Are you taking a train from Munich’s main train station (Hauptbahnhof) and wondering how to navigate the station? Where your platform will be and where you might find a cup of coffee? Look no further! I’m explaining it all in this guide.
Munich’s Hauptbahnhof is big, with multiple levels and departure platforms numbered 5 through 36. That means you might have a bit of a walk ahead of you to get to your train. So the most important thing is that you allow enough time! Hauptbahnhof is also a transportation hub where various public-transportation options meet.
Like most of Munich, the train station is currently under reconstruction, so exits may temporarily be moved.
Note the escalator etiquette: Stand on the right, walk on the left. It is considered rude to stand on the left side of the escalator step and block it for people who are moving.
What to Expect at the Munich Hauptbahnhof
At Hauptbahnhof, all modes of transportation meet: trains, cars, subways, S-Bahn trains, trams, buses. And pedestrians, of course! This requires a multi-level station.
General Geography of the Hauptbahnhof
If you look at a map, you will see that the train station building is a rectangular structure with a north-south orientation. All the train tracks approach from the west. Munich is a cul-de-sac station, meaning that trains have to change direction to leave the station.
Regional and long-distance trains arrive and leave at street level.
Buses, trams and taxis also run at street level.
S-Bahn trains and subway lines U1/2/4/5/7/8 run below-ground. They use different platforms on different levels. These platforms are interconnected. You can change among lines as well as between lines and mainline trains.
Roughly speaking, the actual train operations occupy the western end of the train station; the S-Bahns run in the north, U1/2/7/8 run in the east; and U4/5 run in the south.
Taxis
Taxis will gladly pick you up at the northern and southern exit. Licensed taxi drivers will never leave their cars to try and find passengers in the station. They wait outside until it is their turn.
That means you go to the driver at the front of the line for your ride.
Not that I’ve ever heard of this happening, but: if anyone were to ever approach you inside the station and offer you a ride, they are not an official taxi driver. Do not go with them.
Food & Beverages at the Train Station
You are not going to starve at the station, unless you arrive at really odd hours.
Between the S-Bahn and subway lines and the main train station, there is a mezzanine level. This level has shops, cafés, bakeries, fast-food outlets and lots of ticket machines. Here you can find, among others:
- McDonalds;
- Rischart (for coffee and baked goods; their chocolate croissants are yummy);
- Hofpfisterei (excellent pretzels, pricey sandwiches);
- Asia Hung and LeboQ (Asian food);
- Haferkater (porridge).
On this mezzanine level at the northern end of the station, there is an Edeka supermarket that is open late and on Sundays and public holidays. A second supermarket, Tegut, is a little more tucked away, It has more limited opening hours but a better product selection and a more pleasant atmosphere.
In the main hall, there are a few more outlets, though their number is currently limited due to the construction works. Among them are a Starbucks, Dean & David (sandwiches) and Rubenbauer.
Other Facilities at the Train Station
Next to Starbucks, you will find a tiny branch of Reisebank in case you need to exchange cash.
Public toilets (payable) are located at the northern end of the train station, on the mezzanine level right next to the escalators that go to the platforms.
Theoretically, there are luggage lockers available in various sizes. Due to the construction, they may or may not be available. If you need to store your bags, ask at your hotel or use an app such as Bounce or Radical Storage to find luggage storage places.
Where Is My Platform?
A very valid question.
If you have a paper ticket, your platform should be indicated on your ticket.
Please note that short-notice platform changes do happen! Make sure to check the electronic departure boards.
If you booked your ticket on the DB Navigator app, your departure platform as well as any platform changes will be announced on the app.
Platforms 5-10
If you are going towards eastern Austria or beyond, your train will be quite likely to leave from platforms 5-10. This is definitely true for the regional trains to Salzburg and the night train to Warsaw, and also quite likely for EC and RJX trains to Vienna and Budapest (which may also leave from platform 11).
Platform 5-10 are located at the southern end of the train station. They are a few minutes‘ (!) walk from the main hall.
