Germany - Best Area to Stay in Munich

I'm going to Munich in late November (Thanksgiving day weekend). I was just wondering what is the best area to stay in. I see areas on expedia like Hauptbahnhof or Schwabing. Can any of you recommend an area with lots of stuff to do and see? I'll have a travel companion for two days, but the other two days I'm on my own!

Most of the sights you'll most want to see (as a tourist) are going to be closer to the Hauptbahnhof. The Christmas markets should be up and running while you're there (they usually open up by 11/25). You can walk to a lot of things from the Hauptbahnhof area and not have to use the public transort system. That is if you don't mind walking.

The best area is obviously around Marienplatz in the very heart of the city.

The Christmas markets should be up and running while you're there (they usually open up by 11/25). .

It's not the calendar date that determines this.

Traditionally, Christmas markets open on the first Sunday in Advent (or the Saturday before it).

These days, as I understand it, many Christmas markets open a few days earlier - but never before the Sunday preceding Advent Sunday which is "Totensonntag", a day of remembrance for those who have died.

This year Advent Sunday is quite early (as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday), so even those Christmas markets that stick to the traditional "first week-end in Advent" will be open no later than Saturday 26 November.

Next year will be a different story as Advent Sunday won't be until 2 December.

Anywhere near a subway/underground line is fine. I've stayed at the Hilton Munich City twice. S-bahn stop under the hotel accessed from the lobby. Two stops from Marienplatz(heart of the city). Subways are safe and efficient.

Thanks guys!

I really wanted to stay at the Louis hotel which is close to Marienplatz but I can't seem to get a hold of them. Anyhow, I'll definitely want to stay near Marienplatz, but it seems like some of the hotels are getting booked quick. Do any of you guys know why? Is that a big weekend in Germany?

I'll also be staying a day in Berlin! :)

My usual recommendation is this: http://www.hotel-splendid-dollmann.de/

It's about 15 min. walk to Marienplatz, but a very nice one. Both the "U-Bahn" and the Tram are just around the corner and I find this is one of the nicest areas in Munich.

FYI - There's a FT dinner in town as well.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/1268289-munich-dinner-sat-nov-26th-ennstaler-stubn.html

My favorite area of Munich is Haidhausen. Guess where I live? ;)

Lots of restaurants and bars in the area. Two train stops from Marienplatz. There's a nice Hilton right at Rosenheimer Platz.

www.hilton.com/MunichCity

This used to be my standard hotel in Munich when I still travelled here on business.

There's also a Holiday Inn in the area:

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/de/de/munich/muchb/hoteldetail

Ugly building, but if you get a high floor you'll have a great view of the city.

Schwabing is also a good place to stay. Somewhere around Münchner Freiheit.

we like the platz... across the street from the hofbrauhaus and a block to Marienplatz... upscale german hotel

http://www.platzl.de/no_cache/en/platzl-hotel-in-munich.html

I personally can also recommend the Sofitel Bayerpost. It's right a the main station and has easy access to everything.

Is the Hilton City the closest American chain hotel to the good areas to stay in in Munich? Are any of the Starwood properties convenient?

I will only be in Munich for one day and want to make sure I am close enough to see some of the sights. I would prefer to walk from the hotel if possible rather than take public transit, so would prefer to stay closer to the city center.

SPG and Marriott have decently located properties close to Hauptbahnhof etc.

Is the Hilton City the closest American chain hotel to the good areas to stay in in Munich? Are any of the Starwood properties convenient?
I will only be in Munich for one day and want to make sure I am close enough to see some of the sights. I would prefer to walk from the hotel if possible rather than take public transit, so would prefer to stay closer to the city center.

There is also a Holiday Inn about 100m from the City Hilton. 2 train stops from the main square or about a 12 minute walk. I would call the location of the City Hilton a "better area" than the Hauptbahnhof area. Lots of nice bars and restaurants within a short stroll.

Schwabing is also a good place to stay. Somewhere around Münchner Freiheit.

SPG and Marriott have decently located properties close to Hauptbahnhof etc.

Going to Munich with a consolidator from ATH dec 1 st for 4 nights. We have a choice of 2 hotels

Marriot courtyard Munich city center: Schwantalerstrasse 37 80336

Or the

Renaisance Munich Theodor-dombart.Strasser 4 80805

Which would anyone recommend for my wife and I .

