The land of Oktoberfest and the heart of Bavaria

Munich Tips:

Drink all the beer. Duh.
Munich is super diverse, far more than most European cities. Take it in, talk to the locals, get to know different cultures.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations:

Head to the English Gardens to see people surfing the river, locals soaking in the sun in the summer (some naked, heads up!), and the beer garden in the center
Augustiner Keller: Hugeeee beer garden, really delicious beer, and an isolated atmosphere away from the crowds and heat of summer. Probably my favorite!
Go to Dachau. The concentration camp is jarring but it's a must. It's an easy train and bus ride combo from Munich, plan to spend at least half a day.
Lowenbrau Brewery: Another great brewery, slightly off the beaten path which is a nice reprieve
Spend a day at Lake Starnberg. A quick train ride takes you to the lake, then jump on the boat where you can get on and off at the different little lakeside villages. My favorite was Seeshaupt, don't miss the tiny little beer garden on the lake!

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

Hofbrauhaus Brewery: Touristy but a must!
Marienplatz: The main square of the city, home to the gorgeous New Town Hall, Old Town Hall, and the Column of St. Mary
Karlspatz: The old city gate and fountain are a nice place to sit in the evenings and relax. Pro Tip: the gelato place to left of the gate has delicious gelato that makes your time sitting by the fountain fantastic
Schlobpark Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens: Classic European Palace!

Other ideas:

Stroll along the river, but beware of the naked sunbathers!
Explore the Glockenbachviertel Neighborhood. A more local area, home to lots of restaurants and a cozier vibe
Vitalmarkt: A pretty large market filled with all kinds of food!
The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum: Don't get your hopes up, this is super cheesy and ridiculous, BUT I still recommend it. I learned a lot about Oktoberfest and the beer culture in Bavaria. It is extremely small so don't plan on it taking too long. No worries, that means more time for drinking the beer instead of learning about it!
Paulaner Brewery: One of the Munich locations for Paulaner is right around the corner from the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. There are several throughout the city so take a seat and drink up
Der Pschorta Brewery: Right off the Vitalkmarkt, another traditional German beer garden

Cantillon Brewery: Brussels, Belgium

The G.O.A.T.! Cantillon is a lambic brewery making some of the best beers in the world.

It is quite unlike any other brewery you’ll visit, I definitely recommend it! You can book a tour in advance or do a self-guided tour of the historic facility, both come with a tasting afterwards.

Their Gueze is their most popular but everything they offer is unique and fantastic.

The rest of my Belgium recommendations are located here!

Brouwerij’t IJ: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A brewery in a windmill, can you get more Netherlands?!

Brouwerij’t IJ is adorable and is cranking out some amazing beers. There is also a basic food menu of snacks to accompany your beer.

The taproom has very chill vibes and friendly staff to help you decide what you’d like to have!

Check out my guide to Amsterdam here!

Jopen: HaArlem, The Netherlands

Located in an old church in the center of Haarlem, a small town outside of Amsterdam.

Jopen has a full food menu with a variety of dishes. For a fun twist, Jopen also offers High Beer, in the spirit of High Tea. It has a pairing of 3 beers and 6 snacks.

The vibes at Jopen are a little more restaurant-esque than what I normally like but the beautiful setting makes up for it!

Eggenberg Brewery: Cesky Krumlov, The Czech Republic

A traditional Czech brewery in the little town of Cesky Krumlov. This location first started making beer in 1561!

It has super fun beer hall vibes and you can expect your waitress to slam your overflowing beer down in front of you while holding 10 other beers at the same time.

They’ve also got traditional Czech food to enjoy after a day of sightseeing.

My Czech Republic guide is here!

Augustiner Keller: Munich, Germany

I know, you’re thinking I am crazy because we’re talking about beer in Germany and I didn’t say Hofbrauhaus! Don’t get me wrong, Hofbrauhaus is great, but the atmosphere at Augstiner Keller was fantastic.

They have a huge beer garden that was my favorite part of my visit, along with their delicious traditional German beers. They have a full restaurant as well (but let’s be real you just really want a pretzel).

Check out all of my Munich recommendations here!

Abirradero: Barcelona, Spain

Most people think of Spain for their wines, not beer, but Abirradero is working to change that reputation with their brews!

They have a large beer menu and a food menu with a plethora of tapas to choose from. My cheese board was delightful!

They have a nice outside patio to enjoy your food and drink in as well. Abirradero is a bit pricey but I found it to be worth it!

The rest of my Barcelona recommendations can be found here!

Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall: Melbourne, Australia

I loved the bright and spacious vibes of the beer garden at Stomping Ground! They have a retractable roof, a ton of plants, and a really fun atmosphere.

Their Smash series of sours were my favorites, but they have a large variety of beers to choose from. Stomping Ground also has a full food menu.

Check out my guide to Melbourne here!

33 Acres Brewing Company: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

A brewery coffee shop combination with amazing beers and delicious food! Located in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Vancouver and is in walking distance to several other breweries.

The wood fired pizza from the truck out front is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough! They’ve also got a breakfast menu for weekdays, an all day menu, and a weekend brunch menu.

I was thoroughly impressed with their beers, especially the juicy IPAs. Their taproom is pretty small so I would try to visit when it’s not peak hours to guarantee you’ll find a seat!

Check out my full guide to Vancouver here!