Munich, Germany

Munich delivers the full Bavarian experience—a sophisticated metropolis where beer hall culture meets world-class museums, where cutting-edge automotive engineering stands alongside baroque palaces, and where the Alps rise just an hour to the south. This is Germany's third-largest city, yet it retains the warmth and accessibility that define Bavaria's famous gemütlichkeit. The historic Altstadt centers on Marienplatz, where the Gothic Neues Rathaus stages its famous Glockenspiel performance three times daily. Beyond the medieval core, you'll find the vast Englischer Garten (larger than Central Park), world-renowned art collections in the Kunstareal museum district, and beer gardens where locals gather under chestnut trees to enjoy Mass steins and pretzels the size of dinner plates. Munich's efficient MVV transport network connects everything from BMW's futuristic headquarters to Nymphenburg Palace's sprawling baroque gardens, while S-Bahn lines whisk travelers to Alpine lakes and mountain peaks in under an hour. Whether you're here for Oktoberfest's legendary beer tents, the Deutsches Museum's engineering marvels, or simply to soak up the laid-back Bavarian vibe in Viktualienmarkt's open-air food market, Munich manages to feel both cosmopolitan and cozy—a rare combination that keeps visitors coming back.