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Click at the picture for City-Information from LEO.ORG |
To use the public transport, follow the "S"-Sign at the airport. Make sure you have got some cash to buy a ticket from one of the blue vending machines. Push the Blue "S"-Button to purchase a ticket, it will be DM 13,00 (you can pay with coins or 10 or 20 DM notes). Before taking the walkway down to the S-Bahn you have to cancel your ticket according to your destination. There are some tables showing the costs of your trip, but if you want to go to the inner city, the Gasteig, the City Hilton or the Forum Hotel, you will need 8 stripes. To cancel your ticket just fold it that the stripe with the 8 is at the edge and push the ticket into the cancelation machine, marked by a black "E" on yellow ground. Then go down and take the train to direction Marienplatz. You can't go wrong, the airport is a terminal station.
Just exit the airport, there will be enough taxis. They are very comfortable and safe, and the taxi driver can understand English. Be prepared for the high costs. To go to the inner city you will need up to DM 100 (about 60 $) cash, so it is a good idea to share the ride with a collegue. If the driver is very friendly you can tip him with DM 5.
If you got a car from a car rental agency, please inform yourself on the traffic regulations, because traffic can be fast and dangerous. Ask for the way, and make sure there is a parking lot at your destination. In the city, watch out for bicycles. Gasoline is quite expensive, but the cars are economical. At the gas station first get the gas, then go to the cashier and pay (memorize the number of your gasoline pump).
The official currency is Deutschmark (DM). It is advantageous to have cash money, because credit cards are only accepted in the bigger shops and restaurants. Check out the customary stickers at the entrance. You can carry cash with low risk, because mugging does not occur frequently. Beware of pickpockets at Marienplatz and Hauptbahnhof. In restaurants, tips are normally included, but if the waiter or the waitress is very friendly, you can tip him or her with 5-10% of the bill.
Like everywhere in the world, telephone calls from the hotel are expensive. You can use public telephones, they are almost everywhere, also at the Gasteig. Most of these telephones are modern and in good condition. There are some phones that accept coins, but normally you will need special cards, credit cards are not accepted. You can purchase a "Telefonkarte" for DM 12,- or DM 50,- at every kiosk or in little shops, also at some underground stations. At the phones there will be some information how to use them and what to dial.
Munich is very famous
for the outstanding underground railway system. You can have a look at
the plan (89K) HERE. The S- and U-Bahns are
modern, clean and in good condition. Unfortunately the fare system is a
bit complicated: First of all, you need a ticket. If you want to drive
more then once, buy a "Streifenkarte". It will cost DM 13,- ,
you can purchase it at special vending machines or at little shops with
the "MVV"-Sign on it. The fees depend on the distance you want
to go, so look out for the tables that show how many stripes you have to
cancel to reach a certain destination from that point. Inside the inner
city, 2 stripes are necessary for a single trip. Then cancel your ticket.
For example: if you have a new ticket, need 2 stripes for your trip then
you cancel stripe #2. After the cancellation, the ticket stays valid for
3 hours. You may interrupt your trip and then proceed without a new cancellation.
The ticket is only valid for a trip in a single direction, not for a round
trip !
For example: You want to go from the Gasteig to Schwabing, but you want
to do some shopping at Marienplatz. Cancel two stripes at the Station "Rosenheimer
Platz", go to Marienplatz by S-Bahn an then leave the underground
and walk around. If you adhere the 3-hour limit, you can use the U-Bahn
at Marienplatz to take a trip to Schwabing (U3/6). To get back to the Gasteig,
you will need a new cancellation.
Just remember: don't go back the same route without a new cancellation.
Please note: if you get caught by a ticket inspector without a valid ticket,
you will have a serious problem.
For further information and schedules just look around at the stations
or ask someone.
A Subway Navigator can be found HERE.
If you decided to visit the Bavarian Evening by public transport, and if your starting point is the Gasteig, the Forum or the City Hilton, first go to the nearby S-Bahn station Rosenheimer Platz. Then cancel two stripes of your "Streifenkarte" or cancel a single ticket (DM 3,20), and take a train in direction Marienplatz/Hauptbahnhof. Leave at Hauptbahnhof and follow the green signs to the U1. Take the train in direction Rotkreuzplatz and leave at the next station (Stiglmaierplatz). Follow the signs to the Loewenbraeukeller, that is directly at the exit, so you can't miss it. Remember that you will need a new ticket or cancellation when you want to return to your hotel.
As mentioned in 1.1.2, taxis have a very high standard (Mercedes-Benz cars) and are expensive. The fares depend on the distance and the velocity and are counted by a meter. After the trip, pay the price displayed on the meter. If you have bulky luggage with you, there will be a small extra charge. There are taxi stations at the Gasteig, the bigger hotels and at most points of interest.
The traffic is fast and aggressive. Watch yourself, because german cardrivers
are somewhat stubborn and bicycle drivers don't care for peasants. Apart
from that there are MANY traffic lights in the city, that always seems
to be red. Avoid the rush hour from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 15:30 to
18:00 when things get worse. Parking lots are rare, but there are a few
(of course expensive) garages, signed by a big white "P" on blue
ground. Outside the city driving is much more easier, but watch yourself
on the highways (Autobahn), because there is no speed limit and you have
to keep on the right lane.
But don't worry, apart from that Munich is a beautiful city with an efficient
public transport system. The inner city is closed for cars and bycicles,
here you can walk without trouble.
Each street has a name displayed at every crossing. Each building has a
little sign on it with a number and the name of the street. A little arrow
points the direction of rising house-numbers, usually this is the direction
away from the city center. Buildings at the left side of the street always
have odd numbers, buildings on the right have even numbers.
First of all, Germany, and especially Munich is VERY safe. The chances
of beeing mugged or ran over are extremly low. You can walk around almost
everywhere, even at night. Although everything is easy, don't lower your
defenses at the wrong time. Beware of pickpockets at crowded places like
the Marienplatz, the Airport or the Hauptbahnhof (central station).
If you are very very very unlucky to be stolen or if you have lost your
portmonais, FIRST make a call to have your credit card locked and THEN
go to the police. By the way, policemen (and ~women) are very friendly
and if you have a problem, just ask them, nearly everyone speaks English
a bit. At the Marienplatz there is a small policebox where you can get
help. There are special security forces at the U-Bahn (Subway) that are
dressed in blue. They are friendly, too, and you can ask them if you don't
know the way.
Carrying weapons is NOT permitted in Germany.
There are lots of Bars and Restaurants of any kind. Some adresses can be found HERE or HERE. If you want to see something typically bavarian, visit our Bavarian Evening .
The shops in the inner city are open from 9:00 to 20:00, smaller shops often close at 18:00. At the central station there are shops that have the permission to be open the whole night, like some gasstations.
If Germans do not sit in a car or on a bicycle, they are very friendly and nearly everyone speaks English. We people of Munich are used to tourists, and everyone will try to help you. There are many students in Munich that are used to people from foreign countries and they don't hurry like others, so if you are uncertain, ask someone who looks like a student.
Hotels are clean and friendly. Normally a Continental Breakfast is included. The hotels in Munich are not large, so it is a good idea to have a reservation made. For further information have a look at our Hotel Information page.
At the Gasteig there will be an information and a troubleshooter desk.
The official Munich Web Site (in German) can be found HERE
