Munich: Day-rent rickshaw and explore Munich yourself

Munich is made for a day of choosing your own stops, and this roomy electric rickshaw lets you link the Old Town, English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace and Olympic Park without following a guide’s schedule. I like that you get eight hours to shape the day, and that the motor helps you cover ground while still giving you the feel of a bike outing.

I also like the practical touches: a route map, phone holder and charger come with the Coolly®, and the team gives you a 15-minute lesson before you set off. The main consideration is the driving itself. The vehicle is easy to maneuver, but starting can take some strength and skill, especially with passengers aboard.

Key points before you book

• Four Munich sights in one self-guided day: The suggested route connects the Old Town, English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace and Olympic Park.
• A three-wheel eBike, not a standard bicycle: One person rides, with room for two adult passengers and up to two children aged eight or younger.
• Eight hours to set your own pace: Pick up the Coolly® at 10 AM and return it by 6 PM.
• A short lesson is part of the rental: Allow 15 minutes to learn the controls and practise driving before you head out.
• Check the driver’s comfort and strength: The bike has pedal assist and a 20 km/h speed limit, but starting with passengers aboard can feel demanding.
• Pickup is near the Olympic Park: The store is at Schleißheimer Street 181, with no delivery service.

A Munich day out on three wheels

This is a vehicle rental with a suggested route, not a guided sightseeing tour. You get the freedom to stop when you want, linger over a place that catches your interest or skip a stop if the group would rather keep riding. The trade-off is that you are responsible for navigation and pacing. The map helps, but you will need to decide where to go and how long to stay.

The Coolly® is a three-wheel electric bicycle with a rickshaw-style layout. One person pedals and steers, while up to two adults can ride as passengers. There is also space for up to two children aged eight or younger, though the exact seating arrangement may depend on your group. Seat belts are fitted, and the motor provides pedal assist up to a restricted top speed of 20 km/h.

The rental runs from 10 AM to 6 PM, giving you a full day rather than a quick spin around one park. The vehicle can cover roughly 30 to 55 kilometres, or more, depending on how you ride and what you choose to see. That range makes a multi-stop day plausible, but it is not a promise that every group will cover the same distance. Your pace, breaks and route choices all matter.

Getting comfortable before you set off

Before you ride, staff give you a 15-minute introduction and driving practice. Take this seriously. The bike is described as easy to maneuver, and pedal assist makes riding less strenuous, but the driver still has to handle a wider, heavier vehicle than a standard bicycle.

A useful tip is to pay close attention to starting and steering with passengers aboard. One driver found that the passengers’ weight was most noticeable through the handlebars and that their arms felt the effort. That is a good reason to practise before you set off, ask questions during the instruction and give the driver a chance to get used to the controls.

The bike’s maximum speed is 20 km/h, so this is not a way to race around Munich. That limit suits the idea of a relaxed sightseeing day, but it also means you should leave time for the route and your stops. The included map has cycling routes in German and English, while the phone holder and charger let you use your own phone for navigation.

Starting near Olympic Park

The rental shop is in the backyard at Schleißheimer Street 181. Go down through the barriers and look for the green rikschaguide.com and Coolly® sign on the right. The shop is a two-minute drive from Olympic Park and a ten-minute drive from the English Garden, according to the operator’s directions.

You must collect the vehicle yourself. There is no delivery, so factor in the trip to the shop when planning your morning. You can reach it by taxi, bicycle or tram line N27 to Ackermannstraße. One renter was allowed to park a car at the shop for free, but that was not listed as a standard inclusion, so ask directly if you hope to do the same.

Bring a €150 deposit. It is paid back after the rental. This is separate from the listed price of $159 per group of up to three, so make sure you have the deposit available when you arrive.

Following the map through Munich

The suggested day route connects four major areas: Olympic Park, Nymphenburg Palace, Munich’s Old Town and the English Garden. You receive a map with recommended cycling routes, but the order is up to you. I would treat the map as a planning aid, not a strict itinerary, and choose a sequence that suits your starting point and the group’s energy.

Olympic Park is a natural first stop because the rental shop is nearby. It gives you a chance to begin with a major Munich sight without spending a long stretch of your day getting there. You can take a look around, then decide whether to continue toward the palace or head into the city. Keep in mind that the rental clock is already running, so a long first stop means less time elsewhere.

