O’zapft is! (The keg of beer is tapped)

Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria, is a mixture of uncomplicated elegancy and abandon. It offers high-quality museums, huge parks, boisterous nightlife and, of course, thousands of beer cellars and gardens. The Hofbräuhaus, the famous beer hall, is not the only place to enjoy a stein. Munich has thousands beer cellars and gardens with great beer, traditional food and oompah music Viktualienmarkt, one of Germany’s liveliest food markets, has Munich’s largest variety of fresh food and delicacies. Watch the surfers on Isar river, or take a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, which are just 1.5 hours away.

Why go?
Munich is a city where prosperity and Gemütlichkeit (cosiness), age-old tradition and sleek BMWs, designer boutiques and high-powered industry co-exist. There are world-class museums, beautiful architecture,  music and cultural scenes said to rival Berlin, and of course, the beer halls.

When to go?
The most popular tourist months are May to October, although winter travel to the Alpine ski areas is becoming increasingly popular.

How to get there?
Munich’s international airport is 28 km northeast of the city centre, and is Germany’s most important international gateway after Frankfurt. Major airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Delta Airlines, easyJet, Germanwings, Lufthansa and Scandinavian Airlines offer service to and from cities including London, Paris, Rome, New York, Sydney and all major German cities. The flight from London to Munich averages about an hour and 45 minutes.

Must see
Munich’s football ground, the Allianz Arena, is a stunning piece of design. Das Deutsche Museum, the largest museum of science and technology in the world, is in a striking building on its own island in the Isar river.  The city centre offers Marienplatz (St Mary’s Square), the Isartor (one of the main gates of the medieval city wall), the enormous English Garden (also home to Munich's second-biggest beer garden) and Schloss Nymphenburg (the former summer palace of the rulers of Bavaria). Aside from the well-known Oktoberfest, Munich’s famous festivals include Toolwood (in the Olympic park in the summer and the Oktoberfest grounds in the winter). This festival features food, artists, performances and music. Nockherberg is a festival of strong beer, similar to Oktoberfest but with fewer tourists. This takes place in March. And of course, Munich’s Christmas markets are very popular with wintertime tourists.