Runway to Ride: Sofia - Bucharest - Munich

One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, Sofia dates back to the 8th century BCE. Its landmarks reflect more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupations. Sofia houses numerous museums, notably the National Historical Museum which has a vast collection of more than 650,000 historical items. Sofia is one of the hippest cities in Bulgaria, boasting a lively nightlife scene with many different nightclubs, live venues, pubs, mehani (Bulgarian traditional taverns), and restaurants. The city also offers large green spaces and manicured gardens, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mount Vitosha are just a short bus ride away.

Visit and discover the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church, National Historical Museum, Banya Bashi Mosque, Church of St. George, Vitosha Boulevard, Mount Vitosha, National Palace of Culture, St. Sophia Church, St. Nedelya Church, National Art Gallery, Central Sofia Market Hall, Cherni Vrah, Sofia Synagogue, Church of St. Petka of the Saddlers, Museum of Socialist Art, and so much more.

Once known as the 'Little Paris', Bucharest, Romania's capital, is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, and glorious Belle Epoque buildings. There is even an Arc de Triomphe on a boulevard longer than the Champs Elysees, with a variety of trees that flower beautifully in the spring. You will be intrigued by the city's eclectic mixture of architecture, from old monasteries and Orthodox Churches, to Second Empire mansions, the stolid Stalinist architecture of the communist years, and the colossal Parliament House, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.

Visit and explore the amazing Palace of Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, King Michael I Park, Cismigiu Gardens, National Museum of Art of Romania, Stavropoleos Monastery, Arcul de Triumf, Revolution Square, National Museum of Romanian History, Cotroceni Palace, Mogosoaia Palace, University Square, Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, and so much more.

Big city style and rural charm, Alpine character and Mediterranean verve, art treasures and the Oktoberfest, traditional customs and high technology, beer gardens and haute cuisine, operas and cool bars; these are all ingredients that makes Bavaria's state capital so endlessly fascinating, and so popular with visitors from around the world. Sprawling Munich is one of Germany's major cultural centers, second only to Berlin in terms of museums and theaters. It's also one of Germany's most festive cities, and its location, at the foot of the Alps, is idyllic. Munich's self-imposed image is that of a fun-loving and festival-addicted city - typified by its Oktoberfest.

Explore Marienplatz and the New Town Hall of Munich, Frauenkirche - Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady, Dachau Concentration Camp, The English Garden, Beer Halls, Viktualienmarkt, Residence Palace of Munich, Deutsches Museum, Museums Ensemble: Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, Olympic Stadium of Munich, BMW Museum and much more.