Where to stay in Munich
Munich's center is compact: from most of the areas below you can walk to Marienplatz in twenty minutes or less, and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn cover the rest. For a first visit, stay in the Altstadt for the sights or in Maxvorstadt for the museums and a calmer evening. Choose Glockenbach for bars and restaurants, Haidhausen for a quieter local base, Lehel for the river and the Englischer Garten, and Schwabing for older, leafier streets further out. The one thing to plan around is Oktoberfest, which fills the city and the streets by the Hauptbahnhof from mid-September to early October.
The short answer
- First trip
- Stay in the Altstadt for the sights, or Maxvorstadt for museums and a quieter street.
- Couples
- Lehel by the Isar, or Haidhausen for good restaurants and calm streets.
- Families
- Maxvorstadt or Schwabing, near the parks and the Englischer Garten.
- Tight budget
- Ludwigsvorstadt by the station, outside Oktoberfest weeks and with a careful choice of street.
- Food and evenings
- Glockenbach for bars and restaurants, Haidhausen for a slower dinner.
How we judge an area of Munich: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Munich's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Marienplatz | Alte Pinakothek | Hauptbahnhof | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | A first, short visit | Busy on the main streets | 5 min | 20 min | 20 min | U3, U6, all S-Bahn lines | €€€€ |
| Maxvorstadt | Museums, mid-range value | Quiet | 20 min | 5 min | 20 min | U2, U8, trams 27 and 28 | €€€ |
| Ludwigsvorstadt and the Hauptbahnhof | Trains, tighter budgets | Busy around the station | 20 min | 25 min | 10 min | Hbf: U1, U2, U4, U5, S-Bahn | €€ |
| Glockenbach and Gärtnerplatz | Bars, restaurants | Lively; loud on weekends | 15 min | 35 min | 25 min | U1, U2 at Fraunhoferstrasse | €€€ |
| Haidhausen | Quieter, local feel | Quiet | 35 min | 50 min | 55 min | S-Bahn Rosenheimer Platz; U4, U5 | €€ |
| Lehel | Couples, river and park | Quiet | 15 min | 25 min | 35 min | U4, U5 Lehel; trams 16, 19 | €€€€ |
| Schwabing | Families, longer stays | Quiet; Leopoldstrasse is loud | 50 min | 35 min | 50 min | U3, U6 Münchner Freiheit | €€ |
| Theresienwiese and Westend | Oktoberfest, or off-season value | Quiet, except at Oktoberfest | 35 min | 40 min | 20 min | U4, U5 Theresienwiese | €€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until prices from the booking sites replace it. Munich is flat, so the times hold on foot or by bike.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Altstadt, for a first trip on foot
Marienplatz, the Residenz and the Viktualienmarkt on your doorstep, and a price to match.
The Altstadt is the old walled town around Marienplatz: the Neues Rathaus, the Frauenkirche, the Viktualienmarkt and the Residenz, with the main shopping streets running between them. Everything a first visit needs is within ten minutes on foot, and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn meet underneath Marienplatz.
It is the most expensive part of Munich and the most visited. The pedestrian streets are full from mid-morning, and the squares near the Hofbräuhaus are loud late. Rooms on the quieter side streets, toward the Viktualienmarkt or the Gärtnerplatz side, sleep better than those on the main shopping axis.
Good for
- A first trip of two or three nights
- Walking to every main sight
- Staying close to the S-Bahn for the airport
Think twice if
- You want value: this is the dearest part of Munich
- You want a quiet, local street
- You dislike crowds by day
Maxvorstadt, for museums and calmer evenings
The museum quarter and the university: wide streets, cafes, and the old town fifteen minutes away.
North of the Hauptbahnhof and the old town, Maxvorstadt holds the Pinakotheken and the Königsplatz museums, the two universities and a student crowd that keeps the cafes and cheap lunches going. The streets are wide and mostly flat, and Marienplatz is about fifteen to twenty minutes away on foot.
It is less polished than the Altstadt and better value. Hotels are mostly mid-range, and the area is calm after dark apart from the streets around the university. It is the sensible base for anyone who wants museums by day and a walk to dinner, rather than a pedestrian zone at the door.
Good for
- Museums: the Pinakotheken are minutes away
- Mid-range value near the center
- Families and couples who want calmer streets
Think twice if
- You want to step out into Marienplatz
- You want a lot of bars close by
Staying in Maxvorstadt: nearby sights, food and getting around
Ludwigsvorstadt, by the Hauptbahnhof
The cheapest beds near the center and the best connections, with rougher streets around the station.
The streets south of the Hauptbahnhof are where many budget hotels sit. The S-Bahn to the airport, the trains to Salzburg, Nuremberg and Füssen and several U-Bahn lines all stop here, and Marienplatz is a flat twenty-minute walk or two U-Bahn stops away.
