Beer halls, baroque churches and alpine air
Munich combines big-city polish with Bavarian tradition. The Marienplatz, with the Glockenspiel on its neo-Gothic town hall, is the heart of the old town, and the Viktualienmarkt food market is nearby. Art lovers head to the Pinakothek galleries, and the Residenz was the palace of Bavaria's rulers. The English Garden is one of the world's largest city parks, with surfers riding a standing wave on the Eisbach. Beer is part of daily life, from the Hofbräuhaus to leafy beer gardens, and Oktoberfest takes over each autumn.