Where should you stay in Munich?

Quick pick by traveler type

• First visit: the Altstadt, including Lehel just east of it.

• Nightlife: the Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz, south of the Altstadt by the Isar.

• Budget: the Ludwigsvorstadt around the Hauptbahnhof, or Haidhausen across the river.

• Families: Schwabing or Maxvorstadt, close to the English Garden.

• Transit-focused: the Hauptbahnhof, for regional and long-distance trains and the airport S-Bahn.

• Quiet and romantic: Lehel and Haidhausen, along the Isar.

Altstadt and Lehel: the old town

The Altstadt is the ring of old Munich around Marienplatz, with the Neues Rathaus and its Glockenspiel, the twin domes of the Frauenkirche, Alter Peter, the Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus. Our Munich guide recommends the Altstadt-Lehel district just north or east of Marienplatz, within walking distance of the Residenz and the beer halls. Lehel, east of the Residenz, is the quieter, residential edge, close to the Isar and the southern end of the English Garden.

It suits first-timers and short stays who want every main sight on foot.

The downside: it is the most expensive area, and the pedestrian streets between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz are crowded with shoppers by day.

For slightly lower prices with the same walkability, look at the edges of the old town near the surviving city gates: Sendlinger Tor in the south-west, a major U-Bahn interchange, and Isartor in the east, on the S-Bahn line from the airport. Both are within about 10 minutes' walk of Marienplatz.

Ludwigsvorstadt and the Hauptbahnhof: the practical base

The blocks around the main station, the Hauptbahnhof, are about a 15-minute walk west of Marienplatz, or two S-Bahn stops. This is where the trains for day trips from Munich leave, and the Theresienwiese, the Oktoberfest grounds, is a short walk south.

It suits travelers with early trains, day-trippers and budget stays. The area has the city's widest choice of mid-range hotels.

The downside: the streets immediately around the station are functional rather than pretty, and during Oktoberfest this area is the most crowded in the city.

Maxvorstadt: museums and university streets

Maxvorstadt runs north from the Altstadt, holding the three Pinakothek art museums, Königsplatz and the university. It is a district of cafés, bookshops and students, with the U-Bahn connecting it to Marienplatz in a few minutes.

It suits art lovers, longer stays and travelers who want everyday Munich close to the centre.

The downside: fewer big-name sights on the doorstep, and the walk to Marienplatz from the northern end takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Schwabing: the English Garden side

Schwabing lies north of Maxvorstadt, along the western edge of the English Garden, one of the largest city parks in the world, with its beer gardens under chestnut trees and the Eisbach river. Leopoldstraße is its main street, with the U-Bahn under it.

It suits families, runners, longer stays and anyone who wants green space and a residential feel.

The downside: it is a commute to the old town for sightseeing, and hotels are fewer and spread out.

Haidhausen and the Glockenbachviertel

Haidhausen, across the Isar to the east, has the quiet Franzosenviertel, the French Quarter of 19th-century apartment blocks, plus beer gardens and the Ostbahnhof station. It suits couples and longer stays for slightly lower prices. The downside is that it is across the river from the main sights.

The Glockenbachviertel, with Gärtnerplatz, is south of the Altstadt by the river: Munich's bar, restaurant and LGBTQ district. It suits nightlife and food-focused travelers, with Marienplatz a 10 to 15 minute walk. The downside is late-night noise around Gärtnerplatz in summer.

Booking advice: airport, Oktoberfest, seasons and nights

Airport: the S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines take about 40 to 45 minutes to Marienplatz and the Hauptbahnhof. Staying near either saves a change with bags.

Oktoberfest: the 2027 festival runs from 18 September to 3 October. Hotel prices rise steeply and central rooms sell out months ahead. If you are not coming for the festival, avoid those dates; if you are, book as early as possible and consider the station area or a town on a direct train line.

Day trips by rail: the Hauptbahnhof is the departure point for regional trains to Füssen, for Neuschwanstein, which take about 2 hours, and for most Alpine and Romantic Road towns. If your plan has three or more day trips, the station area saves real time each morning.

Trade fairs: Munich hosts large trade fairs at its exhibition centre through the year, and prices can jump during them even outside Oktoberfest. If quotes look unusually high for your dates, shifting by a few days often helps.

Christmas markets: Marienplatz's market fills the Altstadt from late November; see our German Christmas markets guide.

Trains: if you are covering more of Germany, the Deutschlandticket covers local and regional trains, including the S-Bahn.

How many nights: two days covers the Altstadt, the Residenz and the English Garden; four or five allow day trips to the Alps or along the Romantic Road. See how many days in Munich. Our German route came south through Würzburg and Ulm before Munich, then continued south to Verona. For eating out, read what to eat in Munich and tipping in Germany.

Frequently asked questions