Munich is the Paris of Germany. A cosmopolitan, stylish city of museums, galleries, castles and idyllic beer gardens, it is one of the country’s most prosperous cities and the capital of Bavaria. It enjoys an enviable setting with mountains and Alpine lakes only a short drive away. A compact and manageable city, it is dotted with elegant parks and gardens ideal for recuperating in during a hard day’s sightseeing.

   Begin your exploration of Munich in Marienplatz which lies at the heart of the Altstadt in the city centre. This lively, attractive square houses the Mariensaule (Mary Column) which was built in 1638 to celebrate the departure of Swedish forces. The late Gothic new town hall – Neue Rathaus – with its famous Glockenspiel is also in Marienplatz. Make sure to visit the Alte Pinakothek on Barer Strasse which houses works by the major European masters of the 14th to 18th centuries. The Neue Pinakothek just opposite it features a large collection of 18th and 19th century paintings and sculpture. The unmissable Deutsches Museum near Isartor is the world’s biggest science and technology museum, taking up eight floors. Visit the Residenz on Max-Joseph-Platz, the luminous Mannerist palace built for the Bavarian dukes by a team of mostly Dutch artists. One of Europe’s finest Renaissance buildings, it was badly damaged in World War II and had to be almost completely rebuilt.