Bavaria Filmstadt

Movie magic made in Munich is the draw of the Bavaria Filmstadt, a theme park built around Bavaria Film, one of Germany's oldest studios founded in 1919. The top-grossing German film of all-time,Das Boot, was among the classics shot here but today's German audience is more interested in sets of the family soap, Marienhof. Films and TV are still produced today, and who knows, you might see a star during the guided 90-minute tours. The 13:00 tour is in English.

The crash-and-burn Stunt Show (show only around €9.50) is a runaway hit as well while kids are particularly fond of the wacky 4D cinema (tickets around €5.50) with seats that lurch and other special effects from silly to spooky. The Filmstadt is in the southern suburb of Geiselgasteig, about 14km from the Altstadt. Take the S2 Silberhornstrasse, then tram 25 to Bavariafilmplatz. Admission is free on your birthday (ID required).