Munich, the capital of Bavaria, used to be the capital for the whole of Germany, and it is still a powerhouse of culture, history and technology. Flights to Munich are a great choice for an inspiring city break or longer stay.
The city centre, found within the traffic loop of the Altstadtring, has many iconic attractions such as the Rathaus-Glockenspiel and the Frauenkirche cathedral, the height of which no central building is allowed to exceed. Heading north of the centre along the Isar river is the splendid Englischer Garten, a long, wonderfully-maintained and peaceful park. West of here, Schwabing is a trendier area with many coffee places, exotic restaurants and bars, and some the city’s best art galleries and museums. Further west, the picturesque area where the 1972 Olympic Games were held has a tower with excellent views of the city. The eccentric BMW buildings are also here: a museum which looks like the BMW logo from above, and the company’s headquarters in the shape of four giant engine cylinders.
Beer lovers often get cheap flights to Munich just for Oktoberfest, the beer festival which runs across September and October, but there are countless excellent beer halls and gardens open throughout the year including the enormous Hirschgarten and the sophisticated Waldwirtschaft.
Outside the city, the Alps are about an hour’s drive south for those wanting to do some skiing or mountaineering. About ten miles north west of Munich, the town of Dachau is worth a visit, particularly the memorial site of the first Nazi concentration camp.
