Long airport layover and an awesome time are not usually two concepts that go together. However, you can have a pretty awesome time at the Munich International Airport, even with a layover that’s over five hours long. On our way to the country of Georgia, we were able to get out of the airport and see Munich during a long layover. On our way back home our layover in Munich was shorter and earlier in the day, which didn’t allow us to leave and explore more of the city. However, the Munich International Airport, the seventh biggest airport in Europe, offered us plenty of things to do during our long layover.
Our flight from Tbilisi left shortly after 5:00 in the morning and arrived just before 7:00. So what did we do when we arrived in Munich so early in the morning? Hit the spa of course! Between terminals one and two of the Munich International Airport is the Hilton Munich Airport. Their Fit & Fly Spa caters to travelers and is perfect for relaxing during a long layover.
Knowing we were going to hit the spa in Munich, I didn’t bother showering before heading to the Tbilisi airport and boarding our flight. (I promise I did brush my teeth.) Now, if we were those kinds of people, we could have worked out in the fitness center, but we’re not, so we went to the spa. For 20 Euro (at the time of publication) we could get a two-hour pass to the Fit & Fly Spa. For an additional 10 Euro, that can turn into a day pass.
A pass to the Hilton Munich Airport Fit & Fly Spa includes access to the heated indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, gym, and changing rooms. We could have also added a spa service like a massage, but there was plenty to keep us occupied for two hours. We also enjoyed coffees at the spa bar and could have ordered food. Once we were done soaking and swimming and saunaing, we were able to shower and freshen up for our long flight home.
Our next stop after the spa was the Munich Airport’s very own brewery, Airbräu. Sure, it was early in the morning, but it was five o’clock somewhere, right? Especially when you’re traveling between time zones.
Bavaria is home to half of Germany's breweries, so it only makes sense to have a brewery in the airport too. Airbräu opened in 1999 and serves the cheapest beer in Munich (cheap in price, not cheap in flavor). Airbräu brews a lager, a pilsner, a Bavarian wheat beer, and a seasonal beer. Airbräu brews one million glasses of pilsner per year. Beer is brewed in copper tanks with local hops.
Airbräu is very popular, and not just with travelers passing through the Munich airport. The brewery is also frequented by locals and the thirty-thousand people employed at the airport. We took a brewery tour given the head brewer Rene Jacobsen. Travelers with a long layover at the Munich airport can book a tour of the brewery in advance. If there isn’t enough time to leave the terminal to visit the brewery, there is a smaller Airbräu restaurant within the terminal inside security.
The brewery is located outside of the terminals, but within the airport's central square. The square is covered with a see-through roof and diamond shaped white shades so that when the blue sky shows through, the view is reminiscent of the blue and white Bavarian coat of arms.
Events are held in this central square, which can seat 2000 people. In the summer there is a surfing pool, beach bar, and tennis courts. Of course, all of this is outside the security area of the airport. Travelers with carryon luggage don’t have to lug it around while exploring everything the Munich airport has to offer. Luggage can be stored at one of the airport’s Service Centers.
Sheltered within terminal two, but yet sort of outdoors, is the visitors terrace. This large space provides a view of the airport and the runways. There are telescopes to get an even closer view of the airport goings on. The visitors terrace is enclosed but has access to fresh air. It is the only airport visitors terrace that has opened after 9/11.
Travelers with kids can visit the Visitors Park, which is outside of the airport terminals just a short train ride away. Highlights of the Visitors Park include historic aircraft open for touring, minigolf, a playground, and visitors hill which provides a panoramic view of terminal one and the runways.
Travelers who wish to remain inside the airport have a lot of choices. After all, the Munich airport is regarded as one of the best airports in the world, currently rated number three on the World Airport Awards and the only 5-star rated European airport.
The Munich airport does its best to have local suppliers within their walls. In addition to the in-terminal Airbräu, there is also a Dallmayr location within the terminal, a Munich coffeehouse and delicatessen that has been around since the year 1700.
The airport is set up so that each component runs parallel, each divided by a one-kilometer hallway. The first section is security, the next is shops, and the next is the gates. Between every second gate is a station serving free coffee and tea.
The Munich airport is also set up for relaxing. There are lounge stations throughout the airport and recliners at the gates. Travelers who want to nap can take advantage of one of the sleeping lounges outside of the working well. The napcabs can be booked per hour and paid for by credit card. Inside is a bed, an alarm clock, and a place to plug in. We had a great time visiting the spa and exploring the Munich airport during our long layover. It seemed like we were boarding our flight home in no time. Forget sitting around for hours waiting to go home, use your Munich airport stopover time wisely and take advantage of everything this top-rated airport has to offer.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards running this website and bringing you more travel stories. Thank you to the Munich Airport for providing us with a tour of the airport and brewery and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are our own.
