| Here is a rough map of downtown Munich. (click on image for large view)  . |
Here is the map of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines in Munich. (click on image for larger, clearer view)  |
- Marienplatz:
Most everything you might want to see in Munich is in the Innenraum (inner transit zone) and centers around Marienplatz, which is 2 S-Bahn stops from the Hauptbahnhof.- At 11:00 the Glockenspiel on the Neues Rathaus" "performs".
- Afterwards, you can eat lunch at the Ratskeller in the basement of the Rathaus. Or, the Hofbräuhaus is a few blocks to the northeast, for cheap food, good beer, and Bavarian fun.
- To the left of the Rathaus is Frauenkirche, the church with the green cupolas.
- A few blocks behind the Rathaus is the Residenz, which was the in-town palace of the Wittelsbachers.
- If you're standing in Marienplatz facing the Rathaus, behind you, over your right shoulder is the church tower of St. Perers (Heiligepeter). For a few Euro, you can climb to the top for a view down into Marienplatz, all over Munich, including the Olympic Park, and, on a clear day, all the way to the Alps.
- A few blocks south of Marienplatz is the Münchener Stadtmuseum (city museum of Munich). Although the exhibits are not explained in English, the last time I was there they had an extensive exhibit on the development of Munich, with models, maps, and drawing. Dates are pretty easy to understand in any language.
- Deutsches Museum: A short walk from the Isartor station, on an island in the Isar River, the Germany version of our Smithsonian. I spent a full day in here and didn't see everything. The most interesting exhibits are Bridge building and Aviation. The aviation exhibit has a German built F-104, a Messerschmidt, the first (WWII) German jet fighter, a Fokker Triplane, a V1, and a V2, amongst other planes.
- Englisher Garten: Take the U3 or U6 North two stops from Marienplatz, then walk east. A favorite venue for sun worshipers in Munich.
- Pinokotheken: Take the #27 tram north from Karlstor to the Alte, Neue, and Modern Pinokotheken (museums of old, new, and modern art).
- Nymphenburg: From the north side of the Hauptbahnhof, you can catch the #17 tram out to Schloss Nymphenburg, the summer palace of the Wittelsbachers, with it's park-like grounds.
- Dachau The KZ-Gedenkstätte is the only popular venue outside the MVV Innenraum (Munich metro innermost transit zone). You'll need a München XXL Tageskarte (more below) for transport to Dachau.
Prices (Tagenkarten)
| Single Adult | Partner (2-5 people) | |
|---|---|---|
| Innenraum (white inner zone) | 5,60 | 10,20 |
| München XXL (white and green, inner 2 zones) | 7,50 | 13,10 |
| Gesamtnetz (entire MVV, all 4 zones) | 11,00 | 20,00 |
Places to stay in Munich: I always stay in a hotel in the eastern suburbs (EZ €54 Ü/F), but they only speak German and don't want guest who can't. Here is a list of places recommended by others on Rick Steve's Grafitti Wall. I've never actually tried any of them.
Near the Munich Hauptbahnhof:
Hotel Royal
Hotel Uhland
Near Marienplatz:
Hotel Blauer Bock
Hotel am Viktualienmarkt
Hotel Münchner Kindl
Various places:
Seibel Hotels
Laimerhof *
(I normally would not display a hotel that did not include breakfast, but their rates are otherwise pretty good.)
Freising: Freising is a town near (about 20 minutes away by bus) the Munich airport. It's only 20 minutes closer than the S-Bahn from town, but at that time of the morning, every minute counts. That's where I recommend people to stay when they have an early flight out of MUC in the morning. I stayed there last year when I had a 9:30 flight out.
Gästehaus Knoth
* Warning: any hotel marked with * does not include breakfast with the room, so the rates are not as favorable as they appear.