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Capital of Bavarian oompah-pah, beer and BMW-riding excess.
Munich, rivalled only by Berlin as Germany's most popular destination, is a sophisticated city that enjoys contradicting itself. Don some ironic lederhosen and head down to the capital of Bavaria, where folk traditions ride alongside BMWs and hearty meals share the table with haute cuisine.
The city is a haven for all sorts of culture, with a staggering array of museums, a vibrant arts scene and the infamous revels of Oktoberfest. Bavaria is souvenir-icon Germany at its postcard best, and the fairy-tale Gothic, Biergarten-filled city of Munich is no exception.
The heart of Munich is bisected by the Isar River, flowing northwards from its source 60km (37mi) away in the Bavarian Alps. Most of the city's sights are clustered on the river's left bank. It's a 15-minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof to the Altstadt, the historic old centre - just head east through Karlsplatz (aka Stachus) and along the pedestrianised Kaufingerstrasse. It's difficult to get lost if you use the twin onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche as a landmark. The grand old square Marienplatz lies at the heart of the Altstadt, with the former royal palace to the north. Southwest of the Hauptbahnhof there's the gentrified Westend and the Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienwiese. The university is north of Marienplatz at Schwabing, bordered by the Englischer Garten (English Garden), Europe's largest park. Schloss Nymphenburg is around 7km (4.3mi) northwest of the centre, and Olympiapark is to the north. The area around the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) enjoys a huge selection of accommodation, while the nearby Westend district is stuffed with appealing cafes. There's a major pub and restaurant quarter east of Marienplatz, and plenty of window-shopping along Maximilianstrasse.