Arizona has the honor of having the longest stretch of Historic Route 66 in the nation. While there is not much left of Route 66 in the eastern part of the state, western Arizona has approximately 140 miles of uninterrupted Mother Road stretching from Topock to Seligman. To celebrate Route 66’s 90th anniversary, we took a road trip along Arizona’s Route 66 and visited Route 66 attractions and towns.
Arizona Route 66 Topock to Kingman
As soon we crossed the California / Arizona border we hopped onto Route 66. At over 50 miles, this is a pretty long stretch of Route 66 road. The biggest Route 66 attraction along this section is Oatman. There is a lot to do in Oatman, including touring an authentic gold mine, walking through the historic town, and seeing an old-time gunfight in the street. Be sure to visit the Oatman Hotel, where Clark Gable and Carol Lombard spent their wedding night, and its dollar bill plastered bar. Probably the most surprising thing you’ll see in Oatman is the wild burros that freely roam the streets. The burros are friendly and are protected by federal law as symbols of the American West. This part of Route 66, especially past Oatman, is curvy, so drive carefully, especially at night.
Another point of interest along this section of Arizona Route 66 is the Shaffer Fish Bowl Spring, approximately five miles east of Oatman. Stairs lead up the hill on the side of the road to a small rock “bowl” which collects water that seeps through the rock from a spring.
The first roadside stop along this stretch of Route 66 is Antares Point, home of Giganticus Headicus. Why this 14-foot tall Tiki head was placed on Route 66, we don’t know, but it is definitely the type of kitschy Americana that makes a US road trip special. Giganticus Headicus is painted pink in October for breast cancer awareness month. The rest of the year it is green.
A few miles past Antares Point is Hackberry, home of the famous Route 66 Hackberry General Store. Outside are gas pumps and old cars from the Route 66 era. It is both a store and a museum of the Mother Road.
Beyond Hackberry is a town that used to be, Valentine. The Valentine post office was famous for its heart-shaped postmark. Today visitors can visit the Valentine Indian School site, the remains of one of the many Indian schools in existence between 1870 and 1930, boarding schools which the children of Native Americans were required to attend, leaving their homes and families behind. Also in Valentine is Keepers of the Wild, a rescue sanctuary for exotic wild animals that are rescued from or surrendered by private owners.
Other stops along Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman include Truxton, Peach Springs, and the Grand Canyon Caverns.
Arizona Route 66 Seligman to Flagstaff
Seligman is where Route 66 returns to close proximity to Highway 40. Seligman has shops and restaurants and is a great stop for Route 66 souvenir shopping. Somehow Seligman gained the right to proclaim itself the birthplace of Historic Route 66 and is the first town along this longest remaining stretch of Route 66 from Seligman to Topock.
Heading east from Seligman, Route 66 is also Highway 40, so you’re back on the freeway. You can get off the Highway and follow a small length of Historic Route 66 through Williams, the last town in Arizona to be bypassed. Williams was finally bypassed by the freeway in 1985. Williams is a great little Route 66 town to visit, filled with many blocks of restaurants and shops and Route 66 memorabilia. During Route 66 days, Williams was also a popular gateway for travelers wanting to explore the Grand Canyon.
Arizona Route 66 Flagstaff to Lupton
East past Flagstaff there is very little opportunity to drive along the original Route 66. However, there are quite a few fun detours between Flagstaff and the Arizona state line that Route 66 travelers would have enjoyed during their travels as well. Related: History and Route 66: Things to Do in Flagstaff in One Day
One of these unusual detours is Meteor Crater, the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site. The meteor crater is what you would imagine, a really big hole in the ground. The crater is one mile in diameter and over 550 feet deep. The visitor center offers a movie, exhibits, and a piece of meteor rock. After the visitor center, join a guided rim tour and learn more about this crazy phenomenon. On the way to Meteor Crater make a stop at Twin Arrows for a Route 66 photo opp.
The next piece of Old Highway 66 travels through Winslow, Arizona, made famous by the Eagles song Take It Easy. Eagles fans will want to be sure to stop at Standin’ on the Corner Park, complete with flatbed Ford. Another must-see in Winslow is La Posada Hotel & Gardens, an old Harvey House that has been lovingly restored into a gorgeous hotel with one of the most delicious restaurants, the Turquoise Room.
