in Munich?

Curious about how your city ranks in terms of living costs? According to Mercer’s 2024 data, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zurich top the charts as the most expensive cities for international workers. 

On the flip side, Islamabad, Lagos and Abuja are the most affordable. Inflation, exchange rates and geopolitical events are driving these changes. Ready to see where your city stands?

Berlin has leapfrogged us in the latest Mercer cost of living city ranking. Yep, Berlin is now the 31st most expensive city in the world, leaving Munich to chill at 38th place.

Mercer’s 2024 report compared 226 cities worldwide, analyzing costs of 200 everyday items like housing, transportation and groceries. New York City was the benchmark and the US dollar was the currency reference. This ranking helps employers design fair salaries and work contracts for remote workers.

Buying property in Munich? Expect to shell out an average of €823,590 for a 90m² home.

For more information read here (in English).

Munich's playgrounds

Munich is truly a family-friendly city with a fantastic array of play options for kids—and adults. From sandboxes and slides to skate parks and football pitches, there’s something for everyone. 

Key Highlights:

• For Kids: Sandboxes for digging, playhouses, crawling meadows, slides, swings and water playgrounds.

• For Teens and Adults: Football pitches, skate parks, streetball and volleyball courts.

Munich takes the safety and hygiene of its playgrounds seriously. If you spot any broken equipment or cleanliness issues, you can easily report them online.

Looking for the nearest playground or skate park? The Munich Playground App is here to help. It lists all public play areas, from toboggan hills to fitness courses, and even shows where the nearest public toilet is. You can filter by age group, activities, and equipment, making it easy to find the perfect spot for some fun.

For more information read here (in German).

BONUS: 

• Isolating and uptight - Germany receives worst ranking yet in expat insider survey

• Germany’s proposed tax rebate for skilled foreign workers socially explosive 

• TUM best German university in QS ranking 

• Pensions to rise by 4.57 percent on July 1 

• High-speed rail connections from Prague to Bavaria by 2030

• German officials approve country's first marijuana social club since legalization took effect

• German lawmaker demands strategic overhaul amid Bitcoin sell

• Munich-based Cartken bags €20.8 million to make self-driving tech 

In Partnership with Feather

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 sponsors for today’s newsletter. By clicking on the link below, you’re supporting this newsletter.

Why get pension insurance?

The German mandatory insurance is only enough to cover the basics - even the government recommends topping it up with a private plan.

Last week, we spoke to Dr Rob Schumacher, co-founder of Feather, about the various options you have at your disposal when planning for retirement. Here's a link to the recording of that chat.

Feather's flexible pension insurance is one option that is especially designed with expats in mind:

Sign up directly in minutes or book a call with our consultant here!

2 upcoming events

Mind-bending optical illusions 

Be sure to step into the WOW Museum – Room for Illusions at Isartor. This is not your typical museum. With its interactive world of optical illusions and creative installations, it promises a unique experience for all ages. 

What's in Store?

• 19 interactive worlds of experience

• A digital museum tour

• Five photo booth

• Puzzle stations with sweepstakes

• Willow's world for children

• 500m² of entertainment spread over two floors

Your 20-minute admission period allows for an average stay of 60-90 minutes. So, come prepared to immerse yourself in a world where nothing is as it seems.

For families with more than four children, you can add an extra child for €10 or €12, depending on the day of the week. Also, enjoy a 15% discount on Thursdays (excluding holidays) and a 25% discount for the last day slot.

Find more information here (in English).

General information:

📍   Isartor, Tal 27, 80331 München

📅   Monday - Friday, 10am - 8pm

⏰   Saturday & Sunday, 9am - 8pm

Closed Tuesday 

💶 From €15 to €25 

Free concerts at Gärtnerplatz

Gärtnerplatz Open Air is back next weekend on July 20 - 21. This two-day event promises a mix of fantastic concerts and a street food festival that will make your taste buds dance.

Thousands of visitors flock to this event every year to enjoy pop and classical music performances in a unique, picturesque setting. It's the perfect opportunity to discover new artists, enjoy delicious food, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Munich.

The best part? It's all free!

Find more info here. 

General information:

📍  Gärtnerplatz, 80469 Munich

📅   Saturday July 20, and Sunday July 21, 2024

⏰  Saturday from 2pm to 11:30pm 

      Sunday from 1pm to 10:30pm

Bonus

• Lange Nacht der Brauereien July 12

• Re-opening of the Pasing youth center July 12 

• Chorfestival July 19 & 20

• Japanfest July 21

• Mini Golf 

• 3D Neongolf 

• Axe Throwing

• Greenfields - July 20

• Open Air - July 20

• KOMOD Festival July 11 - 14

• Westandhell Street Festival - July 20

We’d like to thank our secondary sponsor too.

Free Webinar: Financial Planning & Investment

Sometimes the hardest thing about finances is knowing where to start. In this webinar we'll cover the basics of financial planning from apportioning your income to strategies to make sure it sticks.

Furthermore, we'll cover the basic principles of investing, why it's a vital part of personal finance and how to approach it to ensure you reach your financial goals.

Join us on Thursday, July 25th for a free webinar in which we go over the most crucial parts of financial planning & investing.

Sign up now

1 new restaurant/café to try

Heartbeet

Looking for a spot that serves up healthy, delicious meals without the wait? Head over to Hearbeet, where you'll find the best bowls and salads in Munich. This informal counter-service restaurant in Au-Haidhausen is perfect for a quick, nutritious bite.

Their bowls are packed with all the nutrients you need, including grains, proteins, healthy fats and fiber. Plus, they have vegan and gluten-free options like their amazing banana bread made with almond flour and coconut flower sugar or their vegan truffle tofu bowl.

Salads and bowls range from €11-15, and during winter, you can warm up with hot bowls like Indian lentil soup (€6) or chicken curry (€11-13). Want a great deal? Use the Too Good To Go app to snag a bowl for almost half price.

General information:

📍  Rosenheimer Str. 109, 81667 München

🥘  Bowls 

⏰  Monday - Friday 11am - 9pm 

      Closed Saturday & Sunday

🔗 Visit Heartbeet

Meme of the week 😂

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

See ya next week!

Aazar, Arlene, Christina, and Heidi

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!