{"id":348269,"date":"2026-10-05T11:26:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T15:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=348269"},"modified":"2026-10-05T11:26:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T15:26:01","slug":"spotlight-on-munich-the-good-life-in-southern-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/spotlight-on-munich-the-good-life-in-southern-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on Munich: The Good Life in Southern Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Munich has the cultural cachet and convenience of a major city, but with a relaxed charm all of its own, writes Florian Siebeck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"stone<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munich consistently ranks as Germany\u2019s most livable city. Key to its appeal is how easily it slips between urban life and the outdoors. The Alps hover on the horizon, lakes and ski slopes are close enough for a day trip, and summer in the Bavarian capital is spent along the banks of the Isar river or under the chestnut trees of its beer gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is a city that feels noticeably more relaxed than its prosperous, polished image. \u201cThere\u2019s a reason locals call it Italy\u2019s northernmost city,\u201d says Munich-based interior architect Justin Howlett, named in Architectural Digest\u2019s AD100 list for 2025. \u201cMunich has always been deeply attached to its traditions, but without turning its back on the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That balance is most visible come fall, when the city swaps cashmere for lederhosen and descends on the Theresienwiese for Oktoberfest\u2014or the \u201cWiesn\u201d as locals call it. For all its global renown, this beer and folk festival remains remarkably local at heart: a centuries-old tradition that Munich has somehow turned into a party for the world. Testament, perhaps, to the city\u2019s enduring talent for enjoying the good life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"interior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Munich\u2019s most coveted residential spots is Lehel, between Altstadt (the old town) and the river. \u201cDespite being in the centre, Lehel retains the intimate feel of a neighborhood, with excellent cafes and restaurants tucked between ornate art nouveau buildings,\u201d says Michael Reiss, managing director of Sotheby\u2019s International Realty Bavaria. Howlett calls it Munich\u2019s \u201csophisticated heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The district is home to some of the city\u2019s most important cultural institutions, from the Haus der Kunst (House of Art) to the Bavarian National Museum. Hidden behind the latter is a 6,450 square foot whole-floor penthouse<\/a>\u2014\u201cthe largest currently available in Munich,\u201d according to Reiss. Its wraparound terrace looks out across the treetops of the English Garden. \u201cThere\u2019s almost a Park Avenue quality to it,\u201d says Reiss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"exterior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equally verdant, though more rooted in Munich\u2019s past, is Villa Riemerschmid<\/a>. The art nouveau architect Richard Riemerschmid (1868-1957), who was responsible for the interiors of the Munich Kammerspiele theater in Altstadt-Lehel, created this home in Pasing, a leafy neighborhood to the west of the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe villa retains many of his original details,\u201d says Reiss of the property, which has been carefully restored. \u201cIt\u2019s surrounded by park-like grounds and entered through its own courtyard, so it feels remarkably removed from the city around it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Exterior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nymphenburg, along the Schlosskanal, is an address where the name and architecture does the talking: quietly affluent, but never particularly interested in showing off. Weekends are spent over brunch at the Palmenhaus, a beer at the sprawling K\u00f6niglicher Hirschgarten, or dinner at Acetaia, often talked of as the city\u2019s best Italian restaurant. In winter, when the canal freezes over, locals even take to the ice for curling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of Nymphenburg\u2019s cachet comes down to its eponymous palace, which gives this corner of the city an almost stately air. Few homes are more closely tied to it than an 1820s villa<\/a> on the historic Schlossrondell circle of baroque mansions, looking directly towards the royal residence. Behind its period facade, the house remains largely empty, leaving its next owner free to restore it faithfully\u2014or model something more experimental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Exterior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A three-story maisonette<\/a> in the same neighborhood has a contemporary feel, with floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto a south-facing garden. And Villa \u00c9lys\u00e9e<\/a> in Obermenzing, Nymphenburg\u2019s smaller and more affordable neighbor, is a similarly turnkey option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArchitecturally, the villa is classical, but everything is absolutely state of the art,\u201d says Reiss of this 6,000 square foot home. The property combines grand proportions\u2014high ceilings, double doors and a light-filled living room\u2014with luxurious amenities, including a wine cellar, cinema, sauna and pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"interior<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munich, Germany<\/a> | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObermenzing has this unusual position between city and countryside,\u201d says Howlett. \u201cYou still feel part of Munich, but there\u2019s a completely different pace of life, almost like in a village.\u201d As Reiss observes of the area: \u201cIt has a more organic, lived-in feel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Munichers, getting away from it all rarely requires a long journey. Nor does the city dictate or chase trends, Howlett adds, but is happy to be itself. \u201cMunich offers everything one expects from a major city without ever quite feeling like one. That is perhaps its greatest quality, and what makes it so exceptionally livable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From southern Germany to northern Italy\u2014explore the design mecca of Milan<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Footer<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Munich has the cultural cachet and convenience of a major city, but with a relaxed charm all of its own, writes Florian Siebeck Munich, Germany | Munich Sotheby\u2019s International Realty Munich consistently ranks as Germany\u2019s most livable city. Key to its appeal is how easily it slips between urban life and the outdoors. The Alps […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770377,"featured_media":348285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1393,1559,1398],"tags":[1444],"class_list":["post-348269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-and-culture","category-destinations","category-featured","tag-germany"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1sBf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":432,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/luxury-real-estate-headlines-third-week-in-march-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":348269,"position":0},"title":"Luxury Real Estate Headlines, Third Week in March, 2025","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"March 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Homes in the News Napa, California | Sotheby's International Realty \u2013 St. Helena Brokerage House of the Week: A Rammed Earth Home in California Wine Country \u2013 The Wall Street Journal This Napa Valley home is built using sustainable rammed earth construction. 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Mandi Keighran explores why the style is so ripe for revival Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Germany | Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg Sotheby's International Realty As northern hemisphere nights lengthen and the spooky season begins, the allure of Gothic architecture feels particularly potent. 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When a listing appears, it presents buyers with an opportunity to experience castle living in a home steeped in lore\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image4-1024x683.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image4-1024x683.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/image4-1024x683.png?resize=525%2C300 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