How to get around Munich by public transportation

Trying to interpret a map of Munich public transport system can become a Herculean task for the travel-weary brain. At first glance, this supposedly “helpful” source of information looks more like the product of a two-year old with a box of crayons and temper-tantrum.

The following article will help you distinguish the S-Bahn from the U-Bahn, the Tageskarte from the Streifenkarte, and figure out the best way to find all those Biergartens you’ve read about in this guide.

There are several ways to get around Munich. The city operates six subway lines (U-Bahn), ten suburban train lines (S-Bahn), ten tram lines and seventy inner-city bus lines, with many more trains and buses serving the outer districts. Your ticket is valid for use in all of these systems, which together comprise the Munich transportation network (abbreviated MVV in German).

How to choose and buy your ticket

Tickets are available from special vending machines or the informational offices located at major stops. Deciding which type of ticket you’ll need depends on your sightseeing plans and desired freedom of mobility. Make sure to be aware of any restrictions that apply to your ticket: this includes distance and time limitations, as well as “partner tickets” that require a certain number of travelers to be present.

The single ticket (Einzelfahrkarte) is valid for one person traveling in one direction. Here, the cost of the fare depends on the distance traveled, which is measured by the number of zones (1 through 4) you travel through in order to reach your destination.

A short trip (Kurzstreke) covers four consecutive stops anywhere in the network. However, rides on the subway and suburban trains may account for only two of these four total stops. Combinations are possible, e.g. one stop by tram, two stops with the subway and one stop by bus. You are allowed to travel in more than one zone, but the maximum traveling time is limited to one hour.

To begin your trip, first validate your ticket at one of the small, blue boxes you’ll see in the underground stations (note: this must be done before entering the subway or train) and on the buses. Insert the end that says “hier entwerten” into the slot, and the date, time, and location are stamped onto your ticket. I like to do this in a ceremonious and flamboyant manner.

Stripe tickets (Streifenkarte) can be used for multiple trips. Each ticket has ten stripes that can be stamped at the small boxes mentioned above—one stripe for a Kurzstreke, and two stripes per zone for longer rides. Travelers between the ages of fifteen and twenty pay half price: a particularly attractive option for those American under-21ers who have been out celebrating life with “beverages of the festive variety” but realize I may have had some “self-control issues” in college after missing that speech at my high school commencement about leading a life of moderation. OK, moving on…

If you plan on using public transport more frequently, day tickets give individual travelers (Single-Tageskarte), groups up to five (Partner-Tageskarte) and children (Kinder-Tageskarte) an unlimited amount of trips within the inner-city network for one day. A three-day unlimited ticket (3-Tage Innenraum) is also available.

A few more Munich transportation tips

Munich Night bus network : Movie-goers, theater-lovers and party-animals beware: the subway and suburban trains do not run from 1:30–4:30am, with the exception of the S8 line to the airport. Special “Nightliner” buses travel the most popular routes on the hour or half-hour, so getting back to your room may require some extra planning.

Rules : It’s common courtesy to stand to the side and let passengers off before entering a bus or train, but don’t be surprised if you are gently nudged from behind or “cut” in line; serious commuters are always looking to shave an extra second or two off their trip…kind of like an Olympic sprinter, but with Bruno Maglis and a Blackberry.

Rush hours : Once you get over the intimidation factor of all the charts and tables, the public transportation system in Munich is pretty fun to use. Most of the time. On weekdays, rush hour (Stoßzeit) is from 6:00–9:00am and 5:00–8:00pm. The more heavily-traveled lines cannot comfortably accommodate all of the city’s commuters, making some train cars and buses a claustrophobic’s worst nightmare. Theoretically, this too is a fact of life for the world traveler. But I can’t say that being squeezed between Hans and Franz—who are making a rather pungent return from their daily Wurst and Sauerkraut binge—qualifies as an “enjoyable” travel experience.

Photo of Munich subway by Steve Zakas

Topic:  How to Tuesday | 1 Comment
Tags:  Munich, transportation

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About the author

Steve Zakas currently lives and works in Munich. One of these days he’ll grow up and find a real job in the States, but for now he is thoroughly enjoying life in Germany. He is a recent graduate from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Political Science and, you guessed it, German. Questions? Search for Steve on Facebook.