Many people think that Munich is a city of big parks and Oktoberfest, but that’s only part of the whole picture. You’d be wise not to overlook the Bavarian capital’s more urban side. Street art in Munich offers a whole host of wonderful surprises, popping up in subways and former slaughterhouses, university campuses and museums. If you’re a true art addict, here are the top places you absolutely must visit to experience the creative side of Bavaria’s beautiful capital city.
MUCA
Street art in Germany, particularly in Munich, has gained a foothold in recent years. We asked, Stephanie, the co-founder of the museum of urban and contemporary art MUCA, to explain why she decided to create this space. The mission of this wonderful museum is to explain street art, showing the works of the best-known artists, each of whom has done their part to make this form of expression an increasingly universal language. The idea of MUCA is to bring together art and its main protagonists in a space of reflection. An ideal place to come into contact with this world. In certain months of the year, exhibitions and events are organised featuring international artists. You can also devote yourself to the discovery of the main works of street art in the city, with a guide and a bike sharing service organised by the museum.
Lenbachhaus
The Lenbachhaus is a beautiful villa built as the residence of the prince and painter Franz von Lenbach. Here you can admire masterpieces by Caravaggio displayed side by side with extraordinary installations by Olafur Eliasson. One of the museum’s great merits is that it creates a bridge between the past and the future, telling the story of art in every form and language. One of the rooms that has won a special place in our hearts is the one dedicated to urban art, with works by Daniel Man. It’s not often that you get to see the work of a street artist on the interior walls of a museum!
Siemens Campus in Hofmannstraße
Can technology and urban art create positive synergies? This is exactly what you’ll see at the Siemens Campus in Hofmannstraße, which houses immense masterpieces by international artists such as Okuda and Axel Void. Thanks to a beautiful street art initiative called SCALE Urban WallArt, artists from all over the world gathered in this area of Munich for a whole week to create authentic wonders. Among the talents involved it’s also worth mentioning Aryz, Os Gemeos, Daniel Man and Loomit, as well as many others. The final result is poised perfectly between dream and reality. If you’re a street art addict, welcome to paradise.
Tumblingerstraße
The perfect place to admire street art in Munich is Tumblingerstraße, which you can get to in a few minutes by underground from the central Marienplatz. The most fascinating walls can be admired from Ruppertstraße down to the Großmarkthalle railway bridge.
Friedensengel (The Angel of Peace)
The street art gallery, located under the Luitpoldbrücke bridge, houses several works of graffiti by a team of both German and foreign artists, including Loomit, Flin, Daim, Light and Makus, Stuko and many others. This is one of the stops you can add to your street art in Munich bike tour, organised by MUCA: 100% recommended.
Agostino Iacurci in Landsberger e Max-Friedlaender-Bogen
As part of the We Are Creative in Puglia project, the Foggia artist Agostino Iacurci has created a beautiful piece of wall art in Munich. Born from a collaboration between the creative agency The Trip, Air Dolomiti, Pugliapromozione and Mucbook, the tourist promotion project saw the artist paint the external façade of the Meininger Hotel. In his work, Iacurci chose to depict one of the elements that most characterises Puglia. In “Ficus Indica”, the artist painted a giant prickly pear plant as a personal tribute to his homeland: the perfect way to end your street art in Munich tour.
Where to sleep in Munich
After whole days spent scouring the city in the search for street art, it’s important to have a welcoming place to rest and perhaps leaf through an art magazine or two. Bold Hotels di Monaco di Baviera are the perfect combination of comfort and design, especially the one located in the city centre, which is the ideal starting point for a tour to discover the local urban art.
