Munich / The verdict
Munich airport to the city: which way?
Take the S1 or S8 S-Bahn: trains leave about every 10 minutes, reach Hauptbahnhof in about 40 minutes, and the EUR 17.50 Airport-City-Day-Ticket also covers the rest of your day in the city. The Lufthansa Express Bus is the easier ride with heavy bags if you stay near Hauptbahnhof or Schwabing.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Munich story
Munich is Germany's polished southern capital: a compact Altstadt of church towers, the Residenz's long Antiquarium hall, the Viktualienmarkt grazing circuit, beer halls and beer gardens treated as civic institutions, and the English Garden running through the middle with surfers on the Eisbach. The centre is walkable end to end, the Alps start on the horizon, and the Hofbrauhaus brass band is exactly the cliche you came for.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: S-Bahn S1 or S8 (runner-up: Lufthansa Express Bus)
Take the S1 or S8 S-Bahn: trains leave about every 10 minutes, reach Hauptbahnhof in about 40 minutes, and the EUR 17.50 Airport-City-Day-Ticket also covers the rest of your day in the city. The Lufthansa Express Bus is the easier ride with heavy bags if you stay near Hauptbahnhof or Schwabing.
Go if
- You are staying anywhere near an S-Bahn or U-Bahn stop in central Munich
- You want to ride trams and the U-Bahn the same day on one ticket
- You travel as a group of two to five, where the EUR 32.60 group day ticket costs about a third of the fixed taxi fare
Skip if
- You have heavy bags and dread station stairs, where the bus loads bags at street level or a taxi goes door to door
- Your arrival day falls on a published S-Bahn closure to the airport, when replacement buses run instead
- You are three or four people landing late with luggage and a hotel far from a station
The options
S-Bahn S1 or S8 Go
Most arrivals, especially anyone staying near Marienplatz, Hauptbahnhof or another S-Bahn or U-Bahn stop.
Good
- The S1 and S8 alternate, so a train leaves about every 10 minutes and reaches Hauptbahnhof in about 40 minutes.
- The EUR 17.50 Airport-City-Day-Ticket covers the ride in plus unlimited city travel until 6 a.m. the next day.
- The S8 runs around the clock, every 40 minutes between about 1 and 4 a.m.
Watch out
- One writer warns that construction work makes hauling luggage through stations harder.
- A city ticket does not reach the airport in zone 5, and paper tickets from some machines must be validated before boarding.
- Construction closures sometimes replace trains to the airport with buses for several days.
Lufthansa Express Bus It depends
Travelers with heavy bags staying near Hauptbahnhof or in Schwabing near the Munich North stop.
Good
- EUR 12.50 online, the cheapest single ride into the city.
- Street-level boarding with luggage stowed underneath.
- Munich North (Schwabing) in about 25 minutes and Hauptbahnhof in about 45 minutes, every 20 minutes.
Watch out
- It stops only at Munich North and Hauptbahnhof, so most hotels need another ticket or a walk.
- Road traffic stretches the ride; one traveler logged about an hour.
- The fare covers only the bus, unlike the day ticket on the train.
Taxi or pre-booked transfer It depends
Groups of three or four with big bags, late arrivals, or hotels far from a station.
Good
- Door to door with no changes or stairs.
- Taxi-München publishes a fixed EUR 96 fare between the airport and Hauptbahnhof.
- Taxi ranks sit in the arrival areas of Terminals 1 and 2.
Watch out
- For one or two people it costs several times the train ticket.
- The meter adds EUR 39 an hour for waiting, including in traffic.
Taxi-München faresSee transfer pricespartner site
| Criterion | S-Bahn S1 or S8 | Lufthansa Express Bus | Taxi or pre-booked transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official price | EUR 15.10 single, EUR 17.50 day ticket | EUR 12.50 online, EUR 13.50 from the driver | EUR 96 fixed to Hauptbahnhof |
| Official journey time to Hauptbahnhof | About 40 min | About 45 min | Not published |
| Frequency from the airport | About every 10 min combined | Every 20 min | On request |
| Arrives at | Marienplatz, Hauptbahnhof and other city stations | Munich North and Hauptbahnhof | Your door |
| Covers onward city travel | Yes, with the day ticket | No | Not applicable |
| What travelers report | Cheap, frequent and easy to follow; stairs with bags | Comfortable with luggage; traffic can slow it | Easy but costly for one or two |
What it costs
- Airport-City-Day-Ticket, single (zones M to 5): €17.50 (valid until 6 a.m. the next day; covers one adult and up to three children 6 to 14). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Airport-City-Day-Ticket, group of 2 to 5: €32.60 (two children 6 to 14 count as one adult). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- MVV single ticket, zones M to 5 (airport to city): €15.10 (select zones M to 5 on the page). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Lufthansa Express Bus, adult single (online): €12.50 (EUR 13.50 from the driver; return EUR 20.30 online; child 6 to 14 EUR 7.50). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Taxi fixed fare, airport to Hauptbahnhof: €96 (either direction; metered fares otherwise start at EUR 5.90 plus EUR 2.70 per km for the first 7 km and EUR 2.50 per km after). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 13 traveler reports (May 2025 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 1 was negative.
