What’s the easiest way to get around Munich?
Walk between the old town sights. For longer trips, use the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram or bus. Put your starting point and final stop into the MVV journey planner to check the route and fare. The printable Munich maps include separate rail, tram and night maps.
How do you get from the airport to the city?
The S1 and S8 connect Munich Airport with the city. The S1 runs via the west and the S8 via the east. Check which serves your stop on the airport’s public transport page. For the onward journey, see our Munich Airport guide.
Where should you go on a first visit?
From Marienplatz, see the Glockenspiel at the New Town Hall, then walk to the Viktualienmarkt or the Frauenkirche. The city’s one-day Munich guide offers routes for different interests.
But Munich has so much history and so much natural and manmade beauty that in our opinion, it actually outshines Berlin.
Munich is also home to Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese. For a day away from the city, see our Munich day trips.
Where should you check the weather?
Use the German Weather Service’s Munich forecast for the city. For a mountain day, use the forecast and lift status for your destination. The Zugspitze’s live conditions are a separate check.
Which language is useful?
German is the everyday language to plan for. For trip information in English, start with the City tourist information service. Its office at the New Town Hall is at Marienplatz 8. For local expressions, see our Bavarian phrases.
What should you budget for housing?
Visitors should compare the full cost of their stay and transport. For a move, use Munich’s official rent index to check comparable rents, then compare the advertised rent and extra charges.
In our original FAQ, Mark found Munich “very reasonably priced for just about everything”. Fred’s view was that “the city is quite expensive”, especially for rent. Our Munich home rental guide covers where to start looking.
How do you register your address?
Start with the City’s residence registration service. The general deadline is 14 days after moving in, and the City lists exceptions. Our KVR and address registration guide explains which office handles which job.
What number do you call in an emergency?
Call 112 for a medical emergency or fire and 110 for a police emergency. Save the Munich emergency numbers guide for the medical on-call number and the Munich poison information centre. City emergency guidance
How many people live in Munich, and when was the city first recorded?
Munich counted 1,612,429 people with their main residence in the city on 31 December 2025. The first surviving written mention is from 1158. The City’s history traces the medieval name to the word for monk, which also explains the monk in the early city seal. City population figures · City history