Munich a city trip
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is known for its culture, impressive architecture and the famous Oktoberfest. Here, tradition and modernity are harmoniously combined. A city trip to Munich offers something for every visitor.
A central point of attraction is Marienplatz, the heart of the city, where the imposing New Town Hall with its world-famous carillon stands. In the immediate vicinity is the Frauenkirche, whose onion domes are one of Munich’s most striking landmarks.
Art lovers will find a variety of museums and galleries in the city. The Alte Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne form an impressive trio, presenting works ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art. For technology enthusiasts, the Deutsches Museum is a must. It is one of the largest science and technology museums in the world and offers educational and entertaining interactive exhibitions.
Nature lovers will get their money’s worth in the English Garden, one of the largest city parks in the world. Here you can take relaxing walks, watch the surfers on the Eisbach or enjoy Bavarian specialties in one of the traditional beer gardens.
Munich is also known for its festivals, above all the Oktoberfest, which attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Munich is also world-famous for its beer culture. The city is home to many traditional breweries such as Hofbräuhaus and Augustiner. Beer gardens are a central part of Munich’s food culture, where you can enjoy a cold beer and simple Bavarian dishes under chestnut trees.
Munich’s gastronomic offerings are as diverse as the city itself. From traditional Bavarian cuisine to international specialties, there is something for every palate. Traditional Bavarian cuisine entices with veal sausage, pork knuckle and meat loaf.
Discover sights in Munich
All about the culinary arts
Staying overnight in Munich
Staying in style in Munich - the Maritim Hotel Munich is just the right choice. Conveniently located, not far from the city center and its sights, the hotel was the ideal starting point for a city tour.
Holiday Inn – the niu, Loco Munich North, an IHG Hotel
Maritim Hotel München
Louis Hotel
Eurostars Book Hotel
Living Hotel Das Viktualienmarkt
Travel information
Travel options
By plane
Munich Airport “Franz Josef Strauß” is about 40 km from the city center. Two S-Bahn lines run from there to the city center. The S8 takes around 40 minutes and travels via the eastern part of the city center. The S1 takes a good 50 minutes via the western parts of the city. There is also an express airport bus that takes 45 minutes to the city center. Various airlines offer connections from this airport to destinations all over the world.
Memmingen Airport is a good 110 km from Munich. Mainly low-cost airlines fly from there. The airport can be reached by car via the A96 and regional trains.
By train
Munich Central Station is still a huge construction site until around 2040. Train services will continue to operate.
The station is a terminus station with currently 32 above-ground and 2 underground tracks. In addition, there are subway tracks of the Munich Transport Association that run beneath the station.
Due to the renovation work, the services at the station are severely restricted. There are two large areas for luggage storage. However, many of the lockers here are broken. The waiting areas are not very inviting and there are only a few benches.
Another long-distance train station is located in the Haidhausen district. Munich Ostbahnhof is a stop for long-distance trains to Austria and Italy.
Munich-Pasingen station is located to the west of the city. ICE and IC trains also stop there.
By bus
The central bus station (ZOB) in Munich is located in Arnulfstraße, about 10 minutes from the main train station. You can reach it by S-Bahn or streetcar by getting off at the Hackerbrücke stop. Various long-distance bus providers serve international destinations from ZOB Munich.
By car
Munich can be reached by road from all directions. The A8, A9, A92, A94, A95 and A96 highways lead to the city. The A99 is a ring road around the city center that is not yet completely closed.
By bike
The Munich-Venezia long-distance cycle route and the Munich-Regensburg-Prague cycle route run through the city.
On foot
If you like walking, you can cover around 550 km and 20,000 meters of altitude in 28 stages along the signposted “Traumpfad München-Venedig” trail.
On the road in Munich
By car
As in any big city, traveling by car in Munich is not always stress-free. In addition to many traffic jams, it is also difficult to find a parking space.
By bike
There are many well-signposted cycle paths through the city.
On foot
Large areas of the city center between the main train station and Isartorplatz are pedestrian zones.
By public transport
Public transport is ideal for exploring the city. With MVV tickets, you can use all local transport services. For example, the network borders extend to the districts of Erding, Freising, Dachau, Starnberg, Ebersberg, Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Fürstenfeldbruck, Miesbah and Rosenheim.
The subway only runs in the city area and Garchingen. The 7 S-Bahn lines connect the city with the surrounding area. The streetcar criss-crosses the entire city area. Almost all lines run above ground, which is very popular with visitors to the city as you can see many interesting places. An additional 40 different bus routes run through Munich.
Public transport fares change every year. The prices are divided according to zones and ticket type. The central city area is in fare zone M.
Tickets can only be purchased from ticket machines or kiosks. The ticket machines are located in the vehicles or on the platforms. It is also possible to use the cell phone ticket. This requires one of the apps from MVV (MVV app), MVG (MVGo also bicycle rental) or the Munich S-Bahn (München Navigator also Bayerntickets).
The following ticket types are available:
- Day ticket – any number of journeys in one day.
This type of ticket is offered as a single day ticket for one adult. If you are traveling with up to 5 adults, it is worth using the cheaper Partner Day Pass. Even with 2 adults, this was cheaper than the Single Day Pass. - One-way ticket – one person and one journey in one direction
Interruptions and transfers allowed
Validity of the ticket: 3 hours - Short trip – four stops, including a maximum of 2 subway stations
Validity: 1 hour - The CityTourCard could also be worthwhile for tourists. This also includes discounts on some admission prices.
- Isarcard – weekly ticket
Parking
There are Park&Ride parking lots on the outskirts of Munich that offer inexpensive day passes.
There are hardly any free parking spaces within the Mittlerer Ring. In the city center, prices in the parking garages are at least €3 per hour. A parking guidance system in the city center shows the free spaces in the parking garages.
Best time to visit
Munich’s climate is influenced by the neighboring Alps: Heavy and often long-lasting downpours are a threat in the north. A special weather phenomenon in Munich is the Föhn: a Mediterranean low creates dry, mild and warm weather on the northern side of the Alps, especially in spring and fall, with far-reaching views, while the rest of Bavaria is covered in clouds. The Föhn leads to complaints such as headaches with a bad mood or tiredness in some people.
Spring (March to May)
Temperatures gradually rise in spring. In March, temperatures are around 9°C, in May they can reach up to 18°C. Spring becomes increasingly humid, with an average of 9 days of rain in March.
Summer (June to August)
Temperatures are pleasantly warm, with highs of 21°C in June and up to 23°C in July. The average temperatures in summer are between 20°C and 25°C. There is an average of 14 days of rain per month in summer, with the highest rainfall in July. Afternoon thunderstorms are also notorious in the summer months. These move in from the neighboring Upper Bavarian lakes to the southwest all the way to Munich.
Autumn (September to November)
Temperatures start to drop, from around 18°C in September to 9°C in November. Autumn is less rainy than summer.
Winter (December to February)
Temperatures are colder, with average values around freezing point. In January, temperatures can drop to -1°C.
Language
German is spoken relatively frequently in the city, which is characterized by Bavarian influences. Here are a few tips to make communication easier:
Semmel = bread roll
Grüß Gott = good day
Weissbier = wheat beer
Streetcar = streetcar
Servus = hello; goodbye
Pfiad Di = Have a good day
Schleich’ Di = Get lost!
Bast scho = It’s all right; it’s OK
But it is also easy to speak english!