Chinesischer Turm e.V.The landmark of Munich's biggest park
The Chinese Tower in the English Garden
To understand Munich, go to the English Garden; to understand the English Garden, go to the Chinese Tower. The 25-metre wooden pagoda of 1789/90 is the park's best-known building and its social centre: home to the city's second-largest beer garden, to brass bands playing from the first floor, and to a festive calendar that runs from the Kocherlball in July to the Christmas market in Advent.
- Location
- Southern English Garden, Englischer Garten 3, 80538 Munich
- Coordinates
- 48.1486° N, 11.5925° E
- Admission
- Free, open all year; the tower itself cannot be climbed
- Getting there
- Bus 54/154 to "Chinesischer Turm"; U3/U6 to Giselastrasse, then a 15-minute walk
- Nearby
- Beer garden (7,000 seats), 1913 carousel, playground; Monopteros and Eisbach wave in walking distance
The tower: a pagoda at the heart of the park
The Chinese Tower was built in 1789/90 to a design by Joseph Frey, executed by Johann Baptist Lechner, at the same time as Elector Karl Theodor laid out the English Garden. Its model was the twice-as-tall Great Pagoda at Kew in London. Five storeys, curved shingle roofs, gilded bells at the corners: a piece of 18th-century chinoiserie that Munich promptly turned into a tavern with music. Burnt down in 1944, it was faithfully rebuilt in wood in 1952. The full story is on our history page.
The beer garden: 7,000 seats under the chestnuts
Around the tower spreads Munich's second-largest beer garden; only the Hirschgarten is bigger. Beer has been served here since 1 April 1792. The great Bavarian rule applies: you may bring your own food, while drinks come from the taps. The beer garden is run by the Haberl family; our beer garden page explains everything from etiquette to history.
Around the tower: what is within walking distance
Monopteros
Ten minutes to the south-west, the round Monopteros temple sits on its hill with the most famous view across the meadows towards Munich's old town.
Eisbach surfing wave
At the southern edge of the park, a good 15-minute walk away, surfers ride the standing wave of the Eisbach all year round.
Kleinhesseloher lake
Fifteen minutes north lies the lake with pedal boats and the lakeside Seehaus beer garden.
Carousel and playground
Right next to the beer garden, the carved children's carousel of 1913, a listed monument since 1979, turns from mid-April to mid-September; a large playground is next door. For families this is the friendliest corner of the whole park. More on our traditions page.
The year at the tower
In July, Munich dances at the Kocherlball from 6 am; on summer Sundays a brass band plays from the tower; and in Advent the square becomes the Christmas market at the Chinese Tower. All dates are on our events page.
Practical notes
The English Garden has no gates and no opening hours; the area around the tower is freely accessible all year. There is next to no parking, so come by bus 54 or 154, by U3/U6 to Giselastrasse, or best of all by bicycle. Full directions on our visiting page.