This year’s big event for the baking industry, iba 2006, will take place October 3-9, sending food manufacturing and equipment developing Herrs and Fraus from various parts of the globe to convene in Munich, Germany. According to iba, the figures for the “World of Baking” event look promising, with roughly 1,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries scheduled to give visitors an incoming wilkommen.

As in previous years, more than 70,000 national and international visitors will have a chance to schmooze with their peers, meet with industry meisters, discuss which industry trends are verboten, and, best of all, visit a city that is just plain wunderbar.

The show will run daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 10 halls at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. Tickets cost 22 euro for a one-day pass, 30 euro for a two-day pass and 54 euro for a full pass. All tickets to iba include free travel to the show via local public transportation. Simply take the U2 until you reach the Messelgelande stop.

For show pre-registration, hotel and exhibit information, visit www.iba.de, which also has information on transportation, booking hotels, finding restaurants and sightseeing. Show-goers can even book conference rooms to hold business meetings during iba.

There are other services available to make hotel and various travel arrangements. Packages can be arranged through “smart and more GmbH” by visiting www.smartfairs.de or by e-mailing fairs@maritz.de.

Munich is much more than just a place to host a trade show. Known as the “metropolis with heart,” this European destination inspires wanderlust in even the most dedicated homebodies. Its bustling city center has much to offer, while at the same time maintaining a spirit of Bavarian gemütlichkeit — a welcoming, lively atmosphere.

While Munich, or München in German, is not the country’s capital, its elaborate palaces and stately gardens hearken back to the monarchy of Bavaria, giving it an air of great importance.

When an economic boon ushered in by hi-tech heavyweights such as car manufacturer BMW are factored in, Munich’s magnetic allure is easy to understand. Outsiders swarm to the city in droves — scholars come to study; the well-heeled dabble in real estate; and writers, painters, musicians and film-makers make Munich their muse. While foreign nationals now make up more than one-fifth of the population, Munich’s more familiar face is that of a humble homeland whose townsfolk relish life. A zest for drinking, feasting and festing is kept up year round in vast biergarten tents and cafés throughout the city.

Despite its cosmopolitan ambience, exploring all of Munich in one fell swoop is quite feasible. An added bonus is the city’s dramatic backdrop — think edelweiss, the Von Trapp family and a certain feisty fraulein named Maria — snow-dusted Alpine mountains and pristine lakes all a mere hour’s drive outside of the city.

iba-goers are in luck — October is one of the best times of year to visit Munich. — All of the biergartens, street markets and. most notably, Oktoberfest, are in full swing.

The word Oktoberfest is synonymous is any language, bringing to mind beer, beer and more beer. Whether or not you tip back a pilsner, lager or stein, Oktoberfest — the world’s largest beer festival — in Germany is not to be missed. If you’re in Munich before iba begins, you can raise your own frosty mug at the real deal, September 16-October 3.

The beer-themed bash’s origins stem from ancient Bavarian Brewing Regulations, in which King Ludwig I prohibited brewing beer in the summertime, making it necessary to store large quantities of winter beer in a cool place. His subjects stored barrels of the golden brew under the shade of chestnut trees — an integral part of any biergarten — so once summer rolled around, the only obvious thing to do was to imbibe on the spot. The custom has continued to this day, making for a biergarten season that lasts from spring until autumn, morgen, mittag and nacht.

When in a Munich biergarten, do as its native beer-festers do, and order a mass — one liter — or two of beer, munch on a light brotzeit — a cold snack typically consisting of pretzels, radishes, cheese and salad — and seriously consider using public transportation to take you back to your hotel. In most biergartens — Oktoberfest included – beer is served only in mass mugs, whereas weissbier, which is brewed from wheat, can be chugged from half-liter glasses.

Navigate your way through the merry-making with a map of the fest. (See iba-3.)

In Germany, you’ll find that Frankfurters come from Frankfurt, Hamburgers hail from Hamburg, and Vienners call Vienna home. Instead, why not try an evening of good food and exceptional entertainment Munich-style.

