In summer, people tip into the mountains to enjoy mountain walking and climbing and when it gets cold again they head off to the mountains nearby to ski.
If you plan to stay only in Munich itself, you really won't need a car to get around. Public transport is excellent and in any case, parking is an absolute nightmare.
However, Munich makes a perfect base from which to explore Bavaria and beyond. You could visit the lakes, the mountains, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and more. To this end a hire car fits the bill perfectly and there are plenty of car rental firms in the city.
The best way of getting around in Munich is to use the excellent public transport system MVV. This is an integrated system consisting of trams, buses, U-Bahn trains (the underground) and S-Bahn trains.
Cycling is an excellent way of getting around and like all German towns and cities, Munich has cycle paths everywhere. Cycling is very safe indeed and there are a number of cycle hire firms to choose from.
If you have been to London, New York or Paris you will appreciate what a nice city Munich is to explore on foot. It is safe, quiet, clean, green and a joy to walk around.
The center of Munich covers quite a small area and you could cover it all on foot. There are plenty of pedestrian zones, and many hidden away streets and alleys to explore too. You could also join one of the walking tours that operate, seeing and learning a bit about Munich at the same time.
Airport
Munich airport is between 30 and 45 minutes away from Munich to it's east and slightly north.
About the Oktoberfest
Next year's Oktoberfest will be Munich's 177th Oktoberfest! Known as the most famous folk festival - and beer festival - in the world (and the biggest), the Oktoberfest is one of Munich's major attractions.
It starts the 18th of September and only after a traditional ceremony: The ‘Wies’n’ publicans, set off at 11am on their colourfully decorated floats pulled by horses, make their way along Schwanthaler Strasse towards the Theresienwiese.
The first barrel of beer is personally tapped by the Lord Mayor at 12 noon and on Sunday, starting at 10am, groups in traditional garb from all over Europe march to the Theresienwiese. The blissful, beer-laden festical lasts for a total of 16 days and six million people attend each year.
The big Oktoberfest tents are called:
- Hippodrom
- Armbrustschützenzelt
- Hofbräu Festzelt
- Hacker-Festzelt
- Schottenhamel
- Winzerer Fähndl
- Schützen-Festzelt
- Käfers Wiesn Schänke
- Weinzelt
- Löwenbräu-Festhalle
- Bräurosl
- Augustiner-Festhalle
- Ochsenbraterei
The event has some impressive statistics: 14 giant tents with a total seating capacity of 100,000 serve 5.5 million litres of potent ‘March beer’, more than 600,000 fried chickens and 84 heads of cattle. The annual commercial value of the whole thing is estimated at a minimum of 0.7 billion Euro.
Tuesdays from noon till 6pm are ‘Family Days’. We advise getting there early (like 11.00) and finding a good spot. Be warned though, Oktoberfest beer at around 8% is strong stuff and you might be advised to drink some with Radlers (shandy) too. If you're in Munich at this time it's a must visit.
Opening Times
Oktoberfest 2010: September 18th to October 3rd 2010
Most of the tents on the Wiesn open at 10.30 in the morning and shut at 23.00 and some like Käfer, Weinzelt at 01:00. However even there they won't let more people in after 22.30. Beer Serving Hours are from 10am to 10.30pm during the week and from 9am to 10.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The fairground rides are open from 10am to 11.30pm (Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays) and from 10am to 12am on Friday and Saturday.
Getting there on Public Transport
S-Bahn: S1 - S8 to Hackerbruecke
S7 and S27 to Heimeranplatz, Further with the U4 or
U5
U-Bahn: U3 or U6 to Goetheplatz and Poccistraße
U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese or Schwanthaler Höhe
Bus: 31(to Hans-Fischer-Straße or Poccistraße),
58 (to Goetheplatz),
62 (to Alter Messeplatz or Theresienhöhe) or
66 (to Alter Messeplatz, Theresienhöhe or Hans-
Fischer-Straße)
Tram: 18 (to Hermann-Lingg-Straße) or
19 (to Hermann- Lingg-Straße)
Entry Fees
There is no entry fee as such, you just pay for whatever is there, i.e. beer, food, fairground rides and so forth. A litre jug of beer is expensive at around 11 Euro, but you won't be able to cope with many in any case.
RIO DE JANEIRO
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Car Rentals
The main car rental companies have branches in Rio de Janeiro. Reservations should be made at the point of origin. Should the visitor require a rented car for a day or two during his stay, the Concierge of the hotel will be able to make the necessary arrangements.
