What to Wear in Munich

Munich is one of Germany's most prosperous cities, and daytime dress in the centre leans smart-casual and well-kept: clean leather trainers or boots, dark jeans or chinos, a crisp shirt or knit jumper and a good waterproof jacket for sudden showers blowing off the Alps. Even at the Bavarian State Opera or upscale restaurants in Maxvorstadt and Lehel, smart-casual works well unless you want to dress up for an opening-night performance.

Alpine weather swings and the Föhn wind

Because the Alps sit less than an hour south, Munich's temperature can jump or drop by 12°C within a single afternoon. Warm dry Föhn winds can make a March or October day feel like early summer in the sun, only for the evening to turn frosty once the sun dips behind the roofs of the Altstadt. Dress in removable layers rather than one heavy garment.

What to wear (and not wear) if visiting Oktoberfest

If you visit during the late-September Wiesn, you do not have to wear traditional Bavarian dress (Tracht: leather Lederhosen with a checked or white linen shirt and wool socks for men; a fitted Dirndl dress with blouse and apron for women). Ordinary jeans and a shirt are completely welcome in every tent. However, avoid cheap plastic or fancy-dress costume versions sold at souvenir stands, which locals spot immediately. Note one traditional detail if you do wear a Dirndl: tying the apron bow on your right side signals that you are married or in a relationship, while tying it on the left signals that you are single. Also note that large bags and backpacks are banned from the Oktoberfest grounds.

Season by season

• Spring and Autumn: a waterproof shell or trench coat, scarf, jumper and comfortable walking shoes for covering the long gravel paths of the English Garden and Nymphenburg.
• Summer (June to August): light cotton clothes, sunglasses, a light cardigan for breezy evenings under the beer garden trees and a compact umbrella for late-afternoon thunderstorms.
• Winter (December to February): a warm down coat, thermal under-layers, hat, gloves and insulated waterproof boots with grip for snow and slush at the Christmas markets. Check seasonal weather before packing.