Best Hotels & Where to Stay in Munich - Start From USD 14.34

A destination that packs a punch, Munich is a place where someone has to go to at least once in their life. Widely known for Oktoberfest, there is more to this energetic city in Germany than its beer. Breaking away from its troubled past, this city has been in a resurgence, rebuilding its historic landmarks and revitalizing its culture after the war.

Now, Munich is a city known for its adventure, culinary exploits, and historic revitalization that went hand-in-hand with its modernization.

How to Get There

Flughafen München or Munich Airport is the main airport of the city. It is 35 kilometres from the city centre. Going downtown is convenient and easy because there is a special line that connects the airport to central Munich.

By taking either the S1 or S8 lines, you can get to the city in around 45 minutes. It is important to note that this is not a 24-hour service. This public transport is not available from the hours of 1 AM to 4 AM. If you happen to arrive at this time, you will have to take a taxi. Hiring one is easy since there are taxis outside the arrivals terminal. This would cost €50.

Getting Around

Being a big city, Munich’s development made way for excellent public transport that makes it extremely accessible for locals and visitors. Once you’re here, you will encounter the following options: U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (light rail), Strassenbahn (trams), and the buses.

To get to the tourist destinations, you will be taking the U-Bahn and Strassenbahn more often since these will take you directly to its Zone 1 where you will find the city centre.

Apart from these options, taking a bike and a taxi is also readily available for you. If you opt to rent a bike, the rates are €5 per hour and €15-€20 per day. Cycling around the city poses no problem since it is a bike-friendly city. As for taxis, you can easily get these at stands in the city or you can hail these if their roof lights are on. Note that fares start at €3.40 with an additional €1.60 per kilometre. With all of these at your disposal, you can easily choose what best fits your needs since one thing is certain and it is not a city that is complicated to explore.

Top Things to Do

When it comes to Munich, you cannot ever forget about the city’s most famous event, Oktoberfest. A weeklong celebration, Oktoberfest is usually held in September — so expect heavier crowds since this festival attracts thousands of people who love beer and partying. In case you go, the only thing you need to remember would be the word Prost or cheers in German since you’ll be hearing it quite often. If you want to explore the city’s sights instead, you may opt to go to any other month so it isn’t so busy. If that is what you are after, then Munich will have so much in store for you.

For a historical and cultural trip, make sure you drop by the Hofbräuhaus, the world’s most famous tavern. Beer is a part of Bavarian culture and it is often at the center of the community. From the interiors, music, and food come over if you want an entirely immersive cultural experience. Make sure to also check out the hundreds of beer mugs stored in safes that are personalized with regulars’ names.

The Bayerisches Nationalmuseum with its 19th-century design is a must-see too. Inside the building, you will be able to find exotic treasures, royal trinkets, and church displays. Its collection spans over three floors with 40 rooms to explore so it’s quite a walk if you want to see everything.

You also cannot miss the BMW Welt, a glass-and-steel building that showcases the country’s love for automotive innovation because it houses the company’s latest models. You can also take a tour around the area to see how the cars and motorbikes are made. There is also a junior campus for kids where they can watch people performing motorbike stunts and they can also design their car.

Sports is also at the heart of Munich so a visit to the Allianz Arena, home to FC Bayern is also a must. It has an hour-long tour that gives you access to the player’s tunnel, mixed zone for post-game interviews, and dressing rooms. There is also a museum where you can learn more about the team and its famous members such as Gerd Müller, Lothar Matthäus and many more.

What to Eat

With all of the innovation going on in Munich, it's natural for its cuisine to ride with it as well. It has numerous restaurants ranging from traditional Bavarian cuisine to exploratory fusion, and amazing cafes.

For the best schnitzel in Munich, go to Andy’s Kablegarten. They offer several variants of the dish, but they certainly have more offerings apart from this. The Wirtshaus Zum Straub is also a good restaurant that has a lot of great options like roast pork and apple strudel.

For a lighter option, go to Man Versus Machine, one of Munich’s hippest cafes. You will find the city’s special take on specialty coffee plus you can enjoy it while admiring its interiors that add to the amazing ambiance.

Where to Stay

Going to Munich would keep you busy during the day. If it will be your first time here or if your itinerary is limited to a couple of days, make sure you stay in the neighbourhood of Alstadt-Lehel. Most of the tourist spots are in this part given that it’s located at the heart of Munich.

If you’re after restaurants and boutique shops, stay in the upscale part of the city also known as Schwabing. This area is lined with shops that would keep you busy throughout the day. It is also a very convenient area with everything you need at your disposal. Maxvorstadt is also a good location especially if you want to immerse yourself in the city’s culture.

Here you will find various museums and art galleries and since it is near the university, most restaurants in the area are quite affordable. It is safe to say that no matter where you stay in the city, it would be easy to and from because of the efficient transport in the city.

Travel Tips

• Enjoy the city from above. For an excellent view, you can go up to the city hall to get a bird’s eye view of the Marienplatz. The St. Peter’s Church and the Olympic Tower are also good spots.

• Make sure to get a taste of a traditional Bavarian breakfast where you get to have weißwurst, brazen, and weißbier. Yes, you get to have a beer for breakfast!

• Since you will be traveling by public transport a lot, download the MVG app so you can buy tickets and plan your way around the city.