How to get to Munich in 2025 – your transport guide in Germany

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Table of Contents:

Why to travel to Munich

When to travel to Munich

How to get to Munich

Munich public transport

Car rental in Munich

Accommodation in Munich

What to see & do in Munich

Where to go from Munich

Why to travel to Munich

Munich is the administrative center of the Bavaria region and one of the largest cities in Germany. Munich is also one of the main cultural and tourist centers of the country along with the capital of Berlin. You can find here a large number of historical and cultural attractions, museums, and architectural sights that have been preserved here. Munich is also considered to be the starting point for traveling around the cities and countryside of Bavaria, where you can visit natural attractions, castles, palaces etc.

I would like to recommend travellers to book almost everything for visiting Munich in advance! I mean plane tickets, hotels, transfer or car rental services, tickets for attractions, etc. This city gets packed with travellers. Some of them are staying in the city, some of them travelled around the region, but anyway the last thing you need is to waste your time waiting in a queue for hours!

When to travel to Munich

Munich, like almost everywhere in Bavaria, has a rather mild climate. The main weather features are:

• Temperatures here are mostly moderate;
• it can be sometimes rainy, especially during the spring and autumn time;
• snow rarely falls, and if it does, it often melts immediately.
• The winds are also moderate.

The “high” tourist season in Munich is the period from May to October, when the weather is mostly warm, but not hot, which is comfortable for long walks. In the spring and summer, short rains are possible, so it is advisable to have an umbrella with you. As for autumn and winter, the average air temperature is cooler, but rarely drops to minus degrees.

In addition to the period from May to October, the Christmas holidays are also considered to be the “high” season in Munich, as the city is famous for its festive fairs. During this period, the weather stays at a level of +2 to -2 degrees, rarely falling below. It can be a bit snowy, but then it usually melts quite fast. Often it can be snowless at all during the Christmas holidays.

As I found out, it doesn’t get hot in Munich either. Even in July-August, the temperature stays at around +20, +25 degrees, so sometimes it makes sense to have long-sleeved clothes with you, especially during the evenings. If you plan to travel outside of Munich, then you need to consider that in the mountainous regions like Bavarian Alps the air temperature is always cooler, regardless of the season.

How to get to Munich

How to get to Munich from the airport

Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport is located 30 km from the city center and consists of 2 terminals. There are several ways to get from the airport to the city.

By train: Trains depart from the airport throughout the day, going to the center of Munich. You can get to the city by train in about 45 minutes; they depart from terminal No. 1 every 20 minutes.

By bus: Also, city buses depart from terminal No. 1, the duration of the trip varies greatly depending on traffic. On average, it is usually from 50 minutes to 1 hour and sometimes a bit more.

By taxi: You can also get to the city by taxi. Travel time also depends on traffic. You can order a taxi at the information desk upon arrival, or in advance via online transfer services such as Kiwitaxi or Intui.Travel. I carefully read the reviews of these online services and most of them are positive, so I can recommend both of them.

Munich public transport

Munich is a large city, so public transport is needed here to move around. Please note the Old Center of Munich (the so-called “Altstadt”) is completely pedestrian, it is forbidden to use a car here. If you are going to visit, for example, the BMW Museum or the Nymphenburg Palace, then you definitely need to use public transport too.

All possible means of transport are available in Munich, including the city underground (U-bahn), commuter trains (S-Bahn), trams and buses. All of them are managed by a single transport system, called MVV. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:

• Public transport operates all day, except for the period from 2 to 5 am.
• Munich is divided into special transport areas. It means the farther you need to move away from the city center, the more expensive the ticket costs for you.
• There are no barriers and turnstiles in the Munich underground, and tickets must be stamped either in special machines (at the metro station) or inside transport (if it is a bus or tram).

Munich has a different combination of public transport tickets. When purchasing a ticket, it is important to pay attention to the coverage area. According to the number of rides, city transport tickets are divided into one-time, one-day, three-day, 10-time tickets.

