Munich Awaits for Man City: Complete Guide for your Trip!

Manchester City's return to the UEFA Champions League has been a highly anticipated one, and what better way to debut than playing against the German giants Bayern Munich. The two clubs have never faced eachother in an official competitive fixture, with their only game being an exhibition match during the 2025 World Sevens Tournament. That game saw Bayern put 3 goals past City, but this WSL winning side have undoubtedly become the team to fear in England this season.

Bayern's frontline is already firing up the Bundesliga with Klara Buhl acquiring 8g/a in their first 4 games this season. Likewise their midfield is stacked with talent, containing Ballon d'Or nominee Momoko Tanikawa, and a backline of Giulia Gwinn and Franziska Kett that will try to keep City's Bunny Shaw at bay. City's WSL golden boot winner is aided on the wings by Lauren Hemp and newly recruited Beth Mead who will hope to cause upset for the home crowd. Moreover, with their strong defensive record, it seems inevitable that we are in for a feisty game of football.

The city of Munich awaits the English champions and its fans, and with the 22nd of September not being far away, you've come to the best place to help make the most of your trip.

MUST HAVE VOCABULARY:

Before you arrive, picking up the lingo can really help when it comes to asking for directions or simply integrating into the culture from the jump! The simple "Ja" and "Nein", "yes" and "no", are crucial, alongside "please" and "thank you", "Bitte" and "Danke". Of course the quintessentially british urge to say "Entschuldigung" - "sorry" (although that seems like a mouthful), is also good to have under your belt. Equally, if you want to ramp up the atmosphere, screaming "Das Tor!", "GOAL!", in the away end could take the game's atmosphere to another level!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

TRAVEL ROUTES:

Upon arrival the S-Bahn S1 or S8, or the Lufthansa Express bus takes you from the airport to the centre of the city, with trains running every 10 minutes. If you're looking for a speedier option to get straight to your accomodation, taxis and Ubers are available, although they may exceed €70, whilst public transport remains below €20.

To get to the Allianz Arena from the airport is slightly more complicated, requiring a combination of trains, (S-Bahn (underground) and U-bahn (overground)), whereas to grab a taxi only takes 15-20 minutes. Yet, from the city centre the U6 trainline to Fröttmaning is speedy and only requires a short walk from the station until you begin to see the glowing red lights of the stadium.

ACCOMODATION:

Where you choose to stay is largely dependent on whether you are travelling solely for the football or are looking to immerse yourself fully in what the city has to offer. For a matchday-focused trip the budget-friendly Motel One München-Garching is just one stop on the U-Bahn to the stadium, while the Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor is pricier, offering a rooftop bar and pool, and is a mere 10 minute drive to the stadium. Within the city centre, hostels like Georg Kronawitter Platz are budget-friendly and allow you to feel immersed in the city's culture. Higher-budget options include The Mandarin Oriental which has prime location right in the historic Old Town surrounded by landmarks and restaurants.

Photo Credit: Itinerant Fan

ALLIANZ ARENA:

The arena itself has an exterior made of inflated panels that glow Bayern's bright red hue, an infamous stadium thats seen World Cup, Euros, and Champions League matches. It holds a capacity of 75,000, with it having filled 31,000 of those seats last season against Barcelona in the UWCL semi-finals (a record for the team). This time round they'll be hoping to draw in an even larger crowd, with the success of both domestic-championing teams promising a game of high stakes and great energy.

If you're interested in learning more about the club itself, the stadium also containes a museum which walks you through Bayern Munich's history from its beginnings in the 1900s to modern day. The largest club museum in Germany, inside it contains all of the team's trophies, a carousel presentation of club legends, and videos of its decorated history and development. If you want to take it a step further, the Arena Tour offers you the chance to step onto the pitch itself, see into the tunnels, sit in the stands before public opening, and experience what it's like being part of the press in conference rooms!

Photo Credit: @fcbfrauen

EXPLORING THE CITY:

Away from all things football, Munich has a plethora of sights, parks, and other opportunities for exploration. The central square of the Old Town features the Neues Rathaus which has a daily Glockenspiel clock show. To fully immerse yourself in the Bavarian architecture, the Frauenkirche cathedral is also a must see, an iconic Gothic cathedral with twin onion-domed towers that pierce through the sky. If you're into museums and galleries, the Kunstareal area is your best pick. However, another interesting visit is a baroque royal summer residence surrounded by lavish canals and gardens called Nymphenburg Palace. Within the palace there's a stone hall with intricate ceiling work and galleries of portraits showing notable women from 19th century Munich society. Equally, the palace gardens contain fountains and lakes that can take you away from the hustle of the city streets.

If you'd prefer some lighter perusing then the Viktualienmarkt and Olympiapark are great markets for food, beer, flowers, with Olympiapark market selling clothes and cool vintage items!

Some quieter and more relaxed activities involve Munich's parks. The Englischer Garten is larger than New Yorks Central Park, famous for its streams and the wave surfers at the Eisbachwelle. West Park is another option, with it containing a vegan and vegetarian-friendly cafe, Cafe Gans am Wasser, which overlooks the water. If you want some peace and quiet before the match then Munich's greenery is not to be overlooked!

MUNICH'S GAYBOURHOOD

Munich's Glockenbachviertel area is a great space for the queer community who may want to celebrate post-match. More specifically to the date of the match, Munich is holding Oktoberfest from the 19th of September - 4th October, the largest annual fair in the world. It involves drinks and activities, with their certified "gay day" being on the first Sunday in the Bräurosl tent, but the festivites last the whole month.

THE CITY AWAITS!

Whether its the football, the culture, the architecture, or the parks, Munich has so much to embrace. With this guide, hopefully you are well equipped to take the city by storm next week!