Drummers at the Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen's Parade in Munich.

Traditional Munich

Customs and tradition are modern again

Tradition and customs in Munich are more fashionable than ever before. From fresh approaches in fashion to exciting experiments in the kitchen: an overview.

Traditional costumes and folk music are more fashionable in Munich than ever before. Especially with young Munichers, the Oktoberfest and Dulten (traditional markets) are cult. Young bands bring new "folk music" to the clubs and celebrate their successes outside Munich.

Not only is there experimentation in fashion and music, the kitchen also likes to combine the finest of grandma's recipes with delicacies from all over the world. Even in the beer garden barley juice and pretzels are eaten with Italian antipasti, spring rolls, falafel or other international specialities. Enjoy your meal!

Video: simply tradition

Leather pants and dirndl are not commonplace in Munich either. Those who walk out of Marienplatz during the week in traditional costume on the S-Bahn will catch a glimpse. In the Wiesn period, however, everyone brings out their traditional costume at the Oktoberfest, because people like to wear traditional costumes. Especially the young visitors got a taste for it. There are also other occasions when traditional garments can be worn: Spring festival or Kocherlball, but also the different club evenings, which are under motti like "Night of the Tracht" or "Heimatabend".

Only one thing has always been the case: leather pants are the most beautiful when they already have patina. Connoisseurs will find well-registered specimens at flea markets or from specialists.

There are shops specializing in traditional costumes all over the city. Before and during the Oktoberfest, even in trendy boutiques and large clothing stores, space is created for dirndl and leather trousers, and it open pop-up costume stores. Dirndl also belongs to the collections of young Munich designers. Cross over is often the motto of her creations, which, with African fabrics, Chinese silk or quotes from Indian saris, are elegant, fashionable and at the same time tradition-conscious, constitute the traditional costume of the 21st century. Only one thing has always been the case: leather pants are the most beautiful when they already have patina. Connoisseurs will find well-registered specimens at flea markets or from specialists.

In many of Munich's traditional pubs, music is made in the same way as in older times (for example, in the Schneider Bräuhaus, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräukeller, Turmstüberl). Folk music artists perform on stage, and not infrequently guests sing and play music themselves.

Parallel to traditional folk music, young musicians have developed new styles from it. Folk music is mixed with sounds from other countries, with techno beats and lyrics that tell stories of today. The Bavarian band "Brass Banda" even fills the Munich Olympiahalle with tuba and brass music. As with "Zwirbeldirn" and "Kofelgschroa", she began her stage career at the Folk Music Days in the Munich Wirtshaus Fraunhofer. Every year you can experience new musical delicacies of the young "folk music".

In Bavaria, body and soul are always delighted by culinary delights: roast pork, dumplings, white sausages, liver cheese and Bavarian cuisine can be found in all traditional restaurants. Beer garden specialities include Obazda, an urban Bavarian cheese speciality, fresh Radi (Rettich) and pretzels. In the picnic basket you will find everything your heart desires and that is often very international.

Many Munich restaurants are also breaking new ground, combining international cuisine with Bavarian coziness (and Bavarian beer). In some dishes, Bavarian and international cuisines merge with Japanese mayonnaise or Bavarian tapas in roast suckling pigs, for example.

 

 

Text: München Tourismus; Photos: Frank Bauer, Werner Böhm
A women is drinking beer out of a beer mug at the Auer Dult in Munich.

Traditional Munich

Time for tradition

Munich sees itself as a city that exists between the traditional and the modern. About customs.

Munich sees itself as a city that exists between the traditional and the modern. A separate culture of tradition has developed in the metropolis. About customs.

Drummers at the Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen's Parade in Munich.

Traditional Munich

Customs are in!

From fresh approaches in fashion to exciting experiments in the kitchen: an overview.

Tradition and customs in Munich are more fashionable than ever before. From fresh approaches in fashion to exciting experiments in the kitchen: an overview.

A grandfather is carrying his granddaughter in his arms at the Auer Dult in Munich.

Auer Dult

Dult is cult!

Three times a year for nine days of shopping, searching, watching, and amusing. Maidult, Jakobidult and Kirchweihdult are cult in Munich.

Three times a year for nine days of shopping, searching, watching, and amusing. Maidult, Jakobidult and Kirchweihdult are cult in Munich.

