Bicycle
Munich boasts a superb network of cycle paths, which locals use to commute to work. Cycle hire is easy to arrange. Try Radius Tours at the Hauptbahnhof. Bikes can be taken on the S-Bahn but not from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm Monday to Friday (rush hour). All bikes need a ticket. Helmets are not legally required but are of course recommended. Some commuters ride incredibly fast – dallying on major cycle paths is dangerous.
Car & Motorcycle
Driving in central Munich can be a nightmare; many streets are one-way or pedestrian only, ticket enforcement is Orwellian and parking is a nightmare. Car parks (indicated on the tourist-office map) charge about €1.70 to €2.20 per hour.
Public Transport
Munich’s efficient public-transport system is composed of buses, trams, the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. It’s operated by MVV (www.mvv-muenchen.de), which maintains offices in the U-Bahn stations at Marienplatz, the Hauptbahnhof, Sendlinger Tor, the Ostbahnhof and Poccistrasse. Staff hand out free network maps and timetables, sell tickets and answer questions. Automated trip planning in English is best done online. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn run almost 24 hours a day, with perhaps a short gap between 2am and 4am. Night buses and trams operate in the city centre.
Museenlinie 100
Bus 100, known as the Museenlinie, links the Ostbahnhof with the Hauptbahnhof via several major museums, galleries and other sights. These include the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, the Kunstareal, the English Garden and Königsplatz. The service runs every 10 minutes during the day and is a handy way of getting between Munich’s major places of interest, and to/from the stations.
Bus drivers sell single tickets and day passes, but tickets for the U-Bahn and S-Bahn and other passes must be purchased from vending machines at stations or MVV offices. Tram tickets are available from vending machines on board. Most tickets must be stamped (validated) at station platform entrances and on board buses and trams before use. The fine for getting caught without a valid ticket is €40.
Taxi
Taxis cost €3.70 at flag fall plus €1.90 per kilometre and are not much more convenient than public transport. Luggage is sometimes charged at €1.50 per piece. Ring a taxi on 216 10 or 194 10. Taxi ranks are indicated on the city’s tourist map.
Train
The S-Bahn reaches out into the suburbs and beyond. All trains follow the Stammstrecke (central line) through central Munich. The U-Bahn serves the centre and the inner suburbs.
