Top Rated Attractions in Munich

Built for the 1972 Olympic Games, the Olympic complex is now used for a variety of leisure activities ranging from sports events to concerts. The 287-meter (942-foot) high Olympic Tower boasts a stunning view of the city. On a good day, visitors can go up and see as far as the Alps. There is also a rotating restaurant at the top. The famous canopy roof which spans the Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Swimming Pool and the Olympiahalle were a topic of debate in their day. The complex is, however, timelessly beautiful and has become an integral part of the modern cityscape. The Olympiaberg (Olympic Hill) is a grassy mound made from Second World War rubble and also provides great views. The ice rink and swimming pool are also popular with sports fans, as is the Olympic Stadium, home to FC Bayern Munich- one of Europe's top football clubs.

The BMW Museum is more than just a company museum. Located next to the enormous BMW Tower (built in 1970-73) which dominates Munich's northern skyline with its characteristic four-cylinder shape, this museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the different eras of motorized transport. Opened in 1966, the museum also serves to illustrate the unrivaled success story of the BMW company. The permanent exhibition Zeithorizont has been on display since 1991. BMW lovers, come indulge!

Completed in 2005, the 69,901-seat Allianz Arena is home to the popular football club Bayern Munchen and was built just in time for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, the arena is unique with its round shape and soft white facade that comes alive once it is illuminated in bright hues during games. The stadium is climate controlled and often abuzz with the roars of massive crowds cheering for their favorite teams. It also boasts of 106 luxury boxes for those wishing to go as a group. A hub of sports and culture in Germany, the stadium exudes unbridled energy of the nation's love for football.

Founded in 1911, the Munich Zoo Hellabrunn concentrates on nature preservation in the Isar area. Various animal presentations like 'Flipper parade' by Sea Lions, 'Jungle Patrol' by Indian Elephants and 'Banded Mongoose in action' are very popular. As a Geo-zoo, one can see a number of various species of animals and birds at Tierpark Hellabrunn, including sea lions, birds of prey and pelicans inhabiting the area of their geographic concentration. Various special events, guided tours and trips are undertaken by the zoo as well.

Set along the Isar River, this impressive museum has been inspiring science and technology enthusiasts for a very long time. It is known as one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. Since its foundation in 1903, the exhibition area of the Deutsches Museum has been gradually expanding, and will probably continue its expansion in the future. This museum is unique, concentrating on the history and development of technology and natural science with spellbinding exhibitions on Pharmaceutics, Astronomy, Microelectronics and a whole lot more. Numerous objects and interactive models, such as a planetarium and coal mine, are used to demonstrate mankind's progress over the centuries, which are especially popular with children.

Munich's first puppet theater was founded in 1858 by Josef Leonhard Schmid and the Count of Pocci. Architect Theodor Fischer was commissioned to build a new theater in 1900, and the result was the first-ever theater dedicated to puppets. It is just as impressive today as it was a hundred years ago, and continues to draw in punters young and old who come to laugh at Kasperle (the German equivalent of Punch and Judy) and listen to fairy tales from around the world.