The heart of Munich is bisected by the Isar River, flowing northwards from its source 60km (37mi) away in the Bavarian Alps. Most of the city's sights are clustered on the river's left bank. It's a 15-minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof to the Altstadt, the historic old centre - just head east through Karlsplatz (aka Stachus) and along the pedestrianised Kaufingerstrasse. It's difficult to get lost if you use the twin onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche as a landmark. The grand old square Marienplatz lies at the heart of the Altstadt, with the former royal palace to the north. Southwest of the Hauptbahnhof there's the gentrified Westend and the Oktoberfest grounds at Theresienwiese. The university is north of Marienplatz at Schwabing, bordered by the Englischer Garten (English Garden), Europe's largest park. Schloss Nymphenburg is around 7km (4.3mi) northwest of the centre, and Olympiapark is to the north. The area around the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) enjoys a huge selection of accommodation, while the nearby Westend district is stuffed with appealing cafes. There's a major pub and restaurant quarter east of Marienplatz, and plenty of window-shopping along Maximilianstrasse.

Getting from museum A to beer hall Z is simple: either promenade with the Müncheners along the central pedestrian zone from the Hauptbahnhof to Marienplatz or catch a ride on Munich's excellent public transport network (MVV). The system is zone-based and most places of interest are within the inner-city white zone. The underground will get you to most of the sights, with buses filling in the gaps. A novel but expensive way to get around is via pedicabs. You can also cycle your way around the city.