Munich - A Hotspot For German Culture And History   by Ben Pate

in Travel    (submitted 2011-06-20)

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, a region of Germany. It's the third-most populated city in Germany with around 1.3 million people living there. Known as a cultural hub of Germany, it's home to many museums, parks, theatres, and more, as well as being the location for the world-famous beer festival, Oktoberfest. The city itself is so interesting, making it a great location for a trip. You will have to get a passport before you can go though, but all you need to do is fill out a pass port application.

If you want to make your trip planning a little bit easier, go online to get your passport. Passport expediting sites make the process so easy. They offer official passport applications that you can fill out and turn in online. There are applications for other services too, like a online passport renewal. The best part is being able to choose how quickly you'd like your passport delivered. If you need it in two days, they can do it. This definitely beats having to wait 8-14 weeks.

Marienplatz is the biggest public square in Munich. If you are looking for a great place to start exploring, this is a the spot. All through Munich's history, it has served as a public square and gathering place. It's held on to this purpose, serving as a spot for locals and tourists to gather and people-watch, grab a nice meal, do some shopping and more. In the square are some important landmarks, but Marienplatz's central location puts you near several others, along with the train station. Be sure not to miss the glockenspiel at 11am and 5pm, it's definitely worth visiting to check out.

If you like castles and palaces, you won't be disappointed in Munich. Schloss Nymphenburg is one of the most famous sites in all of Munich. This beautiful Baroque palace was the summer residence of the rules of Bavaria, and it features stunning art, even on the walls. It also has an impressive park, and the combination of the park and the palace make it a popular spot to visit. Also be sure to visit Schloss Schleißheim, also a Baroque palace, and Residenz, the old castle found in the City Centre.

Alte Pinakothek is one of the best-known museums in Munich as well as in Europe. It houses quite an impressive collection of 14th through 18th century art created by the world's best artists: Rembrandt, Botticelli, Da Vinci, and much more. You can honestly find a museum for any art style in Munich, and there are a variety for some interesting subjects, such as the BMW Museum, the Jewish Museum, and one of the largest technology museums in the world, Deutsches Museum.

If you love animals, be sure to visit the Munich Zoo, one of the biggest zoos in the world. This zoo is actually a geo-zoo, a special type where animals live in communities like they do in their natural habitats. This way, when you are walking through the zoo, it's like being on a safari or in a nature preserve.

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This is just a sampling of the variety of things to do in Munich, so do some research to perfect your itinerary. In the meantime, make sure you get your passport. Start by going online and filling out a U S passport application. If you need other services, like a renewal, there is also the passports renewal form and others as well.