Nymphenburg Palace adds a different kind of outing to a day otherwise spent riding through the city and its parks. It is one of the named stops on the suggested route, and the palace grounds make a change of pace from central streets. You can decide how much time to spend there rather than being moved along by a group tour. The downside is simple: the longer you linger at each landmark, the more you will have to prioritise later.

Munich’s Old Town is the most useful stop if you want to combine cycling with time on foot. You can park the sightseeing rhythm for a while and explore the centre at your own pace. The bike gives you a way to link the centre with farther-flung stops in one day, but the experience does not include a guide to explain what you are seeing. If you want detailed commentary, arrange that separately or read up before you go.

The English Garden rounds out the route with a large green space where a bike can be especially useful for covering ground. You can set your own speed and choose how much of the park to see, rather than committing to a fixed loop. A rider who took the Coolly® through Olympic Park and the English Garden particularly enjoyed the day, which speaks to the appeal of combining open-air riding with Munich’s central sights.

You do not have to treat all four places as equal stops. If your group wants a relaxed day, choose two or three priorities and allow time for breaks. If you are keen to see more, the electric assist and the vehicle’s stated daily range offer flexibility, but remember that the driver’s arms and attention are part of the equation.

What the $159 price gets you

At $159 per group of up to three, the value depends on how many people share the vehicle and how much use you make of the eight-hour rental. For three adults, the listed price works out to about $53 each before any other costs. For a family or a group that values doing the day together, the ability to carry passengers makes this different from renting separate standard bikes.

The price includes the Coolly® with its motor and battery, pedal assist, a phone holder, a phone charger, the short lesson and a city map with cycling routes. Those are useful inclusions, especially if you plan to navigate on your own. There is no tour guide, so you are paying for transport and freedom, not a narrated city tour.

The capacity details deserve a close look before booking. The vehicle accommodates a maximum of three adults: one rider and two passengers. It can also carry up to two children aged eight or younger. The price is described as being for a group of up to three, so confirm the booking details if your party includes children beyond that group size.

Who will enjoy this ride most

This works best for a private group that wants to explore together and is comfortable with a self-guided day. It can be a good fit for families with young children, friends or colleagues, and for a group that includes someone who would find a full day of walking difficult. One group used it for a ride with grandparents, which points to the appeal of sharing the outing rather than splitting up across separate bikes.

The driver’s role matters. Choose someone who is comfortable steering a larger three-wheel bike and willing to take the instruction seriously. If nobody in your group feels up to that, this may not be the right way to see Munich, even with pedal assist.

It is also a good option if you like deciding as you go. You can set your speed, stop where you choose and adjust the route to your group. If you want a guide to explain the city, take care of navigation and manage the day for you, this rental will not provide that service.

Practical details to settle before booking

The rental is available daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, and the group is private. Instruction is available in English and German. The cancellation terms allow a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, and the booking option lets you reserve now and pay later.

Before the day, check that your group fits the seating limits and that the person who will ride is comfortable with the responsibility. Plan how you will get to the shop, bring the €150 refundable deposit and allow time for the 15-minute lesson. You will then have the rest of the day to work through the map at your own pace.

Should you book the Coolly®?

Book it if you want a shared, self-directed day that connects Munich’s Old Town, English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace and Olympic Park, and if your group is happy to let one person do the riding and navigation. The included map, phone setup and brief practice session make the outing more manageable, while the full eight-hour window gives you room to shape the day.

Think twice if you need a guided explanation at each stop or if the prospective driver is uneasy handling a heavier bike with passengers aboard. For the right group, the Coolly® turns getting between sights into part of the day. Just start slowly, listen closely during the lesson and leave enough time to enjoy the places you came to see.

FAQ

How long is the rental?

The rental lasts eight hours, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

How many people can ride in the Coolly®?

It has room for up to three adults: one rider and two passengers. It can also accommodate up to two children aged eight or younger.

Is a tour guide included?

No. This is a self-guided rental. You receive a city map with cycling routes and use your own phone for navigation if you wish.

What sights are included in the suggested route?

The map includes Olympic Park, Nymphenburg Palace, Munich’s Old Town and the English Garden.

How fast can the eBike go?

Its maximum speed is restricted to 20 km/h.

How far can the Coolly® travel in a day?

The stated range is 30 to 55 kilometres per day, or more depending on your preferences.

Where do I pick up the vehicle?

Pick it up at the store in the backyard at Schleißheimer Street 181. Go through the barriers and look for the green rikschaguide.com and Coolly® sign on the right.

Do I need to bring a deposit?

Yes. Bring a €150 deposit, which is returned after the rental.