Gay travel to Cologne this year is certainly going to be popular. Known as a Mecca for gays, this German city is host to the 2010 Gay Games from 31 July – 7 August. Everything is raring to go for this event that features sporting disciplines, festivals, fairs, parades and other cultural events.

Called the ‘gay Mecca’ in Germany, the city of Cologne is gearing up to host the Gay Games 2010 which take place from July 31 to August 7. Therefore gay travel to Cologne will be at its peak this year. The games obviously focus on sport disciplines; however they also include a number of colorful cultural events, fairs, festivals and parades.

It is the biggest sporting occasion for LGBT athletes, musicians, singers and artists. Any athlete can participate, regardless of his or her sexual orientation. When the first event was held in San Francisco in 1982 it was named the Gay Olympics. The aims and aspirations are to foster participation, sporting success, and inclusion.

Past host cities include San Francisco, New York, Amsterdam and Sydney. There will be a total of 34 disciplines that range from field and track events, to soccer, bowling, volleyball, wrestling, weight-lifting and chess. If you are planning a trip to Cologne during this time, it would be advisable to book early.

Over the years, the Gay Games has been hosted in Sydney, Amsterdam, San Francisco and New York. The 2010 event will feature 34 disciplines which range from wrestling and weight-lifting, field and track events, to volleyball, bowling and chess. Anyone planning a visit at this time should book accommodation early.

Cologne is Germany’s oldest city. It is located on the banks of the Rhine River. The city is always full of visitors who come to experience the rich, vibrant culture. The residents are jovial, friendly and helpful. There are so many gay clubs, restaurants and bars in Cologne that you would not be able to visit all of them in one holiday.

Gay visitors have a number of interesting and entertaining activities to choose from. These include a fun motorbike tour for women only, an exhilarating hike to stately castles, plus a tour that reveals the history of homosexuality in Cologne from the 19th Century through to 1969. You can also be part of the Rhenish Extravaganza, a lively annual carnival.

The Koln Tourismus Service Center even welcomes LGBT visitors with a Pink WelcomeCard. This center also offers free public transport and discounts on theater tickets, river cruises, opera performances and museums. You can also get discounts for gay bars, clubs, saunas and shops. With this in mind, gay travel to Cologne in 2010 is sure to be a big hit.

If you’re seeking a city that will offer you the perfect flavour of Germany, then let Munich guide you. As the third largest city in Germany, Munich has room to offer plenty of all the country’s best bits: a vibrant atmosphere, beautiful architecture, rich and varied cultural treasures and lots of activities.

Munich is home to visual spendours such as the Marienplatz town square, the Frauenkirke cathedral and the Residenze Palace complex. It is also close to the fairytale German castle of Neuschwanstein, which sits high in the Bavarian Mountains. And if that’s not enough, it is within easy reach of the home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the stunning town of Salzburg, the 14th century Ettal Monastery and Zugspizze – Germany’s highest mountain.

There’s plenty to please the eyes on a trip to Munich. Mostly, though, it’s the stomach that visitors heading to Munich are hoping to satisfy and the city is well equipped to oblige.

Munich has an enviable reputation for its excellent hospitality as the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest. The annual festival attracts between six and seven million visitors for its fortnight of celebrations. Vast beer tents are erected throughout the city serving millions of litre pots of delicious frothy German beer to eager mouths, offering the perfect guide to Munich life.

Oktoberfest always results in a rowdy but friendly atmosphere as beer drinkers from across the globe meet to toast the liquid gold. So if you are looking for a real guide to Munich, you could do a lot worse than visit one the city’s famous beer houses either during Oktoberfest or outside the festival, a warm welcome is always guaranteed.

Beer drinking is quite simply part of the heritage of Bavarian life and is lustily celebrated as waitresses wearing the traditional costume of dirndl and its low-plunging neckline serve up to eight litres in one go, at a time table to keep up with thirsty punters.

Munich is the perfect city break option – whether going with friends or family – being within easy reach of the UK and offering some superb centrally located accommodation. Just a few well chosen clicks and you’ll soon be on your way.

The city
Munich is the third largest city in Germany and the capital of Bavaria, Germany. The city’s name, also known as Munchen, is derived from the Old German word “Monche”, which means monks. The city, with its two local rivers (The Isar and the Wurm), lies about 50 km north to the edge of the Alps.

The Climate
Munich is known for rather high precipitation and has a continental climate. Violent and unexpected rain storms are common in the city. Temperatures can change completely within hours, differing extremely between winter and summer, and even between night and day.

Winters
Munich winters are rather cold, starting in December and lasting until March. Heavy rainfall is rarely seen in winter, but in January the average temperatures fall to around -1°C and snow can be expected. The snow cover lasts for at least a couple of weeks.

Summers
May to September is summer in Munich and is known to be fairly warm with average temperatures of around 22°C.

Architecture
The city is an inspiring mix of historic buildings and impressive architecture.  The National Geographic Traveler chose Munich as the 30th best destination of historic places around the world. The Frauenkirche,in the center of the city, is the most famous of all the buildings and serves as a cathedral. The large Residenz palace complex, begun in 1385, is another amazing building and a significant museum of interior decoration.

Markets
Munich’s most popular market, the Viktualienmarkt, is known for its fresh food and delicatessen. The Auer Dult is held three times a year on the square around Mariahilf church and is one of Munich’s oldest markets, well known for its hardware, tat and antiques. The Christkindlmarkt opens at Marienplatz three week before Christmas, selling Christmas goods.

Economy
Munich has the strongest economy as well as the lowest unemployment rate of any German city. The city is considered a global city and the economic centre of southern Germany, holding the headquarters of Siemens AG, BMW, MAN AG, Linde (gases), Allianz (insurance) and Rohde & Schwarz (electronics).  

Transport Network
Munich has one of the most comprehensive and very punctual transport systems in the world, incorporating the Munich U-Bahn (underground railway), the Munich S-Bahn (suburban trains), trams and buses.

South African citizens can get flights to Munich by visiting bestflights.co.za

The city is an integral part of the motorway network of southern Germany. {Motorways from Stuttgart (W), Nuremberg, Frankfurt and Berlin (N), Deggendorf and Passau (E), Salzburg and Innsbruck (SE), Garmisch Partenkirchen (S) and Lindau (SW) terminate at Munich, allowing direct access to the different parts of Germany, Austria and Italy.} Heavy traffic in an around Munich is very common. Traffic jams can be expected during rush hour and at the beginning and end of major holidays in Germany.

Cycling is recognized as a good alternative to motorised transport and the growing number of bicycle lanes are widely used throughout the year. A modern bike hire system is available in the central area of Munich that is surrounded by the beltway.

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