A new way to hang around between flights: Munich Airport's high-ropes course
In a summer filled with endless flight delays and cancellations, here's a new way to occupy your time at an airport: Climb a three-story-tall ropes course.
From August through mid-September, passengers and visitors at Munich Airport (MUC) can climb, swing on and zoom across an impressively expansive high-ropes course and playground area in a covered terrace space just outside its terminals.
Even if you're grounded between flights, you can still get that feeling of flying. And to add to the fun, the terrace recreation area also has a DJ spinning tunes on Fridays and Saturdays, along with a bar with deck chairs. So you can grab some drinks and watch the fun even if you're not inclined to dangle on the ropes.
Munich Airport's high-ropes course
If you're bored waiting between flights at Munich Airport or just arrived a bit early before check-in, then here's a way to get your adrenaline pumping and banish that jet lag. You'll hang nearly 50 feet off the ground in a harness while navigating a series of high-ropes challenges, including swinging steps, wiggling bridges, balance beams and even an airplane-themed zip line. Designed by the KristallTurm company, the course has "36 climbing elements across three levels," according to the designer, with pathways nearly 70 feet long on each level.
Transit passengers and the general public alike can clamber across the many features of this ropes course from now until Sept. 11.
The event takes place in an area of the airport accessible to the general public. Passengers will need to exit from the terminal area to participate. People using the ropes course so far have been evenly split between passengers from the airport and the visiting public, according to the airport.
If you are transiting through Munich Airport, before trying out the ropes course you'll want to make sure you have plenty of time between flights to clear security again to return to the terminals.
The ropes course is located at the Forum in the Munich Airport Center – a roofed, 10,000-square-meter (100,000-square-foot) open-air forum between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. This public events space had hosted many installations and events before COVID-19. The ropes course is the first such activity happening there since 2020. The covered area means it will be open regardless of the weather.
"Events at Munich Airport are known for being 'out of the box' and for not being related to flight operations at all," wrote Corinna Born, the airport's director of media relations, in an email to TPG. "Throughout the year, the creative event team comes up with new ideas for activities and events that will surprise and delight visitors and passengers, and identifies partners with whom this can be realized. Partnering with KristallTurm, a cooperation was formed in which both parties wanted to try something new."
Related: Oktoberfest returns to Munich this fall
Affordable and good for kids
Kids are welcome to hop on Munich Airport's ropes course, but they have to be 50 inches tall. Anyone less than 55 inches must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 18 years of age need the consent of a parent or guardian.
No special skill level or climbing ability is required to tackle the course, but the challenges are best handled by those with at least an average fitness level. Guides are stationed along the course to assist and advise climbers.
The ropes course sells tickets for a very affordable five euros (about $5) for two full hours of climbing in the park. The ticket price includes instruction and guidance — provided in English and German. Safety harnesses are available in multiple sizes, from those for children to adults up to 260 pounds.
Tickets are sold in advance through the airport website and can sell out during busy weekends. But walk-up tickets are available for purchase on weekdays, when the airport reports plenty of climbing capacity to still be open.
Operating hours for the ropes course are from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m; Friday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m; and Saturday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The company that designed and built the ropes course, KristallTurm, has more than 60 other ropes courses worldwide, including at theme parks, outdoor adventure centers and indoor settings, but this is its first at an airport.
Related: Enjoy these secret airport spots when your flight is delayed
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.