Munich's Hauptbahnhof, or main train station, is quite an amazing transportation hub. You can think of it as 4 stations in one: The main tracks for the longer trains (tracks 11-26); two "mini-stations" on either side servicing local trains, private trains (e.g., BOB and ALEX), and some S-Bahns (tracks 5-10 and tracks 27-36); and the underground station ("Hauptbahnhof Tief," Tracks 1-2) for the S-Bahn (S-1 through S-8). You can also get to the Hauptbahnhof by U-Bahn (U-1, U-2, U-4, and U-5), the Lufthansa Airport Bus, and several trams.
From here, you can get trains to just about anywhere in Europe. Among the destinations reachable via night train: Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Florence, Hamburg, Naples, Paris, Rome, Venice, and Zagreb. UPDATE: The direct night train between Munich and Copenhagen has been discontinued.
The train station itself has an impressive number of services, to include food stands, a grocery store, a Starbucks, not one but two Burger Kings, luggage lockers, a EURAIDE office, and a full-service travel center ("Reisezentrum" -- go here to validate your railpass).
The best bet for most local travelers is to use one of the many ticket machines. You can get tickets to most local destinations at one of these, which will save you time waiting in line at a ticket counter. Many machines take major credit cards. Arriving travelers can also buy MVV (local transportation) tickets and day-tickets here, but if a machine is too intimidating, never fear: turn left (with your back to the tracks) and proceed down the escalator. Here, you will find several ticket counters where you can buy any MVV ticket you might need (to include 3-day tickets).
Updated Jan 22, 2012
Phone: +49 (0) 89-130810555
Website: http://www.mein-bahnhof.de/muenchen-hauptbahnhof.html
If you travel in Bayern region, move from one city to another by train and other public transport, Bayern ticket would save you money.
The price of Bayern ticket is, for single 21 euro, if you are accompanied with up to 4 persons, 29 euro. The ticket is valid from 9 am to 3 am of the next day, on holidays valid from 0 am. You can buy from the vending machine in the train station and metro station in Munich.
You can use not only trains like regional expresses, s-bahn, but also u-bahn, bus of some of major cities of Bayern region, excluding expresses like ICE, IC.
For example, the round-trip fare of regional express between Munich and Augsburg is 23.4 euro. So you can save 2.4 euro with Bayern ticket.
Written Aug 20, 2011
The Bayerische Oberlandbahn, or BOB, is a private train service run by Veolia Transport. Departing approximately hourly, BOB trains originate at the Munich Hauptbahnhof and continue to the Tegernsee, Lenggries, and Bayerischzell. (NOTE: outbound trains will split into three parts, one going to each destination. Be sure to get the car going where you want to go!)
If you get on at the Munich Hauptbahnhof, you must go to tracks 27-36 on the Arnulfstrasse side of the station, about 200 meters down Platform 26. This is probably not the most convenient entry point unless you're right at the Hauptbahnhof. Note that the BOB trains also stop at Donnersbergerbrücke (connections to all S-Bahns except S-20), Harras (connections to S-7, S-27, and U-6), Siemenswerke (weekdays) or Solln (weekends) (connections to S-7, S-20, and S-27), and Holzkirchen (connections to S-5).
If you have a MVV day card for the entire network (gesamtnetz), it is valid on the segment from Munich to Holzkirchen, meaning you only need a ticket beyond there (i.e., Holzkirchen to your destination). You can purchase tickets at a BOB ticket counter, or at "BOB" ticket machines at the stations. Note machines are touch-screen and in German only. If you purchase a ticket from a machine, be sure to stamp the ticket in one of the machines marked "E" before you board. Note you must stamp a round-trip ticket a second time before boarding your returning train.
Passes and Special Tickets: Both the Schönes Wochenende Ticket and Bayern-Ticket are valid for the entire route. You can also purchase a special "BOB/MVV Ticket" valid on both BOB and the Inner Zone (Innenraum) of the MVV network for up to 5 people from 9AM until closing (EUR 23, or EUR 15 for a "single" ticket).
Updated May 26, 2011
Phone: +49 (0)8024 997171
Website: http://www.bayerische-oberlandbahn.de
We came into the city from Gaimersheim (about 75 minutes north) by DB regional train on a Bayern card.
I’m not sure of all the details, but as well as covering the train fare it was valid on the s-bahn and u-bahn. I know it’s a day card, and is not valid for use on peak hour trains during the week.
The DB trains were comfortable, but not very quick. Interchange with the s-bahn and u-bahn at the central station was very easy.
Written May 12, 2011
Website: www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml
I took the overnight train from Amsterdam central station to Munich Hauptbahnhof.
