Luxury holidays in Munich

When to go

Winters can be long and hard but whilst it is definitely busy in the summer, nothing beats a cold bier in the shade of a chestnut tree under the blue and white Bavarian sky. The Oktoberfest is hectic with hotels and flights overpriced and fully-booked, but it’s still a memorable (or perhaps slightly hazy) event (www.oktoberfest.de).

Getting there

• Planes

  Franz-Josef-Strauss airport in 25 miles north of the city with regular flights by national carriers and budget airlines. The €10 airport bus is the best way into town (www.autobusoberbayern.de); the S-Bahn train stops at every station taking seemingly forever | and taxis are around the €60 mark.

• Trains

  The extensive S-Bahn (overland) and U-Bahn (underground) systems work like clockwork, as do the strassenbahn (trams) and buses. International trains arrive at the centrally located main train station.

• Automobiles

  With the excellent public transport network | a car is unnecessary.

• Taxis

  The best place to find a cab is at one of the many taxi ranks but if you do see one for hire, just hail it down; they should stop unless they’re a stone’s throw from a rank. There is an extra charge for luggage but prices are reasonable.