Munich Transportation | Germany for Visitors

ABOVE: A conventional train and a high-speed ICE train in Munich's Hauptbahnhof.

Arriving in Munich

Munich International Airport (MUC) is Germany's second-largest airport in terms of traffic, with more than 100 airlines carrying an estimated 34 million passengers between Munich and 244 cities on four continents. It's less hectic than Frankfurt (Germany's other major international gateway), and the Munich Airport Center shopping mall has a full range of services, including a ticket office of the German Federal Railways.

S-Bahn train From the airport, S-Bahn lines 1 and 8 (see below) run to the city center, with stops that will put you within easy walking distance of most hotels. Travel time is about 40 minutes.

Another option is the Lufthansa Airport Bus, which runs every 15 minutes and stops at Munich Nord/Schwabing on its way to the Hauptbahnhof (Munich's main railway station). Allow 25 minutes to Munich Nord/Schwabing or 45 minutes to the city center.

Deutsche Bahn, a.k.a. German Federal Railways, has two major stations in Munich: the Hauptbahnhof on the western edge of the city center, and the smaller Ostbahnhof to the east of downtown. The two stations are connected by S-Bahn, which runs directly through the city center with stops near the major tourist attractions, department stores, and hotels.

Local transportation

Marienplatz U-Bahn and S-Bahn station Munich and its suburbs have two rapid-transit systems: the S-Bahn, which runs to the airport and suburbs, and the U-Bahn, which is comparable to the London Underground or the Paris Métro. You can use the same tickets on both systems within the central fare zone; if you go outside the center (for example, to Dachau), you'll need to pay a higher fare.

Tram sign Munich also has trams and buses. For the most part, though, you should be able to get around on foot, with an occasional S-Bahn or U-Bahn trip to outlying attractions like the Allianz Arena, the BMW Museum, or the Olympic Park.

For English-language information on the city's transit system, visit the MVV Web site, which has timetables, maps, and ticket prices.

Also see our article, How to Ride the U-Bahn and S-Bahn in Munich.