Munich holidays
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City breaks to Munich are as Bavarian as they come – from the traditional architecture to the beer-heavy nightlife scene.
Bavarian behemoth
Munich is the capital of Bavaria, in the south of Germany, and it wears its regional crown with real pride. The chequerboard blue and white colours are flown all around the city, where tradition plays a big part in day-to-day life. Centuries-old beer halls are flanked by churches and pieces of Gothic architecture, and the spaces between are polka-dotted with pretty parks that have been inspired by Italian and English designs.
City with a small-town feel
Despite being the biggest city in the region, there’s something of an intimate feel to the city centre. Marienplatz, the main square, is fronted by the huge Rathaus – or new town hall – which is one of the tallest points around. The most bustling bars are historic beer halls, where frescoed ceilings and old wooden benches set the tone. In fact, look around and you’ll see terracotta-topped rooftops instead of skyscrapers, and colourful building facades instead of flashy, modern architecture. One of its nicknames, ‘milliondorf’, even translates to ‘village of a million’.
Great green spaces
Munich’s dotted with loads of top-notch parks, and none are more famous or popular than the English Garden. This huge green space sidles up to the edge of the Isar River, and there loads of streams and waterways that criss-cross the lawns and walking trails – some even have surfers in them making the most of mini swells. In the centre you’ll find the Chinese Garden, a beer garden with a pagoda-style tower that pokes above the treetops. Sports fans, meanwhile, should head to the north of the city to the Olympiapark – you’ll find the iconic canopy-topped stadium here, which was the main venue for the 1972 Olympic Games.
Festival feel
Oktoberfest parties are a thing around the world, but Munich prides itself on being home to the only real Oktoberfest. Every year, at the end of September, a piece of empty land called the Theresienwiese is filled with huge tents, rollercoasters and food stalls as the festival, known as Wiesn, kicks off. Bavarians throw on the traditional dress – lederhosen for men and durndl dresses for women – and descend on the site for a spot of merriment. Big steins of beer are served by different famous German breweries in their respective tents, to the beat of oompah bands, and the friendly atmosphere is just as much about socialising as it is drinking.
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