Immerse yourself in the vibrant music scene of Munich with this stunning visual highlighting the iconic Olympiapark. Known for its modern architecture and lush greenery, this venue serves as a backdrop for some of the city’s most memorable musical performances. From classical concerts to contemporary festivals, Munich harmonizes history, culture, and innovation in every note. Explore how this Bavarian city continues to captivate music lovers from around the world. ()
Olympic Park or Olympiapark at sunset. Munich. Germany (Elena Odareeva, Adobe Stock)
Munich has no shortage of music, from a vibrant nightlife to historical performances at Olympic Park and an active underground scene.
Autumn cityscape - view of the Olympiapark or Olympic Park and Olympic Lake in Munich, Bavaria, Germany (rustamank, Adobe Stock)
From Olympians to musical legends, Olympic Park has a rich history. In 1972, the park was developed to host the Summer Olympic games and Olympic Stadium was used for the track and field events. A couple of years later, in 1974, German footballers were crowned World Champions. FC Bayern then played at the stadium for 33 years. Musically, the stadium has hosted some of the best musical performers of all time, from pop to metal, orchestral and Disney. Some notable names include Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Pink and so many more.
Olympic Hill, formally known as “Mount Ruble,” became a popular spot to go watch and listen for free. While the hill overlooks the stadium and Olympic Village, the views aren’t great. However, people crowd on top of the hill and pack picnics for free concert seats and because the way the sound carries on the westerly wind is known to be amazing. For more information, visit olympiapark.de.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 27, 2016: inside famous Munich Residence theater, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs of the House of Wittelsbach. (travelview - stock.adobe.com)
Enjoy classical music steeped in history and royal ambience. The Bavaria Klassik is a series of nine concert halls that celebrate classical music in both large and intimate settings; one is even on a boat, the MS Starnberg. Resident soloists, the Munich Philharmonic and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra play select masterpieces from renowned composers in these famed halls.
At the beautiful Rococo adorned, Cuvilliés Theater, audiences can see where Mozart conducted the opera, “Idomeneo.” Or, head over to The Hercules Hall, originating as the throne room of Ludwig I. In 1156, Duke Albrecht V, commissioned tapestries depicting the Hercules legend be designed for the hall, which is how it got its name. Here, you can see master concerts featuring composers such as Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Debussy, Mozart, Brahms and many more. Check out the other luxury, musical experiences to be had at Bavaria-klassik.de.
Alte Utting (Allie_Caulfield, CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commons)
The Munich Underground Scene (MUS) is large, dynamic and challenges the boundaries of music genres like krautrock, noise and experimental electro, which you may have heard blasting from cars all around Germany, especially late at night. The mission of underground musicians is “to play music while braving the cost of living.” There is a large amount of passion from the community without the expectation of making a living from their craft. This is a fragmented network of musicians, poets and visual artists, some of which have become popular with the public. You may have heard of Weiße Pferde known for their political “combat rock” music, or Friends of Gas, known for their conceptual performances on stage and post-punk sound, blending noise and krautrock.
If you want to experience the MUS, keep in mind these places are lowkey and identify as alternative subculture, meaning some can only be found via insider knowledge. Good places to start include Bahnwärter Thiel (named after the novel by Gerhart Hauptmann) which is a techno club and music venue with a “repurposed garbage aesthetic” found amongst transport containers, graffiti and scrap metal. Alte Utting is a refurbished boat sitting atop a bridge that hosts local and foreign bands. Container Collective is a pop-up city made of old shipping containers that hosts temporary art exhibits, workshops and small concerts. So, for music lovers looking to get away from the mainstream, keep an eye out for hidden clues in the city. You might just stumble upon a makeshift rooftop bar or a seemingly abandoned bus that leads to the discovery of your next favorite artist.
