Munich travel guide

München, or Munich, is the capital of Bavaria in the South of Germany and one of the economic centers of the country. Chances are if your company does business in Germany, you will find yourself heading to Munich at some point for business, whether it be business meetings, conferences, or visiting another office. 

Are you wondering where to stay, how to get around, or what to do in your free time? Then keep reading this helpful guide, which will help you better understand what to expect.

How to get around Munich

Munich is a vibrant city with so much to do and see. The city is very accessible with public transportation, including buses, trams, the subway and commuter trains. That being said, just like any big city, there are definitely rush hours for peak travel times. Rush hour is from 7am-9:30 and 4:30-7pm in the evening. Plan extra time if you find yourself traveling during rush hour. 

Public transportation in Munich

The MVV or Munich’s public transportation is very efficient. Options for getting around the city are abundant in the capital city, with a subway known as the U-Bahn, trams, buses and commuter trains, or S-Bahn. Tickets can be purchased either on board or in the stations. If you’re going to be in the city for several days, it’s worth purchasing a multi-day ticket. Because the system works by zone, consult which zones you will be traveling in before purchasing.

Getting to and from the airport

Munich’s award-winning airport is well-connected, located just 18 miles or (28.5 km) northeast of Munich. Trains run every 10 minutes to the city center, which takes around 40 minutes. The ticket costs around €6 making it a very cost-effective alternative, with a taxi costing around €50. 

The city is both very walkable and bike-friendly. In fact, bikes can be rented within U-bahn and S-bahn stations. It’s also very accessible by train. Learn more about the best train travel routes for business travelers. 

Where to stay

For business travelers, it can sometimes be hard to choose the best hotel that fits both your company’s travel budget and is conveniently located. As a general rule of thumb in Munich to stay central, it is a good idea to stay near the Stammstrecke stations as all S-Bahns run through this station. 

You could also consider staying somewhere between Marienplatz and Karlsplatz stations. This neighborhood, known as Alstadt or “Old City” has a range of hotels, including the most famous ones. Depending on where your meetings or conferences are, you may choose to stay in the Rosenheimer Platz on the east end of the city. 

Depending on the purpose of your visit, different areas might suit you better. If you’re going to a trade fair or expo, consider staying near Messe München, where hotels are very business-oriented. On the contrary, if you stay in Alstadt or Lehel, which is the economic heart of Munich, you may have to pay premium costs. Maxvorstadt, on the other hand, is home to startups, major corporations and universities. 

Best places to visit in your spare time

As home to the Oktoberfest, beer culture in Munich is the real deal. In your free time, don’t forget to check out a beer garden and have a drink with your colleagues. You may also enjoy visiting Munich’s City Hall in Marienplatz where you can see the famous Glockenspiel. Check out Viktualienmarkt, an open-air market hosting local vendors. You may also like to check out Munich’s art district located in Maxvorstadt. And for soccer enthusiasts, head to Allianz Arena which is home to FC Bayern München.

7 Tips for succeeding on your trip to Munich

1. The main meal of the day for Germans is lunch, which means if you have to choose between business lunches and business dinners you should better plan for a working lunch meeting. 
2. Münchner, or people from Munich value punctuality. To avoid being late, arrive 5-10 minutes early, and if it’s the first time you’re going to the place, plan a lot of extra time. 
3. Don’t reinvent the wheel; go for classic business style or business casual over informal attire.
4. If you have a networking event, consider planning it at a beer hall, while it sounds contradictory, it’s very commonplace to cultivate business relationships.
5. To fit in with local Bavarian culture, greet people with “servus” instead of “hallo”. When saying goodbye “tschüss” instead of “auf Wiedersehen.”
6. Remember tipping isn’t required but highly appreciated. Consider leaving around 10% at bars and restaurants. 
7. Be mindful of pickpockets in the most crowded areas like Hauptbahnhof (Munich’s main train station) and Alstadt.