Getting to Munich

Munich can be reached from the UK and all continental starting points by regular schedule air service, rail and bus connections as well as by ferry and car.

By car

Munich is very accessible by car from all directions on the continent, by Germany’s autobahn system. The A8 from Stuttgart and Augsburg enters Munich from the northwest, continuing in a southeasterly direction to Salzburg. The A9 comes into Munich from the north, originating in Berlin. The A92 and A3 begin in Passau and enter Munich from the east. The A95 comes in from the southwest, having originated in Garmisch.

By rail

All trains entering Munich come in to the city’s centrally-located main station (Hauptbahnhof), which is shared by the city's rail and bus systems, providing connections to all destinations within the city and around the region. High-speed InterCity Express (ICE) trains from Hamburg, Frankfurt and Augsburg provide rapid service to Munich. The City Nightline (CNL) features comfortable sleeping quarters on its overnight services. The Deutsche Bahn has more than 25,000 miles of track, connecting all points in Germany, with international service as well. To view their timetable, you can visit the website at: www.bahn.de.

If your travel originates in the UK, British Rail has four daily scheduled trains to Munich, with journey duration of around 9 hours and including a ferry connection. From Zurich, there is daily service on the train called the Bavaria.

By bus

You can travel by bus to Munich from London, Paris and many other European cities. The largest bus operator from the UK to the continent is Eurolines (www.eurolines.com), operating out of London’s centrally located Victoria Coach Station. In Paris, Eurolines is located on rue Malmaison, a 35-minute Metro ride from the centre. In Munich, bus services usually terminate at the Zentraler Busbahnhof, which you will find on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof.

By air

The Munich International Airport (MUC) is Germany’s second largest international airport after Frankfurt and the eighth largest in Europe. Since its opening in 1992, there have been more than 500 flights arriving and departing each day. From the UK, British Airways, Lufthansa and British Midland offer regularly scheduled services.

From other international airports, direct flights to Munich are almost exclusively with Lufthansa. For example, most other airlines flying to Munich from North America require a connection at Frankfurt, Dusseldorf or another gateway. For more information on the airport and airline timetables, you can call the Munich International Airport at: +49 89 9752 1313, or visit their website at: www.munich-airport.de.

By ferry

If you’re coming from the UK, you can drive to Dover and take the ferry to Calais, which has a crossing time of 1 hour, 15 minutes. Driving to Harwich is another option, taking the ferry to the Hook of Holland (3 hours, 40 minutes) and then driving to Munich. The driving distance from the Hook of Holland is 530 miles.

Munich International Airport

There are two terminals at Munich International Airport (terminals 1 and 2), with a common area in between, which houses the majority of the shops and eateries. Terminal 1 is used for flights on most non-Star Alliance airlines, with 68 airlines using this terminal. It was opened in 1992 and can handle 20 million passengers a year. It’s now being renovated to provide more space for shops and other facilities.

Terminal 2 handles all Star Alliance flights in two halls (G and H). It was opened in 2003 and can handle 20 to 25 million passengers annually. Twenty-six airlines use Terminal 2.

You will find that most airlines price their fares seasonally. Summertime is the peak season for Munich and the winter, with the exception of the Christmas holiday period, is considered off-season, when travellers can enjoy the lowest fares. This can be good news for ski enthusiasts, as the Bavarian Alps are nearby.

Money and communications facilities include banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, a post office and 24-hour internet access points. Wireless LAN service is available throughout the airport. There are many bars and restaurants, snack bars and coffee shops as well as duty-free shops and outlets for clothing, electronics and gifts. A 24-hour medical centre for emergency care, a dentist and a pharmacy are available for health needs. Dry cleaning and laundry services, showers and travel agencies compete the array of services here.

The Munich Airport Centre (MAC) has facilities for business presentations and events, including 35 well-equipped conference rooms, of varying sizes. Services available include security and VIP service and also rooms for relaxation, with bed and bath. You will find charging points for your mobile telephone and laptop at the photography centre in the main concourse. Fax, photocopy, printing and internet services are offered at the Service Centre Internet Point.

It is recommended that passengers with disabilities inform their airline in advance of any special needs or assistance required. Facilities available at the airport include TDD telephones on level 3 of the main concourse and at the Medical Centre, wheelchairs (free-of-charge at designated information counters), wheelchair-accessible toilets and elevators, and designated parking spaces in all underground and multi-storey facilities.

Munich airport transportation

There is S-Bahn rail service from the airport to the city on commuter trains S1 and S8, which stop at various Munich stations including the Hauptbahnhof, Marienplatz, Laim and Ostbahnhof, If there are delays with the train service, bus line S8 operates from both terminals until the end of daily airport operations. Information on bus service is available by contacting the Munich public transportation authority (MVV) at: +49 89 4142 4344; or by visiting their website at: www.mvv-muenchen.de; wjile information concerning train service can be obtained by contacting Deutsche Bahn at: +49 1805 996 633; or visiting their website at: www.bahn.de.

Taxis from the airport to the city centre take around 45 minutes, depending on traffic, and are found in front of Arrivals. Limousine and chauffeur services are also available at the airport.