Rock out to Deep Purple at an open air festival

Scottish artist Amy Macdonald performing at Tollwood Festival. Photo: DPA.

Tollwood is a biannual environmentally-friendly festival that takes place in Munich's Olympiapark. In the past it has hosted huge rock names such as Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Foreigner.

This summer it will last for 25 days, and is sure to be a blast, with big acts Deep Purple, Anastacia, ZZ Top and many more performing.

Rollerblade through the streets at night

Photo: DPA

Blade Night is a huge rollerblading event that happens every Monday evening from the start of July to the beginning of September.

More than 10,000 bladers come together in the city centre and ride one of the four routes. Taking part is free, and you can hire skates at the starting point by the Bavariapark. If you're in Munich on a summer Monday evening, you're either taking part or you're missing out!

Go full Bavarian in the English Garden

The English Garden's Kocherlball. Photo: DPA

Aside from surfing on the Eisbach and nude sunbathing at the Schönfeldwiese, there is an annual event in Munich's English Garden called the Kocherlball. Taking place this year on July 17th, the ball is a gathering of around 12,000 people in the park, many of whom will have learnt to dance the 'Münchner Française' just for the occasion.

The dancers gather around the Chinesischer Turm ('Chinese Tower'). The occasion lasts from 6 am to 10 am, and last year people started arriving at three in the morning so they would get a good spot in the crowd.

You haven't really experienced Bavaria until you've danced the same dance with thousands of people dressed in their traditional folk clothing.

Get starkers at the public baths

Photo: DPA

The Müller'sches Volksbad, a popular Art Nouveau bath house, is the perfect escape from the summer heat. It has several relaxing baths at varying temperatures, as well as an ice-cold shower fittingly called the 'Iron Maiden'.

In classic Munich style, visitors are expected to be nude, and one reviewer on TripAdvisor claims to have been “kicked out for wearing swimming suits”.

Party up on a log raft

Bavarian hip hop group Blumentopf performing on a log raft on the Isar. Photo:DPA

If it suits your fancy, you can also sail across the Isar River by booking a place on a log raft, which is a centuries-old Bavarian tradition.

Nowadays they are mostly used for tourists to have great days out, with draught beer and Bavarian food and music. Take care not to drop any litter in the river, though!

Sun, sand and sport

A business event at Beach 38°. Photo: Sky/Thomas Kiewning

Want Bavaria's capital to surprise you? Beach 38° is a large indoor beach, boasting five volleyball courts as well as beach football in its 1,200 square metre hall.

In the summer there are also three outdoor beach volleyball courts, which you and a few friends can rent for two hours and enjoy Munich's famous but occasional beating sun.

You may be in a landlocked city, but with a barbecue and a cocktail you can at least pretend you're on a beach in the Pacific.