The area around the station is not pretty. The streets near Bayerstrasse and the station forecourt are busy at night, with bars, sex shops and some street drinking, so look for a hotel on a side street and read recent reviews for the street, not just the hotel. Further south the Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is held, fills up and prices rise sharply for those weeks.
Good for
- A tight budget
- An early train or the airport S-Bahn
- Day trips to the Alps or Salzburg
Think twice if
- You will walk back late through the station streets
- Your dates fall during Oktoberfest
- You want a charming street outside the door
Staying in Ludwigsvorstadt and the Hauptbahnhof: nearby sights, food and getting around
Glockenbach and Gärtnerplatz, for evenings out
The liveliest corner south of the old town, with bars and restaurants and the Isar at the end of the street.
Glockenbachviertel and the streets around Gärtnerplatz lie south of the Viktualienmarkt, between the old town and the Isar. It is the city's main area for bars, cafes, independent shops and restaurants, and the center of Munich's gay scene. The Gärtnerplatz theater and the riverbank at the Deutsches Museum are close.
It is a ten to fifteen minute walk to Marienplatz, and busy in the evening. Streets around Gärtnerplatz and Müllerstrasse stay loud on weekend nights, so ask for a room at the back. Hotels are fewer here than in the Altstadt, with more small boutique places and apartments.
Good for
- Dinner and drinks without leaving the neighborhood
- A younger, mixed crowd
- The Isar riverbank and the Deutsches Museum on foot
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces Gärtnerplatz or Müllerstrasse
- You want a big choice of hotels
Staying in Glockenbach and Gärtnerplatz: nearby sights, food and getting around
Haidhausen, for a quieter local base
A village-like district across the Isar, with good restaurants and a short train to the center.
East of the Isar and the Deutsches Museum, Haidhausen is a district of older houses, small squares and restaurants, around the Wiener Platz market and the streets off Rosenheimer Strasse. It has a settled, residential feel and feels less visited than the Altstadt.
Marienplatz is about thirty minutes on foot, or a few minutes by S-Bahn from the Ostbahnhof or Rosenheimer Platz. The streets near the Ostbahnhof and the Gasteig are busier and less pretty, so choose a hotel closer to Wiener Platz or Pariser Strasse. It makes a good base for a longer stay, or for anyone who wants good dinners without the crowds.
Good for
- Good dinners and a local feel
- Longer stays and couples
- Quiet streets close to the S-Bahn
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the sights
- You will arrive late and the hotel is near the Ostbahnhof
Staying in Haidhausen: nearby sights, food and getting around
Lehel, for the river and the park
A small, elegant district between the old town and the Isar, with the Englischer Garten close by.
Lehel lies just east of the Residenz and the Hofgarten, a short walk from the old town. It has quiet streets, a few galleries and boutiques, the Maximilianstrasse luxury shops on its edge, and the river and the Englischer Garten within ten minutes on foot.
There are fewer hotels here, and many are on the dear side. It suits couples and anyone who wants a quieter night near the center. The river path and the park are the draw, and the Eisbach surfers near the Haus der Kunst are a short walk away.
Good for
- Couples, and walks along the Isar
- The Englischer Garten on your doorstep
- Quiet evenings close to the old town
Think twice if
- You want a lot of restaurants and bars at the door
- You are on a tight budget
Schwabing, for leafier streets further out
The old artists' quarter north of the university: cafes and park walks, and a ride into town.
Schwabing starts north of the university and runs up to Münchner Freiheit and the Englischer Garten's western edge. It was Munich's artists' quarter, and its tree-lined streets, cafes and independent shops still give it a settled feel.
It is a twenty to thirty minute walk to Marienplatz, or a few U-Bahn stops. Leopoldstrasse is busy and loud at night, so choose a side street. Hotels are fewer and mostly mid-range, and the area suits families and longer stays more than a one-night stop.
Good for
- Families and longer stays
- The Englischer Garten for runs and picnics
- Cafes and small shops away from the crowds
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the old town
- Your room faces Leopoldstrasse on a weekend
Staying in Schwabing: nearby sights, food and getting around
Theresienwiese and Westend, and Oktoberfest
A quiet, local district for most of the year, and the middle of the crowds when Oktoberfest comes.
The Theresienwiese is the large open field where Oktoberfest is held, southwest of the Hauptbahnhof. Around it, the Westend is a mixed, residential district with older houses, corner pubs and fewer visitors, about twenty-five minutes' walk from Marienplatz or a short U-Bahn ride.
Oktoberfest runs from mid-September to the first Sunday of October, with the date set each year by the city. In those weeks, rooms near the grounds and the station cost far more, the U4 and U5 stations are crowded, and drunk crowds fill the streets late. Outside those weeks it is a quiet, cheaper corner. If your dates fall in Oktoberfest, book early and consider Haidhausen, Schwabing or Lehel instead.
