Olympiapark Munich

Munich's Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics in the Milbertshofen district, is defined by Frei Otto's sweeping tent-roof canopy stretched over the stadium, swimming hall, and sports arena, still considered a landmark of modern architecture. Visitors walk or cycle around the artificial Olympiasee lake at the park's centre, climb the grassy Olympiaberg (built from wartime rubble) for a free view over the whole site and the Munich skyline, and can ride the elevator up the 291-metre Olympic Tower, whose revolving restaurant and observation deck offer views stretching to the Alps on clear days. The former athletes' village, stadium, and swimming hall can all be visited, and the park regularly hosts open-air concerts by major international artists through the summer months. A visit to the grounds and lake takes about an hour, while adding the tower and a stadium tour extends a visit to 2-3 hours. The park is at its liveliest, and most crowded, on summer concert evenings and warm weekends when locals picnic around the lake; weekday mornings offer a quieter, more contemplative walk through the same architecture.