Munich, German München , MunichiStockphoto/Thinkstockcity, capital of Bavaria Land (state), southern Germany. It is Bavaria’s largest city and the third largest city in Germany (after Berlin and Hamburg). Munich, by far the largest city in southern Germany, lies about 30 miles (50 km) north of the edge of the Alps and along the Isar River, which flows through the middle of the city. Pop. (2003 est.), 1,247,873; (2011) 1,348,335.