Next to the Olympiapark, the glass-and-steel, double-cone tornado spiralling down from a dark cloud the size of an aircraft carrier holds BMW Welt (bmw-welt.com; free; tours adult/child €18/14), truly a petrol-head's dream. The first thing you notice when emerging from the Olympiazentrum U-Bahn station is the building's striking, statement architecture, especially the double-cone tornado spiraling down from a dark cloud the size of an aircraft carrier. Apart from its role as a prestigious car pick-up center, this king of showrooms acts as a shop window for BMW's latest models and a show space for the company as a whole.
Straddle a powerful motorbike, marvel at technology-packed saloons and estates (no tire kicking, please), browse the "lifestyle" shop or take the 80-minute guided tour. On the Junior Campus, kids learn about mobility, fancy themselves car engineers and even get to design their own vehicle in workshops. Hang around long enough and you're sure to see motorbike stunts on the staircases and other petroleum-fueled antics.
And if your budget doesn't stretch to a new Rolls Royce Ghost (yes, BMW make those), you might at least be in a financial position to buy a branded pencil in the astronomically expensive BMW Welt Lifestyle & Accessory Shop. Otherwise leave via the double cone to reach the museum.