I believe someone said the Renaissance is in a seedy neighborhood.

Thanks fellow FT ers . Can I get credit for hotel stays and flights from consolidators package? Prolly not but you know I will save all papers and fight for it .

The Courtyard has a more central location. The Renaissance is in North Schwabing near underground Nordfriedhof. I wouldn't call the area seedy at all. Just not many restaurants, bars, sights within a short walking distance. There's also another Marriott about 100 yards from the Renaissance on Berliner Str.

The Courtyard has a more central location. The Renaissance is in North Schwabing near underground Nordfriedhof. I wouldn't call the area seedy at all. Just not many restaurants, bars, sights within a short walking distance. There's also another Marriott about 100 yards from the Renaissance on Berliner Str.

With a gun to your head and a hungry wife on your hands , which of the 2 offered by TA would you choose ?

I assume from your comment , the courtyard had more restaurants , bars within walking distance :confused:

Thx

With a gun to your head and a hungry wife on your hands , which of the 2 offered by TA would you choose ?
I assume from your comment , the courtyard had more restaurants , bars within walking distance :confused:


The Courtyard is about 250 yards from the old town center. It's on a rather busy street, I assume rooms toward the back would be quieter.

North Schwabing is two subway stops from the "touristy" part of Schwabing.

Given only these two choices I guess I would take the Courtyard.

The Courtyard is about 250 yards from the old town center. It's on a rather busy street, I assume rooms toward the back would be quieter.

North Schwabing is two subway stops from the "touristy" part of Schwabing.

Given only these two choices I guess I would take the Courtyard.

Thx :)

We stayed at the Courtyard for 5 nights this summer. Being a block from the Hauptbahnhof, I suspect this is the property one could have said was located in a seedy area. Several sex shops and lots of ethnic restaurants on the streets between the hotel and the station. That said, it's an easy walk to the city center and Marienplatz. Lots of restaurants, but most seemed pretty touristy ... The Courtyard itself was fine - clean and comfortable - and the location worked for us as we took a few days trips via rail. If this is the same trip you're staying at the PHV, be sure to stay at the Courtyard first ...

We stayed at the Courtyard for 5 nights this summer. Being a block from the Hauptbahnhof, I suspect this is the property one could have said was located in a seedy area. Several sex shops and lots of ethnic restaurants on the streets between the hotel and the station. That said, it's an easy walk to the city center and Marienplatz. Lots of restaurants, but most seemed pretty touristy ... The Courtyard itself was fine - clean and comfortable - and the location worked for us as we took a few days trips via rail. If this is the same trip you're staying at the PHV, be sure to stay at the Courtyard first ...

Your last comment hit the mark . I understand it totally . I made the mistake 13 years ago of going to France started out with 2 days Hotel de Paris monte carlo.
Then 7 days at the IC Carlton in Cannes and ended up 3 days at the Lutetia in Paris.

Every new destination was a letdown. Should have started Paris and worked my way up to monte Carlo.

I will be going to courtyard early dec , and the PHV in the spring so won't have that culture shock now :mad

We stayed at the Courtyard for 5 nights this summer. Being a block from the Hauptbahnhof, I suspect this is the property one could have said was located in a seedy area. Several sex shops ...

Agree, the Hauptbahnhof area could be considered a tad seedy while North-Schwabing is middle-class residential. But I must say that the area is perfectly safe. Munich doesn't really have any unsafe areas despite a few incidents in the subways late at night in recent years. But the number of incidents was very low compared to other major cities. OK, Munich is really just a small "major city".

My partner and I will have an overnight visit to Munich for the Xmas market, staying at Schwabing. I hope this is not too OT, but I'd like to find out the best option for public transit. (Last time I visited Munich, the ticketing machine was very confusing, even for the locals!)

We'll be arriving MUC on Dec 20 at 18:15 and will first check into the hotel and then head to Marienplatz for the main Xmas market. Should we get a group/family day pass for this purpose?

