English Garden, Munich

At 370 hectares, Munich’s English Garden is one of the biggest city parks on Earth. On sunny days, it’s a favorite spot for residents and tourists alike to go for a stroll, exercise or just kick back and have a beer. The latter option is best done in the beer garden at the Chinese Tower. To wash down the beer, such typically Bavarian fare as "Haxn" and "Hendl" (pork legs and roast chicken) can be had. Four times a week, a brass band plays in the pagoda. The musicians are the only ones allowed inside: for safety reasons, access to the tower above ground level has been closed to the public since the 1970s. Every Sunday from May to September, a traditional Bavarian morning pint with brunch is served, featuring Bavarian veal sausage and pretzels.

The season’s highlight here is the traditional Kocherlball (cooks’ ball), Munich’s biggest folk dance event. Then the dance floor at the Chinese Tower is standing-room only: close to 10,000 people attend the annual festival.