The Lufthansa Airport Bus is a coach service connecting Munich airport and downtown Munich. It’s a convenient way to travel. No Lufthansa ticket required, this service is open to all.
What Is the Lufthansa Airport Bus & Where Does It Go?
The Lufthansa Airport Express Bus runs between the airport and two stops in Munich: Nordfriedhof and the central train station. It is a great way to travel, especially if the stops are convenient for you.
It runs every 20 minutes between roughly 5 AM and 10:30 PM. The buses on this service are coaches. You can bring a small bag onto the bus with you, but you can put your big bags into the luggage compartments.
Travel time is approximately 25 minutes to/from the Nordfriedhof stop in northern Munich and approximately 45 minutes to/from the central station. In heavy traffic, the drive may take longer.
The great advantage when taking the bus is that the drivers are talking to each other over radio and know all the alternative routes. Should the Autobahn be blocked due to a car accident, the driver will be aware of it and will still get you to the airport.
How Much Does the Lufthansa Airport Bus Cost?
At the time of writing (October 2025), a one-way ticket is €12 per person and a return ticket is €19.30 if bought online. This makes a return ticket cheaper than using the S-Bahn.
You can buy your tickets from the driver or online. Tickets will be approx. €1 more expensive if bought in person. Card payments are accepted on the bus.
If you have a Deutschland Ticket, you can ride this bus at no extra charge.
Note that the Lufthansa bus is a privately-run service. If, at the end of your journey, you are going to connect to any other form of public transportation (S-Bahn, subway, tram, city bus), you must purchase a separate ticket. See my public transportation guide for details.
Where Do I Catch the Airport Bus at the Airport?
There are three stops at Munich airport. The bus starts at Terminal 2, where there is one pickup point. It makes two more stops at Terminal 1 to collect passengers before continuing to Munich.
At Terminal 2 (Lufthansa, Star Alliance)
Turn right as you get into the arrivals hall. You will pass a Starbucks and an Edeka supermarket.
At the end of the corridor, go through the revolving doors. The bus stop is right there. Most likely, a bus is waiting. If the driver is nowhere in sight, he is probably enjoying a cigarette break and will be back shortly. If there is no bus, and you are there within the scheduled operating hours, it will arrive shortly.
At Terminal 1
The bus picks up from the Munich Airport Center (MAC, at the Z section in the middle of the terminal building) and from the D gates.
Figure out exactly where you are first. Then follow the signs. If you have arrived at the B gates, for instance, it will be quicker for you to catch the bus from the MAC than from 1D.
The Driver Didn’t Pick Me Up!
At Terminals 1 and 2, the same stop is used for pick-up and drop-off, so don’t be offended if the driver waves you off – he is dropping off passengers. A different bus will arrive shortly to drive you to Munich.
Where Do I Catch the Airport Bus in Munich?
There are two stops in Munich: one in northern Munich, the other near the Munich central train station (Hauptbahnhof).
Both stops are served by inbound and outbound buses.
Northern Munich: Nordfriedhof/Schwabing
Nordfriedhof is a stop on subway line U6. That means you can make an easy connection, though you will have to buy a separate ticket for the subway.
Arriving from the airport, there is an official stop for the bus in a bus bay. However, most of the time, the drivers seem to just stop wherever is convenient for them. That means you may have to cross a small patch of grass and a bike path before you are on „proper ground“. Annoying, but what are you going to do.
Going to the airport, it’s much easier to find the stop. It is located at the northeastern corner of Ungererstr. and Brandenburger Str. If you arrive by U6 from central Munich, take the front right exit.
The stop is correctly located on Google Maps. There is a small shelter that is easy to find. It is behind you as you come up the stairs/escalators.
While you are waiting, you may want to look over the wall to check out the cemetery behind you.
Central Munich: Hauptbahnhof
The arrival and departure stop is on the north side of Munich central station, at Arnulfstr. 12. This is outside the train station. The stop is not as obvious as the one at Nordfriedhof. But usually, there will be either a bus waiting for passengers there, or a bunch of passengers waiting for the next bus.
Should I Alight at Nordfriedhof or Central Station?
Coming from the airport, the first stop (Nordfriedhof/Schwabing) is convenient if you need to change to subway line U6, or are staying at the Marriott or Steigenberger hotels (both at Berliner Str.) or the Pullman Munich, or you need to get to Parkstadt Schwabing.
The driver can also book a taxi to collect you from this stop. This is handy if you are staying at the Westin Grand, for instance, which is about a ten-minute drive away. Or you could catch a local bus.
For any centrally-located accommodation, the second stop at the central train station will be more convenient.
Lufthansa Airport Bus FAQs
I’m Not Flying Lufthansa, Can I Still Use the Lufthansa Airport Bus?
Yes, you can.
This bus service is open to anyone, whether or not you are flying Lufthansa. You don’t even have to fly at all to use the bus. No one will ask to see your air ticket. Just pay the fare.
Do I Have to Book a Seat in Advance?
No, you don’t. In fact, you can’t.
You can buy your ticket in advance, but you cannot make a reservation for a specific departure.
Is that an issue? Personally, I have only ever experienced (slight) issues when there were service disruptions. These may occur when a bus has a mechanical failure (super rare), when the weather is exceptionally bad, or when a large, high-security event such as the Munich Security Conference is on. But during MSC or very bad weather, the other ground-transportation options will be dealing with the same challenges. 😶
How Do I Buy a Ticket?
You can buy tickets online or from the driver. You can save a little by booking online. Your tickets will be valid for 24 months.
Is the Bus the Only Public-Transportation Option at the Airport?
No, there is also an S-Bahn train service into town.
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