Getting There

By Plane

Most airlines price fares seasonally. During peak season, the summer months, flights to Munich are at their most expensive. Excluding the Christmas holidays, winter months offer the lowest fares. This fits in fine with those who wish to go skiing in the Bavarian Alps. Shoulder season is in between.

Most direct flights to Munich from North America are offered on Lufthansa. On most airlines flying to Germany from North America, connections to Munich must be made through Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, or another gateway city.

Lufthansa (tel. 800/645-3880 or 01/805-838-426 within Germany; www.lufthansa-usa.com), the German national carrier, has an alliance with United Airlines and Air Canada to provide seamless air service to Germany and other parts of the globe from North America. "Star Alliance" allows cross-airline benefits, including travel on one or all of these airlines on one ticket and frequent-flier credit to the participating airline of your choice.

Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com), American Airlines (tel. 800/443-7300; www.aa.com), Continental Airlines (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com), Delta Airlines (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com), United Airlines (tel. 800/538-2929; www.ual.com), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) all fly daily to Germany.

From the U.K., British Airways (tel. 0870/850-9850; www.britishairways.com), Lufthansa (tel. 0871/945-9124; www.lufthansa.com), and British Midland in London (tel. 0870/607-0555; www.flybmi.com) fly regularly to major German cities.

Arriving at the Airport -- About 27km (17 miles) northeast of central Munich at Erdinger Moos, Munich International Airport (MUC; tel. 089/97500; www.munich-airport.de) is among the most modern, best-equipped, and most efficient airports in the world. The airport handles more than 400 flights a day, serving at least 65 cities worldwide. Passengers can fly nonstop from New York, Miami, Chicago, and Toronto, among other places.

Getting into Town from the Airport -- S-Bahn (tel. 089/210-33-0) trains connect the airport with the Hauptbahnhof (main railroad station) in downtown Munich. Departures are every 20 minutes for the 40-minute trip. The fare is 10€ ($16); Eurailpass holders ride free. A taxi into the center costs 50€ to 60€ ($80-$96). Airport buses, such as those operated by Lufthansa, also run between the airport and the center.

By Car

Most motorists in Europe travel to Munich by autobahn (express hwy.). When getting off any autobahn, take the signs that read STADTMITTE into the center of Munich. Autobahns from Salzburg and points east, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and destinations to the south, link up with the Millerer Ring (Munich's beltway). From Stuttgart and points west, the autobahn comes to an end at Obermenzing, the most westerly suburb of Munich. If you're coming from the north, perhaps Frankfurt, get off the autobahn at the exit marked Schwabing.

In theory, there is no speed limit on the autobahns (in the left, fast lane), but many drivers going too fast report that they have been stopped by the police and fined on the spot. So reasonable caution is recommended here, for safety if not other reasons. A German driver on the autobahn can be a ferocious creature, and you may prefer the slow lane. The government recommends an autobahn speed limit of 130kmph (80 mph). In congested areas, the speed limit is about 50kmph (around 30 mph). On all other roads except the autobahns, the speed limit is 100kmph (about 60 mph).

In Germany, you drive on the right side of the road. Both front-seat and back-seat passengers are required to wear safety belts. Children can't ride in the front seat.

Easy-to-understand international road signs are posted, but U.S. travelers should remember that road signs are in kilometers, not miles.

Note: Drinking and driving is a very serious offense in Germany. Therefore, be sure to keep any alcoholic beverages in the trunk or some other storage area. Avoid even the appearance of drinking alcohol while driving.

Car Rentals -- It's usually cheaper to rent a car before leaving for Germany though you can also rent one here, keeping in mind that competition in the Munich car-rental industry is fierce.

Major car-rental companies have easy-to-spot offices at the airport. You can make reservations and do comparison shopping by calling their toll-free numbers in the United States: Avis (tel. 800/331-1084; www.avis.com), Budget (tel. 800/472-3325; www.budget.com), and Hertz (tel. 800/654-3001; www.hertz.com). You can also try Kemwel Drive Europe (tel. 877/820-0668; www.kemwel.com) and Auto Europe (tel. 888/223-5555; www.autoeurope.com). All the major car-rental companies offer competitive rates that tend to be more attractive if you reserve your car from North America between 1 day and 2 weeks in advance of your departure. Promotional rates offered by car-rental corporations should be researched for the best value.