Munich offers an unforgettable eating experience for every kind of gastronome, with everything from nouvelle cuisine paired with fine wines to traditional, stick-to-your-ribs Bavarian fare with a side of home-brewed beer. Whether you have a comfy café, boisterous bierhaus or chic eats in mind, the city is sure to have palate pleasers for all tastes and budgets.

Taste-test at the following establishments:

Serves nouvelle cuisine and offers patrons entertainment from an extraordinary cabaret, along with an acrobats and tightrope artistry program.

Address: Arnulfstraße
Phone: (Palazzo hotline): 01805-666 780

Take a trip back in time to King Arthur’s Court at this medieval banquet. The three hour-long meal gives guests a choice between five, six or 10 courses. Medieval table manners required, as are reservations.

Address: Residenzstraße 27
Phone: 089/29 69 73

Experience the Arabian Nights, Munich-style. Serving Lebanese specialties, this large restaurant accommodates 210 diners and belly-dancers.

Address: Kaulbachstaße 86
Phone: 089/33 37 38

Don’t be fooled by this haus’ moniker. It doesn’t serve fast food at all, but instead refers to the 90 minutes diners have to gobble their dinners between admission time and the start of the evening’s line-up of stand-up comedy and improve theater.

Address: Oberanger 38
Phone: 089/26 39 86

This restaurant dishes up traditional Bavarian cuisine, along with a varied range of music styles and performances, including theatre, opera, comedy, musical, jazz, Brazilian, cabaret and classical music.

Address: Brudermühlstraße 2
Phone: 089/77 21 21

Every first and third Sunday of the month, someone commits murder, and the guests who come to dine have a chance to solve the mystery over a four-course meal.

Address: Brunnerstr. 2
Phone: 089/308 89 66

If you’re looking for a little night music, take the plunge into Munich’s lively nightlife scene. While some bars and clubs offer a more relaxed atmosphere, with cozy sofas and light bites, others feature live acts and entertainment.

Get your funkengrooven on at these venues:

This popular restaurant, café and bar is perched on top of one of the main Marienplatz buildings, giving night owls a fabulous view of the inner city. Reservations recommended.

Address: Marienplatz 28
Phone: 089/26 42 56

Schmooze with locals at this popular bar that has a relaxed, friendly Cheers kind of vibe.

Address: Wittelsbacherstrasse 15
Phone: 089/201 00 59

This small nightclub is right in the city center and offers an eclectic mix of independent music, tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and Britpop. Its 1960s decor makes for an unpretentious atmosphere for individualists. Live acts.

Address: Neuturmstraße 6
Phone: 089/228 30 54

Situated next to a lively biergarten, this trendy club features the latest music. Its quiet lounge area creates a romantic atmosphere. But hardcore partygoers beware — things don’t get going until midnight.

Address: Sophienstraße 7
Phone: 089/59 86 79

For those seeking out a classy venue for dancing to live music. Featuring everything from Latin to rock — without teens — this café has a connecting restaurant and bar.

Address: Maximiliansplatz 5
Phone: 089/59 59 00

Whether you are a history buff, are interested in architecture or art, or just want go for a stroll through the old monarchy’s sprawling parks and gardens, take some time to see the sights of Munich.

Peruse this list of must-see sights:

This beloved beer hall has been around since 1644 and lives up to its stereotypical German reputation. Beer, Bavarian food, oom-pah music, drunken revelry and Lederhosen abound. Make sure to check out the wall of beer steins, personalized and kept under lock and key for regulars.

Address: Am Platzl 9
Phone: 089/22 16 76

Waltz through Munich´s famous 900-acre English garden along shady paths, babbling brooks and ponds filled with swans. Best known for its four biergartens — Chinesischer Turm, Seehaus, Hirschau and Aumeister — the park also features an oddity: nude sunbathers. Address: Between Prinzregenten Street and Freimann

This baroque palace is situated in the western part of Munich, and is one of the city’s renowned attractions. Palace highlights include King Ludwig II’s apartments, the majestic banquet hall — complete with ceiling frescoes — and a landscaped park, ideal for exploring.

