Munich, Germany

• Munich sits at the foothills of the Alps in Bavaria. The beer hall culture here means you'll end up at long communal tables whether you're alone or not - sitting next to strangers is the norm, not awkward. English works fine in tourist areas and hotels, but less so outside the center. Learning basic German helps.
• Harassment isn't common here compared to other European cities. People eating, sightseeing, or shopping alone don't get second looks - it's normal daily life.
• The U-Bahn and S-Bahn run until around 1am weekdays, 24 hours on weekends. Stations are well-lit with cameras and usually have other passengers even late at night. The area around Hauptbahnhof (main station) gets sketchy after dark - not dangerous, just uncomfortable with homeless people and beggars hanging around.
• Schwabing, Glockenbachviertel, and Maxvorstadt stay active late with decent lighting and young professional crowds. The historic center around Marienplatz keeps busy until late with visible police presence.

German is the main language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and by younger generations. Emergency operators (110 and 112) can usually speak English. Tourist police during major events like Oktoberfest are multilingual.

• Germans expect punctuality and direct communication. Show up on time even for casual meetups. They prefer straightforward talk without excessive small talk.
• The Bavarian greeting is 'Grüß Gott' (pronounced 'Gryoos Gott'). When toasting, say 'Prost!' and make eye contact with everyone - they notice if you don't.
• Use titles and surnames (Herr Schmidt, Frau Müller) until someone invites you to use first names. Older people especially expect this formality.
• Cover shoulders and knees in churches. Keep your voice down. Some places don't allow photography.
• For Oktoberfest or traditional beer halls, wearing Tracht (Dirndl for women, Lederhosen for men) works if you get authentic knee-length versions - cheap costume versions can get you denied entry to beer tents.
• Most shops close on Sundays. Germans treat it as family time, so plan your shopping accordingly.
• Recycling is serious business here. Separate your trash into the right bins (paper, plastic, glass, organic, general waste) - people get annoyed if you don't.

• U-Bahn (subway) and S-Bahn (suburban train) are reliable. Trains run until about 1am weekdays, 24 hours on weekends. Stations have lighting, cameras, and occasional police patrols.
• Get the MVV app for real-time schedules and route planning. Single journeys cost around €3.70, day passes €9.90 for the inner zone.
• The city center is walkable with pedestrian zones. Most Altstadt attractions are within walking distance of each other.
• Taxis and Uber are available and safe for late nights. More expensive than public transport but not outrageous by European standards.
• Bikes are everywhere with extensive lanes. Follow traffic rules and stay in designated bike paths - cyclists take this seriously.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.
• For peace of mind on arrival, book your airport pickup in advance.

Explore Munich with local guides and curated experiences.