Travelers might think the Wigwam Motel of Holbrook looks familiar. That’s because the Cozy Cone Motel in the Disney / Pixar movie Carswas modeled after the Wigwam Motels of Route 66. The Wigwam Motel of Holbrook makes sure you see the resemblance. Not only do they have old classic cars in front of reception and the teepee-shaped cabins, they also have a vehicle straight from Cars out front, Sir Tow Mater. Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002, listed as Wigwam Village #6. A stay at Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel will allow you to respond to the question, “Have you slept in a wigwam lately?” with a resounding “Yes!”
Arizona has a National Park along Route 66, the Petrified Forest National Park. The Petrified Forest gets its name from the petrified wood that can be found throughout the park. Millions of years ago, logs were washed away and buried in mud and debris, quickly cutting off oxygen and allowing for an extremely slow decay process. Minerals were absorbed into the wood, which then crystallized, causing the wood to be replaced with quartz. The petrified wood looks just like logs and stumps and sections of tree trunk, except they are rainbows of color. The Painted Desert Rim Drive also passes through a Painted Desert.
Arizona has so many Route 66 attractions, it’s hard to see them all in one road trip. A road trip along Arizona's Route 66 is like strolling down memory lane, except it is the memory lane of families past who took this road trip so many decades ago.
Tbilisi, the capital city of the country of Georgia, can be a little intimidating at first. Tbilisi is a big, sprawling city with a mix of ancient sites, crumbling architecture, colors, both muted and vibrant, and new, modern structures that pop up amongst the old. The city is long, like a horn, as it is situated in a canyon. Most of the streets wind and curve, sometimes becoming alleys and occasionally even turning into flights of stairs. The main streets are wide and the flow of traffic is never-ending. Tbilisi has a palpable heartbeat and is buzzing with energy. But once you get acquainted with Tbilisi, it becomes easy and feels familiar, and there are so many things to see and do in Tbilisi to keep travelers occupied for days.
Metekhi Church of Assumption and King Vakhtang I Gorgasali Statue
The story of Tbilisi starts with King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, also known as Vakhtang Wolf’s Head because he had a wolf’s head on his helmet. Vakhtang Wolf’s Head was king of Iberia (eastern Georgia) from the mid-fifth century to the early sixth century. There are different versions, but, basically, the story goes that Vakhtang Wolf’s Head was hunting for pheasants. He shot one and sent his eagle to fetch it. When his eagle didn’t come back, he went after it to find that both had been boiled in hot springs. He was so impressed with the hot springs, he decided to build a city around them. The name Tbilisi means “warm location.” Overlooking the Mtkvari River which runs through the middle of Tbilisi is Metekhi Church as well as an imposing statue of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali.
Narikala Fortress
Just a short walk from Metekhi Church is a cable car that climbs to the top of the hill across the river. On this hill is the Narikala Fortress. Its name means “small fortress.” This fortress was first built in the fourth century. However, it, along with Tbilisi, has been destroyed and restored many times. The final blow was in 1827 when it exploded from the gunpowder stored inside.
Kartlis Deda (Mother Georgia) Monument
Also at the top of the hill near the fortress is Kartlis Deda, a statue of Mother Georgia. She is a symbol of Tbilisi. This tall aluminum statue is dressed in traditional Georgian dress. She holds a bowl of wine in her left hand for friends and a sword in her right hand for enemies.
National Botanical Garden of Georgia
Behind the Narikala Fortress is the National Botanical Garden of Georgia. The botanical garden provides a natural respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. We visited in March, so there wasn’t much in the way of flowers, but the botanical garden does have two waterfalls.
Tbilisi Mosque
Georgia is an Orthodox Christian country. Georgia was the third country to accept Christianity as its official religion. However, Georgia is proud of its religious diversity, and while its population is mostly Christian, it also includes Muslims and Jews. The Tbilisi Mosque is an example of this religious diversity and acceptance as both Shiite and Sunni Muslims worship together in the same Mosque. One side is for Shiites and the other side is for Sunnis, and the two sides are separated only by a couple columns.
Sulfur Spring Baths
In the Abanotubani (“bath district”) neighborhood across the river from the statue of Vakhtang Wolf’s Head are the Sulfur Spring Baths. The hill above Tbilisi is known for its hot sulfur springs, which run at 20 to 50 degrees Celsius. These are the springs that prompted Vakhtang Wolf’s Head to build the city. The sulfur baths are still an important part of Tbilisi’s culture. The baths are easy to spot as they are low buildings with red brick domes.
You can either go into a public bath or you can rent a private bath by the hour. Some of the private baths are quite nice, with a cold pool, a warm pool, a sauna, and a place to lay and get an added service of a massage or scrub. Baths open early and stay open late at night.
