Just spent 3 nights in Munich and it wasn’t enough. What a fun town. There is so much to see and do. We (did I mention Claude is here? YAY!) managed to pack in a lot of sightseeing during our short stay. 

The Bavarian capital has more to offer than Oktoberfest and nudists in the English Garden. This charming south German city-lovingly nicknamed "the most Northern Italian town"-can cheer up any kind of traveler. To start with, there is, of course, the beer. 

Throughout the city your nose will encounter the scent of malt and hops again and again. In the spring and summer, countless beer gardens offer cool shade and communal tables under the mandatory chestnut trees. In the winter, Christmas markets abound, selling anything from mulled wine to roasted almonds, handmade nutcrackers, Christmas ornaments, and what have you. 

You can even partake in the local version of curling on the Nymphenburg canal near the city castle-where Ludwig II was born. Peruse through some of Germany's finest museums, such as the Lenbachhaus with its famous Blue Rider collection, the Deutsches Museum chronicling Germany's technical achievements (mining, shipbuilding, beer-brewing, and so on), or the relatively new Pinakothek der Moderne. Enjoy the ubiquitous bike trails, street cafes, and boutiques. At night simply relish: there are two opera houses, several highly acclaimed theaters, and depending on your taste, the rambunctious beer halls or trendy nightclubs. Ah-and lest we forget-the Alps are just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

The undisputed center of Munich is Marienplatz, named after the statue of the Virgin Mary in the center, it is surrounded by numerous shops, restaurants and cafes. The main pedestrian streets run out from here and most of the sights are within easy reach of this square be it by foot or by using the public transport system. The north side of the square is dominated by the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus which is the present Town Hall. Nearby is the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) which houses a charming toy museum. Lastly, the soaring Gothic Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) Munich’s Cathedral, also stands on Marienplatz. Taking the U-Bahn to Odeonsplatz or walking north up Weinstrasse/Theatiberstrasse leads to the fourteenth century Muenchener Residenz (Royal Palace), where six hundred years of Bavarian history await you. 

There are Three Pinakotheks in Munich. The Alte (Old), Neue (New) and Moderne (Modern) Pinakothek are all at U-Bahn stop Koenigsplatz and house some enviable art collections ranging from Raphael and Rembrandt to contemporary designs. 

The Olympia Park where the Olympic Games were hosted in 1972 is home to an amusement arcade, theme park and the two hundred and ninety meter high Olympiaturm (television tower) from where the observation tower offers magnificent views. Take U-Bahn three to the northern edge of Schwabing. 

Germany’s largest urban park is Munich’s Englisher Garten (English Garden). Located in the heart of this busy city it houses countless attractions such as the Chinese Tower with a great beer garden, the Japanese Teahouse, the Haus der Kunst (State Gallery of Modern Art) and the Bavarain National Museum. It also offers opportunities for hiring boats to allow for a tranquil hour rowing on the lake. Take the U-Bahn to Universitaet, Giselastrasse or Muenchener Freiheit for this seemingly endless oasis. 

We visited Nymphenburg Palace where the Wittelsbach family spent their summers. There is a canal that divides the boulevard leading to the palace and there were people actually curling on it. 

Of course we also took in the Glockenspiel “show” at the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall) at Marienplatz. Every day at 11AM this glockenspiel performs a tournament story where the figures parade, joust and dance. 

The highlight was a walking tour of the Altstadt (Old City) where the guide showed us lots of historical sights, shopping, parks and of course beer halls. 

No trip to Munich would be complete without a visit to the beer halls. Our favourite was the Weisses Bräuhaus where we had lunch and some pints and chatted with a 75 year old local who was extremely entertaining. We finished it off at the famous Hofbräuhaus where they serve a masse (1 litre) of beer, and have an oompah band. Here we met a fun American couple in Munich on a delayed honeymoon. Perfect end to our stay