Munich

Nobody likes to harp on about the stereotypes attached to a city when describing it, but it’s hard not to when talking about Munich. The Bavarian capital is birthplace of the beer hall where men and women decked in lederhosen line larger than life beers in front of thirsty tourists to the sound of traditional German ‘oompah’ bands. But there is a lot more to the city than that.

Munich gets increasingly cosmopolitan every year and it has one of the best selections of museums in Germany. This is why it now rivals Berlin as the most popular city in Germany with travellers.

A swim in the River Isar on a hot day followed by a bike ride around the city in the evening sunshine is the ultimate summer experience in Munich. The best spot to take a dip is between the Reichenbach and Wittelsbacher bridges, in the parkland known as Frühlingsanlagen, where you feel a million miles from one of Germany’s biggest cities.