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Olympiapark is located on the city's northern edge and was built for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. It is 300 hectares in size and consists of nearly 5,000 trees, 43km of roads, 32 bridges, and a lake. It is easily accessible by subway or train. From the city centre one just needs to follow the 293m television tower located in the centre of the park.
Arguably, the jewel of the park is the huge Olympiastadion, which is capable of seating nearly 69,000 spectators and consists of a soccer field and running track. The stadium is partially covered by the largest roof in the world -- nearly 67,000 sq. m. of tinted acrylic glass. Designed for more than just artistic looks, the roof is shaped in a way so that it can collect rainwater and drain it into the nearby Olympic lake. The stadium used to be home to the local soccer clubs Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich before they moved to a new soccer specific venue elsewhere in town. The stadium today is mainly used for concerts.
The site is also home to swimming pools, tennis courts, indoor gymnasiums and an ice arena all-open to the public. With the park's vast size and the various activities available, those who enjoy the outdoors find themselves at home. Its athletic nature is perfect for runners, swimmers and those who just want a casual stroll. For those who love cars, the BMW museum is just off-site but clearly visible from the park grounds.
Lastly, for excellent views into the city and the surrounding areas, Olympiaturm (tower), is open daily. To ride up the tower, a ticket must be purchased for around 3 euros, which allows you to take the (advertised) speediest elevator in Europe to the top. Up top a restaurant that rotates can be found, but most come for the views, which reach the Alps on clear days.
If you have a few hours to spare during your stay, consider taking the 10 minute subway ride north to take in a piece of German sporting history, with a bit of architectural flair.
Last updated: June 2006
