Site of the 1972 Summer Olympics — Frei Otto's revolutionary tensile roof structure, the Olympic Stadium, tower, and lake. The architecture has aged better than most Olympic sites. Climb the tower for views, walk the roof if you are brave, or simply wander the park.
Location
Milbertshofen-Am Hart, Munich
Map
Insider Intel
Climb the Olympic Tower (291 meters) for 360-degree views across Munich and to the Alps on clear days. Walk around the Olympic Lake. If heights do not trouble you, book a roof climb tour — walking on Frei Otto's tensile structure 40 meters above the stadium is unforgettable. The park itself is pleasant for walking and cycling.
Clear day for tower views — the Alps are visible from the top. Summer for the park and lake at their best. The roof climb tours operate year-round but are weather-dependent. U-Bahn U3 to Olympiazentrum station.
Built for the 1972 Summer Olympics, overshadowed by the terrorist attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes. The architecture remains remarkable — Frei Otto and Günther Behnisch designed the sweeping tensile roof to contrast with the monumentalism of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The stadium hosted the opening ceremony, athletics, and the 1974 World Cup final. The tower (completed 1968) was the tallest structure in Munich until 2004. The park has been adapted for concerts, festivals, and public use — it avoided the abandonment that plagues most Olympic sites.