Are you planning a visit to Munich and wondering about the best way to get from A to B? You can confidently leave your car behind, because taking the bus in Munich is just as easy as taking the train. We’ll show you how to explore the city relaxed.
The entire public transport network is organized by the Munich Transport and Tariff Association (MVV). The best part: You only need a single ticket for all modes of transport – no matter if you transfer from the subway to the bus, the suburban train, or the tram.
What are you riding? The 4 most important modes of transport
The Munich transport network relies on four main modes of transport, which are easily recognizable by their symbols.
U-Bahn (Subway): Fast through the city
The subway is the backbone of local public transport. It mostly runs underground. During the day, it usually runs every 5 to 10 minutes. The stations are marked by a white “U” on a blue background.
S-Bahn (Suburban Train): Getting out of the city
The S-Bahn is the connection to the surrounding area. It is the first choice for trips to the airport, the suburbs, and popular excursion destinations like Lake Starnberg or the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. All major lines cross through the city center. S-Bahn stations can be recognized by a white “S” on a green background.
Tram (Streetcar): The scenic route
The tram (streetcar) often covers routes that the subways do not. It is excellently suited for medium to shorter distances within the city. Stops are marked with a green “H” in a green circle on a yellow background. Our tip: You get a great view of the city.
Bus: Right to your doorstep
The bus network is the perfect supplement and closes the gaps. Buses also take you to destinations that are a bit off the rails. This makes taking the bus in Munich a convenient solution for the “last mile”.
Zones and Tariffs: Easier than you think
The pricing in the MVV network follows a simple and fair logic: The fare depends on the number of zones traveled through. Short distances are cheaper, longer distances cost correspondingly more. Three areas are especially important for tourists.
Zone M (The heart of the city)
Zone M covers the entire Munich city area and thus all important museums, the old town, the English Garden, and also Nymphenburg Palace. For most sightseeing tours within the city limits, a ticket for Zone M is completely sufficient.
Zone M-6 (The greater Munich area)
This is the ticket for explorations beyond the city limits. It includes Zone M as well as all zones up to Zone 6. Munich Airport (MUC), for example, is located in Zone 5; the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and Lake Starnberg are also included in this ticket.
Zone M-12 (The gateway to the Alps)
This ticket area extends far into the Bavarian Alpine foothills. This makes day trips to Lake Tegernsee, Lake Schliersee, or even across the border into Kufstein, Austria, possible.
Pro-Tip: The Zone Check
To avoid any guesswork for a specific route, the official MVV app and the website offer the “ZonenCheck”. Simply enter your start and destination. The appropriate zone is determined and the right ticket is suggested.
Which ticket suits me? Find the perfect ticket
The MVV ticket range is diverse and tailored to different needs. Think briefly about what you plan to do, and you will quickly find the best and cheapest option for taking the bus & train in Munich.
For Sightseeing Fans: CityTourCard vs. München Card
At first glance, these two cards look very similar, which can lead to confusion. Both combine unlimited use of local public transport with discounts at tourist partners. They are available as single or group tickets.
The decisive difference lies in the profile of the discount partners.
- CityTourCard: This card offers discounts at over 100 partners and places a broader focus on experiences, tours, and gastronomy. It is available for 24h, 48h, as well as 3, 4, 5, or 6 days.
- München Card: As the official guest card of the city of Munich, it focuses heavily on municipal and state museums as well as cultural institutions, offering discounts of up to 70% here. It is available for 24h as well as 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.
The choice between these two cards depends on the planned activities and not on the use of public transport. The price should play a secondary role. It is advisable to make a short list of the desired attractions before buying and compare these with the partner lists of the respective card.
For flexible travelers: The Day Tickets
If you just want to get from A to B easily, the normal day tickets are the best choice.
- Single Day Ticket: Ideal for solo travelers planning more than two single trips in one day. The card is valid from the time of validation until 6:00 AM the following day.
