You can easily reach some beautiful places in the Munich area by bus and train. We have picked a nice destination for each zone of the Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (Munich Travel and Transport Services, MVG) – from the Allianz Arena (football stadium) to the mountains of Bad Tölz!
The Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) and Deutsche Bahn connect Munich with the surrounding area. With these fast connections, the most popular destinations such as Starnberger See (lake), the university town of Freising, or Kloster Andechs (monastery) are easy to reach, even without a car. The MVG network map is divided into different zones: the city centre is in Zone M, then Zone 1 begins and this number increases the further out of Munich you go. We have collected some great excursion ideas for each zone. The starting point is always Marienplatz (main square)!
In Zone M, you find all of Munich's main sights – Marienplatz, Olympiapark (Olympic Park), the Englischer Garten, Schloss Nymphenburg (palace) and the Kunstareal (Art Quarter). Even the Allianz Arena (football stadium) can be reached with a Zone M ticket. Simply take the U6 subway in the direction of the Garching-Forschungszentrum (research centre) and you will be in Fröttmaning within 15 minutes. If you are visiting the Allianz Arena for a football match, you should definitely use public transport, because parking spaces on site are limited. But even on non-match days, the Allianz Arena offers an exciting programme with its FC Bayern Museum and arena tours.
Also within easy reach: Messe München (Munich trade fair centre), Grünwald municipality, Perlacher Forst (forest area)
The KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau (Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site) is located about 20 kilometres northeast of Munich. The concentration camp was one of the first in Germany. Since 1965, information about the National Socialist era has been provided here in the form of exhibitions, tours and lectures. If you would like to visit one of the changing exhibitions or take part in a guided tour of the grounds, you can reach the memorial site quickly and easily by public transport. Take the S2 suburban train in the direction of Petershausen and get off at Dachau station in about 25 minutes. From here, a bus will take you to the memorial site in just a few minutes.
Also within easy reach: Schloss Schleissheim (palace), Wildpark Poing (wildlife park), Schäftlarn (municipality and monastery)
The Starnberger See (lake) is one of the most popular destinations in the Munich region. You can reach Starnberg in just 30 minutes by taking the S6 suburban train in the direction of Tutzing: Here, you can stroll along the shore, swim and eat ice cream, or embark on a boat trip to Tutzing, Bernried or Possenhofen. There are also many opportunities for hiking and cycling enthusiasts. Good to know: Some regional trains to the communities of Kochel, Garmisch, Murnau or Weilheim also stop in Starnberg and you can conveniently use your MVG (Munich Travel & Transport Services) ticket. The trains start at the central station and only take 20 minutes to reach Bavaria's second largest lake!
Also within easy reach: The municipalities of Aying, Wörthsee (Steinebach), Fürstenfeldbruck
It seems that all roads lead to Kloster Andechs (monastery). In fact, there are many ways to reach the popular pilgrimage destination with its beautiful beer garden and the Bräustüberl (traditional Bavarian restaurant). If you want to follow the pilgrimage tradition to the “holy mountain”, you can take the S8 suburban train and reach Herrsching within 50 minutes – from there, a five-kilometre-long easy hiking trail leads to the monastery. Or you can travel directly to the monastery mountain: A bus leaves from Starnberg, Tutzing and Herrsching. Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with monastery beer, hearty meals and a great view.
Also within easy reach: Ebersberger Forst (forest), Pupplinger Au (nature reserve), as well as the communities of Herrsching am Ammersee and Hechendorf am Pilsensee
Freising is a popular destination in the north of Munich and can be reached by S1 suburban train in 45 minutes without changing trains. The town was founded in 739 AD, making it the oldest town in Upper Bavaria. One of the most important sights to this day is Freising Dom (cathedral) – the prince-bishops ruled from the Domberg for over a millennium. And Pope Benedict XVI was consecrated here in 1951. Another sight in Freising is the former Benedictine monastery of Weihenstephan and the old town with its craftsmen's houses.
Also within easy reach: Tutzing, Erding, Wolfratshausen
To the mountains via suburban train – this is possible on the connection to Bad Tölz: With the S7 suburban train, you currently travel 45 minutes to Wolfratshausen and from there, it is another 45 minutes by bus. From December 2023, the entire district will be part of the Munich Transport Authority (MVV), which means that your ticket is also valid for the regional train to Bad Tölz. This is the starting point for magnificent hiking trails, like those to the Lenggries municipality, Wackersberg mountain or Kirchsee lake. If you want to stay in Bad Tölz, you can either explore the beautiful old town or go to Blomberg for a ride on the summer toboggan run.
Also within easy reach: The communities of Moosburg, Schondorf am Ammersee, Seeshaupt (on lake Starnberger See), and Munich Airport
