München Hbf

Munich train station

Munich train station is a large and modern transport hub with plenty of shops, cafes and amenities, including luggage lockers and tourist/travel offices. This terminal station is one of Germany’s busiest. With 32 platforms, it’s recommended that travellers leave 10-15 minutes for their transfers. The Bavarian capital has six high-speed, high-tech intercity express (ICE) services from Berlin daily, taking between 6h08mins and 6h53mins. Direct ICE trains from Nuremberg take around 1h05mins, and the journey from Frankfurt is between 3h27mins and 3h49mins, depending on the service. Located close to many central European borders, international services are common too. Salzburg-Munich has a journey time of 1h28mins, the average service from Strasbourg is 4h19mins, and Prague is around 5h00mins away. S-Bahn, underground, bus and tram lines serve the station, making it convenient for onward journeys. For those heading to the airport, the S1 and S8 leave every 10 minutes, with a travel time of 45 minutes.

Main attractions near Munich train station

Stepping out of Munich train station, visitors are stepping into the vibrant heart of the Bavarian capital. Heading straight out of the main entrance on foot, travellers will be at Karlsplatz, a busy intersection and square lined with grand edifices, in 5 minutes. Walking under the Gothic gate, the street becomes pedestrianised. After a further 10 minutes, visitors will reach the splendour of the city’s central square, Marienplatz. Michaelskirche (St. Michael’s Church), the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps, can be seen along the way. The city’s cathedral is another religious edifice that demands attention, because this red-brick Gothic church is one of the city’s most emblematic buildings.

Marienplatz is dominated by the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall), with its famous Glockenspiel and richly-decorated facade. On the eastern side, the Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall) looks over to its successor, still impressive though overshadowed. The Residenz — the former regal abode of the Bavarian kings — is a short stroll to the north of the square, and still under a 30-minute walk from the train station. The so-called ‘English Gardens’ are just beyond, offering one of the largest urban park spaces in the world.

For eating and drinking, Munich is unsurpassed! Viktualienmarkt maintains a 2,000-year-old tradition of serving some of the best regional produce. The city’s historic Hofbräuhaus am Platzl beer hall is just a 20-minute beeline from the station, and it’s one of the earliest examples of what Munich has become famous for — beer! This city is the epicentre of Oktoberfest, and so visitors will never be far from a great place to eat and drink when wandering through Munich’s Old Town.