Platforms 27-36
Trains to Bayrischzell, Lenggries and Tegernsee leave from platforms 27-36, as do trains to Garmisch, Kochel, Buchloe (for Füssen >> Neuschwanstein!) and ECEs to Zurich.
S7 towards Wolfratshausen usually leaves from platform 35.
These platforms are also a short walk away from the main hall, at the northern end. Currently, you have to leave the main station building, turn left and enter a formerly unused part of the station building. The way is very well sign-posted.
Platforms 11-26
If you are headed to Italy, your train is likely to leave from platform 11.
ICE trains to pretty much anywhere in Germany as well as a variety of regional trains leave from the main chunk of platforms, 11-26. There are electronic noticeboards showing all upcoming train departures.
Know Your Train Number
Before you jump on any train, make sure to check the train number on your ticket against the information displayed on the departure screen or on the train itself.
Why? Sometimes, there will be, for example, two trains to Berlin that leave within five or ten minutes of each other from the same platform. However, they will take different routes. You can reach Berlin from Munich in four hours by taking the Sprinter route via Nuremberg and Halle. Or you may take much longer by going via Stuttgart and Frankfurt.
So instead of just jumping on the Berlin-bound train that’s sitting on platform 22 (because you’re on your way to Berlin and your ticket says platform 22), you want to make sure you end up on the train you actually booked – the one with the correct train number.
Arriving at Munich Hauptbahnhof by Public Transportation
Arriving by S-Bahn (all lines except S7)
All the S-Bahn trains (except S7) travel through the same tunnel. This tunnel has an east-west orientation and is located at the northern end of the station building. The main mezzanine floor with shops and cafés is directly above.
As your S-Bahn pulls into the station, you will see the center platform on your left. However, do not exit to this platform. Take the doors on the right. This is the exit platform with escalators going up. (If you exit center, you will have to drag your bags up a flight of stairs.)
The escalators for the train station are located more or less in the middle of the platform. Go up and then follow the people with the bags who look like they know where they are going. It’s just a short walk to the next escalators that will deposit you on the northern end of the train station. The platforms will be on your right.
Arriving by S7
S7, arriving from Wolfratshausen via Solln, Harras and Donnersbergerbrücke terminates at the train station. Therefore, it goes to a platform above-ground so it doesn’t obstruct traffic in the tunnel.
S7 usually arrives at platform 35, i.e. at the northernmost platform. Advantage: you are at the same level as the trains. However, it’s going to take you a good 5-10 minutes to get to any of the main platforms. If your next train leaves from platforms 5-10, I would allow at least 15 minutes.
Arriving by Subway Lines U4/5
The platform for these lines has (roughly) an east-west orientation. It runs kind of parallel to the S-Bahn lines, but at the southern end of the train station.
Take the escalators on the western end of the platform (front of the train if arriving from central Munich), turn right and take another escalator. You are now at the southern train-station entrance. Platforms will be on your left-hand side.
Arriving by Subway Lines U1/2/7/8
The platform for these lines has a north-south orientation.
As you arrive on the platform, there will be a confusing array of escalators. Take the ones in the center of the platform to get to the mezzanine level.
From there, follow the signs to trains.
The area is currently very confusing due to the construction work. Hopefully it will get better once the new station building is completed. But this will still take quite a few years.
If your train is departing from platforms 5-15, you could also use the escalators at the southern end of the platform. They will take you to the U4/5 platform. Walk along the entire length of the platform and take the escalators up. Turn right on the mezzanine level and take more escalators up. You are now at the southern entrance to the station. The platforms will be on your left.
To reach platforms 5-10, take a hard left at the top of the escalators and walk along the left side of track 11. It will take you a few minutes to get to your destination, don’t underestimate the distance.
The escalators at the northern end of U1/2/7/8 platform connect to the S-Bahn. Only take them if you want to catch the S-Bahn!
Arriving by Train and Changing to Public Transportation
Since Munich is a cul-de-sac station, there is only one way to exit once you have left your train. Follow your fellow travellers until you reach the main hall.
