From Munich Airport to the City Centre: All Options Compared

Munich Airport is almost 40 kilometres north-east of the city centre. That is further than at most German airports – and makes choosing your transfer a real decision.

S-Bahn (S1 and S8)

Both lines run every 20 minutes to the main station and Marienplatz; the journey takes about 40 to 45 minutes. Cheap and reliable, but: stairs, no luggage area, crowded at peak times. If there are disruptions on the central trunk line, it becomes unpredictable. The most sensible choice for solo travellers with hand luggage whose destination is near an S-Bahn station.

Lufthansa Express Bus

Runs to the main station (north side) and stops in Schwabing on the way. More comfortable than the S-Bahn, luggage is stowed, travel time around 45 minutes – depending on traffic. At the destination, the last mile to the hotel begins.

Taxi

Straight to your destination, travel time 35 to 50 minutes. The price is set by the taximeter and is usually between €90 and €110 for the city centre, more in traffic jams. Waiting at the taxi rank after large arrivals.

Rental car

Makes sense if you need to be mobile during your days in Munich anyway. Less so for a pure city-centre stay: parking is expensive and scarce, and many hotels have no underground car park of their own.

Chauffeur at a fixed price

Pickup in the terminal with a name sign, your luggage is carried, ride straight to the hotel entrance. The fixed price is set before booking – from around €108 in the compact class, including the airport fee and 60 minutes of waiting time. No night surcharge, no traffic surcharge.

When does which option make sense?

Situation	Recommendation
Alone, hand luggage, hotel near the S-Bahn	S-Bahn
Two people with suitcases, hotel at the main station	Express bus or chauffeur
Business meeting straight after landing	Chauffeur
Family with children and luggage	Chauffeur (van)
Arrival after midnight	Chauffeur or taxi
Day trips to the surrounding area planned	Rental car or chauffeur day booking

The comparison for two

From two people with luggage, the price difference evens out: two S-Bahn tickets plus a taxi for the last mile come to a third to a half of the chauffeur price – with an hour more travel time and stairs with suitcases.

You might also be interested in

Prices in detail: How much does an airport transfer cost?. Landed late: Options after midnight. Straight to your hotel: Munich hotel transfer.