Munich – that’s “Oktoberfest,” right? Was that your first association?

Well… yes. Parades and beer tents and the general atmosphere of a time-honored country fair. That’s what you get when you travel to Munich in the Fall – between September 20 and October 5 this year, to be exact. BUT there is so much more to Munich… let me show you.

Beautiful baroque architecture…

The Marienplatz and Liebfrauenkirche…

… parks and beer gardens…

… and lots of things to see in the vicinity. You could go on a day trip to King Ludwig’s castle Neuschwanstein (inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella castle)…

… a folly that actually cost the king his life – he was found drowned in a nearby lake, most likely a political assassination motivated by his enormous spending spree on fairytale castles.

You could go on a day trip to see the Alps and the picturesque little town of Mittenwald …

… or, even better, stay there for a while for mountain hiking. Also less than 200 miles away is Lake Constance with its fully restored Bronze Age village…

… absolutely worth the detour.

For your stay in Munich, I recommend as your homebase the hotel Bayerischer Hof – traditional, elegant, centrally located (with the most famous dirndl shop right next door!) and the additional benefit that the Oktoberfest parades go right past its front entrance.

Once you are in Germany, what about traveling a bit further north for a Rhine river cruise past countless medieval castles…

… and a visit to the medieval city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber – also home to one of the most famous “Christkindlmaerkte” (Christmas markets) in all of Germany?

I am sure you’ll love it. Again – send photos!