From my table in the outdoor beer garden, overlooking a large open-air plaza, I enjoyed a lunch of traditional German delicacies, accompanied by an ice-cold beer. I looked around and thought, “Ah, yes, I’m in Munich.” The beer was as tasty and the food as decadent as I would have expected from the old-world city known as the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest.

But I had yet to set foot in the city center. In fact, I had yet to leave the airport. I was enjoying the moment at Airbräu, Europe’s first airport microbrewery. In most cities, the airport is not considered a must-see destination. Munich, however, is not like most cities.

There is a lot to experience during a layover at Munich Airport (MUC), dubbed the Airport for the People. Travelers and locals alike comingle at the airport, located about 20 miles from the city center. Designed to promote a stress-free atmosphere, the facility’s open, airy layout is flooded with light.

During my time at the airport, I opted for some rest and relaxation at the Fit & Fly Spa at the on-site Kempinski Hotel, but there is a whole slew of other activities to entertain travelers between flights. Warm weather ushers in a beach volleyball court and 18-hole mini-golf course, while winter brings an ice-skating rink and the annual Christmas market. On a year-round basis, changing exhibits showcase local artists, and the on-site 60-seat cinema shows aviation-themed films daily. Exclusive arrangements with store owners guarantee the prices at the more than 150 airport shops are equivalent to those in the city, transforming the airport into a shopping mecca for residents and tourists.

It is worth ensuring you have more than just a layover’s-worth of free time in Munich. I enjoyed a day of meandering the city streets, drinking in the abundance of sites, sounds and smells. My journeys took me all around the city, from BMW World and Olympic Park to the Nymphenburg Palace and the English Garden. Munich’s distinct Bavarian character is unrivaled by other German destinations. I was continually swept up in the charm of the city.

Later, I found myself at a table in the Hippodrome, one of the many Oktoberfest tents. With a trademark gingerbread cookie around my neck and a beer heavier than most weights I lift at the gym, I thought, “Ah, yes, I’m in Munich.”