How to get from Munich Airport to the City Centre

Munich is Germany's third-largest city and the capital of the state of Bavaria. Its population exceeds one million inhabitants, indicating that, beyond its culture, history, and artistic heritage, it is a city with heavy traffic on its streets. 

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany, Munich hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, attracting them with its monuments, museums, festivals, and a very wide range of restaurants, cafes, and shops. Regarding street traffic, Munich is a living, breathing city with extensive public transport and increased car traffic, especially in central areas and during peak hours.

Getting from Munich Airport to the city centre is (understandably) one of the first major challenges any visitor will face in a new city they haven't travelled to before. 

In this guide, we will present all the different options you have for travelling from Munich Airport to the city centre.

The airport handles approximately 35 million passengers annually, is located about 35 km (22 miles) north of Munich, and is very well connected to the city.

Munich's excellent public transport system (MVV) consists of trains (S-Bahn), underground/metro (U-Bahn), buses, and trams.

So, your options are: taxi (most convenient, but expensive), Terravision buses (sometimes cheaper and more comfortable), and using public transport, i.e., the train!

How to get from Munich Airport to the City Centre

# By Terravision bus

We will start with the best and easiest way to get from Munich Airport to the city centre. 

The advantages of this option are that you can buy your tickets in advance – if there is a delay, the bus will wait for you – and buses depart every 15 minutes. The buses offer free WiFi and are very economical. 

Adults travel for 11.50€ for a single journey and 23€ for a return, children aged 6-14 for 6€ and 12€ respectively, while children aged 0-5 travel for free. 

The route taken is: 

Munich Airport – Munich Nordfriedhof – Munich central station

The journey to the first stop at Nordfriedhof takes 37 minutes, while the journey to the final station will take 45 minutes.

# By taxi or private transfer

Naturally, this isn't the cheapest option, but it is by far the most convenient and perhaps the safest, as you can easily avoid crowds.

Taxis are available outside Terminal 1 (exits A to E) and will cost you approximately 50-60€, depending on your destination. During peak hours and with heavy traffic, this amount could easily increase to 80-90€, and naturally, the journey will take much longer than expected. 

# Lufthansa Express Bus

If your final destination is Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), the Lufthansa Express bus might actually be your cheapest option.

A single ticket costs just 10.50€ per person and 17€ for a return journey. They also offer free WiFi (which the trains don't) and overall the trip will be more comfortable than the train.

Lufthansa Express buses depart from 4 stops at Munich Airport every 15 minutes, and the journey takes 25 minutes to Schwabing, Munich, and 45 minutes to Munich Central Train Station.

So, the main advantages are comfort, free WiFi, and the marginally lower cost compared to buying single train tickets.

BUT, the disadvantages of using the Lufthansa Express are that if you need to take another bus to reach your hotel, you will have to pay extra for the U-Bahn, bus, or tram you take. You are also at the mercy of traffic, which can increase your travel time.

NOTE: Once again, during peak hours (e.g., 8-9 am or 5-6 pm), the train might be a better option due to traffic.

# Travel by train from Munich Airport to the city centre

The S-Bahn train is probably the best option to get from the airport to the city centre. The station is located beneath the central area connecting Terminals 1 and 2.

Lines S1 (blue) and S8 (yellow) operate services between the airport (München Flughafen) and the city centre. Munich Central Train Station (München Hauptbahnhof) is the final stop, but the lines follow different routes. 

Line S1 passes through the northern and western parts of the city, while Line S8 runs through the eastern part of Munich. 

To reach Marienplatz in the city centre, Line S8 is the fastest, as it has fewer stops.

Trains run approximately every 10 minutes, and the travel time to Munich city centre is 45 minutes. A single ticket costs 11.50€ (zone M-5).

Disadvantages of this option are that you cannot book your tickets in advance, and the ticketing process at the machines can be a bit difficult and requires your patience. 

Also, if you land at Terminal A, you will need to cover quite a long distance to reach the ticket machines.

There are some ticket vending machines just before the terminal exit, but queues are often long. If you don't want to wait in the terminal queue, continue on, as there are machines on the platform.

Pay close attention at the ticket machine, as the names of the stops are in German, and also select "Issue with Validation" so that you don't have to validate your ticket afterwards. This is important because in Munich, it's not enough to simply have a ticket; you must validate it correctly, otherwise you will be fined. 

Everyone has different priorities – some are more concerned with economy, others with speed, while others desire comfort and convenience. We hope that the information we've provided will help you choose the best mode of transport according to your needs and preferences.

Regardless of your choice, the city of Munich awaits to welcome you with its unique charm and diversity. From its historic monuments to its complex cultural heritage, it offers an unforgettable experience for every visitor.