Englischer Garten

The sprawling Englischer Garten is among Europe's biggest city parks - bigger than even London's Hyde Park and New York's Central Park and a favourite playground for locals and visitors alike. It stretches north from Prinzregentenstrasse for about 5km and was conceived in 1789 - coincidentally (or perhaps not) the year of the French Revolution - as a 'garden for the people' by Elector Karl Theodor.

The design job went to Benjamin Thompson, an American-born scientist working as an advisor to the Bavarian government and at one time as its war minister.

Paths piddle around in dark stands of mature oak and maple before emerging into sunlit meadows of lush grass. Locals are mindful of its popularity and tolerate the close quarters of bicyclists, walkers and joggers. Street musicians dodge balls kicked by frolicking children, and students sprawl on the grass to chat about missed lectures.

Don't even think about spending the night in the park! Muggers, drug fiends and proselytisers often keep the cops busy till dawn.