From the elegance of its grand boulevards to the brass bands that perform at the beer halls, visitors can see immediately that Munich residents know how to enjoy life. Munich contains more theatres than any other city in Germany, has a wealth of fine museums, a number of restful and appealing gardens and an ample selection of beer halls. Yet it's small enough to be digestible in one visit, and it has the added bonus of a storybook setting, with the mountains and Alpine lakes just an hour's drive away. Central Munich is easy to explore on foot. There are innumerable restaurants and cafés, fashion boutiques, art galleries and jewelers. Window shopping is one of the most popular pastimes all over the city, but especially along the pedestrian only Neuhauser Strasse and Kaufinger Strasse.
Two great art collections, the Old and New Picture Galleries are a short distance from the city center. The Englischer Garten is a veritable wonderland, with a boating lake, manicured lawns, and grassy knolls. The Hellabrunn zoo is one of the best in the world. The castles provide opportunities for experiencing the wonder of days gone by. Next to Berlin, Munich is Germany's most popular city.
