The locals of Munich are justifiably proud of their captivating city, and visitors are quickly taken it by its unique tempo of life. Set against a timeless backdrop of stately Bavarian architecture, the streets are filled with life, colour and a year-round spirit of celebration. From breathtaking porcelain and garden art at the Nymphenburg Palace (and the unmissable Hall of Mirrors of Amalianborg) to the Neo-Gothic New City Hall, culture is in joyful abundance here. Lovers of literature will find utopia at the Bavarian State Library, a truly astonishing creation and one of the most important libraries in Europe while more earthy pleasures can be found at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall, dating back to the 16th century and filled with all the gusto of Oktoberfest all year round. Settle onto a picnic rug and panoramic views over the city at the amusingly named Englischer Garten, an English-style royal fancy, larger than Central Park and Hyde Park and strewn with follies and even a Japanese Tea House.