laurieco

We will have a 24 hour layover in Munich on our way home from Sicily. The prices in April for hotels near the airport are outrageous but we have an 10:30 AM flight. The Holiday Inn Express is ~$250 a night and I may be able to redeem a $200 coupon through Expedia. In any case, is it feasible to fly into MUC, dump our stuff, take the airport train into Munich and spend the day there, have a nice dinner, and then take the train back? Or would you suggest staying in the City and sucking it up and getting up early and taking the train back to the airport that morning?

Thanks for any advice, suggestions, etc

Aramis

Absolutely feasible. The S-Bahn from the airport goes directly to the centre of the city - Marienplatz in about 35 minutes.

greg

I think the there are trade-offs other than the cost.

Check-in. I think you have a better chance of having a room ready at airport over the city. This should not be a deal killer, but if you decide to stay in the city, be prepared to spend most of the afternoon without having access to a room - change in the hotel restroom or wear what you wore from Sicily plus what you want to carry with you already separated before arriving in Munich.

Access: if you are staying near any of the central S-bahn station with access to S1 or S8, you have a good access to the airport. Between S1 and S8, there are 6 trains an hour connecting the airport to downtown. The trains run frequently until about 1am. I have gone to the downtown from MUC for meal during even a 6hr layover because the connection is so good between the city and the airport.

robertino

You will be able to use your limited time in Munich more efficiently if you take the SBahn in from the airport and stay in the city overnight. A centrally located hotel close to an SBahn airport line (S8?) will make getting in and out easier.

Sometimes you can check into your hotel on arrival; sometimes you have to check in in the afternoon. But your hotel will always hold onto your bags for you, and often will bring the bags to your room for you while you are out exploring.

Since your flight home is at 10:30, you don't really have to get up all that early. You need to leave your hotel probably around 7:30.

treplow

In the past few years I have stayed at least 4 times in the Holiday Inn Express at the Munich airport. I have never paid more than EUR 80 for the room per day, plus EUR8 day/room for the airport shuttle service.

I suggest you better check with the central Holiday Inn reservation service about the rate.

This is a fairly modern facility, quiet unless you leave the winmdow open, with a bistro (beer!!) bar and an excellent breakfast, on china not paper plates and plastic "cutlery".

AisleSeat

There are lots of hotels near the main train station. If you go to priceline you can pften get good deals at the Marriott courtyard. It is a nice cookie- cutter hotel but it is in the right place. The s-bahn back to the airport in the morning is easy to do.

Dukey1

The hotel closest to the main rail station is the LeMeridien; directly across the street from the entrance.

Gary_Mc

If you are there during the Bauma international construction trade fair (4/15/13 - 4/21/13), all the hotels in the area will be very high.

Munich is too much for me with just 24 hours. We usually stay in Freising. This December we stayed at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Freising at 70 euros for the night. We had a really good meal at the Weissbräu Huber.

http://www.huberweisse.de/

The bus to Freising is 2.60€ per person. Takes 15-20 minutes. Runs every 20 minutes.

Freising has a beautiful chapel at the Domberg where the current Pope was ordained. It also has the oldest active brewery in the world: Weihenstefan's (sp).

http://www.freising.de/

laurieco

Thanks for all the replies. It's good to know that staying in the city or near the airport are both feasible. I'm starting to think that staying in the city may be better. If we stay near the airport, we need to take the shuttle back and forth several times, and, unlike the US, the shuttles aren't free. It would cost us something like €48 and what would we save time wise? Maybe staying in the city center is the best way.

Gary_Mc, thank you for that information. I will check it out.

mjs

The Sofitel is right next to the main station while the Meridien is across the street. Easy to get from the main station to MUC in about 30-40 minutes. Walk to the centre of town from the train station in about 25 minutes.

Cowboy1968

For hotels check hrs.com

Most of the "airport hotels" (except for the Kempinski and Novotel) are somewhere in the middle of nowhere villages around the airport premises.

Freising would be, as Gary pointed out, an interesting alternative, though. As there is enough to see and do and you would not go into Munich at all.

robertino

Also agree about Freising. A charming and quiet relaxing alternative and the church is special.

But Munich is definitely doable also. To clarify - you do not need to stay near the train station - you just need to stay near an S1 or S8 SBahn line station. Marienplatz works just fine, as do a few other downtown locations.

Staying at the airport does not sound like fun.

adventureproject

I agree about Freising, charming, small enough to get around and relaxing alternative. We had a very happy night there in a small family run Gasthof Lerner. Don't know much about transport connections to/from airport but sounds like others have that covered. As for Munich vs airport, I personally can't imagine staying out at airport if you could experience a little of the city, even if only for an evening/half day.

laurieco

Just an update. Hotel rooms in Munich for April 19 are indeed in short supply. The trade fair seems to be causing gouging and rooms are very expensive. I managed to get the Sheraton Westpark, supposedly in the city center and close to transportation. It was a good price at $356 for one night, including tax, when most other hotels were much more. With my Expedia coupon, I got it for $156, inclusive. I'm just glad to have a hotel!

Never having been to Munich, we have 24 hours and would love suggestions on the best way to spend our limited time. Please feel free to suggest away!

Travelforbeer

Laurieco-
I hope it doesn't rain in Munich on April 19! If it does rain, you might want to spend a lot of your time in Munich's museums (Alte and Neu Pinakothek, Deutsches Museum). You can Google for them and decide which you would prefer. Also, pick up a decent map of Munich at the TI at the airport. A map of the subway system will also be helpful. It will help you navigate Munich.

Here are several suggestions for good weather- Your hotel is located several subway stops (S-Bahn) from the middle of Munich. Buy a multizone subway partner day ticket at the airport which will allow several people a trip from the airport to your hotel (with only 1 change I think) plus allow you the use of Munich's subway, streetcar, and bus system the rest of the day. Check your bags into the hotel and retrace your subway ride to the Stachus. This is a big fountain in the center of town with a subway stop. Walk East on the pedestrian only Neuhauser Strasse to the Marienplatz. You can pop into one of several churches on the way for a few minutes if that is on your list of to doos. At the Marienplatz, sit in the shade of an umbrella and have a brew (or wine or coffee or tea, etc.) Look at the Glockenspiel which goes off several times a day. Have a bite to eat if you are hungry, or wait for the next area. Go on East of the Marianplatz for several blocks on Tal and turn right on Viktualienmarkt for several blocks to an area that is a farmers market. You can eat and drink there if you want- indoors or outdoors. Return north 3-4 blocks north of Tal to the Hofbrauhaus for another tourist attraction. Then you have several choices to continue, depending on how tired you are. Before returning to your hotel to check-in You could go visit a museum or 2, walk from the Marienplatz to Sendlinger Tor (with a stunning small church on the right side as you walk southwest on Sindlinger Strasse), or just wander around the area surrounding the Marienplatz. You may want to break this up to return to check in to your hotel- you can always return and resume your trip- remember your day ticketb is good all day.

Check with your hotel to see if the beer tents are open at the Oktoberfest area- they do open at other times of the year for special occasions besides September.

laurieco

Thanks so much Travelforbeer!

Travelforbeer

You are welcome- have a good time...to bad you can't stay longer