If you ask the average traveler about this Bavarian capital, you’ll hear beer, beer, and more beer. The birthplace of Oktoberfest, Munich (pop. 1,380,000) is the third largest German city and one of the country’s most expensive. Often ranking high in livability surveys, Munich prides itself on producing some of the world’s finest brews, which are always plentiful in its historical beer gardens and beer halls. It’s difficult to believe that this affluent, beer-soaked city is where the Nazi NSDAP Party had its first headquarters. Hitler’s first attempt to seize power (the unsuccessful Beer Hall Putsch in 1923) took place in Munich, and the Führer himself spoke at some of the beer halls that you can still visit today. The first Nazi concentration camp, Dachau, is just 30min. away from the city. Today, Munich is trying to put much of this history behind it and has become a thriving center of European commerce with world-class museums, parks, and architecture. Salzburg (only 1½hr. away by train) is a popular daytrip for many Munchkins, er, Müncheners, and the fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein is a major tourist attaction.