◊Take a note! For trips around the whole region of Bavaria, you may use special tickets which are called the “Bavarian tickets”. Check the current train timetable at the Raileurope service. I use this online service pretty much often and I can totally recommend it as it helps me a lot to sort available options to find out the best suitable for me.

Car rental in Munich

Car rental in Munich is a very popular option among tourists. And although a car is not very useful for getting around the city, this option is almost ideal for trips around the Bavaria region. Arriving in Munich, many travelers continue their journey throughout the whole Bavaria region, and there can be found a lot of interesting destinations here, including:

• Franconia with its gingerbread towns, such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bamberg, Regensburg and others;
• thermal resorts of Bad Kissingen and Bad Reichenhall;
• the Bavarian Alps (Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen);
• Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof castles;
• Chiemsee and Königssee lakes;
• Kelheim Danube Fault and much more.

Public transport is often not enough to see some of these destinations, and then car rental comes to the rescue.

You can rent a car both at the airport and at the city center. For example, at the airport it is located about 9 different rental offices if not more. To register a car for rent, it is enough to have a passport (or ID card), a driver’s license and a bank card. You can book the desired class of car before arrival via special online services, including Discover Cars, Economybookings and many others. I use both services regularly and, in my opinion, they are pretty much convenient when you need to sort and compare a huge number of available options.

◊Take a note! It can be wise to compare a few booking services to choose the best offer.

Accommodation in Munich

Munich offers a wide variety of accommodation options, including hotels of all-star categories, apart-hotels and apartments, B&B`s, family-type guest houses and more. As a rule, all city taxes are already included in the final price. Additional options and services vary from hotel to hotel, so you should carefully read the conditions when booking.

Usually, Munich is ready to offer its guests a wide range of accommodation, however, if you come to the city for the holiday period, for instance, for Oktoberfest, or the Christmas holidays, then it is better to look for a place to stay in advance. Based on my research, some of the hotels below have excellent reviews from tourists, so keep them in mind:

Aloft Munchen 4* – This design hotel is located close to the Munich Central Station. Major tourist attractions are within 1 km distance from the hotel. The hotel offers a cafe, a fitness room, currency exchange, luggage storage, paid parking and other facilities. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. You may choose among various themed rooms, each of them is equipped with a telephone, radio, satellite TV, safe, air conditioning, iron, hairdryer, mini-bar. The hotel gets the best reviews for the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, the location of the hotel and the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Standard check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.

Hotel Olympic 3* – This hotel is located in a quiet area of the city, somewhat away from noisy tourist trails; but there is a metro station nearby, from which it is convenient to get to the train station or at the historical center. Paid private parking is available at the hotel upon request, but reservations in advance are required. Wi-fi is provided free of charge. The hotel has rooms with different options, but all of them are equipped with an iron, TV, telephone, mini-bar. Breakfasts are included in the price. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the hotel gets the best reviews from the guests for the location, the work of the staff and the cleanliness of the rooms. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.30.

Arthotel Munich 3* – The hotel is made in the style of pop art and is located near Munich Train Station and the historical center. Public transport stops can be found close to the hotel; you can get directly to Munich Airport from it. Private parking is possible on site, but reservations are required. Wi-Fi is available and is free of charge. The hotel has standard rooms and business class rooms for one, two, three or four people. The rooms have a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, TV, mini-bar. Buffet breakfasts are included in the rate. The hotel gets the best reviews for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and the work of the staff. The hotel also has an ATM, luggage storage, and a tour desk service. The front desk welcomes guests 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.

What to see & do in Munich

Munich has a great number of attractions, both historical and modern, both man-made and natural. Numerous cultural monuments of different times have been preserved here; new modern complexes and museums have been built, as well as gardens, parks and one of the largest zoos in Europe.

There is always something to do in Munich, no matter what. You can always mix historical sightseeing with a trip to the modern BMW Museum, and make a break, when visiting the museums, to go into year-round parks and gardens. Of course, people go to Munich not only to see the city, but also to see its famous surroundings such as castles, palaces, natural attractions and amusement parks.

