Munich is the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. It is the capital of the state of Bavaria and has an estimated population of 1.35 million (2007 Census). The current official motto of Munich is 'Munchen mag Dich' or 'Munich Loves You' in English. Prior to 2006, the motto was 'World City at Heart'. The name Munich is derived from its native name Munchen, which means Monk and is the reason for the image of the monk in the city's coat of arms. The city has one of the strongest economies in Germany and is the home to the BMW headquarters.

During the WWI, life in Munich became very difficult as the Allied blockage of Germany lead to food and fuel shortages in the city. Post WWI, the city lay in political unrest and in 1923 Hitler and his supporters attempted to overthrow the Weimar Republic by Staging the Beer Hall Putsch. The attempt failed and the Nazi party was crippled but managed to recover and regain Munich as a Nazi stronghold. The Second World War left the city ruins after being bombed by the Allied parties. The city was later on slowly rebuilt and was even the site of the 1972 Olympics. In 2007, the Mercer HR Consulting Agency named the city among the top 10 cities with the highest quality of life in the world.

The city is known for its architecture and is slowly becoming a popular tourist destination. The cityscape is a mix of traditional and modern architecture and it is considered to be one of the best historic destinations in the world.