What people like
- The train is easy to follow, even for first-time and older visitors.
- The Airport-City-Day-Ticket doubles as a city transit pass for the rest of the day.
- The bus lets travelers load big bags at street level with no station stairs.
- Trains leave often, so there is little waiting at the airport.
What people complain about
- Hauling luggage through stations is harder during construction work.
- Taxis cost several times the train fare for one or two people.
- Road traffic can stretch the bus ride to about an hour.
- Construction closures sometimes replace airport trains with buses.
- Ticket checks are strict, and some paper tickets must be validated first.
How to do it right
- Follow the green S signs from arrivals to the S-Bahn station under the Munich Airport Center, between Terminals 1 and 2.
- Buy the Airport-City-Day-Ticket (or the group version) at the machine, online or in the MVV app.
- Board whichever of the S1 or S8 leaves first; both reach Hauptbahnhof.
- If you stay near Hauptbahnhof or Munich North with heavy bags, take the Lufthansa Express Bus instead.
- Check the S-Bahn construction notices before you fly, since closures to the airport run on replacement buses.
The trap to avoid
Buying a city-zone ticket for the airport ride: the airport sits in zone 5, so you need a ticket for zones M to 5. A Munich resident also warns that ticket checks are strict, so validate paper tickets that need it before boarding.
Why this verdict
The reports favor the train: 5 of the 13 logged reports are positive, 7 mixed and 1 negative. Reports from a layover couple to a photographer who landed at 8:30 describe the S-Bahn as easy to follow, and a Munich resident who took an expensive taxi on her first arrival now takes the train every time. The price case is simple. The EUR 17.50 Airport-City-Day-Ticket costs EUR 2.40 more than a single ride and then covers every tram, bus and U-Bahn trip until 6 a.m. the next day, so arriving travelers get their first day of city transport almost free.
The complaints are about bags and disruptions, not the route. One writer notes that construction work makes hauling luggage through stations harder, and a resident warns that ticket checks are strict. The one negative report is a news item about a four-day closure in April 2026, when replacement buses took over. Closures like that are announced in advance, so check before you fly.
The Lufthansa Express Bus earns its place as the runner-up. It costs EUR 12.50 online, you board at street level, and its Munich North stop serves Schwabing in about 25 minutes. The trade-off is traffic: one writer logged about an hour for a ride listed at 45 minutes, and the ticket covers nothing beyond the bus.
A taxi makes sense for three or four people with big bags or a late arrival far from a station. Taxi-München’s fixed EUR 96 fare to Hauptbahnhof compares with EUR 32.60 for the group day ticket, so for one or two people the train wins easily.
Timing and tickets
The S8 runs around the clock, every 40 minutes between about 1 and 4 a.m., so late arrivals still have a train. Buy a ticket for zones M to 5, since a city ticket does not reach the airport, and validate any paper ticket that asks for it before you board.
Book or check times
Airport-City-Day-Ticket pricesS-Bahn to the airportLufthansa Express Bus ticketsTaxi-München faresAirport public transport overview
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See transfer pricespartner site
Questions
Which ticket do I need from Munich airport?
The airport lies in MVV zone 5, so you need a ticket for zones M to 5. The Airport-City-Day-Ticket costs EUR 17.50 and a single ticket EUR 15.10, so the day ticket costs little more and covers the rest of the day in the city.
S1 or S8?
Either. The airport lists the S1 via the west of the city and the S8 via the east, both reaching Hauptbahnhof in about 40 minutes, and they alternate for a train about every 10 minutes. Take whichever leaves first.
Is there a train at night?
Yes. The airport lists the S8 as running around the clock, every 40 minutes from about 1 to 4 a.m. and every 20 minutes otherwise. The S1 runs from about 3 a.m. to midnight, and nonstop on weekends and holidays.
How much is a taxi from Munich airport?
Taxi-München publishes a fixed EUR 96 fare between the airport and Hauptbahnhof. Other trips run on the meter at EUR 5.90 plus EUR 2.70 per km for the first 7 km and EUR 2.50 per km after, plus EUR 39 an hour for waiting.
Is the Lufthansa Express Bus better than the train?
It can be if you have heavy bags and stay near Hauptbahnhof or Munich North, since you board at street level and it costs EUR 12.50 online. It is exposed to road traffic, and the fare covers only the bus, while the train day ticket also covers onward trips.