Currency
The Brazilian currency is the Real (R$); there are 100 centavos in one Real.
Coins issued by the government are either bronze-coloured for 1 centavo, silver for 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and a nickel and bronze coin for R$1. R$1, R$2, R$5, R$10, R$20 R$50 and R$100 are the denominations of the notes.
Hours of Business
Office hours are usually from 9 am to 6 pm. Stores normally open at 9 am and close at 7 pm. Lunch is usually taken from 12 pm to 2 pm. Most offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Medical Services
Most hotels have immediate access to on-call 24-hour medical assistance. There are also many government and private hospitals with 24-hour emergency and out-patient departments. Many of Rio de Janeiro's doctors and dentists were trained or have undergone postgraduate training overseas. All hotels have lists of recommended medical services.
Safety and Security
As in any city in the world of the size of Rio de Janeiro, the key to an uneventful stay is to protect yourself from pickpockets and carry as little cash and as few valuables as possible.
The Rio de Janeiro military police and the municipal guard corps have stations and reporting centres. In case of need, do contact the hotel Front Desk for guidance and assistance.
Subway System
Rio de Janeiro's subway is safe, efficient and easy to use. Tickets are for one, two or ten rides. Tickets are bought at the counter, as there are no ticket issuing machines. There three stations in Copacabana: Cardeal Arco Verde, Siqueira Campos e Cantagalo Metrô stations, each of them located four blocks from the beach. The Metro is a great boon to adventurous visitors; Catete, Glória, Cinelândia, Carioca and Uruguaiana stations are those closest to the city's principal historical and cultural attractions.
There is also the "Metro na Superfície" which connects, without any additional cost, the Siqueira Campos Station to the districts of Gavea, via Ipanema and Leblon.The Botafogo Station is connected to Gávea via the districts of Humaitá and Jardim Botânico.
The "Metrô Barra" connects the Siqueira Campos Station to the Alvorada Terminal in the district of Barra da Tijuca, going through the São Conrado district, with routes via Av. das Américas and Av.Sernambetiba.
Telecommunications
Brazil is connected to all appropriate international telephone and satellite communications systems, providing trouble-free connections to virtually anywhere in the world. Most hotels provide guest room International Direct Dial (IDD) services; some hotels have in-room Internet hook-up and fax machines.
Water
Rio de Janeiro's water supply conforms to international standards; due to the pronounced taste of chlorine in the water it is advisable to drink bottled mineral water
Geographical position
The city of Rio de Janeiro is situated at 22°54’23” latitude south and 43°10121” longitude west, in the municipality of the same name; it is the capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro and part of the Southeastern Region of Brazil. To the north it borders on several municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro. To the south lies the Atlantic Ocean, to the east Guanabara Bay (Baía de Guanabara) and to the west Sepetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba).
The city’s physical features are products of the mountain range (Serra do Mar), covered by the Mata Atlântica forest. They are characterized by marked contrasts: mountains and sea, forests and beaches, stone walls rising abruptly from extended lowlands, all forming the landscape of rare beauty that has made Rio famous all over the world as the Wonderful City (Cidade Maravilhosa).
Metropolitan
The Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro consists of 17 other municipalities - Duque de Caxias, Itaguaí, Mangaratiba, Nilópolis, Nova Iguaçu, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Magé, Maricá, Niterói, Paracambi, Petrópolis, São João de Meriti, Japeri, Queimados, Belford Roxo, Guapimirim – constituents of the Greater Rio, with an area of 5,384km.
Dimensions
The municipality of Rio de Janeiro is 1,255,3km² in area, including the islands and continental waters. It measures 70km from east to west and 44km from north to south. The municipality is divided into 32 Administrative Regions with 159 districts.
The city’s physical features are products of the mountain range (Serra do Mar), covered by the Mata Atlântica forest. They are characterized by marked contrasts: mountains and sea, forests and beaches, stone walls rising abruptly from extended lowlands, all forming the landscape of rare beauty that has made Rio famous all over the world as the Wonderful City (Cidade Maravilhosa).
Rivers
The largest genuinely carioca river is the Cabuçu or Piraquê flowing over 22km into Spetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba).
