MUNICH - GETTING AROUND

Walking

If you`re staying in Altstadt (old town) or the city center, you might consider walking your Munich itinerary. Many of the top attractions are located within the city center, and walking is the best way to truly get to know it!

By Public Transportation

Munich has one of the most efficient public transportation systems in Europe. An extensive system encompasses the U-Bahn, an underground train, the S-Bahn, a suburban train, the tram and the bus. Marienplatz forms the heart of the U-bahn and S-bahn network, which operates regularly from around 5am to 1am.

Tickets, which can be purchased at all U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations as well as MVV ticket offices scattered throughout Munich, can be used interchangeably on all modes of transit. Once you buy your ticket, make sure to validate (or stamp it) either at the U-Bahn or S-Bahn stations or immediately after you board a tram or bus. Ticket prices are allotted according to zones, with a single, one-way ticket starting at €2.80 for short rides, but for the four-zone journey from the airport is up to about €12.80 for longer rides. If you plan to use the public transport system, the best option is to buy a €12.80 whole network day ticket. If you are not traveling alone, then you can purchase a group day ticket for about €23.90, allowing up to 5 adults to travel together on all lines of the MVV system.

Tickets must then be validated in the blue machines found on U-Bahn and S-Bahn platforms and in buses and trams. Stick your ticket into the machine to be stamped with the date and time. A validated ticket is good for two hours. The same ticket entitles you to ride U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses; and you can transfer between them as often as you like as long as you travel in the same direction.

Warning: Spot checks for validated tickets are common. Inspector's will fine violators 40€ to be paid on the spot whether you are a tourist or a local!

If you plan to explore Munich and see all the sights and tourist attractions, buy the Munich CityTourCard. It is a ticket valid for all public transportation services in Munich and a discount card for many tourist attractions like museums, sights, shopping, and gastronomy. It is available in six versions (single and group tickets) and with validity for one or three days:

-Inner District: White Zone for 1 day is €9.90 single ticket/€16.90 group ticket.
-Innet District: White zone for 3 days is €19.90 single ticket/€29.90 group ticket.
-Entire System: White, green, yellow and red zone for 3 days is €31.50 single ticket/€53.90 group ticket.

By Bicycle

With over 125 mi of bike trails, one of the very best ways to explore the city is on a bicycle. Guided tours, or for the independent-minded, rentals and maps are available at Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and many other places throughout the city.

Bikes can also be rented by the Call-A-Bike system, which is run by Deutsche Bahn. You need to call a number listed on the bikes from your mobile phone and register with the callabike.de website in order to use them. The service is convenient, as you just spot an available bike throughout the city and just leave it at your destination. However, this is not an economical alternative if you are planning many trips in a single day. In that case, it is better to get a day or multiday rental from one of the rental services located throughout central Munich.

Munich is generally a bike-friendly city with many designated bike paths (especially along Isar river, in the parks and even in the city center). However, rates of accidents involving bicycles are rising in Munich. Hence, the police enforce traffic rules for cyclists more rigorous, especially at the beginning of the bike season in spring. Fines range from €10 for driving without light in the dark to €100 for ignoring red traffic lights. Drunk cycling (>0.16% of blood alcohol level) can result in much heftier fines. Helmets are not required for cyclists, but they are recommended.

By Taxi

Munich taxis can easily be recognized by their beige color and the yellow-black taxi sign on the roof. Taxis can be found at taxi stands throughout the city, at train stations, and at the airport. It is also possible to stop a taxi (if it is not occupied) or to call one of the many taxi companies in Munich. The basic fare is about €3.30 with additional €1.70/km for up to 5 km, €1.50/km for kilometers 5 to 10, and €1.30 for every kilometer more than 10. Waiting time per hour is around €24 and there are additional charges for luggage (about €0.60 per piece). There are also black or yellow-black taxi services which operate at the airport that offer fixed rates to and from the airport.

By Car

Our best advice on driving in Munich would be: don't! Not only is most of the city center a pedestrian-only area, but traffic jams are frequent and parking spaces are costly and hard to find. If you are renting a car we suggest you pick it up as you depart the city to avoid excessive rental/parking expenses. You can find car rental companies at the main train station including Avis (tel. 089/1260-000), Hertz (tel. 089/1295-001) and Sixt Autovermietung (tel. 089/550-2447).

Parking: Prices for parking on streets range from around €1 to €2.50 per hour usually from 8am to 11pm. Note: There may be additional restrictions to be aware of. Throughout the city center there are `blue zones`. Wherever you find blue lines on the ground, you can park your car for a maximum time of 2 hours (hourly rate about €2.50). The meaning of other colors is as follows:

-Dotted blue line - space for disabled drivers. You will need a special card in your car, which indicates that you are allowed to park in those areas
-Yellow line - reserved for taxis, do not park here
-Red line - Never park here, not even for a short time, since it is strictly forbidden and may likely result in towing your car
-Orange line - this is reserved for deliveries, do not park here.

The best options are public parking decks which are widely available in the center. However it can take some time to find a free parking spot. Parking garages are indicated with blue rectangular signs with a capital white `P` on it. Usually a green sign indicates that there are spots available while a red sign indicates that the car park is full.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.