Address: Schloss Nymphenburg 1
Phone: 089/17 90 80

Some tourists have a more structured approach in mind, and Munich offers a wealth of organized tours. Guided tours are available to take on foot or by rented car, bus, bike, or taxi, and even can be found in 23 different languages and four different sign languages.

For those travelers who yearn to explore in an extraordinary way, the city offers tours by raft, hot air balloon, airplane or carriage.

The Munich Transport Service (MVV) is another great way to get around and offers an online itinerary planner, helping visitors find the quickest route to popular destinations, and even providing alternatives and taking platform changes into account.

When it comes to shopping, Munich truly offers a diverse experience, with a hodgepodge of designer labels mixed in with typical Bavarian gifts such as Lederhosen and dirndl — traditional Bavarian women’s dress — leaving shoppers feeling like kinder in a candy store as they stop in boutiques, century-old street markets, second-hand bookshops or glamorous purveyors of international haute couture.

Within Munich’s City Center, there is a wide selection of shops for every budget.

Find out which shopping area suits you best:

This boulevard, courtesy of King Ludwig I, is one of the most exclusive areas in Munich and has even earned the city the nickname “Italy’s Most Northern City.” Here, you can find luxury shops of international acclaim tucked in among the Bavarian Parliament, Maximilianeum and the Nationaltheater, which houses the Bavarian State Opera.

This street connects Marienplatz, the central square, with Odeonsplatz and Ludwigstraße, and is a hot-bed for luxury items. It also houses traditional cafés and bistros, in addition to an arts cinema that shows international films with subtitles.

This boulevard between Marienplatz and Karlsplatz/Stachus showcases the medieval city gate Karlstor and has been Munich’s busiest shopping area since the 1970s. Individual shops and cafes can be found in this heavily walked pedestrian zone.

Known as one of the most typical shopping districts, this small street leading from Marienplatz to the medieval city gate — Sendlinger Tor — south of old town is home to a variety of mom-and-pop-run shops. Ideal for the bohemian shopper, this spot features arts and crafts, artsy posters and plenty of hole-in-the-wall cafes for relaxing the evening away.

Frequenting Munich’s Viktualienmarkt, or “victuals market,” offers visitors quite a display for the senses. Rows and rows of vendors’ stalls offer everything from eye-catching fresh fruit and vegetables to aromatic European cheeses, tasty sushi and hand-crafted straw puppets. Originally getting its start as a farmer’s market, over the years, it has evolved into a market for foodies. Offering exotic ingredients not available anywhere else in the area, it is renowned for its diversity and size. 140 stalls and shops sell flowers, fruit and vegetables, venison and fowl, eggs, butter, honey, fish, meat, sausages, herbs, spices, wine, tea and more.

Open: Weekdays: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
S-Bahn lines 1-8, U3 or U6, Bus 52 to Marienplatz, then walk towards Tal and turn right behind St. Peter’s church

This quaint market is named after Bavarian princess Elisabeth, who later became the Empress of Austria, and is a relaxed version of the Viktualienmarkt. Its range of goods are similar to its bustling counterpart, and 24 stalls sell cheese, meat, fowl, wine, herbs, bread, fish, fruit, vegetables, flowers, organic products and even home-made beer.

Open: Weekdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
U2 exit Josephsplatz; Tram 27 exit Elisabethplatz

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When traveling overseas, having emergency information at your fingertips is not only practical, but crucial. The following Munich phone numbers can offer help lickety-schnell in difficult situations.

Fire Brigade 112
Emergency Medical Services 112
Poison Emergency Telephone Service 089-19240
Patient Transport Ambulance 089-19222

Munich truly is a European treasure trove that marries the best of Old World Bavarian culture with fast-paced city life. Whether you’re interested in its history, cuisine or simply its beer, this multi-faceted city has much to offer and leaves its visitors echoing the Von Trapp family in singing “So long, fair well, auf wiedersehen, goodnight.”