Surf, Sand and Beach Right Here in Munich

Posted: 12:51 am, August 4, 2013 by MunichNOW News

Eisbach Surfing in Dirndls Lederhosen - Photo: Joerg Koch/ddp

River surfing
A land-locked city might not be the first place you’d expect to find a killer surf scene, but Munich has it’s very own metre-high standing wave which is a popular spot for surfers. You’ll often find queues of board-carrying thrill-seekers queuing under a bridge at the River Eisbach (in the Englischer Garten (above), just by the Haus der Kunst art museum).

Surfing on the Eisbach in Munich - munichFOTO

‘Eisbach’ means ice stream, which should give you a clue about the chilly temperature of the water – yes, you’ll need that winter wetsuit. But the cold isn’t all you’ll have to worry about, as the wave is actually a tricky one to surf. A sign nearby warns, “Due to the forceful current, the wave is suitable for skilled and experienced surfers only.”

Ingenious surfers-cum-engineers have used ropes and planks to adapt the break and increase its height, and it’s now also used by kayakers and playboaters, too.

If you don’t want to wait around for your go, other standing waves can be found at Floßlände (near the Thalkirchen U-Bahn station) and the Isar river (near the bridge Wittelsbacherbrücke).

Roberto Beach in Aschheim - munichFOTO

Hitting the beach
Sea-free Munich not only has it own surf scene, but beaches too. One of Munich’s best loved summer traditions is to hang out on one of the city’s man-made stretches of sand.

Beach 38 is an indoors beach in the Ostbahnhof neighbourhood, open year-round. Housed in an old industrial complex, it even has heaters inside to give you that ’I’m really in the tropics’ kind of feel. You can do any and all sand-based activities here from beach sports to lazing around with your friends, drinking.

More upmarket is the also artificial Roberto Beach, next to Aschheim Wasserskipark. This is a scenic spot for water sports and other activities such as beach golf and yoga. There’s also an excellent cocktail bar here.

-courtesy TNT Magazine