Subway and S-Bahn Lines
For U4/5, turn right towards the southern exit. Right next to the „DB Reisezentrum“, you will see escalators going down. On the mezzanine level, walk a few steps, then turn left and go down another escalator to reach the platform.
For S-Bahn trains, turn left towards the northern exit. You will see escalators and stairs going down. The majority of people will be going there, just follow them. On the mezzanine level, bear right. The entrance to the S-Bahn (down another set of escalators) will be more or less in front of you.
For U1/2/7/8, turn left towards the northern exit. You will see escalators and stairs going down. The majority of people will be going there, just follow them. On the mezzanine level, bear right. Walk down the corridor past the S-Bahn entrance, the shops and fast-food joints. Turn right into a wider corridor and continue walking. In the middle of that level, you will see escalators going down to the platforms.
Buses and Trams
To catch a bus or tram, you will have to leave the station building and find the stop at the street level.
For trams, there are three main stops: Hauptbahnhof (lines 16, 17, 19, 20), Hauptbahnhof Nord (North, just outside the north exit, lines 16 & 17 on Arnulfstr. and lines 20 & 21 on Dachauer Str.), and Hauptbahnhof Süd (South, just outside the south exit, lines 18 & 19).
Buses 58/68 and 100 have their stops in Luisenstr. It’s best to use a mapping tool to find the stops, as the area can be a bit confusing.
Public Transportation Tickets
Note that local public transportation is often not included in your train ticket. Therefore, you might need to buy a separate ticket for your S-Bahn or subway journey. See my guide on how to use the MVV ticket machines for further details.
Exceptions: if your train ticket says „Munich+city“, you can use it for a one-way trip within zone M. If you arrived on the Bayern-Ticket, you can use it for your onward journey on the entire MVV transportation network.
Do I Have to Stamp or Show My Train Ticket?
No. Not at the station itself.
Unlike in Italy or France, you can access any platform in Germany without stamping a ticket or passing a physical barrier. So if you want to familiarize yourself with the station, you can do so. Just don’t board a train without a valid ticket (or at least make sure you get back off the train before it leaves!).
How Much Time Should I Allow at the Station?
Plenty, and a few minutes more.
Unless you are travelling very early or late, expect the station and all incoming transportation to be busy. If it’s a soccer match day or the Oktoberfest or a trade show, everything will be crazy busy. So you need to allow time to even get to the escalators, especially if you are travelling with a lot of baggage.
From U4/5, you will get into the main departure hall very quickly. However, if you need to then get to platform 35, you will still need to budget at least an additional seven minutes. Arriving on U1/2/7/8, it will take you much longer to get to the platforms, simply because you are quite far away. You may also need some extra time just to find your way around.
If you are travelling on a long-distance train, you may find that your reserved seat is at the far end of the train. Getting there from the start of the platform may take another few minutes.
My suggestion would therefore be the following:
- from the S-Bahn to the main platforms: allow 12+ minutes (for platforms 5-10: 20 minutes)
- from U4/5 to the main platforms: allow 10+ minutes (for platform 27-36: 15+ minutes)
- from U1/2/7/8 to the main platforms: 20+ minutes
These times are based on the assumption that you can move at a reasonably fast pace, and should be taken only as an indication. Exact walking times will of course depend on your own pace, how quickly you get on the escalators, etc. If you are travelling with baggage that slows you down significantly, or with small children, or you want to grab a coffee/snack on the way, allow (much) more time.
I would also recommend that you visit the train station beforehand just to figure out which way you need to go. This will be helpful especially if you have lots of baggage or (no offence) you struggle with finding your way around unfamiliar environments.
Dangers & Annoyances
Munich is a safe city, and its train station is also safe.
Having said that, like anywhere, there are pickpockets, beggars, and people who may look and act strange. Make sure to close all zippers and don’t let anybody chat you up.
Outside the station, expect to see a few homeless people as well as people with obvious substance-abuse issues.