Things to see in Munich

The BMW Museum in Munich provides a fascinating account of transport technology, through the vintage cars, mementoes and historic film footage devoted to the iconic Bavarian motor company. It is located beside the landmark BMW Building and the Olympic complex. Also here, the new BMW World centre, with its intriguing space-age architecture, provides an extension of the museum, focussing exclusively on new cars.

The English Garden is the largest urban park in Germany and a quiet oasis in the heart of busy Munich, popular with locals and tourists alike for strolling, cycling, sport, sunbathing, swimming in the river and picnicking. Further attractions include the Seehaus restaurant and the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), both with great beer gardens, the Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse) and the Monopteros, a Greek-style temple. During summer months, there is boating on the Kleinhesselhoher See (a lake in the centre of the park) and open-air concerts and theatre at the scenic Amphitheater. The Haus der Kunst gallery (which hosts temporary modern art exhibitions), and the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) are located on Prinzregentenstrasse, on the southern edge of the park.

Marienplatz has been at the heart of Munich since the city's foundation in 1158. The area is now a major hub for the urban transport network. For centuries, it was known as the Schrannenmarkt (the place where farmers and merchants came to buy and sell their goods) but was renamed after the statue of the Virgin Mary in the centre in 1854. The north side of Marienplatz is entirely dominated by the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in the 19th century. Miniature statues of Bavarian rulers and other characters adorn the hall's façade, while the 85m (279ft) tower houses a glockenspiel consisting of 43 bells accompanied by performing mechanical marionettes. Visitors can ascend the tower by lift. Nearby, other buildings of note include the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), which houses a delightful toy museum and, just a stone's throw from the square, the impressive and symbolic Frauenkirche cathedral, which houses the legendary ‘Devil's Footprint', intriguingly embedded in the church floor.

Ever since the 1972 Olympic Games, the Olympiapark has been one of Munich’s landmarks, with its striking skyline and massive tower - the tallest reinforced-concrete construction in Europe. Today, the park is a major centre for sport and recreation - a veritable green lung just north of the city centre, built on the Olympiaberg (Olympic Hill), which was constructed from wartime rubble. Alongside the massive sports arenas are picnic areas and playgrounds, an artificial lake, a mini train and the Olympiaturm, with its revolving restaurant which offers unforgettable views of Munich and the Alps on a clear day.

Located on the western edge of the city, the Nymphenburg Palace was built between the 17th and 19th centuries. Highlights within the main palace include the late-rococo Steinerner Saal (Hall of Stone) and the Gallery of Beauties - a collection of portraits of beautiful women commissioned by Ludwig I. The extensive grounds conceal four miniature palaces within their landscaped confines, one of which, the Amalienburg, is considered the most attractive rococo palace in Germany. The Nymphenburg complex also includes the Marstallmuseum, which houses royal coaches and riding equipment, as well as an historic collection of Nymphenburg porcelain, with exhibits from 1747 until the 1920s.