The Bavarian city of Munich, centre of southern Germany, is one of the country's favourite tourist destinations, offering a unique combination of modern flair and traditional charm, all mixed together with a heavy helping of 'Gemutlichkeit', the special German term for hearty, happy, healthy togetherness.

Traditionally the city, famous for its breweries and beer halls, conjures up images of jolly red-cheeked, portly men in lederhosen, downing steins of beer. There is plenty of this fun to be had, but Munich and the Bavarian region has plenty more to recommend it to visitors. The city has numerous great museums, art treasures, hi-tech industries and gems of Gothic and Baroque architecture. It is also the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, drawing winter sports enthusiasts from near and far.

Munich itself was founded in 1158 on the River Isar, and acquired its name, Munchen (home of the monks) from its first monastery. It was the monks that started the beer brewing tradition for which the city is now world famous, particularly since it started celebrating an annual beer festival in 1810. Today close on six million people visit the Oktoberfest every year, and consume more than five and a half million litres of beer during its two-week run.

Hofbrauhaus

Address: Platzl 9, behind Marienplatz Munich

Telephone: (0)89 2901 3610

Beer has been swilled at this world-famous tavern site in the centre of Munich since it became a royal brewery in 1605. Equally famous is the Bavarian jollity and conviviality, known as 'gemuchtlikheid', which has emanated directly from the Hofbrauhaus in Munich along with the beer which flows freely there each day, served by robust rosy-cheeked young women clad in Bavarian dress in litre-sized beer steins. The cheerful atmosphere that reigns constantly in the establishment's different halls is helped along by the foot-tapping strains of traditional Bavarian 'oom-pah' bands and drinking songs. When the beer becomes too much, soak it up with a delicious salty pretzel or a German speciality from the menu, such as liver dumplings, potato soup or a variety of delicious sausages.

Marienplatz

Address: Munich

The Marienplatz is the heart of Munich and the site of its most important historic buildings. The square is dominated by the Neo-Gothic Town Hall featuring its famous Glockenspiel, both built in the 19th century. The Glockenspiel delights visitors when it chimes the hours every day at 11am, 12pm and 5pm with its 43 bells, accompanied by moving clockwork figures that display vignettes from Munich's history. The Town Hall has a tower that can be accessed by a lift. The centre of the square - which was once a vibrant farmer's market - features a statue of the Virgin Mary after which Marienplatz was named. Visitors can also explore a toy museum in the Old Town Hall on the square, and the Frauenkirche, Munich's cathedral, dating from the 15th century.

Olympia Park

Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21 Munich

Admission: Tower: EUR4.50 (adults), EUR2.80 (children 6-16); other concessions available The tower is open daily 9am to midnight

Telephone: (0)89 30 67-0

Munich's massive Olympic park complex was constructed for the 20th Olympic Games in 1972, but remains a marvel of modern engineering. Its main stadium is a like a massive tent, which can seat close on 70,000 spectators, topped by the largest roof in the world, extending for 720,000 square feet (66,890 sq metres) and made of tinted acrylic glass. The roof collects rainwater which is used to fill the adjacent Olympic lake. Tent roof tours (with or without an abseiling option) are on offer. Visitors to the site can enjoy a spectacular view from the revolving restaurant and observation terrace which tops the 950-foot (290m) high Olympic Tower. Near the tower is the BMW Museum, which displays the history of Germany's famous automobile manufacturer. Far from being a remarkable 'white elephant', the park is still in constant use as a lively leisure and recreational centre for the city; on more than 200 days of the year it is the venue for rock and pop concerts, sports events, exhibitions and trade fairs.

Nymphenburg Palace

Address: Eingang 19 Munich

Admission: EUR5; Combination ticket: EUR10. Concessions available Daily 10am to 4pm (mid-October to March), and 9am to 6pm (April to mid-October)

About five miles (8km) from the city centre, accessible by tram and bus, is the interesting Schloss Nymphenburg, originally a summer home for the Munich aristocracy. The palace has been expanded, altered and fitted with various eccentricities by succeeding owners over the centuries since building began on it in 1664. Today it is a delight for tourists who revel in exploring the villa and grounds. Inside there are some interesting frescoes in the main hall. An arcaded gallery features a collection of 36 provocative paintings ordered by King Ludwig I showing the most beautiful women of his day. The surrounding park has some surprises too, with some interesting pavilions hidden among the English-style gardens. There are also collections of Ludwig's elaborate coaches on display, and a porcelain museum.

Alte Pinakothek

Address: Barerstrasse 27 Munich

Admission: EUR7 (Sundays EUR1). Free for children under 18 Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (Tuesday to 8pm)

Telephone: (0)89 23805 216

Munich's art museum houses one of the most important collections in Europe on two floors of a large neo-classical building. Nearly 1,000 paintings are on display featuring the work of the greatest European artists from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Highlights include works by Dutch and Flemish masters, as well as the Italian masters such as Botticelli and Titian. The gallery is massive, consisting of dozens of rooms, and requires a great deal of time to explore thoroughly.

