Olympic Park (Olympiapark): Munich's all-rounder from recreation to concerts

The Olympic Park at a glance

• Location: In the city district Milbertshofen-Am Hart in the North of Munich
• Size: 85 hectares
• History: Created on the occasion of the 1972 Summer Olympics; 1968 start of earthworks on Oberwiesenfeld after the conception of the "Olympic Games in the Green", 1971/1972 planting of the Olympic Park with 3,100 large trees
• Events (selection): Concerts in the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Hall, Summer Tollwood, Superbloom Festival

Recreational and sports activities

For many sports enthusiasts, the 850,000 square meter Olympic Park is the central place to pursue their favorite activities. Whether you simply want to jog through the beautiful landscape or pursue another sporting activity - the Olympic Park offers numerous possibilities: Indoor swimming, rowing on the Olympic Lake or Nordic walking at the Olympic Ice Sports Center. There is also a tennis facility here and a soccaFive arena.

Olympic swimming hall with fitness facilities and sauna landscape

The Olympic swimming hall is the right place for swimming fans. Swim your laps in the pool or splash around with your kids. If you want to do something for your health, drop in for aqua jogging or spinal gymnastics! In addition, the program is often geared toward a specific target group, such as children, seniors or women.

Want to relax? A visit to the huge Olympia sauna landscape, for example, provides the necessary rest - from fitness sauna and a steam grotto to the sanarium with colored light...

Olympic Stadium: Unique due to its tent roof

The central structure of the park is the Olympic Stadium with its world-famous tent roof by architect Frei Otto. Among other things, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1972 Olympic Games were held here. After that, it served primarily as a venue for FC Bayern and, to some extent, TSV 1860 München.

After soccer moved to the Allianz Arena in 2005, it now mainly hosts cultural events such as music concerts by world stars. But sports are also still present: The German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and fun sport events such as the X-Games have already been held here.

Olympic Hall: show events of superlatives

Many of Munich's most spectacular events take place in the large Olympic Hall (Olympiahalle) every year: Concerts, musicals, theater performances and, of course, sporting events. In addition to its impressive exterior façade, the venue impresses with its versatility on the inside.

Countless stage and lighting variations ensure that a visit to the Olympic Hall is a unique experience. For somewhat smaller events, there is also the smaller "Kleine Olympiahalle", whose construction is partly underground and which offers space for up to 3,600 visitors.

Olympic Tower: Fantastic panoramic view of Munich

Closed until 2026 due to renovation.

If you want to enjoy the panorama of the entire park, just pay a visit to the Olympic Tower! At 291.28 meters high, the observation deck offers a breathtaking view of the city on the Isar.

Those who want to combine the great scenery with a delicious meal have the opportunity to do so in the rotating restaurant.

SAP Garden from September 2024

The Olympic Ice Sports Center was used for ice hockey and ice skating from 1967 to 2024 and will be demolished. In future, ice sports will be held in the new SAP Garden multifunctional arena (on the site of the former Olympic cycling stadium).

The flexible indoor arena has a capacity of up to 11,500 spectators and is home to the DEL ice hockey club Red Bull Munich and the FC Bayern Munich basketball team. Olympiapark GmbH and the City of Munich offer public and school ice skating here. Opening is on September 27, 2024.

Further attractions: Sea Life, Munich Mash, Fireworks

The Olympic Park has many other attractions to offer. For example:

• The fascinating underwater world Sea Life, where you can get unusual insights into the life of marine animals.
• The Theatron with its lake stage hosts cultural events such as theater performances and concerts several times a year.
• At Munich Mash, visitors experience action sports at its best.
• The annual "Sommernachtstraum" (Midsummer Night's Dream) in the Olympic Park features superlative musical fireworks.

History: From an airfield to an Olympic venue

The Olympic Park was planned and built together with the majority of the structures on the occasion of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The area is located on the Oberwiesenfeld in the North of Munich. Until 1938, this was the site of the Munich-Oberwiesenfeld commercial airport.

After World War II, the area lay largely fallow and was used, among other things, as a rubble dump for the debris of bomb damage. After the Olympics 1972 were awarded to Munich in 1966, the architectural firm Behnisch & Partner was awarded the contract to build the facilities.

The design of the green spaces was mainly undertaken by landscape architects Günther Grzimek, Wolfgang Miller and Hans Lutz. The connection to the U3 subway line was also realized for the Olympics. The Olympic Village built at that time is now home to around 6,000 Munich residents.

Sledding in the Olympic Park

From Munich's highest "mountain" you can sled on several slopes above the rooftops of the city. On the Olympiaberg, there are several runs for sledders - from particularly steep for daredevils to gently sloping for toboggan novices. The slopes on the flanks are recommended only for experienced sledders, not only because of their steepness: Some end at a road or in the lake, so caution is advised. On the north slope, just below the small beer garden, as well as in the east park, there is a snowtube. From time to time you can even see winter sports enthusiasts making their tracks in the snow on skis and snowboards here.

ATTENTION: TOBOGGANING AT YOUR OWN RISK!