DK Travel : Munich

Of the city he lived in for many years, 20th-century writer Thomas Mann said that “Munich glows”. And indeed, the sky is often a brilliant blue dotted with puffy white clouds in “Italy’s northernmost city”, where the relaxed, often Baroque lifestyle gives it a southern flair. Englischer Garten and the Isar meadows are right in the middle of the city; Starnberger See and the mountains are virtually on the doorstep. But Munich is also a city of art and culture with an abundance of historic buildings, museum treasures, and a lively cultural scene. Fine art, leisure, and la dolce vita make this a unique city.

For Munich on the Internet, visit www.muenchen.de With 1.3 million inhabitants, Munich is Germany’s third-largest city.

Odeonsplatz & Brienner Straße

Luxury stores and boutiques line this square and the exclusive boulevard that runs off it. Here, you will also find an exemplary piece of urban renewal – the 19th-century Luitpoldblock with luxury shops, galleries, and Café Luitpold with its palm garden.
Odeonsplatz, Theatinerkirche & Feldherrnhalle

Princely palaces once occupied the area between Residenz and Theatinerkirche. From 1800, old fortifications here were dismantled to make way for the Ludwigstraße, which ends or begins – depending upon your viewpoint – with Odeonsplatz and the Feldherrnhalle. Statues of the Bavarian field marshals Tilly and Wrede are displayed in the niches of the loggia.
Oktoberfest

More than six million visitors make the pilgrimage to the world’s largest popular fair, the Wiesn, which takes place over 16 days in September.
Oktoberfest

First held to celebrate the wedding of Ludwig I (1810), this is the largest folk festival in the world. Some six million visitors flock to the fairgrounds every year.
Olympia-gelände

In 1972, a large park, including an artificial hill, was created from World War II rubble for the Summer Olympics. At the time, the distinctive tent roof was considered an architectural innovation (see Olympiapark).
Olympiapark

From beach volleyball and basketball or skiing and boat rides to climbing tours on the world-famous tent roof at the largest sport-, fun- and fitness complex in the city, the variety of activities at Olympiapark will keep the kids amused all day.
Olympiapark

Completed for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, this vast park and complex to the north has become Munich’s main sports and amusement park complex.
Opern-Festspiele

Under Ludwig II, Munich grew into a centre of music, and was the site of premieres of Wagner’s operas and of a major Mozart festival. In 1910, the Richard Strauss festival week was launched, a tradition continued in the Opern-Festspiele, which features both classic works and contemporary pieces, accompanied by the innovative Festspiele + programme.
Optimolwerke

With 13 discos, clubs, and a Spiegelzelt (mirrored tent), the Optimolwerke complex is located next door to the Kultfabrik.
Osiris

Osiris is one of the city’s best boutiques for jewellery, lamps, objets d’art , and furnishings in the Art Nouveau style.