Munich Segway Tours

LEFT: A Segway tour group heads into Munich's Olympiapark.

by Durant Imboden

Segway scooter tours are popping up everywhere these days, from Minneapolis to Madrid. Some locations, such as central Paris or Florence, are intimidating--at least to those of us who worry about running over the natives, fellow tourists, or unsuspecting dogs.

In Munich, several different companies offer or plan to offer Segway tours, but the most appealing--and practical--may be Ich Steh' Auf Fahren in Munich's Olympiapark, where you can learn to ride a Segway in a relatively safe setting.

The Olympiapark, a.k.a. the Olympic Park, was built for the Olympic Summer Games of 1972. It has several kilometers of paths, an artificial mountain built on World War II bombing rubble, a large lake, and several stadiums (including an ice rink, a Schwimmhalle, and the main stadium from the 1972 Olympics, which is now a popular concert venue).

The Olympiapark is a popular Munich tourist attraction, and a Segway tour offers a good way to see the park quickly while enjoying the unique experience of operating a Segway Personal Transporter.

Types of tours

In summer, 2008 (when this article was written), two tours were available, with instruction and narration in German, English, or Korean:

• A half-hour "Short Experience Tour" for €14,50, with departures every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday through Sunday. Children over 12 may take the tour if accompanied by their parents. Reservations aren't required, but I suggest calling ahead to confirm the tour schedule. (See contact information on page 2.)

• A two-hour "Long Olympic Park Tour" for €68, with departures at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday. (Arrive at 10:45 a.m. to register for the tour.) Children over 15 with moped licenses may take the tour if accompanied by their parents; adults require a moped, motorcycle, or driver's license. Advance reservations are recommended; see contact information on page 2.

Next page: Tips, location, contacts

Inset photo copyright © Arne Trautman.

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