Munich - Bavarian capital.

Epitome of Bavarian culture or simply the biggest party in the world? It doesn’t matter: The Oktoberfest is legendary worldwide, and over the course of two weeks the entire city goes totally berserk. Whoever wants to get away is advised to do so. Otherwise, enjoy and celebrate. People from all over the world pour into the city to get swept along by the world’s biggest folk festival.

The remaining 49 weeks of the year in Munich are, however, by no means without culture. On the contrary, Bavarian tradition runs through the city like a golden thread. The Hofbräuhaus and Augustinerkeller offer cool beer from the in-house breweries, as well as typical Bavarian snacks and meals, throughout the day and year.

In summer, Munich captivates with beer gardens such as the Hirschgarten, which seats 8,000 people, and the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese tower), which seats 7,000 people and ranked second amongst Munich’s largest “living rooms”. According to traditional Bavarian custom, you shouldn’t miss a carriage ride through the Englischer Garten (English garden) after a nice get together, but you can also simply catch a cycle rickshaw to get home.

Munich has an incredible variety of bars, cafés and restaurants. The Viktualienmarkt, Germany’s most famous farmer’s market, attracts visitors from all over the world with regional specialties and culinary delights, every day except Sunday. Just around the corner, various pubs and restaurants offer every kind of international cuisine, be it for dinner with friends or a pleasant evening with colleagues. The southernmost metropolis in Germany is of course also notorious for its Hofbräuhaus and vast number of traditional Bavarian restaurants.

But of course Munich also has more contemporary offerings. Around Gärtnerplatz and in the center of the neighborhood of Schwabing, you can find any number of hip cafés and bars. Although no longer an insider tip, Vorhölzer Forum on the roof of the Technische Universität München has an impressive roof terrace and a very mixed, urban audience. Not to forget: traditional delicatessens such as Dallmayr and Feinkost Käfer are an essential part of Munich’s society, and every visitor to the city should definitely put them on their must-see list.

After sunset, the fun goes on. Munich’s nightlife is enlivened by countless bars, including Loretta Bar, highly popular among young people and famous for its range of extraordinary cocktails. Should you wish to dance through the night, there are plenty of clubs to choose from. Bob Beaman, famous for its electronic music, is an institution in Munich’s clubbing scene. And night owls have also found another favorite: The Munich Mixed Arts, also called MMA, organizes weekly events with bands and DJs to suit just any taste.

Munich offers families a diverse leisure program. On a clear day, Tierpark Hellabrunn can be a nice escape: In this zoo, you can marvel at, feed and in some cases even pet giraffes, elephants, monkeys and loads of other exotic and indigenous animals.

Therme Erding is the largest and most famous sliding paradise in Europe, which makes it a must for keen swimmers in need of action. Twenty-six slides totaling over 2,500 sliding meters create an unrivaled experience, and not just for the little ones! Erding can be reached by public transport in no time at all and is an ideal day trip during vacation time or on weekends.

Motor freaks are also lucky: BMW Welt is always worth a visit for those interested in examining and even testing old-timers. New racing cars and high-tech driving simulators can be explored in the architecturally interesting plant near Olympiapark.

Another popular day trip is an excursion to Bavaria Filmstudios in Geiselgasteig, on the way to Grünwald. A sympathetic guide accompanies you on the tour around the film city and takes you from film set to film set, giving you insights into the productions of German and international classics such as “The Never-Ending Story”. Families with kids are sure never to be bored in Munich!