Germany''s Second City?

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Munich is easily as enthralling as its big sister Berlin. Museums, galleries and music mean its cultural activities are world class, it mixes reserved yet chic urban living with historic and traditional architecture, then every October the city is transformed beyond belief for the Munich Beer Festival, Oktoberfest.

The city shows off its beauty at the Residenz right through to the tranquil Schloss Nymphenburg Gardens. Shopping from lowly flea-markets to high-end designer boutiques is fantastic and there are more beer gardens here than anywhere else on earth. Add to this the fact that you''re only two hour''s drive away from the Alps and it''s not hard to see why Munich frequently tops the list of the city most Germans want to live in.

''Vorsprung durch technik'' ? Germany sets very high standards when it comes to technology and engineering and Munich has one of the best museums in the world showcasing hands-on exhibits in their vein. The Deutsches Museum, located in Hairhausen, is equally enthralling for kids and adults.

Art also has a glorious history in Germany. The country has produced some of the world''s ...
... greatest artists and the Lenbach House, which comes highly decorated by art scholars, hosts spectacular works by Kandinsky, Macke and Mark.

There are numerous parks in Munich, and many double as giant beer gardens. With a capacity of over 8,000 the Hirschgarten located in Neuhausen is the largest. Here you can sip some Wiessbier watching semi-wild deer roaming around. The second largest is the Englischer Garten in Schwabing, which is a beautiful open expanse of space perfect for escaping the heat of the city in the summer.

Schloss Nymphenburg, a huge baroque Bavarian castle, which was the summer residence of early rulers of the region is located just round the corner from the Hirschgarten. Originally a moated castle, the Residenz has been expanded by the Wittelsbach rulers to be transformed to its current dominance in the centre of the city.

Bach, Beethoven and Handel; Germany has produced some outstanding composers in its time, so make sure you experience this music in its homeland. The Bavarian National Opera Company is among the best in the world and they showcase their music at the Nationaltheatre, while the Residenztheatre shows a variety of classical and modern plays and music.

Budget-friendly hostels are as plentiful as luxury 5-stars in Munich so all wallet sizes are catered for. Note though that accommodation during Oktoberfest gets booked up way in advance. Bonny Kominek is a freelance writer who was inspired to write this article by Octopustravel.com where you can book many different hotels including Munich hotels.