Neuschwanstein

Address: Neuschwanstein Castle is near the Forggensee in the Allgäu, very close to Schwangau. Ticket Centre: Alpseestrasse 12, Hohenschwangau Munich

Admission: Entrance tickets can only be bought at the ticket centre in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle. EUR9 (adults), EUR8 (concessions) Daily 9am to 6pm (April to September), 10am to 4pm (October to March)

Telephone: (0)83 629 3988-0

The fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II (known as 'Mad King Ludwig' until his death in 1886) has become the trademark of the German state of Bavaria, with its Gothic wedding-cake tiers and towers. Day tours to the castle are available from Munich, or self drive via Garmisch. From the parking lot there is a steep half-mile (one km) climb to the castle, but one can ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The interior of the castle is as extravagant as its outer aspect, particularly the King's apartments, which are decorated entirely with hand-embroidered silk, elaborate wall and ceiling paintings, and carvings.

Berchtesgaden

Address: Munich

The name Berchtesgaden is most closely associated with Adolf Hitler's country house, but it is in fact a delightful Bavarian alpine village with ancient winding streets and a medieval marketplace, popular as a side trip from Munich. Hitler's holiday house, the Berghof, is actually at Obersalzberg about half a mile (2km) up the Kehlstein Mountain. Afternoon bus tours to the Fuhrer's playground can be undertaken from the tourist office in the village, but there is little to see besides some underground bunkers which are open to the public. Most tourists, however, do delight in visiting the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest, a remarkable building perched precariously atop the mountain, which was originally commissioned by Martin Bormann as a 50th birthday present for Hitler. The notorious Nazi leader seldom visited it because of his fear of heights. Today it is the site of an excellent Bavarian restaurant and provides breathtaking views at the end of a stunning winding mountain road. The town of Berchtesgaden itself has some interesting attractions, besides its 16th-century architecture and enticing inns. There is a small wood-carving museum at Schloss Aldelsheim which can be viewed on a guided tour offered on weekdays at 10am and 3pm. Wood sculptures, Renaissance furniture and some art works are worth seeing at the Konigliches Schloss, which was originally an Augustinian monastery. The most fun to be had, however, is in the salt mines to the east of the town, which offers guided tours. Visitors wear protective clothing and ride on wagons to the mine, then explore the mine on foot and ride miner's slides, finishing with a trip on the salt lake ferry. The tours run daily, all year round. The mine has been in operation since 1517. Berchtesgarten also boasts a world-class ice-skating rink, the Eisstadion, which is sought after by winter sports enthusiasts in the winter months, along with the skiing opportunities in the surrounding area.

Dachau Memorial Site

Address: Alte Römerstraße 75, Dachau Munich

Admission: Free Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. An English version of a documentary film, 'KZ-Dachau' is screened at 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm

Telephone: (0)8131/66 99 70

About 10 miles (16km) to the northwest of Munich on the Stuttgart Autobahn is the town of Dachau, once a quiet artists' community that became the site of the first notorious Nazi 'death camp', where thousands of perceived enemies of the Third Reich were imprisoned, starved, and killed between 1933 and 1945. The camp has now been turned into a memorial museum to the prisoners (67,000 were liberated alive by the US Army on April 28, 1945). The museum contains three memorial chapels. The Lagerstrasse, the main camp road, still exists lined with poplar trees but only two of the original 32 barracks that lined it remain, having been rebuilt to illustrate the conditions endured by the prisoners. The original kitchen, laundry and shower block is now a museum containing exhibits, photographs and documents depicting the persecution of Jews and other prisoners.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Address: Munich

Germany's top winter sports destination, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a busy centre that has retained the charm of the older town of the twins, Partenkirchen. About 20 trains a day arrive at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof from Munich, and many more visitors come by bus or self-drive via the A95 Autobahn to enjoy the delights of the Bavarian Alps. Pride of the city is the Olympic Ice Stadium and the larger Ski Stadium which were built for the 1936 Winter Olympics and are still put to good use by winter sports enthusiasts. The area is picturesque and scenic, both in winter and summer. In summertime it is a popular spot for hiking and mountain climbing expeditions. A tourist office assists visitors in making the most of their visit and seeing the local attractions.

