Munich is the state capital of the German state of Bavaria. After Berlin and Hamburg, Munich is Germany's third largest city with a population of about 1.4 million. The Munich metropolitan area is home to around 3 million people. The city is located on the river Isar, at 48°08'N 11°34'E. Munich is one of the centers of the "new" German economy as a center for biotechnology, software and other service industries.The city's motto is "Die Weltstadt mit Herz" (The world city with a heart).

The airport of the Bavarian capital is the second largest international airport in Germany. It was opened in May 1992 and has had an average of 548 take offs and landings each day. The airport is located 28 km northeast of the city centre and offers both bus and train connections. The Main Train Station, Hauptbahnhof, is located in the centre of Munich, only approximately 2 km from the central square Marienplatz. More than 800 long-distance trains and regional trains arrive and depart every day.