How to Get Around Munich on the Cheap

Visitors come to Munich for historical sites, famous beer gardens and amazing architecture. It's easy to get around Munich on the cheap, even if you don't speak a word of German; the public transportation system is excellent and easy to use.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Walking Shoes
• Maps
• Travel Guides
• Travel Services
• Day Packs

1. Get a good guidebook, preferably one that contains a map of the U-bahn system, as well as some helpful phrases in German. Some guides will even give you transit information to get you to specific sites of interest.

2. Use the extensive and easy-to-navigate public transit system. One ticket covers all types of transportation, as long as you don't reverse directions. You can transfer from S-bahn to U-bahn to bus or tram on a single fare, though there is a time limit, depending on how many zones you have passed through.

3. Buy a day pass or strip card. Public transit tickets can be bought in multiple strip cards called Mehrfahrtenkarte (blue for adults, red for children). The Tageskarte one-day pass provides unlimited travel for two adults and up to three children under the age of 15.

4. Take a tram for an interesting above-ground tour of the city. If you keep your guidebook handy, you should be able to identify places of interest as you pass and mark the ones you plan to visit later.

5. Ride a bike, either solo or on a bike tour. The transit system offers a "Bike and Ride" option, and there are a number of bike tours you can take in Munich, including beer garden "pub crawl" tours.

6. Walk everywhere you can, and wear comfortable shoes. Munich's central "old town" can easily be covered on foot and contains many sites of interest, including the Hofbrauhaus, Rathaus, Frauenkirche and a bustling street market.

Tips & Warnings

• A lot of interesting day trips are accessible via the S-bahn, or suburban rail system. Check your guidebook for a list of possible destinations.

• While Munich's transit works almost entirely on the honor system, there are occasional spot-checks, and the fine for traveling without a ticket is heavy. So be sure to have the tickets you need, and check the time limits carefully.