Located within eyeshot of the snowcapped Alps, Munich is a city of broad boulevards and baroque facades. Founded in 1158 on the River Isar, it acquired its name (home of the monks), from its first monastery, where the beer brewing tradition began. Beer has been served at the world-famous Hofbräuhaus since it became a royal brewery in 1605. There’s an air of jollity and conviviality, and the beer flows freely to the strains of Bavarian oompah music and songs.
The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg, and a popular tour takes you to the film’s iconic sites. Wander around the pretty gardens and trick fountains of Schloss Hellbrunn. Shop for treasures on Getreidegasse and visit the house where Mozart was born. Don’t miss Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke, the oldest pharmacy in Salzburg, opened in 1588.