I booked the couchette online, cost me EUR89. It's a small room with 6 small beds in 3 layers 3 on each side (bottom, mid and upper). The train has toilets on each end of the train carriage. If you booked online, don't forget to print your e-ticket as the inspector comes checking out your ticket along with the credit card that you use to buy the ticket.
The train left Amsterdam before midnight and arrived very early in the morn in Munich so you sleep and arrive a bit fresh.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
What an experience to take the night train to from Amsterdam to Munich! Based on VT recommendations, we reserved our sleeping compartment far in advance. There are 3 choices of sleeping cars - couchette, economy, and deluxe. Since I was the only one under 6 ft. in the group, we decided the couchette was a little too small, and went with the economy sleeping car.
Having never been on a night train before we were not prepared for the cramped quarters. There was nowhere to put our luggage. The description said there was room under the lower bunks for a suitcase. They should say room for a garmet bag. Containing a single suit : ) Honestly, we couldn't even fit a day pack under there. We ended up stacking 2 of the suitcases on top of the "sink", and putting the other two on the floor between the bunks. And I'm not talking about huge, ugly American suitcases, either. OK, maybe one was (not mine).
And, while we got a good breakfast in the morning, we were never offered any beverages at all. Not even water. This may be entirely normal, but it struck me as odd since A) it was an 11 hour journey and B) many other trains we took had beverage service . There was a bar / dining car, but it was very small and smoky. Luckily we had packed a picnic.
So, now that I've made it sound horrible, it really wasn't that bad. The bedding was nice. And the 6ft plus guys could almost stretch out in the bunks. And my companions and I are good natured enough to find the humor in the whole situation. We laughed a lot and took a lot of pictures. And it was fun trying to sleep on the train. Oh, and the next day I felt like I was still on the train.
Anyway, all in all, it was a good $ for a hotel and transportation. But if I had it to do over again, I'd pay the extra $ for the deluxe sleeping car.
As with other train reservations, your tickets tells you which car and which comparment.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
On the west side of Munich is the railway station known as Pasing. Most (but not all) trains arriving from Augsburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Weilheim, Kochel, and Buchloe stop here. You can get to Pasing using the S-Bahn lines S-4, S-5, S-6, S-8, or S-20, as well as Tram #19 and various buses. If you plan to stay in the western part of Munich, or one of the western suburbs serviced by the S-Bahn, you can save time by connecting at Pasing instead of the Hauptbahnhof. Conversely, it can make sense to pick up your outbound train at Pasing. Be sure to re-confirm your desired train does indeed stop at Pasing.
The station itself, while not as vast as the Hauptbahnhof, has a number of services, including food stands, a small grocery store, a few dozen luggage lockers, and an information counter. There are also some vending machines on the train platforms for those in a hurry.
Updated Mar 7, 2011
Website: http://www.bahn.de
It's easy to get from Munich to Salzburg, Austria by train. Trains depart Munich two times an hour. Trains depart from Munich Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. The trip takes about 1.5 hours and costs 25.50 euros.
Trains from Munich to Salzburg
Written Sep 18, 2009
Munich's east train station, or Ostbahnhof, is a stopping point for many regional and inter-city trains headed south and east. Most (but not all) trains headed towards Salzburg, Vienna, and Innsbruck stop here. Connections are also possible with some EuroCity trains headed for Italy and the Balkans. In addition, CityNightLine overnight trains towards Berlin and Hamburg originate at the Ostbahnhof, as do various "auto trains." The train station is reachable by several buses, all S-Bahns except S-20 and S-27, and the U-5.
For those who are arriving at Munich Airport and heading south or east of Munich, the Ostbahnhof can be a handy connecting point. Take the S-8 from the airport to Ostbahnhof and change to your connecting train. If you're going directly to Salzburg, for example, you can save a lot of money by using a Bayern Ticket, which will get up to 5 people all the way to Salzburg for EUR 27 (not valid on IR, IC, EC, or ICE trains; not valid before 9AM weekdays).
While the station itself is not as vast as the Hauptbahnhof, you will still find food stands, shops, kiosks, coin-operated luggage lockers, and toilets.
Updated Jun 21, 2009
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/München_Ost_station
Thank you Norbert for your prompt reply I will look into the information you provided. I have spent a lot of time in the Munich area and can get around pretty good,however I have never taken the train out of the main train station to go anywhere. I did arrive at the main station in January 1956 on a Troop train and had no desire to ever ride a train like that again,also it was one of the coldest days on record for that winter many degrees below zero. You live in a beautiful town,been there a few times plus I spent many weeks in Passion Play Village Oberammergau.Again many thanks for your reply.
Alfred.
Please note the spell checker would not let me give the name of the town where the Passion Play is held. kept telling me it was spelled wrong.
Written Jun 13, 2009
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Thank you Norbert for your prompt reply I will look into the information you provided. I have spent a lot of time in the Munich area and can get around pretty...
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