So, you’ve headed to Munich for Oktoberfest but you need to take a break from the beer for a day and recover? Don’t worry, there are plenty other awesome things to do Munich Germany offers – other than chugging from a boot-shaped glass.

In fact, Munich has a great selection of thrilling things to do that will keep you busy throughout your visit. You may even be tempted to stick around for longer so that you can enjoy everything Munich has to offer. Here are a few of the best things to do in Munich:

Surfing the Eisbach

When you think of things to do in Munich, surfing probably isn’t the first one to come to mind. Munich is 500 km from the coast and even further away from any surfable ocean breaks. However, this didn’t stop a dedicated band of surfers from figuring out how to surf in the local river. It used to be an illegal activity, kept secret for many years.

Surfing the Eisbach (which means “ice brook” in German) was made legal in 2010 and it has been growing in popularity every year. Now there are many Munich surfers who ride the waves for hours of the day – without ever having set foot in the ocean.

The wave sits in the middle of Munich within the English Garden, the largest urban park in the world. There are a couple of waves to choose from – the Eisbach Wave 1 which is quite challenging to ride and the Eisbach Wave 2 which is more suitable for less experienced surfers.

Bear in mind that even if you are adept at riding waves in the ocean, river surfing is a completely different beast. Only those experienced with river surfing should attempt this challenging sport.

Bavarian Mountain Biking

Head just outside of the city and you’ll find yourself in a mountain biking paradise – with plenty of thrilling tracks to go zooming down. While you are speeding through the rugged mountains you’ll find narrow valleys, gently winding rivers, beautiful castles and much more.

Munich is known as the “Bicycle Capital” of Germany for good reason. Cyclists love the excellent bike paths throughout the city as well as the superb routes through the Bavarian forests and hills. For example, head to Lenggries Bike Park which is located just south of Munich and offers excellent downhill and freeride mountain biking trails right along the edge of the Alps.

Wall Climbing in Munich

Munich is a real hot spot for climbing – no other city offers large climbing halls. In fact, according to the German Alpine Association, Munich has the most square meters of artificial climbing space per capita. There is a climbing wall to suit everyone, whether you are a beginner or a pro.

Check out Heavens Gate Klettern & Bouldern, which is located between the East Train station. At 30 meters, it is the tallest climbing hall in all of Europe. There are more than 150 different route variations – covering overlapping walls and even a “panic room.” Follow along with the levels – green holds are for beginners, yellow, red and blue are for intermediate climbers and black holds are for experts.

Another great spot is the High East Climbing Hall, which offers a total of 187 routes as well as a spa where you can soothe your sore muscles after a day of climbing.

Escape Rooms

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Another great activity to enjoy during your visit to Munich is an escape room. A set of puzzles you need to solve in order to “escape” from a locked room, these fun challenges are popping up all over the world including in Munich. If you’re worn out by the surfing, biking, climbing or shopping in Munich, this is an excellent, purely-mental challenge.

You’ll enter a room set up with a theme or a fictional scenario, then you will need to solve challenging puzzles and riddles in order to get out. It’s a great activity to enjoy with friends – especially if you love a brain-stumping challenge. The clock starts ticking as soon as you enter the room, so don’t waste any time and get started on cracking the puzzles right away!

One of the best Munich escape rooms is Exit The Room. Each of the rooms has a different theme, such as prison or zombie, to make the experience even more exciting. There is even a Virtual Reality 3d challenge called “Mind Horror” where you will need to work together with your friends to save a kidnapped child from an insane serial killer.

These are just a few of the best things to do in Munich if you want to take some time away from the beer gardens at Oktoberfest and enjoy another side of the city!

Feature image: Surfers waiting in turn at the Eisbach. Photo credit: Frank Wegener

Read more about how to survive the Oktoberfest and alternatives to Oktoberfest for beer tasting