Coast
Measuring 246,22 km in extension, the coast of Rio is divided into three sectors: Guanabara Bay (Baía de Guanabara), the Atlantic Ocean itself and Sepetiba Bay (Baía de Sepetiba). The first sector mentioned is the largest, the most indented and of longest occupation. It goes from the estuary of the river São João do Meriti to the Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar). The coastline is low and it has been deeply altered by the earthwork done over the years. Several islands decorate this sector. Other important features are: the Caju and Calabouço Promontories (Pontas do Caju and Calabouço), both extended by earthwork. Some important beaches are found on this stretch: Ramos, Flamengo, Botafogo and Urca.
The second sector goes from the Sugar Loaf to Barra de Guaratiba. The coastline is elevated where ramifications of the Tijuca and Pedra Branca Massifs approach the shore; elsewhere it is low. It is straight in the plains, with lovely beaches and sandbanks, and indented near the mountains. From Leblon eastward the seaside strip is more densely populated; to the west it is a region mostly of tourism and leisure. Nevertheless, the human occupation of the west zone has been growing lately. The tourist attractions have motivated the concentration of high class hotels in this area. Two beaches are specially outstanding: one for its extension of 18 km along Semambetiba Avenue (Avenida Semambetiba), from the pier of Barra da Tijuca to Recreio dos Bamdeirantes, and the other, Copacabana (4.15 km) for its internationally famous beauty.
The third sector goes from Barra de Guaratiba to the estuary of the Guandu River. It is not very indented and presents a single important feature: the Marambaia Sandbank (Restinga de Marambaia). Three beaches stand out: Sepetiba, Pedra de Guaratiba and Barra de Guaratiba. The human occupation of this stretch is less dense, due not only to the distance from the center of town but also to the extended marshes covered with mangroves. It is an area of fishing colonies.
ISLANDS
More than 37 km² of the 1,255.3 km² of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro are occupied by islands.
CLIMATE
Tropical, warm and humid, with local variations, due to differences in altitude, vegetation and proximity to the ocean; the average annual temperature is 22° centigrade, with daily averages high in summer (from 30° to 32°); rains vary from an annual 1,200 to 2,800 mm. In the four months of the so-called high summer – from December to March – the very hot days are followed by luminous evenings when heavy and rapid rains usually fall bringing relief and starlit nights.
CARNIVAL
2010 - February 14
The festivities begin on the Friday before carnival when the mayor symbolically hands over to the King of Carnival (Rei Momo) the key to the city.
DANCES IN CINELÂNDIA
Rio carnaval has been known as a nursery for novelties, rhythms and styles. It always has pleasant surprises for the public.
In Cinelândia, the open-air party lasts for five days to the sound of acclaimed orchestras and singers, symbols of carnival music, reviving thus the carnival balls of the past.
POPULAR DANCES
From Saturday to Tuesday, open-air dances take place throughout the city. The emphasis is on joy and spontaneity.
OFFICIAL COSTUME COMPETITION
Sumptuous or original costumes are elements of a theatrical performance in the halls of Hotel Glória, on the afternoon of the Saturday of carnival. The huge and dazzling costumes represent historical characters or different concepts, according to the imagination of the gentlemen, ladies and of drag queens that participate in the event.
ORIGINAL REVELER CONTEST
An instantaneous stage for street carnival, this is the contest for the anonymous artist and the enthusiastic reveler with their fantastic costumes. The prizes go to the best Group,Clóvis, Adult and Junior Individual. The party closing the contest takes place in Cinelândia.
BANDSTAND COMPETITION
The competition takes place throughout the city with the direct participation of inhabitants of the different districts, who are responsible for the decoration and liveliness of the bandstands. The prizes take into consideration creativity, colors, lightening and enthusiasm.
BLOCOS DE EMBALO, BANDS AND STREET GROUPS
It is the heart of carnaval, which beats on Av. Rio Branco, in the Center of town, that presents from Saturday to Tuesday the greatest variety of blocos de Embalo e Empolgação, and it is where the merry-making is at its wildest with traditional groups such as Cordão da Bola Preta, Cacique de Ramos, Bafor da Onça, to mention just a few. A visit in the end of the afternoon is always entertaining.
In the districts, specially in the zona sul districts of Gávea, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana and Botafogo, the bands and street groups anticipate their carnival in the pre-carnival rehearsals.
CARNAVAL DANCES
The Ball at Copacabana Palace Hotel is the high point of the Saturday. Scala nightclub promotes thematic dances every night and closes the festivities with the Gala Gay ball. Other nighclubs and clubs organize animated costume balls for adults and children.
