Munich

Munich is home to one of the world’s largest urban parks—just slightly larger than New York’s Central Park. Torch some calories walking around Lake Kleinhesselöhe, then reward yourself with a bite and stein of Paulaner at Seehaus, a beer garden locals visit year-round (there’s even ice skating on the lake come winter). The park boasts internationally influenced structures, including a 75-foot-tall wooden Chinese Tower (an homage to a Chinese emperor’s porcelain pagoda) with a beer garden seating 7,000 people, as well as a small Greek-style temple called the Monopteros that offers fantastic views of the city. Forget your swimsuit? Visit Schönfeldwiese, the lawn where folks sunbathe au natural. The most bizarre site within the park? That award goes to the gutsy surfers who ride the River Isar’s swells in the English Garden year-round. Temperatures range between 34 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you plan to join in the fun, bring a wetsuit and some serious guts.