Old Tbilisi's Art Nouveau
A highlight of our time in Tbilisi was taking a walking tour of old Tbilisi and peeking into the old Art Nouveau buildings. Who knows how long some of these buildings will continue to stand. Many of them were private homes that have since been turned into apartment buildings, so the entryways can be entered while walking around old Tbilisi.
Caravanserai
An important part of Tbilisi’s history is its location along the Silk Road. A piece of the Silk Road that remains today in Tbilisi is the caravanserai. When you’re up at the Narikala Fortress, below you can see some buildings that are big rectangles with an open courtyard inside. These are remaining caravanserais. A caravanserai was like a B&B for traders. Traders would travel along the Silk Road with their camels and their goods. They would stop and stay at these caravanserais which had ramps in the courtyards that descended below ground where the camels would stay. The goods they had brought for trade were stored on the ground floor in storage rooms, and the traveling traders stayed in what were basically hotel rooms in the top floor of the same building as their goods and camels. These caravanserais were in business until the 1800s when the railroad came through. We got to peek into one of these buildings that now acts as an apartment building upstairs and a bar called KGB Still Watching You downstairs.
Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral
Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral is named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem and was the biggest church in Tbilisi at the end of the 5th century. That church was destroyed by the Persians and David the Builder built the current church in the early 12th century. The Russian iconography was painted in the mid-1800s. The church holds a grapevine cross, a symbol of Saint Nino, a Cappadocian woman who converted the Georgian King Vakhtang III to Christianity.
Meidan Bazaar
Another relic of the Silk Road is Meidan Bazaar. This may be one of the oldest business centers in Georgia. It may have been in use as early as the 4th and 5th centuries and it was a trade market on the Silk Road. A flight of stairs leads down into this underground shopping area. The market has been repurposed and now offers wine tasting and the possibility to purchase Georgian wine, Georgian cheese, churchkhela, jewelry, and other Georgian souvenirs. Related: Georgian Cuisine: 30 Traditional Foods to Try in Georgia
Bridge of Peace
Some people call the Bridge of Peace Georgia’s tampon. While I can see what they’re saying, I kind of like the juxtaposition of the modern Bridge of Peace and new theater buildings amongst the old. At night, the Bridge of Peace is lit with dancing white lights.
Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba)
The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, commonly called Sameba, is the largest cathedral in the Caucasus and towers over Tbilisi. The cathedral can be seen from numerous points around the city. The architecture of the cathedral is inspired by traditional Orthodox Church architecture, but it is also the first of its kind. The head of the church wanted Sameba to last forever and ordered excavation until rock was found on which to lay the foundation. Rock was found at 30 meters, so the cathedral has a 30-meter foundation.
Sameba is actually churches within a church. As expected, there is a church on the main floor, but we followed stairs down to a stark underground church. There are a number of interesting items to be found in the main church, including a copy of the Panagia Portaitissa or Iviron icon. Legend has it the icon was put into the Black Sea to save it from being destroyed by the Byzantine iconoclasts and floated upright to Greece, where it was recovered from the sea by a Georgian monk and taken to the Georgian Iviron monastery on Mount Athos. The icon will remain on Mount Athos until the apocalypse. Another item of note is an altarpiece that tells the history of Georgia. The coat of Jesus in the altarpiece is covered in diamonds.
Anchiskhati Basilica of Saint Mary
Sheltered behind a fence and a bell tower is Anchiskhati Basilica of Saint Mary, the oldest church in Tbilisi. Anchiskhati Basilica was built by King Dachi, son of Vakhtang Gorgasali, in the 6th century. The name of the church comes from the icon of Ancha which was moved from the Ancha monastery in what is now Turkey to the basilica to protect it from the Ottomans. The icon is now on display at the Georgian Museum of Art.
Rezo Gabriadze Theatre
The Rezo Gabriadze Theatre staged its first puppet show in 1981. The theater was founded by Revaz "Rezo" Gabriadze, an artist, writer, and director. These puppet shows aren’t for children. The first show in the theater was a combination of The Lady of the Camellias and La Traviata performed by marionettes. The Gabriadze Theater company has toured in places like New York, Washington, D.C., Edinburgh, Toronto, and Paris. The theater is easily recognized by the fantastical clock tower that was added in 2011 for the 30th anniversary. Gabriadze built the tower, covering it with whimsically decorated tiles. Every hour an angel rings the bell with a small hammer. At noon and 7:00 p.m., an additional puppet show called “The Circle of Life” plays.
