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BMW Museum and BMW Welt (BMW World)
The BMW Museum in Munich provides a fascinating account of the iconic Bavarian company's transport technology, through its vintage cars, mementoes and historic film footage. Forming part of the same complex as the museum is the free BMW Welt centre, an airy piece of space-age architecture that exhibits various BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce models. The BMW Plant Munich is also here, where guided tours allow visitors to see the various stages of the production process.

Olympiapark
Am Olympiapark 2
Munich
80809 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 1250 16001.
Web: www.bmw-welt.com
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Bavaria Film Studios
The tour of Germany's 'Film City', where around 150 hours of cinema and TV films are produced every year, reveals the tricks of the film industry, including the making of films such as Das Boot (1981), Cabaret (1972), Die Unendliche Geschichte, better known as The NeverEnding Story (1984), and Perfume - The Story of a Murderer (2006), with Dustin Hoffman, as well as many German TV series. Included in the full-price ticket is entry to a 4D motion simulation cinema as well as a humorous interactive attraction known as Bullyversum. In peak season, English tours are available at 1300 daily.

Geiselgasteig
Bavariafilmplatz 7
Munich
82031 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 6499 2000.
Web: www.filmstadt.de
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (mid-Apr-Oct); daily 1000-1700 (Nov-mid-Apr).
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Deutsches Museum (German Museum)
Munich's vast German Museum presents a dauntingly comprehensive survey of science and technology, from prehistoric tools to space-age inventions. Permanent interactive exhibitions are organised around various themes, including aerospace, computers, mining, technical toys and telecommunications. Next door, the Forum am Deutsches Museum (German Museum Forum) houses a planetarium and a 3D cinema. Another branch of the museum, Flugwerft Schleissheim (Schleissheim Aerodrome), located at Germany's oldest aerodrome, Effnerstrasse 18, Oberschleissheim, focuses on aviation history.

River Isar
Museumsinsel 1
Munich
80538 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 21791.
Web: www.deutsches-museum.de
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Englischer Garten (English Garden)
The English Garden is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, and even bigger than New York's Central Park, and provides an oasis in the heart of busy Munich. Locals and tourists come to stroll, cycle, sunbathe, picnic and even swim in the river. Other attractions include the Seehaus restaurant and the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), both with great beer gardens, the Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse) and the Monopteros, a Greek-style temple. During summer months, there is boating on the Kleinhesseloher (a lake in the centre of the park) and open-air concerts and theatre at the scenic Amphitheater.

Englischer Garten
Kleinhesselohe 3
Munich
80802 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 3866 6390.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes

Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum)
This recently opened museum, near the Stadtmuseum, is dedicated to the long history of Jewish culture in the Bavarian capital, and is located on the site of a pre-war synagogue. It succeeds a much smaller attraction on Maximilianstrasse, and offers three floors of exhibitions, including a special section explaining general Jewish history and religious topics. There are various temporary exhibitions, often relating to topics such as exile to persecution, and each floor also has a dedicated study area for those undertaking serious research.

Altstadt
Sankt-Jakobs-Platz 16
Munich
80331 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 2339 6096.
Web: www.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Marienplatz
Marienplatz has been at the heart of Munich since the city's foundation in 1158. For centuries it was known as the Schrannenmarkt (the place where merchants came to buy and sell goods) but was renamed after the Virgin Mary in 1854. The square's north side is entirely dominated by the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in the 19th century. Miniature statues of Bavarian rulers adorn the hall's façade, while the 85m (279ft) tower houses a 43 bell glockenspiel with mechanical marionettes. Visitors can ascend the tower by lift. Nearby, other buildings of note include the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and, just a stone's throw from the square, Frauenkirche cathedral, where an intriguing mark known as the 'Devil's Footprint' remains embedded in the church floor.

Altstadt
Marienplatz
Munich
80331 Munich
Germany
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fee: No
Disabled Access: Yes

Münchner Stadtmuseum (City Museum)
For a true taste of Munich's eclectic personality, head to the City Museum. The diverse collections, which include musical instruments, marionettes, weaponry, photography and fairground rides, give a considered overview of the city's different cultural and social strands. Local history is thoroughly documented, with special focus on periods such as the National Socialism era and the Cold War years in which Munich acted as West Germany's "secret capital". A permanent collection entitled 'Typisch München!' ('Typically Munich!'), showcases a 400-strong assortment of items that leads visitors through the various periods of the city's story.

Altstadt
Sankt-Jakobs-Platz 1
Munich
80331 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 2332 2370.
Web: www.stadtmuseum-online.de
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission Fee: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes

Olympiapark
Ever since the 1972 Olympic Games, the Olympiapark has been one of Munich's landmarks, with its striking skyline and massive tower - the tallest reinforced-concrete construction in Europe. Today, the park is a major centre for sport and recreation - a veritable green lung just north of the city centre, built on the Olympiaberg (Olympic Hill), which was constructed from wartime rubble. Alongside the arenas are picnic areas, playgrounds, an artificial lake, a mini train and the 291m-high (955ft) Olympiaturm, which grants superb views and houses a small rock 'n' roll museum. There is also a memorial on nearby Connollystrasse which marks the building where Israeli athletes were held hostage during the 1972 Games with tragic consequences.

Olympiapark
Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21
Munich
80809 Munich
Germany
Tel: (089) 30670.
Web: www.olympiapark.de
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fee: No (but there's a charge for tower and stadium)
Disabled Access: Yes

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