What is the easiest way to get from Munich Airport to the city? I'm first time traveler with 13 year old daughter, so want easiest, least confusing way to get to the city. Any experiences with Lufthansa bus? Thanks for your help.

It depends strongly where in the city you want to get to. S8 comes from the East and serves Ostbahnhof (east station) first, and then crosses the center from east to west with several stations. S1 comes in from the West and goes the same central route to the East. The Lufthansa bus is only good if you want to go right to the central station. I don't see the merits of the bus - you are stuck in the traffic.
In any case the S-Bahn ticket is valid to travel on within the city even if you have to change.

The Munich airport consist of two parallel concourses with a central hub in the middle. The S-bahn station is underneath the hub. On the main floor you should find a Munich Metro (MVV) ticket counter.

Buy day tickets (Tageskarten) for the entire system, €9,- for you, €2,10 for your daughter. These will not only allow you to get into wherever you are staying, but you can use them for any means of transport in the MVV for the rest of the day.

Personally, I like the Lufthansa bus. We generally stay a short walk from the main station, and the bus is much more comfortable and easier to manage with luggage. The drivers are very kind and helpful, and there is no confusion as to where to get off, etc. I've never enountered traffic problems.

It should be noted that for an adult and a child, the bus will cost €15,- and that is all you get. If you want to use the MVV once you get into town, that will cost another €6,60, €21,60 total vs. €11,10 for the MVV.

I always take the train, and I never have any confusion about where to get off. And, speaking of getting off, if you accommodations aren't next to the Hbf, the bus won't get you there.

So, you have to look at the whole situation. If you are staying at the Hbf and comfort is more important than price, take the bus.

Thanks for the information. I should have told you that I'm staying at the Hotel Acanthus. According to the people at the Hotel, it's a 10 minute walk from the Marienplatz. How does that effect your recommendation?

That changes my recommendation, because Marienplatz is a fairly long walk from the Bahnhof. Perhaps one of these others who know the S-Bahn stops can suggest the best route for you.

According to the MVV website, your hotel, at Hauptfeuerwache 14 (yes?), is a 1,3 km walk (about 19 minutes) from the Hauptbahnhof or a 0,9 km walk, about 12 minutes from Marienplatz, the address of you hotel. Either way, they suggest taking a U-bahn to the Sendlinger Tor station, then it is a 2 min walk. No matter which S-Bahn you come in on, 1 or 8, you should probably get off at Marienplatz and take the U3/6 to Sendlinger Tor.

I am a fan of the Lufthansa bus. I have used the S-bahn once and went back to using the bus on subsequent trips.

The bus as of my last trip had two stops at the airport. One is outside area A of the old terminal and outside the new terminal. I have never caught the bus from the new one, so I am not sure where it is. I have arrived there and it stops in front of a main entrance.

You buy your ticket on the bus from the driver. Your luggage is locked up in the baggage compartment under the bus.

No reservations are required.

The bus makes two scheduled stops. One is at the Nordfriedhof (cemetary) in the northern part of the Schwabing area.
From there, the bus goes to the Haupbahnhof.

My hotel is usually two U-bahn stops away. Last year, we opted for a taxi. The bus driver radioed ahead and a taxi met us at the Nordfriedhof stop.

If you go on to the main train station, there are taxis galore. Or, you can catch most of the S-Bahn and U-bahn lines at that station as well.

I like the route because you are above ground and can see where you are going.

If traffic is backed up, the bus company has alternate routes worked out and the bus makes the necessary detours. Despite heavy traffic conditions I have never been unduly delayed.

Last year, as we were leaving town to go to the airport, the Oktoberfest mob was arriving on the autobahn. It was backed up for a considerable distance even though the day was Sunday. We were going the opposite way, however.

If you know you are returning the same way to the Munich airport, you can buy a round trip ticket.

The driver usually understands a little English, but the German for a round trip ticket is hin und zuruck.
I think you will see it in most phrase books.

Just my 2 cents.....the first time I went to Munich I was with my niece. We (quickly) managed to figure out how to catch the train from the airport to the hotel's stop. It was a 10 minute walk to our hotel, but somehow we got lost since we could not see the sign. However, many locals were extremely helpful in pointing us in the right direction, which was a fun way to start the trip. If you're not in a big rush, take the train and take your chances.....it's not a very big gamble at all.

Both the S-1 and S-8 S-Bahn trains run above ground for most of their route into the city. If you are going to be in Munich for several days you might also consider the so-called "Munich Welcome Card" which includes transportation in all modes as well as entrance fees or at least discounts to some of the more popular sites.

Great info, saving.

The "Munich Welcome Card" is no longer for sale.
http://www.muenchen.de/Rathaus/touri...lcomecard.html

We recently arrived at the Munich airport and took the S8 to Marienplatz using a day card (Tageskarten) as already mentioned. It worked well and having learn to use the system continued to pay off the rest of out visit, whether visiting some distance sight or the English book store near Odeonplatz.

My 18 year old son was really impressed with the metro system. It was an experience of its own.

Here is a map of the system. It looks a bit confusing at first. The airport is at the top. A little study can pay big dividends. Having a map alerts you to when your stop is close.

http://www.munich-info.de/travel/mvv_en.html

Regards, Gary

The train system in Munich is incredibly easy to use. In fact, the first time you use it, I recommend going to the counter above the train station in the hub between the two terminals of the airport. At least one of the ticket agents will speak English and will be able to tell you the best combination of tickets to purchase for your stay in Munich. I'd determine, in advance, the U-Bahn stop closest to your hotel, if you're going to switch from the S-Bahn to the U-Bahn. They can also tell you whether or not to take the S-1 or the S-8.

The trains are clean and easy to use, and most run on the honor system (a couple require you to enter your ticket to access the escalator (this is the case at the airport)).

I also recommend the chocolate croissants at the pastry counter in the hub near the airport S-Bahn station.

Another vote for the S-Bahn. It is very easy to use, and unless you have so much luggage that you need a trolley to carry it, then you will be fine.

Most foreign public transport systems may look a bit hard to get a grip of at first glance, but Munich is really easy to handle.

From the airport, S8 will make the trip to Marienplatz in a few minutes less than S1, but it does not really matter.

Inside the train, you will find displays telling you the name of the next stop, so you will have no problems getting of at "Marienplatz".

One little oddity: At Marienplatz and at 2 other downtown stops you will have to exit on the right, while passengers will enter from left.

When on the platform, follow escalators down to U3 and U6. Once down on the subway level, stay left for the track for U3 / U6 with directions "Fürstenried West" or "Klinikum Großhadern". Actually, you can take any train from that track, as you will have to go only one stop to "Sendlinger Tor".

Once you disembarked at Sendlinger Tor go back all the way on the platform to the elevator at the very end.
Take elevator up to street level. On your right hand side you will find the street "An der Hauptfeuerwache".

Hope you will have a good time when in town ;-)

P.S. In comparison with other cities with the size of Munich (1.3mn), the subways and S-Bahn are so safe that they some of my friends from the States found them really boring ;-)