GardenFree entry

English Garden (Englischer Garten)

#7of 10 places to visit in MunichMunich, Bavaria, Germany

Also known as Englischer Garten München · Chinese Tower Beer Garden

Quick answer

Opening hours: Public park. Entry is free. Allow 3 hrs.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Opening hours: Public park; Open at all times; beer gardens and kiosks trade seasonally and weather-dependent, typically from late morning until evening.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 3 hrs
Best months: May – Sep, Dec
Address: Englischer Garten, Königinstrasse / Prinzregentenstrasse, 80538 Munich, Germany

About English Garden (Englischer Garten)

English Garden in Munich covers 375 hectares and is free to enter at all times, as of 2026, making it one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. The park stretches about 5.5 kilometres from the Old Town in the south to the Isar meadows in the north, and it was laid out from the late 18th century in the natural landscape style rather than as a formal baroque garden. English Garden holds a 25-metre wooden Chinese Tower with a beer garden of around 7,000 seats, a Greek-style Monopteros on a small hill, and the Eisbach, a fast, cold artificial stream that runs through the park.

English Garden (Englischer Garten) timings

Opening hours: Public park; Open at all times; beer gardens and kiosks trade seasonally and weather-dependent, typically from late morning until evening.
Closed on: Open every day

Good to know: Beer gardens run mainly April to October and close in bad weather. The Eisbach surf wave is currently closed to surfing, but remains a viewing spot; verify at the official site.

Opening hours compiled from munich.travel and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

English Garden (Englischer Garten) ticket price

Entry fees for English Garden (Englischer Garten)
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Entry to the English Garden is free at all times, as of 2026. Beer garden purchases, the Chinese Tower and other concession stalls are paid separately. Visitors may bring their own food to most Munich beer gardens but must buy drinks; verify house rules at each garden.

Prices compiled from munich.travel and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit English Garden (Englischer Garten)

Quiet
Moderate
Very busy

06:00 - 10:00
Morning WalkersBest time to go
Joggers, dog walkers and cyclists have the park; the meadows and Eisbach paths are open and quiet.
Quiet
10:00 - 15:00
Midday Picnics
Steady flow along the Eisbach and at the Monopteros; beer garden queues begin on sunny days.
Moderate
15:00 - 19:00
Beer Garden Peak
The Chinese Tower beer garden and meadows fill on warm weekends; expect queues at the drink counters and no free tables.
Very busy
19:00 - 22:00
Evening
Groups linger at beer gardens and on the meadows until closing; cooler air and softer light.
Moderate

History of English Garden (Englischer Garten)

English Garden was commissioned by Elector Karl Theodor more than 225 years ago as a public park for ordinary citizens, initially called Theodor's Park. The name Englischer Garten came into use because the design followed the English landscape tradition of open meadows, winding paths and irregular groves instead of geometric French parterres.

English Garden's Chinese Tower, in the south-east of the park, dates to the 1790s and was built as an observation tower; the wooden structure was rebuilt after being destroyed in the Second World War. The Eisbach, a branch of the Isar, was channelled through the park, and its standing wave near Prinzregentenstrasse formed after structures were installed in the 1970s.

English Garden is also known for its naturist tradition. Two large areas beside the Eisbach, between the city centre and the university, allow nude sunbathing, with the Schönfeldwiese the best known; the custom dates back to the 1960s.

Rules & etiquette at English Garden (Englischer Garten)

English Garden permits nude sunbathing only in the designated meadow areas; elsewhere in the park normal clothing applies, and photographing people in those areas is unwelcome. Signs mark the naturist zones, and walkers passing through are expected to keep to the paths.

English Garden's Eisbach wave is currently closed to surfing after a fatal accident, and the city has banned it while researchers study ways to reopen it safely. Visitors should stay behind barriers, keep away from the water and leave rescue routes clear; the wave remains open as a viewing point.

English Garden beer gardens commonly use self-service: collect the drink at the counter, often against a glass deposit refunded when the mug is returned. Bringing your own food is generally allowed but buying drinks on site is required. Cyclists share the paths with walkers, so keep to the right and use bells.

Tips for visiting English Garden (Englischer Garten)

1
English Garden is easiest to cover by walking from the Hofgarten end at Odeonsplatz along the Eisbach to the Monopteros, then continuing to the Chinese Tower; the whole line is roughly 3-4 kilometres. Stopping for a Mass at the tower's beer garden works best mid-afternoon on a weekday, before evening groups arrive.
2
English Garden's Eisbach wave draws a crowd of onlookers at the bridge on Prinzregentenstrasse; standing there is fine, but do not climb barriers or enter the water. The Monopteros hill is a good sunset spot for a view back towards the Old Town skyline.
3
English Garden is cool under the tree cover even in July, but the paths get muddy after rain. Wear walking shoes and carry a light layer; in spring and autumn evenings turn cold quickly once the sun drops. Beer garden tables near the Chinese Tower fill by mid-afternoon on sunny weekends.

How to reach English Garden (Englischer Garten)

The red star is English Garden (Englischer Garten); the numbered pins are the 9 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Englischer Garten, Königinstrasse / Prinzregentenstrasse, 80538 Munich, GermanyDirections in Google Maps

From Munich Airport (MUC)
45 km · 60-70 min
EUR 13.60-14.30 one-way plus connection (airport zone ticket; verify at mvv-muenchen.de)
From Marienplatz
3 km · 8-10 min
About EUR 4.20 (MVV Zone M single ticket, as of 2026; verify at mvv-muenchen.de)
From Münchner Freiheit
2 km · 10 min
About EUR 4.20 (MVV Zone M single ticket; verify)

Nearest airport

From Munich Airport (MUC)

about 40 km from the city centre, roughly 40-45 minutes by S-Bahn (S1 or S8) to Marienplatz.

Nearest station

From Universität (U3, U6) or Giselastrasse (U3, U6) for the central-north sections; Odeonsplatz (U3-U6) for the Hofgarten end; bus 54 to Chinesischer Turm from Münchner Freiheit.

English Garden (Englischer Garten) FAQs

Is the English Garden free to enter?

Yes. The English Garden is free to enter at all times, as of 2026, and only beer garden purchases and stalls cost money.

How big is the English Garden in Munich?

The English Garden covers 375 hectares and runs about 5.5 kilometres from the Old Town to the northern Isar meadows, making it larger than New York's Central Park.

Can you still watch surfers on the Eisbach wave?

No, surfing on the Eisbach wave is currently banned by the city after a fatal accident. The wave itself remains a viewing spot, but visitors must keep clear of the water and barriers; verify current status at the official site.

Is nude sunbathing allowed in the English Garden?

Yes, but only in designated areas. Two large zones beside the Eisbach, including the Schönfeldwiese, allow nude sunbathing, and normal dress applies elsewhere in the park.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places