Georgian National Museum
The Georgian National Museum has many exhibitions related to Georgia’s history. One exhibition which should not be missed is the exhibition of the Archaeological Treasury. This exhibit displays gold and silver items from 3000 BC through 400 AD that were discovered in Georgia. Georgia’s treasure is available for public viewing because of the actions of Ekvtime Takaishvili, a Georgian archaeologist and national hero. When the Soviets invaded Tbilisi in 1921, the Georgian government was evacuated to France along with Georgia’s treasures. Takaishvili accompanied the treasure to France and preserved Georgia’s treasure, protecting it from being divvied up between the museums of the world. Even though he lived in poor conditions in France, he did whatever he could to protect Georgia’s treasure, including from a Nazi search during World War II. In 1945, at the end of the war, Takaishvili and Georgia’s treasure returned to Georgia.
The Soviet Occupation Museum
The Soviet Occupation Museum is currently in the same building as the Georgian National Museum, but will move to its own building in the near future. The Soviet Occupation Museum chronicles the Soviet occupation of Georgia from 1921 through 1991. The occupation is obviously a huge part of Georgia’s history. The exhibit is artfully put together with objects, photos, and documents and tells the stories of Georgians personally touched by the occupation.
Kashveti Church
Kashveti Church is another Georgian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi. Kashveti roughly translates to giving birth to a stone. Its name came from a monk of the 6th century that was accused by a woman of making her pregnant. The monk said that if she was lying, she would give birth to a stone, which she did.
A striking detail of Kashveti Church is the frescoes by Lado Gudiashvili. Lado Gudiashvili was a Georgian painter of the early 1900s. His paintings had a signature style, with people having very distinct and unique almond-shaped eyes. This style can be seen in Mary and the baby Jesus. This is a very different presentation of Jesus and Mary than is seen in other churches. They seem very human and of this world, rather than spiritual and ethereal. Our guide Anna said Georgians paint gods like humans and humans like gods.
Georgian National Opera Theater
One of Georgia’s iconic buildings is the Georgian National Opera Theater. The opera house recently reopened after a long renovation to heal the scars left by the Soviet occupation and Georgia’s civil war. The opera house is part of Tbilisi’s collection of art nouveau and was even the inspiration for one of the buildings that used to be a private mansion. Even if you can’t get inside for a performance, you can view the architecture, peak in the windows, and enjoy the unique statues that can be found around the building outside.
Tbilisi Wine Factory #1
Georgia has been making wine for thousands of years. Of course, you can sample Georgian wine at any of Tbilisi’s restaurants, but a unique introduction to Georgian wine in Tbilisi is offered by Tbilisi Wine Factory #1. The historic factory was financed by David Sarajishvili, the brandy king of Georgia, designed by Alexander Ozerov, the Georgian architect, and built in 1896. The basement contains a museum of wine, 40,000 wine bottles including from the private collections of Napoleon, Stalin, and Romanov, all under lock and key by government order. The basement also contains ginormous Soviet-time wine barrels and enameled wine tanks.
In addition to this wine museum, Tbilisi Wine Factory #1 offers wine tasting, workshops in making dumplings or candy, a selection of restaurants, and a boutique hotel, Art Hotel Winery 1896.
Getting Around Tbilisi
A lot of the things to do in Tbilisi are within walking distance, especially in old Tbilisi. Crossing the street can be tricky. Georgians are pretty aggressive drivers and they don’t like to stop for anyone or anything. When crossing the street be sure to make eye contact and even put a hand out to let them know you will be crossing. Big streets like Rustavali Avenue have tunnels every few blocks to get from one side to the other, otherwise, you’d never get across the street. Fun fact, drivers don’t turn left in Tbilisi. They have to drive for blocks and blocks until they get to a built in u-turn or a roundabout.
Walking around Tbilisi feels safe, including at night. We walked one night from old Tbilisi all the way back to our hotel in new Tbilisi. However, taxis are also easy to find at Freedom Square and they’re inexpensive, just be sure to have where you want to go written down in Georgian by someone at your hotel in case the driver doesn’t speak English. Tbilisi also has a metro system.
Where to Stay in Tbilisi
We stayed at the Rooms Hotel Tbilisi and absolutely loved it. The Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is just off of Shota Rustaveli Avenue and less than two kilometers from Freedom Square and Old Tbilisi. The hotel has all the comforts and amenities of a modern hotel with the coziness and uniqueness of a boutique hotel.
While Tbilisi can be intimidating when you first arrive, we feel sure that you'll fall in love with Tbilisi, and the rest of Georgia, like we did. All it takes is getting out there, walking around the city, meeting the people, eating the food, and visiting the physical pieces of Tbilisi's history, both old and new. This article contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards running this website and bringing you more travel stories.
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