Finding a place to climb in a city can be costly, especially while travelling. In this post I outline how and where you can boulder for free in Munich. That’s right, there is high quality free bouldering throughout the city. Just bring some climbing shoes.
Munich is great spot for climbers and boasts a thriving bouldering community. This community has done some amazing projects, transforming mundane spaces into free bouldering spaces. When it comes to free public bouldering, the Riesige Rosi stands out. Hidden from view in an old underpass, it is one of the world’s largest public bouldering halls. This is not the only place to boulder at no cost either. The many free bouldering options are unexpected treasures for climbers visiting Munich.
The Cost of Climbing
Climbing has the potential to be an expensive hobby. There is the cost of buying gear, gym fees and then there’s always some more gear to buy. Of course, going outdoors is free, but that means you will need even more gear. While traveling, traditional climbing gyms can be costly. Unfortunately, multi-pass discounts and memberships are often impractical. Leaving only the option of the more expensive casual rate. This is especially the case when visiting Munich, the most expensive city in Germany to rent.
I have spent more than I would care to admit on gym entry and shoe hire during my travels. While this is a great way to experience new climbing gyms (and the quality of rental shoes), It is not exactly budget friendly. To save a bit of money I eventually purchased some climbing shoes, but I still pay casual entry costs for climbing gyms. So, when I heard about the opportunity to boulder indoors for free, it was too tempting to resist. I needed to check it out.
Bouldering underground – The Riesige Rosi
I first visited the Riesige Rosi on a cold Tuesday in late September. A friend who is part of a climbing group in Munich and invited me to join for the evening. We arrived at an unassuming intersection with not much around. I was led me down some stairs, it didn’t really look like much, just your typical underpass. However, once I got to the bottom of the stairs, my jaw dropped.
Climbing routes filled the whole 50 m long area. There was a slab section, an overhang (up to 45°), multiple wall volumes and climbs that went all the way across the roof. This place was amazing.
Eager to explore, I slipped on my shoes, warmed up and jumped straight onto the wall. This place was impressive. There was a good mix of difficulties and styles. The initial plan of a brief climb ended up being almost two hours of trying out various climbs. I could not believe something like this existed for free. In those two hours, I sent some slabs, overhangs, and attempted to climb across the ceiling. The Rosi had more than I could climb with just one visit.
What sets the Rosi apart from other public bouldering locations are the facilities. At one end of the underpass are hang boards and an area to do strength training. The flooring is made of specially designed mats. These mats are soft, but not as soft as in a typical bouldering gym. It is possible to climb in any weather, as thanks to being in an underpass this public bouldering wall is completely weatherproof. It would, however, get seriously cold in the middle of winter. There are also storage areas available for your gear. With this many features and the knowledge that it’s all free, climbing here is a real joy.
How to get to Riesige Rosi
Where is it: Rosenheimer Str., 81669 München, view on Google Maps
The easiest way to get there is to catch the U2 line and get off at Karl-Pries-Platz. From there it’s less than a 10-minute walk.
What to bring: Climbing shoes and a water bottle.
Cost: Free!
Community Strength – Karxl Kollektiv
The masterminds behind Riesige Rosi are the group Karxl Kollektiv. The work they have done for public bouldering around Munich is amazing. Founded in 2020 by one passionate individual, the goal was to bring public bouldering to Munich. Now, Karxl Kollektiv have more than 100 members and are partnered with the German Alpine Club (DAV).
The underpass transformation took shape with the collective effort of almost 100 people over four months. This really shows the strength of the community. Financially, over 300,000 € was saved through material donations, discounts and personal contributions. The goal to make bouldering more accessible to more people is great for inclusivity in a once very niche sport. If you are in Munich, checking out their work throughout the city and get involved with this thriving community.
Check out their Instagram here.
More No Cost Bouldering in Munich
The Rosi is not the only place for free bouldering in Munich. Karxl Kollektiv have created a great map with all the locations around the city. While their website is all in German, you can still see the locations. What you’re looking for is the little carabiner icons to find these treasures. While in Munich I also stumbled upon another public bouldering area under an overpass. If only I had brought my climbing shoes…
Free… But Bring Shoes
Having a pair of climbing shoes is an essential part of any climber’s gear. Unfortunately, public bouldering areas do not have a rental service. This is all you will need to start bouldering. Of course, you can boulder in whatever shoes you have on. However, your feet are not as sticky with street shoes. You’re increasing your risk of injury while damaging the climbing holds and your shoes. There is a reason why climbing shoes exist, but do they fit in your pack?
To Pack Light or Bring Climbing Gear?
When I first started traveling, I had the dilemma of choosing between bringing my climbing gear and traveling light. Unfortunately, the two don’t tend to go hand in hand.
I initially made the (difficult) decision to not bring one of my (many) pairs of climbing shoes with me. It was not an easy decision. At the time I rationalised that having more space for other things and less weight was a good thing. Unfortunately, not having climbing shoes meant that I needed to rent a pair whenever I wanted to climb. For those of you that do this, you will know that it’s not cheap to rent shoes. After doing a lot of shoe rentals, I had spent more on shoe rental than the cost of buying my own pair. Plus, the rental quality was often not great. Too often the shoes would be a poor fit, would have holes in the toes, or were just uncomfortable.
Eventually I decided it was worth having my own climbing shoes. I want anything fancy, just some shoes better than a rental pair. I bought a pair of cheap, Decathlon climbing shoes (these ones). While they’re not the best shoes in the world, they do the job, are comfortable and don’t have any holes. I have used them for half a year and found the limiting factor was my ability, not the shoes. I have also more than paid them off in savings on paying for rentals.
Conclusion
If you’re traveling on a budget but still want somewhere to boulder, the cost of a climbing gym can sometimes be prohibitive. However, if you are looking for some free bouldering in Munich, there are public bouldering locations all over the city. One of the highlights is the Riesige Rosi public bouldering hall. Located in an underpass, it has an impressive variety of boulders and a great range of difficulties. As public bouldering halls don’t have shoe rental, I would recommend bringing your own. It will save you money in the long run.
Any other cities with free bouldering spots you would recommend? What are some of your highlights?
Happy Exploring!
Kieren