subject: Discovering Munich [print this page] Munich is well-known for its Beer Festival (Oktoberfest) that is held every year from the end of September to the start of October. However, this is just one of the things that this German city is known for. There are a host of activities you can take part in and many interesting sites waiting for you to explore.
Although the Oktoberfest takes just two weeks, 30% of all beer produced in the city in one year is drank during this period! If you enjoy your beer, then you will have your fill. You will also have the opportunity to mingle with other beer lovers from all parts of the world. About seven million people take part in the festival every year. The beer tents close by 11 PM.
Other festivals that you can also enjoy in Munich are Ballet Week, Fasching and the Opera Festival.
Among the remarkable features found in the city are special pieces of architecture. There are galleries and museums that you can visit and learn a great deal. The city also has beautiful gardens where you can spend some relaxing moments and take scenic pictures.
However, before you start enjoying all that Munich has to offer, you will need an ideal place to stay in. Many hotels in the city are strategically located in regard to the attractions found here. Apart from the hotels, there are Bed and Breakfast Inns that you can choose from.
Sight seeing in the city will be easy because of the great transportation network. You can use public transport, ride bicycles or just walk on foot to the destinations you have in mind.
There are more than 800 paintings at the Alte Pinakothek, which is among Europe's largest museums. These are works of European painters from the 14th to the 18th centuries. If you are interested in the 19th century sculptures and paintings, then Neue Pinakothek is your preferred museum. A large part of the collection is made up of French Impressionists and German Romantics.
If you love technology, then head to the Deutsches Museum where you will see exhibitions of original equipment and machines as well as models and reconstructions. The items range from classical mechanical devices to telecommunication gadgets, displayed in a space covering more than 13 acres. The Deutsches Museum is among the largest natural sciences and technology museums in the world. It is where you will get the chance to see the first X-ray machine, among other special items. The live demonstrations are both enjoyable and educative.
Take some time to visit the Munich English Gardens through which the Isar River runs. You can surf in the natural wave pool. Explore the lake at close range by renting a boat.
Another popular landmark in the city is the Olympic Park, which was specifically built to host the 1972 Olympic Games. The tent roof covers some 75,000 square meters. There are a number of facilities at the park.
At Marienplatz, you will get the unique opportunity to see the world's largest cuckoo clock, the Glockenspiel. The nearby Viktualienmarkt has a shopping area covering about 22,000 square meters.
