Munich airport is about 28 kilometres north-east of the centre, and the most direct way in is the S-Bahn, the suburban train: lines S1 and S8 leave from beneath the terminals and stop at Marienplatz, right in the old town.
This guide sums up the three options, train, bus and taxi, with the fares in force since 1 January 2026 and the ticket worth buying depending on whether you will be getting around that day.
In short
- Distance
- About 28 km to the centre
- Train
- S1 and S8, a train every 10 minutes
- Journey time
- About 40 minutes to the centre
- Day ticket
- Airport-City-Day-Ticket, 17.50 euros
- Single trip
- 15.10 euros
- Bus
- Lufthansa Express Bus, from 12.50 euros
The options, one by one
Train, ticket, bus and taxi, with what you need to know about each.
By S-Bahn: the S1 and the S8
The airport's S-Bahn station, Flughafen München, is beneath the Munich Airport Center, between Terminals 1 and 2. Two lines run from there: the S8, which enters the city from the east via Ostbahnhof, and the S1, which comes in from the west via Moosach. As they alternate, there is a train every 10 minutes.
Both cross the centre and stop at Marienplatz and at the central station (Hauptbahnhof). According to the airport, the journey to the central station takes about 40 minutes. If you are heading for the old town, get off at Marienplatz: the station is right under the square.
- S8: Via the east. Runs 24 hours: every 20 minutes, and every 40 between 1 and 4 am.
- S1: Via the west. Every 20 minutes from 3 am to midnight, and non-stop at weekends and on public holidays.
- Where to get off: Marienplatz for the old town; Hauptbahnhof for the central station.
Tip: On the way back, do not get off at Besucherpark, the stop before: it serves the visitor park and the car parks. The terminal stop is Flughafen München.
The old town, told by a local guideWhich ticket to buy
The airport is in fare zone 5, so your ticket has to cover zone M, the city, through to zone 5. The option designed for travellers is the Airport-City-Day-Ticket: for 17.50 euros you travel all day, until 6 am the next morning, on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses and regional trains across the whole city. It is the same as a day ticket for zones M to 5.
If you are only making the journey and will not be getting around again that day, a single ticket for zones M to 5 costs 15.10 euros, just 2.40 less. For groups there is a group version, 32.60 euros for up to five adults, in which two children aged 6 to 14 count as one adult.
- Airport-City-Day-Ticket: 17.50 euros; one adult and up to three children aged 6 to 14, all day, zones M to 5.
- Group version: 32.60 euros, up to five adults.
- Single ticket: 15.10 euros, one journey.
Tip: You can buy the ticket in the MVGO app, online or at the airport machines, which take cards. If you get a paper ticket from a stationary MVG machine, you have to validate it before boarding.
By bus: the Lufthansa Express Bus
Despite the name, you do not need to fly Lufthansa: the Lufthansa Express Bus is a direct coach between the airport and Munich's central station that runs 365 days a year, with a departure every 20 minutes. It makes just one stop on the way, at Munich North (Schwabing, Nordfriedhof).
From the airport to the central station takes about 45 minutes. A single ticket costs 12.50 euros online and 13.50 from the driver; a return costs 20.30 euros online. It is cheaper than a single train ticket, but it drops you at the central station, not at Marienplatz.
- Frequency: Every 20 minutes, every day.
- Journey time: About 45 minutes to the central station.
- Price: 12.50 euros online, 13.50 from the driver. Children aged 6 to 14, 7.50 online.
Tip: At Terminal 2 it stops at bus stop 1 on the arrivals level (E03); at Terminal 1, at arrivals B and at module D.
By taxi
There are taxi ranks in the departure and arrival areas of Terminals 1 and 2, and a taxi service point on level 03 of Terminal 2. It is the most comfortable option if you have a lot of luggage, but also the most expensive: the fare is set by the meter according to distance, with a minimum charge.
Since September 2023 you can agree a fixed fare for the journey in Munich, but only if you book the taxi in advance by phone or app. If you take one from the rank, you pay what the meter shows.
- Where: In the departure and arrival areas of Terminals 1 and 2.
- Fixed fare: Only when booked in advance by phone or app.
- From the rank: You pay by the meter.
Which option to choose
If you will be getting around the city that same day, the Airport-City-Day-Ticket is the best buy: for 2.40 euros more than the single ticket you get unlimited travel until the next morning, and the S-Bahn drops you at Marienplatz. If your accommodation is next to the central station and you are only making the journey, the Lufthansa bus is the cheapest option.
A taxi mainly makes sense with a lot of luggage. For the return trip, bear in mind that works or disruptions can change S-Bahn journey times: the airport itself recommends checking your connection before you set off.
- Getting around that day: Airport-City-Day-Ticket, 17.50 euros.
- Just the journey: Lufthansa Express Bus to the central station, 12.50 euros online.
- Lots of luggage: A taxi from the terminal rank.
Coming out at Marienplatz
The S-Bahn drops you at Marienplatz, the very heart of the old town: the Virgin's column, the New Town Hall and, a few steps away, the Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche. It is the best place to start seeing the city as soon as you arrive.
The app has an audio guide to the old town recorded by a local guide born in Munich: ten stops you walk at your own pace, with her voice in your ear. It is narrated in Spanish. You buy it once, download it to your phone and it works offline, so you can have it ready before you land.
- At your own pace: Start when you like and stop wherever you want.
- By a local guide: Recorded by a guide born in Munich.
- One purchase: Download it and use it offline.
Land, get off at Marienplatz and start
The S-Bahn drops you in the middle of the old town. Bring the audio guide by a Munich-born guide already downloaded: narrated in Spanish, bought once, it works offline and you start whenever you like, with no group and no fixed time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Munich airport to the centre?+
By S-Bahn, about 40 minutes to the central station, according to the airport; the S1 and S8 also stop at Marienplatz. The Lufthansa Express Bus takes about 45 minutes to the central station.
How much is the train from the airport to the centre?+
A single ticket for zones M to 5 costs 15.10 euros. The Airport-City-Day-Ticket, valid all day across the whole city, costs 17.50 euros, and its group version 32.60.
Which line takes me to Marienplatz?+
Both lines that leave the airport, the S1 and the S8. They alternate, so there is a train every 10 minutes.
Does the train run at night?+
The S8 runs 24 hours: between 1 and 4 am it comes every 40 minutes. The S1 runs from 3 am to midnight, and non-stop at weekends and on public holidays.
Is the Deutschlandticket valid?+
Yes. The Deutschlandticket is valid on all local and regional transport in Germany, including the airport S-Bahn.
What can I do as soon as I reach the centre?+
Marienplatz, where the S-Bahn stops, is the natural starting point for seeing the old town. The app has an audio guide recorded by a guide born in Munich, narrated in Spanish, that you can download before your trip: ten stops at your own pace that work offline.