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Although less famous than Tegernsee, Schliersee, on the edge of the Alps, is just as attractive a lake. Its appeal lies mainly in the beauty of the surrounding mountains. One of the principal sights in the spa town of Schliersee is the St Sixtus church, with its 18th-century frescoes by Johann B Zimmermann. For an attractive country walk, take the 7 km (4 mile) path around the lake.

Situated on a rise surrounded by deep natural ditches, the palace lies just south of the town of the same name. From the outside, the palace looks like a medieval fortress. Its large cloistered courtyard dates from the second half of the 16th century. Noted for its excellent acoustics, the courtyard is a regular venue for summer concerts.

A path with lovely views leads from Nymphenburg Park to Schloss Blutenburg. Situated amid meadows and fields, this former royal hunting lodge, built between 1435 and 1439 on an island in the Würm River by Duke Albrecht III, is rural in character. A late Gothic chapel was added in 1488. Today, Blutenburg houses the Internationale Jugendbibliothek. The castle café is perfect for a coffee break.

Castle Hohenaschau dates from the 12th century. Renaissance (16th century) and late Baroque (17th century) additions are the chapel and the charity house – Prientalmuseum.

When Adelaide of Savoy gave birth to the heir to the throne, Max Emanuel, in 1663, her husband, Elector Ferdinand, celebrated the event both by donating funds to build the Theatinerkirche but also by presenting his wife with their future summer residence at Schloss Nymphenburg. Built by the architect Barelli from 1664 onward, the Schloss ensemble underwent many expansions – in the end, the main building achieved an impressive length of 650 m (2,150 ft). The park, originally a small decorative garden, evolved into a large landscaped park, interspersed with several pavilions: Badenburg, Pagodenburg, Amalienburg, and Magdalenenklause. For a special coffee break, visit the Schloss-café in the exotic Palmenhaus.

Maximilian II Emanuel, the Elector, wanted to rival Versailles with the Neues Schloss (New Palace). Begun in 1701 based on plans by Enrico Zuccalli and completed in 1719 by Joseph Effner, the complex includes a hunting lodge and Schloss Lustheim, a small summer palace on the eastern edge of the Baroque park (see Hofgarten Schleißheim), also designed by Zuccalli. The latter houses an important collection of early Meißner porcelain. Oberschleißheim is home to the Flugwerft Schleißheim (see The Branch Museums).

For a long time this was one of the oldest retail strips in the city, with shops owned by the same families for generations. In recent years, Sendlinger Straße has become more elegant – and more expensive. If you prefer a more eclectic experience, wander into the adjacent side streets and lanes, where you can browse in the many stores to your heart’s content. Be sure to visit the two Rococo jewels of the district – the Asamkirche (see Asamkirche) and the Asamhaus at Sendlinger Straße No. 34. Egid Quirin Asam acquired the building (unfortunately closed to the public) and adapted it to his own needs. One of the windows affords a direct view of the high altar in the Asamkirche. A surviving element of the medieval town fortifications, the vine-covered Sendlinger Tor marks the end of the street.

Wildly romantic, the Spitzingsee (1,100 m/3,600 ft) attracts mountain hikers in summer. In winter, skiers enjoy 30 km (19 miles) of groomed ski runs, serviced by 18 cable cars and ski lifts. This is Germany’s largest continuous ski region.

Framed by wooded mountains, Tegernsee is one of the largest mountains lakes in Upper Bavaria, with an area of 9 sq km (3.5 sq miles) and a length of 6 km (3.5 miles). Its beautiful setting and easy accessibility – it is only 50 km (30 miles) from Munich – have made the lake one of the most popular excursion and holiday destinations since the notion of taking summer breaks began in the 19th century. Tegernsee, Bad Wiessee, and Rottach-Egern form a picturesque chain of towns on the shores of the lake and attract visitors in both winter and summer. Bad Wiessee is home to one of the few casinos in Bavaria.

When Munich’s Tierpark was founded in 1911, it was the first zoo in the world that arranged animal enclosures and pavilions according to continents and geographic origins. Highlights include a large aviary, a jungle tent with lions and tigers, and a new tropical forest and aquarium pavilion, where monkeys, snakes, and fish inhabit a jungle and coral-reef habitat.