Good for
- Lower prices outside Oktoberfest
- A local pub and neighborhood feel
- Visiting Oktoberfest itself, on foot
Think twice if
- Your dates fall in Oktoberfest and you want peace
- You want to walk to the old town
Staying in Theresienwiese and Westend: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Munich, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Munich. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room near the Theresienwiese or the Hauptbahnhof during Oktoberfest, if you want to sleep
Prices jump and the streets stay loud into the night. Book months ahead, or stay in Haidhausen, Lehel or Schwabing and ride in.
- The streets right beside the Hauptbahnhof, if you will be out late
Convenient and cheap, and rough at night. Pick a side street and check the reviews for the street, not just the hotel.
- A room on Gärtnerplatz or Müllerstrasse on a weekend, if you need sleep
Both stay busy late on Friday and Saturday nights. Ask for a room at the back, or stay a street or two away.
- A hotel out near the airport, for a city break
The rate looks lower until you add the S-Bahn each way and lose the evening. Munich is compact: stay in it.
- A cheap room on the ring road, far from a U-Bahn station
Saves a little and costs time every day. Check the walk to the nearest U-Bahn or S-Bahn before you book.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Munich
The Altstadt for two or three nights; Maxvorstadt if you want museums and calmer streets.
Couples
Lehel by the Isar, or Haidhausen for dinner and quiet.
Families with children
Schwabing or Maxvorstadt, near parks and the Englischer Garten.
A tight budget
Ludwigsvorstadt, on a side street, outside Oktoberfest weeks.
Food
Glockenbach for bars and restaurants, Haidhausen for slower dinners, the Altstadt for the Viktualienmarkt.
Nightlife
Glockenbach and the streets around Gärtnerplatz.
Peace and quiet
Lehel or Haidhausen.
Day trips by train
Ludwigsvorstadt or Maxvorstadt, minutes from the Hauptbahnhof.
Oktoberfest
Theresienwiese and Westend if you want to walk to the grounds, Haidhausen if you want to sleep.
Before you book a room in Munich
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Munich makes a good stay.
- The city taxMunich has no hotel tax at present. The city voted in 2023 for a 5 percent overnight tax, but the Bavarian state banned it, and the city lost its case at the Bavarian constitutional court in November 2025. In February 2026 the mayor said he would take it to the federal constitutional court. Check again before you travel, as that case could change this.
- OktoberfestOktoberfest runs from mid-September to the first Sunday of October, with the dates set by the city each year. Hotel prices across the city rise sharply and many rooms sell out months ahead. Book early, or choose another time.
- From Munich airportThe S1 and S8 trains run from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz in about forty to forty-five minutes. A ticket to the center costs about €15 to €16 in 2026 at the time we checked; confirm with the MVV before you travel.
- Getting aroundMunich's center is flat and small. You rarely need a car, and parking in the Altstadt is hard and costly. A day ticket on the MVV covers the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses.
- Lifts and stairsMany hotels in old buildings have small lifts or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Trade fairsMunich hosts large trade fairs at the Messe in the northeast during the year, which can push prices up in the middle of the week. Check dates if prices look high.
Where to stay in Munich: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Munich for a first visit?
The Altstadt, for a short trip: Marienplatz, the Residenz and the Viktualienmarkt are all within ten minutes on foot. Maxvorstadt is the close second, cheaper and calmer, and near the museums.
Is it better to stay in the center or near the Hauptbahnhof?
The center for atmosphere, the Hauptbahnhof area for price and trains. The station is a twenty-minute walk from Marienplatz and has the S-Bahn to the airport. Pick a side street and read recent reviews.
Glockenbach or Haidhausen: which is better?
Glockenbach if you want bars and restaurants at your door and a younger crowd. Haidhausen if you would rather have a quieter, residential district with good dinners and a short train into town.
Is the Hauptbahnhof area safe?
It is busy and a little rough at night, with bars and some street drinking, but it is not dangerous in a way that should put you off. Watch your bag in the station, and choose a side street rather than the station forecourt.
Where should I stay in Munich during Oktoberfest?
Book months ahead, and consider Haidhausen, Lehel or Schwabing, a short U-Bahn or tram ride from the grounds. Rooms near the Theresienwiese and the Hauptbahnhof cost the most and are loudest.
Can you walk everywhere in Munich?
In the center, yes. Most of the old town, Maxvorstadt and Glockenbach are within twenty-five minutes of Marienplatz. Schwabing and Haidhausen are further, and easy by U-Bahn or S-Bahn.
Which area is the best base for day trips?
Ludwigsvorstadt or Maxvorstadt, a few minutes from the Hauptbahnhof, where the trains leave for Salzburg, Nuremberg and the Alps.
Is there a hotel tax in Munich?
Not at present. The city tried to introduce a 5 percent tax, but the Bavarian state banned it, and the city is still contesting that in court. Check again before you travel.