Marienplatz square, Cathedral and Town Halls

Marienplatz, or Mary’s Square, is the central square of Munich. It is a monument of St. Mary at the center of the square. The square is surrounded with the fascinating medieval buildings such as Old Town Hall and New Town Hall. The Old Town Hall dates back to the 15th century, and although it was partially destroyed during the Second World War, it was reconstructed and preserved in the Gothic style. Today, the building is a Toy Museum, where you can see a collection of toy trains, cars, airplanes, bears, dolls, Barbie dolls and robots. I found out detailed information for visiting the museum:

• The Toy Museum is open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm
• The entrance fee is 6 euros for adults and 2 euros for children; the family ticket costs 12 euros

The New Town Hall was constructed in the 19th century, and it is made in the neo-Gothic style. There is an observation deck in the tower of the New Town Hall, which offers a romantic view of Marienplatz and the surrounding areas. In addition, the building is decorated with a gigantic clock, which presents scenes from the history of Bavaria with various puppet figures. To see it with your own eyes, it is enough to be on Marienplatz at 11.12 or 17 o’clock in the afternoon. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:

• The Town Hall observation deck is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm
• The entrance ticket costs 6,5 euros. It can be bought either at the ticket office or online in advance

There are two outstanding churches near Marienplatz called Peterskirche and Frauenkirche. Peterskirche is considered to be the oldest church in Munich, its construction dates back to the 12th century. The architectural style of Peterskirche is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque, since part of it was completed already in the 18th and 19th centuries. The church is crowned with a 91-meter tower. You can climb at the top, if desired.

• The tower of Peterskirche is open daily from 9 am to 7.30 pm during the summer time and from 9 am to 6.30 pm during the winter time
• The entrance fee is 5 euros

The main City Cathedral of Munich is the Frauenkirche, the construction of which dates back to the 15th century. The domes of its towers have bulb-shaped form, which is not typical for the vast majority of pointed cathedrals in Germany. There is also an observation deck at the top.

• The tower of Frauenkirche is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm (Monday-Saturday) and from 11.30 am to 5 pm (Sunday)
• The entrance ticket costs 7,5 euros for adults and 5,50 euros for children; the family ticket costs 21 euros

A few more notable cathedrals have been preserved in Munich, including the Theatinerkirche collegiate church and the late Baroque Azamkirche church. Both of them are famous not only for their unusual facades, but also for their interior decoration. Here you can find stucco, paintings, frescoes, marble figures and statues of saints. It is definitely worth visiting too.

Nymphenburg Palace and Munich Residence

Nymphenburg was once the palace of the Bavarian dukes; now it is a museum and is open for visitors. It is made in the Baroque style with elements of Rococo and looks surprisingly similar to the French Versailles. The construction of the palace dates back to the middle of the 17th century, when Versailles gained incredible popularity in Europe. Nymphenburg is definitely worth visiting not only from the outside, but also from the inside. The halls of the palace are simply amazing with their luxury and design. There are several huge ballrooms, apartments of the dukes, rooms made in oriental style, portrait galleries and even an exhibition of ducal carriages. Nymphenburg is surrounded with beautiful gardens where you can find a pond, fountains and canals. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:

• Nymphenburg palace is open from 9 am to 6 pm (April – October) and from 10 am to 4 pm (November – March)
• The entrance ticket (Nymphenburg palace + exhibition of ducal carriages + garden buildings) is 15 euros; the entrance ticket (Nymphenburg palace only) is 8 euros

The Munich Residence is also a well-known architectural sight in the city. Here, for example, is the treasury of Wittelsbaresting collections. In total, more than 130 halls and rooms are open for visitors; each of them keeps the history of the palace. The residence is located near Marienplatz and is open daily. After some research, I discovered the followich dynasty has been preserved. You also can see here the rooms dedicated to rare antiques, porcelain and other inteng practical information:

• Munich Residence is open from 9 am to 6 pm (April-October) and from 10 am to 5 pm (November-March)
• The entrance ticket for visiting Residence is 9 euros; the entrance ticket for visiting the Treasury is 9 euros. The combination ticket (Residence + Treasury) is 14 euros.

