Flights to Munich with Air France from ZAR 11,924*

Munich's reputation as a global beer capital belies its world-class arts scene and impressive selection of museums

Munich is without doubt one of Germany's most appealing cities. A sympathetic post-war rebuilding and restoration programme preserved its original street plan and Munich is now a showcase for some of the best urban architecture, both old and modern, anywhere in Europe.

The third largest city in Germany with a population of 1.5 million, Munich is only about 30 miles from the Alps, which gives it a more unpredictable climate than some German cities. There are several high season hotspots when you'll need to book well in advance to get good-value airplane tickets from Johannesburg or Cape Town. The Oktoberfest is one such occasion, with this famous beer festival attracting millions of people from all over the world. The journey time of flights to Munich can be as little as 13 hours 30 minutes, with visitors arriving at the city's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport a little under 30km from the city centre.

The local currency is the Euro and with Germany being in the Schengen Area, the normal customs requirements and travel document regulations apply.

A stay in Munich offers you a chance to journey through time. Churches like the Peterskirche (14th century), the Asamkirche (18th century) and the best-known of all, the 15th century Frauenkirche reflect a variety of architectural movements, from Rococo and Late Gothic to Baroque. The Frauenkirche has capacity for an astonishing 20,000 worshippers. The south tower is open to visitors and affords stunning views over the city.

A holiday in Munich is a dream come true for museum-lovers and art gallery fanatics!

When we think of museums and galleries, Paris, London and New York instantly come to mind, but Munich has one of the most comprehensive selections of such attractions anywhere in the world. Egyptian artefacts, ancient Greek marbles, 20th century painting and Old Masters rub shoulders with puppets, pianos and performance cars. The Alte Pinakothek and the Neue Pinakothek are amongst the city's most famous galleries, boasting superb collections of art from the 15th to the 20th century. Anyone interested in Expressionism will be particularly taken by the Pinakothek der Moderne, which opened in 2002 and which also houses work by contemporary goldsmiths, Paul Klee and Jasper Johns.

This being Germany, it's not surprising that the city is also home to one of the biggest technical museums on the planet, the Deutsches Museum. If you like motor vehicles, airplanes and more generally, engineering and natural sciences, this is the place for you!

Other must-see sights in the Bavarian capital include:

• Neues Rathaus (city hall)
• Maximilianeum (parliament house)
• Siegestor (triumphal arch)
• Marienplatz (city centre square)
• Englischer Garten (huge city centre park)
• Viktualienmarkt (a popular food market)

Of course, Munich wouldn't be Munich without its iconic Oktoberfest. This festival is now over 200 years old, and centres around a number of huge beer tents serving various lagers, pilsners, wheat beers and more from the city's six largest breweries.

A number of Munich's star attractions are located a little way outside the city centre. Some, like the Allianz Arena, the home ground of FC Bayern Munich and the Nymphenburg Palace and gardens are accessible using public transport. Other sights, such as the nearby Alps, are best visited by car.