American and Canadian drivers, and those from E.U. countries, need only a domestic license to drive, but it's recommended that you carry an international driver's permit in case of an accident or other problems. Both in Germany and throughout the rest of Europe, you must also have an international insurance certificate, known as a green card (carte verte). Any car-rental agency will automatically provide one of these as a standard part of the rental contract, but it's a good idea to double-check all documents at the time of rental, just to be sure you can identify the card for the border patrol or police.

Breakdowns & Assistance -- The major automobile club in Germany is Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD), Lyoner Strasse 16, 60329 Frankfurt (tel. 069/6606-600; www.avd.de). If you don't belong to it and have a breakdown on the autobahn, call from an emergency phone. These are spaced about a mile apart. On secondary roads, go to the nearest phone and call tel. 01802/22-22-22 (Deutscher Automobil Club, or ADAC; www.adac.de). In English, ask for road service assistance. Emergency assistance is free, but you pay for parts or materials.

The best maps, available at all major bookstores throughout Germany, are published by Michelin, which offers various regional maps. Other good maps for those who plan to do extensive touring are published by Hallweg.

Service stations appear frequently along the autobahns. The cheapest gasoline is at stations marked SB-TANKEN (self-service), but remember that gas will always be much more expensive than in the U.S. Of course, gasoline prices throughout the world are currently changing almost weekly. Gasoline pumps labeled BLEIFREI offer unleaded gas.

By Train

British Rail runs four trains a day to Germany from Victoria Station in London, going by way of the Ramsgate-Ostend ferry or jetfoil. Two trains depart from London's Liverpool Street Station, via Harwich-Hook of Holland. Most trains change at Cologne for destinations elsewhere in Germany. Tickets can be purchased through British Rail travel centers in London (tel. 866/BRIT-RAIL in the U.K. or 0845/748-4950; www.britrail.com). Train journeys can be lengthy. Travel from London to Munich, depending on the connection, can take from 18 to 22 hours; it's often cheaper to fly than to take the train.

From Paris several trains depart throughout the day for points east, fanning out across eastern France to virtually every part of Germany.

Most trains arrive at Munich's main rail station, the Hauptbahnhof, on Bahnhofplatz, one of Europe's largest stations. Located near the city center and the trade fairgrounds, it contains a hotel, restaurants, shopping, car parking, and banking facilities. All major German cities are connected to this station. Some 20 daily trains connect Munich to Frankfurt (trip time 3 3/4 hr.), and 23 to Berlin (trip time 6 3/4 hr.). The rail station is connected with the S-Bahn rapid-transit system, a 418km (260-mile) network of tracks, providing service to various city districts and outlying suburbs. The U-Bahn (subway) system serving Munich is also centered at the rail station. In addition, buses fan out in all directions from here.

If you're planning travel by train outside Munich, you can get complete details about the German Federal Railroad and the many plans it offers, as well as information about Eurailpasses, at Rail Europe (tel. 877/272-RAIL; www.raileurope.com).

By Bus (Coach)

You can travel by bus to Germany's major cities from London, Paris, and many other cities in Europe. The continent's largest bus operator is Eurolines, the Collonades, London SW1 (tel. 08717/818181; www.eurolines.com), which operates out of Victoria Coach Station in Central London. In Paris, Eurolines is at 28 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 93177 Bagnolet (tel. 08/92-89-90-91). For information about Eurolines in Germany, contact Deutsche Touring (Eurolines Stadtböro), Am Römerhof 17, 60486 Frankfurt am Main (tel. 069/79-03-51). Eurolines does not maintain a U.S.-based sales agent, but many travel agents can arrange for a ticket on the bus lines linking Europe's major cities.

Buses arrive at and depart from the section of the Hauptbahnhof called the West-Wing Starnberger Bahnhof, or the Deutsche Touring Terminal on Arnulfstrasse 3, about a block away. For information about connections, fares, and schedules, call Deutsche Touring GmbH at tel. 089/88989513. Regional service to towns and villages within Bavaria can be arranged through Oberbayern Autobus, Heidemannstrasse 220 (tel. 089/323040).