Positioned along the River Isar on the fringe of the Bavarian Alps, Munich is the capital of Bavaria and Germany’s third-largest city. It’s home to centuries-old architecture and outstanding museums, as well as hosting Germany’s most famous festival, Oktoberfest within its 16th-century beer hall Hofbräuhaus. Munich’s rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge technological developments have seen it dubbed as the city of “laptops and lederhosen”.
While Munich was bombed heavily during World War II, many of its buildings have been carefully rebuilt. Marienplatz lies at the heart of the city and is home to the Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus, as well as the Romanesque-style Peterskirche and Michaelskirche, which stands as the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. The soaring twin towers of the Frauenkirche dominate the city skyline and this immense cathedral contains a black mark known as the “Devil’s Footstep”.
Spend an afternoon exploring the Kunstareal in Maxvorstadt, which features 40 art galleries and 16 different museums. Witness the contemporary works of Museum Brandhorst and the religious paintings in the Pinakotheken, then admire the antiques from Egyptian, Greek and Roman art in the Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst and Staatliche Antikensammlungen.
Munich is also at the forefront of technology and the sciences in Germany, with institutions like the BMW Museum and the Deutsches Museum reflecting this. The latter is considered one of the most impressive technical museums in the world, with an outstanding array of hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. For music-lovers, the National Theater is home to some of the most incredible music in the country – particularly for opera-lovers.
Munich is also noted for its picturesque green spaces, including the Englischer Garten that lies at the heart of the city and is larger than both New York's Central Park and London's Hyde Park.