Chiemsee

Address: Munich

Admission: The 'Neues Schloss' is open daily 9am to 5pm (April to September); 10am to 4pm (off-season)

One of the most beautiful lakes in the Bavarian Alps, Chiemsee boasts two islands and is lined with resorts. It can be reached by train from Munich in an hour, or by road via the A8 Autobahn. Visitors can take a steamer cruise around the lake from Prien on the west shore to explore the islands in the lake. Frauenchiemsee is the smaller island, site of a quaint fishing village with some colourful traditional customs, and a Benedictine nunnery known for its liqueur. The larger island, Herrenchiemsee, bears one of King Ludwig's famous fairytale castles. This one was never completed, but was intended to be a replica of the palace of Versailles. The centre of the palace still stands, complete with a splendid hall of mirrors and surrounded by gardens and woodland. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction with its gaudy splendour.

Romantic Road

Address: Munich

To experience the best of medieval Germany hundreds of visitors drive, bus or cycle their way along the Romantic Road, a 180-mile (290km) route between Munich and Frankfurt that links together a string of quaint, well-preserved walled towns dating back a thousand years or more. The towns en route have banded together to market their attractions and ensure Romantic Road travellers are well informed and accommodated. Bicycles can be rented at any train station along the road, and tourist offices along the route provide maps and information. Best known of the towns on the Romantic Road is Rothenburg in the Tauber River Valley. Other favourites among the cute towns are Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen.

Oktoberfest

Where: ,Munich

When: 18 September to 3 October 2010

At the end of September/beginning of October each year all roads in Munich lead to the Theresienwiese, a giant grass meadow about the size of 20 football fields near the centre of the city. The occasion is the world's biggest party, the Munich Oktoberfest. The field becomes a beer-drinking city, complete with its own post office, police force and fire department, and most importantly numerous huge tents, erected by the various Bavarian breweries, that serve as massive beer halls. The first keg is tapped in ceremonial style to open the two-week celebration, which draws hundreds of thousands of revellers from all around the world. Apart from the rollicking beer halls where traditional Bavarian bands belt out their old favourites, the festival offers a host of carnival games and fun park rides, as well as stalls selling a range of German delicacies.

Fasching (Carnival)

Where: Viktualienmarkt,Munich

When: 16 February 2010

Marking the period before Lent, carnival season or Fasching in Munich is a time of parades, elaborate costumes, masked balls and street parties that reaches its peak on Shrove Tuesday and is when most of the festivities take place, including the traditional dance of the market women. The streets are lined with food and drink merchants and the whole city turns up at Viktualienmarkt in fancy dress costume to eat, drink and dance the night away. For more information contact Fremdenverkehrsamt München on (0)89 23 396 500 or email tourismus@muenchen.de

Munich Ballet Week

Where: Nationaltheater and Prinzregententheater,Munich

When: 2 - 9 May 2010

The talents of the internationally recognised Bavarian State Ballet are exhibited every year during the week-long Ballet Festival alongside various international guest ensembles of high acclaim. Of long-standing tradition, the event encompasses modern and classical dance.

Munich Opera Festival

Where: Nationaltheater,Munich

When: June to July 2010 TBA

The Opera Festival is the most important event on the city's music calendar, held every summer since 1876 in one of the world's most beautiful opera houses. Enthusiasts from around the world gather to listen to the renowned Bavarian State Opera, with a programme of about 70 different performances. Two free, open-air performances are also held outside the opera house in the square.

Café Glockenspiel

Address: Marienplatz 28 Munich

Food Type: International

For breathtaking views of Munich, the ideally situated and aptly-named Café Glockenspiel overlooks the famous Glockenspiel clock. With friendly and efficient wait staff and delicious and wholesome fare, the café is the most frequented in Munich and is a popular meeting place for locals and tourists alike and a great location to enjoy a spot of people watching either over a meal, sunny breakfast, coffee or after work drinks. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bookings recommended.

Hirschgarten

Address: Hirschgarten 1, Nymphenburg Munich

Food Type: German

A popular beer garden that sees locals mingling with international visitors, Hirschgarten is the largest open-air restaurant in Munich featuring hunting lodges and lakes and is an ideal location for tourists to mingle with the locals - over a couple (or more) of pints! Star off with potato, marjoram and bacon soup followed by prime boiled beef with fresh horseradish and salted boiled potatoes or the mouth-watering Roast venison from the haunch with a mushroom cream sauce, Swabian egg pasta and lingonberries. For something sweet try caramelised pancake slices with raisins and apple sauce. Delicious! Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tantris

Address: Johann Fichte Straße 7, Schwabing Munich

Food Type: Mediterranean

Serving some of Schwabing's finest haute cuisine, and boasting one of Munich's best chefs, the exterior of this restaurant is misleading, but step inside and you are magically transported into another world where fine wines and décor are accentuated with tantalisingly tasty and attractive dishes. The menus can cover three to eight courses and are offered for lunch and dinner. Try the Terrine of duck liver with braised figs and roasted duck breast, medallion of young venison saddle with red cabbage and semolina dumpling and let your taste buds be thrilled by the chocolate soufflé with marinated port wine figs and vanilla-brittle ice cream. Perfection! Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Reservations essential.