Destination Guides > Germany > Bavaria

Bavaria (Bayern)

Munich (München)

The largest city in southern Germany is famous for one thing - beer. The Czechs and Belgians probably make better beer, but no one celebrates it like the Munchners who hold numerous beer festivals, including the famous Oktoberfest.

Practical Information

Munich Tourist Information Centre

inside the Haupbahnhof

American Express

Promenadepl. 6, Munich

Website www.americanexpress.com

EMBASSIES & CONSULATES

British Consulate

Bükleinstr. 10, Munich

Tel (089) 211 090

Canadian Consulate

Tal 29, Munich

Tel (089) 290 650

US Consulate

Konigstr. 5, Munich

Tel (089) 28880

Local Transport

Munich has an excellent public transport system operated by MVV (website www.mvv-muenchen.de) which includes buses, trams and an S and U-Bahn network. S and U-Bahn tickets are €2.20 or €4.50 for a tageskarte (day pass). Three-day passes cost €11. Streifenkartes (stripcards) are available for €10 and are a good deal if you are staying a few days - each ticket has two strips and you need to stamp two strips for a trip in the central zone.

Mike's Bike Tours (website www.mikesbiketours.com) operate fun bicycle tours of the city that cost €24. They also rent bikes for €12-18 per day.

Coming & Going

Munich is well served by a rail service including regular international trains to Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. Hauptbahnhof is the central station.

Europabus and Eurolines coaches operate from a carpark, ten minutes walk from Hauptbahnof.

To get to the airport, take the S-Bahn 8 from Hauptbahnhof. For flight information call (089) 97 52 13 13.

Accommodation

A&O City Hostel

Bayerstraße 75, Munich

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof Tram 18, 19

Tel (089) 45 23 57-60 or 0800-222 57 22

A&O City Hostel & Hotel München

Arnulfstraße 102, Munich

S-Bahn Hackerbrücke

Tel 0800-222 57 22

CVJM München (Munich YMCA)

Landwehrstraße 13, 80336 München

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 55 21 41 -0

Easy Palace City Hostel

Mozartstraße 4, 80336 München

U-Bahn Goetheplatz Bus 58

Tel (089) 55 87 97 -0

Easy Palace Station Hotel

Schützenstraße 7, 80335 München

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 55 25 21-0

Euro Youth Hostel

Senefelder Straße 5, 80336 München

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 5990 8811

Haus International

Elisabethstraße 87, D-80797 Munich

U-Bahn Hohenzollernplatz

Tel (089) 120 060

Jaeger's Hostel

Senefelderstraße 3, 80336 Munich

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 555 281

Jugendherberge München - Neuhausen

Wendl-Dietrich-Straße 20, 80634 Munich

U-Bahn Rotkreuzplatz

Tel (089) 131 156

Jugendherberge München - Thalkirchen

Miesingstraße 4, 81379 München

U-Bahn Thalkirchen

Tel (089) 7236550

Jugendherberge Pullach

Burg Schwaneck, Burgweg 4-6, 82049 Pullach

Tel (089) 7448 6670

Kapuzinerholzl - The Tent

In den Kirschen 30, 80992 München

Tram 17 (to Botanischer Garten)

Meininger City Hostel - Landsberger Straße

Landsberger Straße 20, 80339 Munich

Tram 18, 19 S-Bahn Hackerbrücke U-Bahn Theresienwiese

Tel (089) 550 53-0

The 4U Hostel

Hirtenstraße 18, 80335 München

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 5521660

Wombat's City Hostel

Senefelder Strasse 1, Munich 80336

U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Train Hauptbahnhof

Tel (089) 59989180

Neuschwanstein & Füssen

Neuschwanstein is the quintessential European castle, built for 'mad' King Ludwig less than 200 years ago which makes it a baby compared to other European castles. However this castle conforms to everyone's idea of the perfect European castle that you've probably already seen pictures of it in calendars, posters, photo albums and so on. The only problem is that it is very difficult to get to without a car although the nearby towns of Füssen and Garmish-Partenkirchen have accommodation and transport making them ideal bases to explore the castle and the surrounding area.

Practical Information

Füssen Tourist Information Centre

Kaiser Maximilian Platz 1, Füssen

Tel (08362) 7077

Local Transport

Neuschwanstein and Füssen are located 5km apart. If you don't feel like walking, there is a bus from Füssen's train station. Even if you take the bus, there is another 20 minute walk up the hill once you get to Neuschwanstein.

Coming & Going

Most people visit Füssen and Neuschwanstein from Munich, although even the transport from there is a bit awkward. From Munich you can take a train to Füssen, changing at Buchlow. The trip should take about 2½ hours. Alternatively you can take a train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and then a connecting bus to Füssen.

Accommodation

House L.A.

Welfenstraße 39, 87629 Füssen

Tel (08362) 607366 or (08362) 38534

Jugendherberge Füssen

Mariahilferstraße 5, 87629 Füssen

Tel (08362) 7754