Where to stay · Munich · Germany
Where to stay in Munich
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bayreuth2009, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Altstadt. Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus. Best alternatives — budget: Maxvorstadt; nightlife: Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz.
Key facts
- First visit
- Altstadt
- Families
- Altstadt
- Budget
- Maxvorstadt
- Nightlife
- Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Altstadt | Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus |
| Families | Altstadt | Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus |
| Couples | Schwabing | Elegant former artists' quarter on Leopoldstraße beside the Englischer Garten |
| Budget | Maxvorstadt | University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés |
| Luxury | Lehel | Quiet, upmarket streets between the Altstadt, the Isar and the Englischer Garten |
| Nightlife | Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz | Stylish streets of cafés, cocktail bars and the city's LGBTQ+ scene by the Isar |
| Food lovers | Maxvorstadt | University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés |
| Solo travellers | Maxvorstadt | University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés |
| Shopping | Altstadt | Historic core of Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus |
| Quiet stays | Schwabing | Elegant former artists' quarter on Leopoldstraße beside the Englischer Garten |
Munich neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Altstadt
Inside the old ring road, the Altstadt packs Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, the Frauenkirche, St. Peter's Church, the Viktualienmarkt and the Hofbräuhaus into a pedestrian-friendly grid. The Residenz and Odeonsplatz are at its northern edge. It is the most convenient base for a short stay, with the S-Bahn trunk line running beneath Marienplatz.
- Good
- Walk to most major sights; Direct S-Bahn to the airport; Beer halls and markets on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels; Crowded shopping streets by day
- Nearby
- Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt, Residenz
$$$ · Best for culture, solo travellers, budget and food lovers
Maxvorstadt
North-west of the Altstadt, Maxvorstadt is home to Ludwig Maximilian University and the Kunstareal museum district, with the Alte Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, Lenbachhaus and the neoclassical Königsplatz. Student bars and cafés line Amalienstraße and Türkenstraße, and prices are a step lower than in the centre.
- Good
- Museums within walking distance; Lively student cafés; Good value for a central area
- Watch out
- Fewer classic sights at night; Some streets are busy with traffic
- Nearby
- Alte Pinakothek, Königsplatz, Lenbachhaus, Englischer Garten
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and families
Schwabing
Schwabing was Munich's bohemian district around 1900, home to Kandinsky and the Blue Rider circle. Today it is a well-off residential area of Art Nouveau buildings, the Elisabethmarkt and cafés along Leopoldstraße, with the Englischer Garten on its doorstep and the U3 and U6 lines into the centre.
- Good
- Direct access to the Englischer Garten; Pleasant residential streets; Fast U-Bahn to the centre
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Quieter nightlife than it once had
- Nearby
- Englischer Garten, Siegestor, Elisabethmarkt, Leopoldstraße
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, couples and shopping
Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz
South of the Viktualienmarkt, the Glockenbachviertel and the roundabout of Gärtnerplatz are Munich's most fashionable going-out area, with independent boutiques, brunch cafés, cocktail bars and the Gärtnerplatztheater. The Isar riverbanks, where locals sunbathe and grill in summer, are a short walk away.
- Good
- Best bar and restaurant density; Walk to the Altstadt; Lively but relaxed atmosphere
- Watch out
- Few large hotels; Weekend noise around Gärtnerplatz
- Nearby
- Gärtnerplatz, Viktualienmarkt, Isar riverbanks, Deutsches Museum
$$ · Best for quiet stays, food lovers and couples
Haidhausen
East of the river, Haidhausen keeps small squares and streets of French-inspired 19th-century houses around Weißenburger Platz, with neighbourhood restaurants and beer gardens. The Gasteig cultural centre, Ostbahnhof and the Werksviertel nightlife area are nearby, and trams and S-Bahn connect quickly to the centre.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Good-value restaurants; Easy S-Bahn links
- Watch out
- A tram ride or longer walk to the Altstadt; Fewer sights in the area
- Nearby
- Deutsches Museum, Maximilianeum, Werksviertel, Ostbahnhof
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and first-timers
Ludwigsvorstadt and Hauptbahnhof
The area around the Hauptbahnhof has the city's largest concentration of hotels and hostels, with Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants on Schwanthalerstraße and Goethestraße. The Theresienwiese, site of Oktoberfest, is a ten-minute walk south. It is practical for day trips by train rather than charming.
- Good
- Wide choice of hotels and hostels; Trains to the airport and day trips; Walk to Oktoberfest
- Watch out
- Station streets feel rough at night; Prices soar during Oktoberfest
- Nearby
- Hauptbahnhof, Theresienwiese, Karlsplatz (Stachus)
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and couples
Lehel
Lehel is one of the oldest suburbs of Munich, a calm area of elegant apartment buildings along Maximilianstraße and Prinzregentenstraße, close to the Bavarian National Museum, the Haus der Kunst and the southern end of the Englischer Garten. It suits travellers who want central quiet and easy walks.
- Good
- Calm and central; Walk to the park and river; Upmarket shopping nearby
- Watch out
- Expensive; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Englischer Garten, Maximilianstraße, Haus der Kunst, Isar riverbanks
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | $$$$ | Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt, Residenz |
| Maxvorstadt | $$$ | Alte Pinakothek, Königsplatz, Lenbachhaus, Englischer Garten |
| Schwabing | $$$ | Englischer Garten, Siegestor, Elisabethmarkt, Leopoldstraße |
| Glockenbachviertel and Gärtnerplatz | $$$ | Gärtnerplatz, Viktualienmarkt, Isar riverbanks, Deutsches Museum |
| Haidhausen | $$ | Deutsches Museum, Maximilianeum, Werksviertel, Ostbahnhof |
| Ludwigsvorstadt and Hauptbahnhof | $$ | Hauptbahnhof, Theresienwiese, Karlsplatz (Stachus) |
| Lehel | $$$$ | Englischer Garten, Maximilianstraße, Haus der Kunst, Isar riverbanks |
Getting to your hotel
Munich Airport (MUC) is about 30 km northeast of the centre. S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 run to Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz in about 40 minutes, and the Lufthansa Express Bus serves the Hauptbahnhof. Memmingen Airport (FMM), used by some budget airlines, is about 110 km west, with coach links to Munich.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Munich for first-time visitors?
Altstadt. Inside the old ring road, the Altstadt packs Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, the Frauenkirche, St.
+Where should families stay in Munich?
Altstadt: Walk to most major sights.
+Which area of Munich is best for a budget stay?
Maxvorstadt ($$$): University and museum quarter of the Pinakotheken, Königsplatz and student cafés.