Museums in Munich

The museums of Munich have truly unique collections. The main art museums of the city are the Old and New Pinakotheks. The first one contains a collection of art objects from ancient times up to the 18th century. The second one contains a collection of paintings from the 19th-20th centuries. There is also the so-called Glyptothek museum, which contains a huge collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. I found out some information for visiting:

• The Old Pinakothek museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays); the admission fee is 7 euros;
• The New Pinakothek is temporarily closed due to restoration works;
• The Glyptothek is daily from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays). On Thursday it is open until 8 pm. The admission fee is 6 euros.

If you are more interested in the achievements of science and technology, then it makes sense to visit the German Museum, which exhibits collections dedicated to the achievements of mankind in the natural sciences. Rare car models, model aircraft and even a submarine, as well as a planetarium, an exhibition of robotics and much more can be found in this museum.

• The German museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
• The admission fee is 15 euros. If needed, you also can purchase a family ticket which costs 31 euros.

Of course, Munich is known throughout the world among car enthusiasts as the home of the BMW Museum. Here you can see both the very first retro models and modern technological achievements. The museum has a futuristic design and attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.

• The BMW museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays)
• The entrance ticket costs 10 euros. If needed, you also can purchase a family ticket, which costs 24 euros

English Park, Munich Botanical Garden and Hellabrunn Zoo

The central park area of the city is the English Park, which covers an area of more than 6 km in length. This is a favorite vacation spot for locals. Walking through the park, you can stumble upon, for example, a Chinese tower, a small temple, or even a lake where local water birds live.

The Munich Botanical Garden is located next to the Nymphenburg Palace. The garden is divided into an arboretum, a lake area and a rose garden. Each part of the Botanical Garden is attractive in its own way, as it contains unique flora from all over the world.

• The Munich Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm
• The entrance ticket costs 5,5 euros

Hellabrunn Zoo is considered to be one of the largest zoos not only in Germany, but in Europe, where animals are kept in conditions close to nature. The zoo is divided into geographical areas. Walking through the territory of the zoo, you can visit all the continents of the world.

• The Hellabrunn Zoo is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm (April-October), from 9 am to 5 pm (November-March)
• The day ticket costs 18 euros for adults and 7 euros for children

Where to go from Munich

As I see it, the surroundings of Munich are no less interesting than the city. These, in particular, include the famous Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles, the Royal Lake in the foothills of the Alps on the border with Austria, as well as the Legoland entertainment park. The choice is up to you.

Castles of Bavaria

Perhaps, the Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof castles are well-known to any tourist who is going to visit Bavaria or has already been there. All 3 castles belong to the romantic period of history in Germany, which explains the architectural style of the buildings. A trip to the castles usually starts from Fussen.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the middle of the 19th century, and the history of its construction is covered with many romantic legends. By the way, it is this castle that is taken as the basis of the Disneyland Palace.

Hohenschwangau Castle is located near Neuschwanstein Castle and is also built on a hill. It was constructed somewhat earlier than its counterpart, but the style is the same and belongs to the times of romanticism.

Linderhof Castle is definitely worth seeing not only from the outside, but also from the inside, as beautiful interiors, painted by the best European artists and decorated with tapestries, sculptures and mirrors, have been preserved here. 10 halls are open for observation, as well as the grotto of Venus, built like a cave inside the building.

Countryside around Munich

Having been tired of city landscapes, you can always go out for a day or two to the countryside, since the main natural places are located close to Munich. These include, in particular, the Chiemsee and Konigssee lakes or the Zugspitze Mountain in the Bavarian Alps; the world’s only inland fjord of Kelheim on the Danube River; the Bavarian Forest and Berchtesgaden National Parks and much more that may be interesting, depending on your preferences.

Legoland entertainment park

For children, a visit to the Legoland amusement park, which is located in the town of Gunzburg in the west of Bavaria, is a real pleasure. The LEGO Park is divided into 8 themed areas. In addition, there is an exhibition of European cities in miniature, so visiting the park is interesting for both children and adults. And on the way back, you can see the city of Gunzburg, which can be attributed to the typical gingerbread towns of Bavaria.

Photo above the article: Werner Bayer