München Grapples with Growth, Strikes, and New Challenges in 2024

A year marked by record population growth, transportation disruptions, and struggles in gastronomy and cannabis regulation.

München's population reached 1.6 million in 2024, driven by new residents and a higher birth rate, despite the city's high living costs.
The city's gastronomy sector faced a crisis, with numerous closures attributed to increased VAT on food and rising operational costs.
Transportation disruptions included strikes by railway workers and airline staff early in the year, alongside delays in airport operations due to long security lines.
The partial legalization of cannabis in Germany faced hurdles in Bayern, where no licenses were granted to cannabis clubs despite significant investments and regulatory efforts.
Major local developments included the cancellation of the Tram-Nordtangente project and the groundbreaking for the Tram-Westtangente, which sparked concerns over traffic disruptions.