On the next day, our flight doesn't leave MUC till 21:30, so should we get another group day pass? (Too bad the day pass doesn't operate on a 24-hr basis but expires at 6am.) On this day, any recommendations for other Xmas markets or festivities in town? Also, does the day pass allow more than one trip to the airport? If so, we may check in early at MUC and then head back into town center for the afternoon.

Thanks!

I suggest you buy a "partner day ticket", which gives you and your partner full access to all public transport for 1 or 3 day(s). Cost for 1 day are around Euro 10.00, I think.

More info here:

http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/static_languages/en/home/tickets/ticketoffers/daytickets/partnerdayticket/index.html

That's what I do when I'm there with my family. It's easy and you don't have to mess around with that obnoxious tariff structure they have there.

Will be visiting Munich for the first time this summer. I'm looking at the Munich Marriott and the Residence Inn. We are 'gold' so would have access to the lounge at the Marriott but RI also has breakfast. Can someone compare the 2 for me, the hotel itself and convenience to transportation and Marienplatz and restaurants close to the hotel. Also, flight out is 0600 , recommendations on where to stay the last night- doesn't have to be a Marriott. Thank you!

Patti

The Marriott is north of Schwabing. The next Subways Stop is along line U 6 "Nordfriedhof" which is also a stop of the Lufthansa Airport Bus. It take some time to reach Marienplatz and the location is in terms of "being in the heart" not the same than the Residence Inn, which is close to "Ostbahnhof". "Ostbahnhof" is served by S-Bahn line S8 from Munich airport and had good connection to Marienplatz (you can take every S-Bahn towards main station, all trains will stop at Marienplatz). I would rate the distance to Ostbahnhof as walkable. For further information: www.mvg-mobil.de

The Marriott is nice but a bit off the beaten path. They have a nice pool and the rooms are renovated. I have stayed there as Silver a few years ago and was satisfied. I can comment on the Residence Inn.

(Have you considered the two Courtyards in Munich?)

In regard to the flight ouf ot MUC. The only hotel connected to the airport is the Kempinski. There is a Marriott close to the airport but with an early departure you might need a taxi as they do no run 24 hours shuttles.

THE MARRIOT courtyard is very well located. It's a ten minute walk at most to Marienpatz , MAXMILLIAN PLATZ 3 mins from hauptnabhoff and although not the best area it's location makes up for it

Will stay there next trip if I can't get the MERIDIEN

We like to break our day into afternoon and evening segments and this location
Makes that possible

I had read it was 'seedy' and since the other 2 offered breakfast, I crossed it off the list. Is the area safe? We would like the opportunity to take a mid-day break so the convenience would be great. Looks like we'll need to re-evaluate as long as the area is safe. I appreciate the feed back, it sure helps with the planning. Any other suggestions or favorites would be appreciated!

Patti

I had read it was 'seedy' and since the other 2 offered breakfast, I crossed it off the list. Is the area safe? We would like the opportunity to take a mid-day break so the convenience would be great. Looks like we'll need to re-evaluate as long as the area is safe. I appreciate the feed back, it sure helps with the planning. Any other suggestions or favorites would be appreciated!

Patti

I am NYC born and bred so not so thin skinned. there are a few streets that
People might get the wrong impression but it is a hard working ethnic area that u can avoid by walking to the main street where the hauptbanhof is

Aside from that even the seady streets are populated with hard working honest Turkish people and that's coming from a Greek Anerican who usually sees Turks as our natural enemy LOL JK

Perfectly safe neighborhood. even Athenians we were with did not feel in any way threatened correctly so

Thanks for that. I will look into booking there.

Patti

Thanks for that. I will look into booking there.

Patti

You can walk out the front of the hotel , make a right turn and then I believe it's 1 1/2 blocks to the large street where u make a right towards the Hauptbnhof and continue down that large populated street to MARIENPLATZ

I never walked one step to avoid anything, but you might prefer the larger streets , and that's only for 4-5 blocks total . Also I asked another FTer before I went, and he told me crime in non existent in Munich

Have fun

The area ar:)und the Courtyard City Center is perfectly safe. It's not as nice as much of the rest of Munich, but it is nothing to be avoided, and it's far beter located IMHO than the Marriott.

Will be staying ar hotel AZIMUTH in May. Does anyone have any experience with this place? My wife will be with and would like to explore/shop some.