A couple is sitting in front of a lot of gingerbread hearts at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

From O to T

All you need to know about the Wiesn

A letter-by-letter guide to Oktoberfest: from O like O' zapft is to T like Tracht.

We have put together everything you need to know: from O for O’Zapft is, the famous festival greeting, to T for Tracht.

A man dressed in a traditional costume is celebrating and dancing on a table in a beer tent at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Oktoberfest

Which beer tent is the right one for me?

Getting in is tough; but once you're in, the fun never stops. A brief typology of the different beer tents at Oktoberfest – and the people inside.

Getting in is tough; but once you’re in, the fun never stops. A brief typology of the different beer tents at Oktoberfest.

Getting in is tough; but once you're in, the fun never stops. A brief typology of the different beer tents at Oktoberfest – and the people inside.

A woman who is wearing a dirndl is smiling at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Oktoberfest

Munich’s Dirndl Idol

Tradition or trash? We photographed nine visitors to the Oktoberfest – and asked a panel of experts to judge their traditional outfits.

Tradition or trash? We photographed nine visitors to the Oktoberfest – and asked a panel of experts to judge their traditional outfits.

Maxi Schafroth at his fasting sermon at Nockherberg

Starkbierfest

A lot of humour and a lot of beer

A good portion of Bavarian conviviality can be experienced at the strong beer festival on the Nockherberg.

A good portion of Bavarian conviviality can be experienced at the Paulaner-Brauerei's strong beer festival on the Nockherberg.

Guests at the Kocherlball sit at beer tables during dawn in Munich.

Kocherlball

Munich is dancing till dawn

Dressed to impress at Chinesischer Turm.

When the people are dressed to impress and meet to dance till dawn at Chinesischer Turm: it's Kocherlball time.

Close-up of a young woman with a orange hair ribbon at the festival Tollwood in Munich.

Tollwood Summer Festival

simply magical

Since the end of the 1980s, visitors have associated this festival with an atmosphere of tolerance, internationalism and openness.

Culture for all: since the end of the 1980s, visitors have associated this festival with an atmosphere of tolerance, internationalism and openness.

View from above of the illuminated Tollwood winter festival in Munich.

Tollwood Winter Festival

The alternative Christmas market

Spreading joy, celebrating culture and raising awareness for the environment and social equality are all on the agenda at this Munich festival.

Spreading joy, celebrating culture and raising awareness for the environment and social equality are all on the agenda at this Munich festival.

Christmas angels in a sales booth at the christmas market in Munich.

Christmas market

Christmas magic

When the snow shines in the glow of countless lights, the Christmas market on Marienplatz is the most beautiful.

When it gets dark and the snow shines in the glow of countless lights, the Christmas market on Marienplatz is the most beautiful.

Munich Card & City Pass

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Munich's Palace of Justice

Justizpalast Tour

During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

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During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

Small meeting room of the Neues Rathaus in Munich

New Town Hall Tour

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

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Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Exterior view of the Hofbräuhaus Munich at dusk.

Hofbräuhaus Tour

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

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Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Towers at Marienplatz in Munich

Old Town Tour

The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

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The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

Wort kettle at the Spaten brewery in Munich.

Spaten Brewery Tour

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

Book now for only 22 €!

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

A woman with varnished fingernails holds a gift with the inscription "simply Munich".

Vouchers

Buy now vouchers for your visit in Munich. The ideal gift! Guided tours, guest cards and more...

Buy vouchers from 6,50 €

Buy now vouchers for your visit in Munich. The ideal gift! Guided tours, guest cards and more...

A stone jug with the inscription Oktoberfest Munich.

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Oktoberfest Shop

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

A woman in the exhibition "Der Blaue Reiter" in the Lenbachhaus in Munich

Discovery trip incl. City Pass

2 nights in your selected hotel and - thanks to the City Pass - free admission to 45 museums, sights and attractions: our travel package for explorers.

3 days from 313 € for 2 Pers.

2 nights in your selected hotel and - thanks to the City Pass - free admission to 45 museums, sights and attractions: our travel package for explorers.

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Give the gift of a special Munich voucher: we also offer vouchers for all our guided tours. Here you can book unique Munich experiences directly online, print them out and give them as a gift voucher to friends or family.

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Give the gift of a special Munich voucher: we also offer vouchers for all our guided tours. Here you can book unique Munich experiences directly online, print them out and give them as a gift voucher to friends or family.