Munich inspires with an almost unmanageable number of tourist highlights: The Residence with its park from 1508 in the middle of Munich, Marienplatz with the world-famous city hall, the Hofbräuhaus, the Frauenkirche, Odeonsplatz and the Leopoldstraße promenade in Schwabing are just a small selection. The people of Munich indulge in their world-famous beer at the Oktoberfest (which takes place mostly in September) and in the iconic beer gardens. It is a custom that you can bring your own food, that you can sit wherever there is a free seat on a beer bench, and that everyone talks to everyone else. Some of the beer gardens in Munich are cozy little backyard gardens with chestnut trees, others are huge and can accommodate up to eight thousand visitors. Fancy cafés, music clubs and bars keep the night owls on their toes. In the English Garden, the largest park in Europe, students, recreational athletes and walkers enjoy themselves in idyllic park scenery. The Nymphenburg Palace and the Botanical Garden enchant with their cultivated atmosphere. Numerous festivals, such as the Munich Film Festival or the Opera Festival, the rock and pop events on the spectacular 1972 Olympic grounds and excellent shopping facilities at every level entertain an international audience. The proximity to the Upper Bavarian Alps and lakes makes the city an ideal starting point for skiers and hikers. European metropolises such as Vienna, Budapest, Prague or Venice can be reached within a few hours.
