Getting Around

The best way to explore Munich is by walking. In fact, because of the vast pedestrian zone in the center, many of the major attractions can be reached only on foot. Pick up a good map and set out.

Public Transportation

The city's underground rapid-transit system, the U-Bahn or Untergrundbahn network, is modern and relatively noise-free. The aboveground S-Bahn, or Stadtbahn, services suburban locations. At the transport hub, Marienplatz, U-Bahn and S-Bahn rails cross each other.

The same ticket entitles you to ride both the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn, as well as trams (streetcars) and buses. The U-Bahn is the system you'll probably use most frequently. You're allowed to use your Eurailpass on S-Bahn journeys, as it's a state-owned railway. Otherwise, you must purchase a single-trip ticket or a strip ticket for several journeys at one of the blue vending machines positioned at the entryways to the stations.

If you're making only one trip, a single ticket will average 2.40€, although it can reach as high as 9.60€ to an outlying area. A more economical option is the strip ticket, called Streifenkarte in German. It's good for several rides and sells for 11.50€. A trip within the metropolitan area costs you two strips, which are valid for 2 hours. In that time, you may interrupt your trip and transfer as you like to any public transportation, as long as you travel in one continuous direction. When you reverse your direction, you must cancel two strips again. Children 6 to 14 use the red Kinderstreifenkarte, costing 1.20€ to 4.60€; for a trip within the metropolitan area, they cancel only one strip. Children 15 and over pay adult fares. A day ticket for 4.60€, called a Tageskarte, is also a good investment if you plan to stay within the city limits. It's good from the moment of purchase until 4am of the following morning. If you'd like to branch out to Greater Munich -- that is, within an 80km (50-mile) radius -- you can purchase a day card for 12.80€. For public transit information, call tel. 089/41-42-43-44, or visit www.mvv-mobile.de.

Taxi

The meter on cabs you hail on the street or find waiting at a taxi stand begins at 2.90€. If you phone for a taxi, 1€ is added to the fare. Within the city of Munich, you'll be charged 1.60€ per kilometer, unless your ride is longer than 10km (6 1/4 miles), in which event, the per-kilometer rate goes down to between 1.25€ to 1.40€, depending on the distance you travel. Drivers who wait for passengers within their cabs receive a prorated waiting fee of 23€ per hour. For more information, call tel. 089/21610 or 089/19410.

Car

Because of heavy traffic, don't attempt to see Munich itself by car. And beware if your hotel doesn't have parking. Parking garages tend to be expensive, often 18€ to 30€ per night.

If you're in Munich and plan to make excursions into the Bavarian countryside, it's often more convenient to rent a car in the city center instead of trekking out to the airport. Car-rental companies are listed under Autovermietung in the Yellow Pages of the Munich phone book. Contact Sixt Autovermietung, Zugspitzstrasse 1 (tel. 089/74444-0; www.sixt.de), to rent a car locally. 

Bicycle

The tourist office sells a pamphlet for 1€ called Rad-Touren für unsere Gäste; it outlines itineraries for touring Munich by bicycle. One of the most convenient places to rent a bike is Radius Bikes (tel. 089/59-61-13; www.radiusmunich.com), at the far end of the Hauptbahnhof, near lockers opposite track 32 (open Mar 15 to late Oct daily 9:30am-6pm). The charge is 3€ to 4€ per hour, or 15€ to 22€ all day; mountain bikes are about 25% more. A 50€ deposit is assessed; students and Eurailpass holders get 10% off.

While it's geared toward locals, some younger and tech-savy visitors patronize Deutsche Bahn's Call-a-Bike Service (tel. 07000/5225552; www.callabike-interaktiv.de), which is available in Munich. Bikes may be checked out at locations around the city by dialing the number provided or using the service's iPhone or Android apps. To return the bike, you lock it to a fixed object, then deactivate the lock upon your return. Rates are only 9€ per day (paid via credit card when the bike is initially checked out).