Munich Main (Hauptbahnhof) Train Station
Munich Main (Hauptbahnhof) Train Station Review
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Munich Hauptbahnhof train station is the main train station for Munich and the whole Bavaria. First station building was raised in 1839 and was moved to its current location in 1848. Nowadays modernist building was built in 1950's and serves up to 450.000 passengers every year which makes it the biggest train station in Germany. Learn more about Munich Hauptbahnhof (Main) train station in our great article:
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Address: Bayerstraße 10A, 80335 Munich, Germany
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Tour of Munich Hauptbahnhof
What to find on the station?
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Station's modern building is a great example of post-war architecture, and in general is a light and airy place with lots of opportunities to spend your time before your train departure. Hauptbahnhof train station is the main hub for Munich, having its tight connection with subway, buses and trams. More than 240 international and 510 local trains arrive and depart from here every day.
There's easy access to station's main concourse and platforms from the street, which makes it easier to change the trains with luggage if needed. The place is safe to be at any time of the day. To check the platform you arrive at or depart from, make sure to look at the departure screens that will confirm the platform to be used. Of course, you can check the correct platform on the Deutsche Bahn website. There are underground platforms #1 and 2 that host S-Bahn trains, and in contrast to other platform those are available through platforms but not the main terminus. Although being the #1 and #2 those are located as far as platform #26 in the very north of the train station building. You can reach those platform on the down escalators from the main concourse. Those platforms are mainly used by the trains connecting Munich Hauptbahnhof with Munich International Airport. Platforms #5 to 10 are not so popular among the international travelers as those are used by the local German trains. With an easy access from the platform #11, the platforms are located in the southern wing of the building, named Holzkirchen. Please note that sometimes those platforms are used by local Meridian trains to Salzburg. Platforms #11 to 26 are the main and most of the time only ones that will be used by the international travelers. In case you are standing in the main station's hall, the platforms will be right in front of you, lined up from the left to right (south to north). Most of the international train routes to Salzburg, Vienna, Innsbruck, Budapest, Zurich, Venice are using those platforms. In case your train is German Intercity train, Intercity Express, Railjet, Nightjet, EuroNight or EuroCity you will most likely be using platforms #11 to 26 too. |
All in all, there are no problems with the train station access even for disabled passengers with or without wheelchair. The same applies to the wheeled luggage as it only takes like 2-3 minutes to cross the distance between any of the platforms mentioned above.
Platforms #27 to 36 are located in the Starnberger side of the train station and are accessible from the platform #26. Again, those platforms are rarely used by the international travelers due to the local train arrivals mostly. However, Garmisch, Mittenwald and Innsbruck trains sometimes stop there as well. In case you have any ticket of the 1st class like IC, ICE or even Railjet train, and many more, you are allowed to take advantage of amazing Deutsche Bahn first class lounge. You're offered a large choice of free coffee, beer, wine, snacks and even free WiFi. The lounge can be accessed from the main hall of the station and is located in the northeast corner on the first floor. Just follow the signs that say "DB Lounge" and you will find it easily. There are various ATMs in convenient locations. The station has great WiFi coverage, although its free for only 30 minutes. The network to look at is called Telekom. The luggage lockers are available all across the station. The short-term lockers cost 3 Euro per smaller locker ( 28x42x76cm) per day, the bigger one (47x61x91) will cost you 5 Euro per day. Medium-term locker up to 4 weeks will cost you 5 Euro per day. For the long-range rentals you should contact train station officer. Can you believe that there are showers available as well for as little as 7 Euro? Provided by Rail & Fresh, there are paid public washrooms, that will cost you 1 Euro (you will get a 50 cent voucher at the station vendors.) There are also Pharmacy (Apotheke) and Drug store available where you can find basically everything a regular traveler would need before or after arrival at Munich Hbf train station. Grocery store Edeka is available too. |
How to get there?
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The train station itself is located to the west from the Munich's city center, however it is within the walking distance from the city's main square and cathedral - Munich's cathedral and Marientplatz. With only 16-minute walk from the station building
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(approximately 1.6 km) from Munich Hbf train station to Marienplatz makes it rather a pleasant walk along the shopping street. All you need to do is to walk out of the train station and you're good to go!
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By Metro, Bus, Taxi, S-Bahn Trains
City's developed public transportation system allows you to reach Munich Hauptbahnhof not only by metro, but by trams and buses as well. The following routes have stops near the station:
Trams: Hauptbahnhof for #16, 17, 19, 21, 22, N16, N19, N20
Holzkirchner Bahnhof for tram route #18
Subway: München Central Station, U1, U2, U4, U5, U7, U8
Busses: bus stops Hauptbahnhof (also, Hauptbahnhof Nord, Holzkirchner Bahnhof, Seidlstraße)
S-Bahn trains: München Central Station, S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, S8.
From the Munich International Airport
Munich International Airport and Munich Hauptbahnhof train station are connected by S8 local trains. They depart from the platform #2 every 20 minutes. The average travel time is 40 minutes (14 stops), you will need to get off at the Munich Central Station stop. In general, train is the best option in terms of avoiding traffic.
Other great option is to take express bus from Lufthansa (which can be used by everyone, no matter what airline you're using). The cost of the ticket starts from 10.50 Euro for adult, 5.50 Euro for children, when infants travel for free. However, even though this option is relatively cheaper and relatively faster than the public transit you may get caught in a traffic jam.
As for the taxi, the average cost of transfer from the Munich International airport to Munich Central Railway Station is about 50 Euros (~$56). This is a great option if you're traveling as a group of people but again, beware of traffic. In contrast to other European cities, Munich does not have the fixed rate for taxi transfers from the airport.
Trams: Hauptbahnhof for #16, 17, 19, 21, 22, N16, N19, N20
Holzkirchner Bahnhof for tram route #18
Subway: München Central Station, U1, U2, U4, U5, U7, U8
Busses: bus stops Hauptbahnhof (also, Hauptbahnhof Nord, Holzkirchner Bahnhof, Seidlstraße)
S-Bahn trains: München Central Station, S1, S2, S3, S4, S6, S7, S8.
From the Munich International Airport
Munich International Airport and Munich Hauptbahnhof train station are connected by S8 local trains. They depart from the platform #2 every 20 minutes. The average travel time is 40 minutes (14 stops), you will need to get off at the Munich Central Station stop. In general, train is the best option in terms of avoiding traffic.
Other great option is to take express bus from Lufthansa (which can be used by everyone, no matter what airline you're using). The cost of the ticket starts from 10.50 Euro for adult, 5.50 Euro for children, when infants travel for free. However, even though this option is relatively cheaper and relatively faster than the public transit you may get caught in a traffic jam.
As for the taxi, the average cost of transfer from the Munich International airport to Munich Central Railway Station is about 50 Euros (~$56). This is a great option if you're traveling as a group of people but again, beware of traffic. In contrast to other European cities, Munich does not have the fixed rate for taxi transfers from the airport.