The city has a continental climate, strongly modified by the proximity of the Alps. Because of the cities sticky altitude and proximity to the northern edge of the Alps, precipitation is rather high. Rain storms often come violently and unexpectedly. The range of temperature between day and night or summer and winter can be extreme.

International names and designer fashion can be found next to typical Bavarian gifts and clothing such as Lederhosen and Dirndl. Discover a truly diverse shopping scene.

Whether you are a party person or rather prefer a couple of drinks in a relaxed bar Munich has something to offer for everyone. Of course like in any other city the hip locations change all the time. But there are a couple of places that have been popular for a long time now or are just classics of the night life.

Marienplatz is the historic centre of the city and from here you can walk around to the various sights, such as Neus Rathaus with the famous Glockenspiel carillon, St Peterskirche a gothic church, Maximilianstrasse a very glamorous shopping street, the Residenz and Nymphenburg Palace, a bit further out of the city.

As well as many museums such as the Egytian Art Museum, Residenzmuseum and the Bavarian National Museum, Munich has a great food market called Viktualienmarkt, which is well worth a visit throughout the year, and many gardens such as the English Garden, which is one of the biggest in Europe. Dachau, situated close to Munich, is also a popular if unfortunately sad, day trip.

The Munich beer festival, or Oktoberfest Beer Festival as it is also called, is one of the many festivals held in Munich, which is known as a cosmopolitan city with small town friendliness. This is the largest beer festival in the world, held every year in mid September and runs for about two weeks. During this time everyone in Munich heads to Theresienwiese, south west of the Hauptbahnhof, a huge green area near the centre of the city. This field becomes a mini city, with its own post office, fire department and police, as well as myriad of enormous tents set up by the Bavarian breweries to serve beer all day long and host Bavarian bands that play old German favourites. The first keg is tapped in the opening ceremony and doesnt stop flowing for the two weeks.