Munich, literally meaning "home of the monks", came into being when friars settled there in the eighth century. It was the monks who began the brewing tradition for which the city has become famous. Every year, some six million people visit the Oktoberfest beer festival, consuming more than 5.5m litres of the amber nectar in two weeks. Bavaria's capital has plenty to offer aside from beer, however.

Second only to Berlin as Germany's most popular city to visit, Munich is packed with designer bars, top-notch restaurants and some leading art collections. Head into the beautiful square known as Marienplatz to watch the daily clockwork performance of the Glockenspiel on the façade of the gothic New Town Hall. Or escape the city to the nearby Bavarian Alps.

Munich has close links with sports of all kinds, having hosted the 1972 Olympic Games, 1974 World Cup final, the Euro 1988 final and the UEFA Champions League final in 1997. The 2006 World Cup kicked off in the city's AllianzArena.

dent adds ...

Munich, although the capital of Bavaria, is best described as the northernmost Italian city. With just under 1.3 million residents, it's vibrant and lively, yet pleasantly laid back and relaxed. A cultural centre for every taste and flavour, the only thing some might miss is the sea. It truly is a city for all seasons, situated in a beautiful landscape on the banks of the river Isar and within sight and easy reach of the Alps.