Munich, the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's largest cities, is located on the Isar River. The city is the home of lederhosen, beautiful architecture, great museums, and is known as the cradle of German culture. Munich is famous for the annual Oktoberfest celebration and its traditional culinary delights such as weisswurst. Traveling to Munich is the experience of a lifetime: enjoy the famous Bavarian beer, catch a live football match at the Allianz Arena, or surf the Eisbach River in summer.
The cheapest way to get to Munich is to travel by bus. There are a number of international bus companies that operate services to Munich - FlixBus even has its headquarters based in Munich - so it is easy to find a suitable cheap journey from most major cities across Europe. From Paris, for example, there are around 20 buses a day that make the trip to Munich's Central Bus Station in as little as 12 hours.
Whether travellers want to depart from Berlin, Paris, Milan, or Frankfurt, taking a bus is an excellent option. This mode of transport is especially convenient since the main bus stations in Munich are within easy access from the city centre. The Munich ZOB, located in the west of the city centre, is the central bus station in Munich, and is right next to the city's main train station (Hauptbahnhof). FlixBus, Infobus, DB, Karat-S, and Nomago provide direct buses to Munich from Frankfurt, Cologne, and Berlin. The Regionet company offers direct buses from Milan, while Eurolines run a variety of coaches to Munich from international connections.
Traveling by train from other European cities is quick, convenient, and offers stunning views along the route. Munich Hauptbahnhof (central train station) is where most trains arrive, and is located near the heart of the city. Multiple S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines are connected to the Hauptbahnhof, so it is very easy to reach the whole city from here. Munich Ostbahnof, located 1.49 miles from the city centre, is the alternative train station. The German national carrier, Deutsche Bahn, operates most of the trains to Munich; other train operators include OBB, which runs services from Austria, and Trenitalia, which runs trains from Italy.
The most popular route to Munich is from London and is operated by Lufthansa, British Airways, and easyJet. Other flight service providers are Eurowings and Ryanair. Both easyJet and Eurowings have direct flights to Munich. If travellers are flying to Munich from the United Kingdom, the flight takes approximately 2 hours. Munich Airport is 18 miles (28.97 km) from the center of the city, which is easily reached: the S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines have trains departing the airport for the city centre every 10 minutes. FlixBus also operates buses that connect the airport with the city centre.
Omio is a booking platform that allows travellers to compare planes, trains, and bus tickets and offers from different companies, so through Omio, travellers will be able to make sure they're planning their perfect trip, and can book their tickets to Munich effortlessly.
The city of Munich is easy to explore on foot as the Old Town, or city center, is actually quite small and most of the major attractions of the city can be found in this area. Walking allows you to stop and see the buildings or gardens of the city up close. Situate yourself in Marienplatz, which is the main central square of Munich. There, you can see the Neues Rathaus, which houses the famous Glockenspiel, the tower clock with chimes and moving figurines that put on a performance a few times a day. Those with energy to spare should try and climb the many stairs to the top of the Peterskirche to get a birds eye view of the city. A short walk away you will find Munich's main attraction, the Frauenkirche, where the devil is believed to have left a footprint. Take a break from your walk to explore this beautiful old church. Next, stroll down the Kaufingerstrasse, which is a shopping street in the pedestrian zone of Munich. Get a snack from one of the street stalls to enjoy while you browse the shops and watch one of the street performances that take place here in summer.
Munich has an exceptional public transport system that connects different areas within and outside the city center. This public transport system is easy to use and features the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, trams, and buses. When getting around the city center, the preferred mode of transport is the S- Bahn, whose hub is the Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). The S-Bahn goes through the city center and provides a link to popular attractions, such as Karlsplatz, the Frauenkirche, and Marienplatz. However, trams and buses can be used to access tourist destinations as well, as they drop off travellers within walking distance of their desired destination. Public transport in Munich is divided into seven travel zones. Travel to the different zones is facilitated by the use of travel cards such as the Munich City Pass, Munich Card and the City Tour Card which are all available for purchase at the boarding stations. These cards provide great bargains when travelling with family and friends and provide free access to several attractions. With varying validity periods ranging from 24 hours to five days, travellers are better off using cards rather than the daily tickets that only last 24 hours after validation at the station.
Munich has as robust a coffee scene as any other European city. However, most coffee shops in Munich serve specialty coffee with their own twists. Whether it be a cold brew, a simple espresso, a fancy macchiato, or a cappuccino, Munich will serve it with excellence. Standl 20 will not only blow you away with their award-winning design and ambiance but with their fruity selection of espressos. Sample the mind-blowing coffee lemonade or order one of their specialty coffees and a slice of their homemade cakes. For a roomier and livelier setting, head over to the Glockenbach district and visit Vits der Kaffee for a taste of pioneering Munich coffee. Here, you can grab a bite as you savor a specialty coffee and side of cake. A favorite among locals, it holds packed coffee seminars each week. Located in the same district as Vits der Kaffee is Man vs. Machine, arguably one of Munich's best coffee shops. Their selection of brews has a fruity burst of flavors and their brewing methods feature technical choices including V60, Kalita, Syphon, or Aeropress. A tastefully decorated interior and a wide selection of specialty roasts and brews make Man vs. Machine a perfect place to enjoy excellent coffee in Munich.
Munich is famous for being the home of the Oktoberfest, and although this festival is considered to be mostly about beer, Munich's culinary scene plays a large part in the festival and the culture of the city. The traditional breakfast food in Munich is the weisswurst, which is a white sausage made of pork and normally served with a pretzel. This breakfast is perfect for snacking on while exploring the streets of Munich. Lunch in Munich is often eaten at one of the many pubs in the city, and this can be a great way to get to know the locals. One of the best lunch options to sample is a schnitzel, which is a piece of pork or veal that is flattened and crumbed before being fried and served with mushrooms or other sides. Those seeking a more modern take on the cuisine of Munich should try Restaurant 181, which is situated at the top of the Olympic Tower and offers a fine dining experience with incredible views of the city. Vegetarians should try spätzle, which is the local version of pasta and is served with a cheese sauce and crispy pieces of onion.
Munich has an exceptional public transport system that connects different areas within and outside the city center. This public transport system is easy to use and features the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, trams, and buses. When getting around the city center, the preferred mode of transport is the S- Bahn, whose hub is the Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). The S-Bahn goes through the city center and provides a link to popular attractions, such as Karlsplatz, the Frauenkirche, and Marienplatz. However, trams and buses can be used to access tourist destinations as well, as they drop off travellers within walking distance of their desired destination. Public transport in Munich is divided into seven travel zones. Travel to the different zones is facilitated by the use of travel cards such as the Munich City Pass, Munich Card and the City Tour Card which are all available for purchase at the boarding stations. These cards provide great bargains when travelling with family and friends and provide free access to several attractions. With varying validity periods ranging from 24 hours to five days, travellers are better off using cards rather than the daily tickets that only last 24 hours after validation at the station.