- Group Day Ticket: The absolute best value for money for two to five people. Even for two adults, this ticket is cheaper than two single day tickets! Two children (6-14 years) count as one adult.
For the arrival and departure day: Airport-City-Day-Ticket
This ticket is brilliant for your first or last day. It is valid for the trip from the airport to the city (or vice versa) and then for the whole day for the entire Zone M. It is available as a single or group variant.
Buying & validating tickets: A simple guide
Purchasing and correctly using a ticket are straightforward for taking the bus & train in Munich.
Where do I buy my ticket?
At the ticket machine:
Modern ticket machines with multilingual menus can be found at all U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations. The machines accept cash (coins and bills) as well as common cards (debit card, credit card).
The process is usually:
Select language
→ Ticket category (e.g., “Day tickets”)
→ Zone (e.g., “M” or “M-6”)
→ Variant (“Single” or “Group”)
→ Pay.
Via Smartphone App
We recommend downloading one of the official apps like the MVV-App or MVGO before you arrive.
Tickets purchased as a “HandyTicket” are saved directly on the phone, do not need to be printed out, and are immediately valid. Payment is simply made via credit card, PayPal, or other digital payment methods.
Online in advance
Tickets can be bought, paid for, and downloaded as a PDF in the online MVV ticket shop. This can either be printed out or carried on the smartphone.
In person at the customer center
At large train stations like the main station or Marienplatz, there are customer centers where you can get personal advice and buy tickets.
On board the bus and tram
This is also possible, but often comes with restrictions. The machines in the vehicles frequently only accept coins.
Do I have to validate (stamp) the ticket?
YES! That is the most important step! A paper ticket that you buy at the machine is invalid without a stamp. That can be expensive if you are checked (€60).
How does it work?
When validating, the paper ticket is provided with a time and date stamp before the first journey. To do this, you insert the paper ticket into the slot of the small blue boxes, the “validators”. You can find them at the entrances to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn tracks and in the trams and buses. Validation must take place before starting the journey – so for the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, before you enter the platform area.
Which tickets do not need to be stamped?
- HandyTickets from the apps are valid from the time of purchase.
- Online tickets (PDFs) with a predefined validity day are also immediately valid.
- Tickets bought directly in buses or trams at the machine are usually already validated.
Practical tips for taking the bus & train in Munich
With the right ticket in your pocket (or on your phone), nothing stands in the way of exploring.
From the plane to the city
- Option 1:
The S-Bahn (S1 & S8) - Option 2:
The Lufthansa Express Bus. The coach offers a direct connection without intermediate stops between the airport and the main station (travel time approx. 45 minutes) as well as Munich North/Schwabing. It runs every 20 minutes and can be used by passengers of all airlines. Tickets are available online or directly from the driver.
Traveling without a valid ticket (Fare evasion)
Traveling without a valid and, if necessary, validated ticket is consistently punished. If checked, an “increased transport fare” of €60 is due, which must be paid immediately. Inspectors are frequently on patrol and make no exception for tourists.
Luggage transport
Taking normal luggage such as suitcases and backpacks is free of charge. There are no explicit size restrictions, but it is expected that luggage does not obstruct other passengers.
Dogs
One dog may be taken along free of charge per passenger, provided it is kept on a leash. A ticket at the child fare must be purchased for each additional dog.
Accessibility
The network is highly accessible. All U-Bahn stations and over 85% of S-Bahn stations are equipped with elevators or ramps. Low-floor buses with fold-out ramps and special parking spaces in the vehicles are standard.
Your public transport checklist for Munich
- Plan your zone: Decide at the beginning whether you will only be traveling in the city (Zone M) or if you also need trips to the airport (Zone M-6).
- Use group tickets: From just two people, the group day ticket is almost always the cheapest option for purely getting around.
- Use the app: Buy your tickets via the MVV-App or MVGO. This is convenient, safe, and you avoid the need to validate the ticket.
- Stamp your paper ticket: If you opt for a paper ticket from the machine, ALWAYS remember to stamp it in the blue validator boxes before entering the platform.
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