Hey guys, my Hubby and I will be attending our first Octoberfest this year (so freaking excited). We will be staying at a holiday inn for free thanks to travel points from work, but I wasn't sure about which one would be the best for the festival. I was going to book HI City Center but some reviews said that is wasn't in the best neighborhood. I was also looking at Munich City West. I know that public transportation will be needed but wasn't sure which location was the best starting point. Thank you all for putting up with all my silly European vacation questions
You can access the Rosenheimer Platz S-Bahn station directly from inside the HI City Center. That will get you to the Hauptbahnhof in minutes. Nothing wrong with the neighborhood, unless you object being next to the Symphony Hall (Gasteig Cultural Center). Several good restaurants nearby.
HI City Center is in a nice area with good access to the S-bahn stop at Rosenheimerplatz with the trendy neighborhood of Haidhausen just to the north. Lots of good restaurants and shops nearby, there is a shopping center right next to the hotel (access direct from hotel lobby) plus you are close to the Deutsches Museum. Check out the nearby Weißenburger Platz and get a gelato from one of the shops and people watch near the fountain. You have two good Biergarten options near this hotel, Paulaner am Nockherberg (20min away by foot) or Hofbräukeller (10mins away by foot). For a good selection of restaurants head north to Worthstraße (my favorite on this street is Cafe Voilá, good modern German food and a great breakfast).
HI Express Munich City West is a newer hotel but the location is near the main train tracks just to the south, mostly apartment blocks to the north, and not as many shops and restaurants nearby (but it is closer to the fest grounds). Here you are close to the Biergarten at Hirschgarten.
If it were me I'd pick the HI City Center but I'm partial to Haidhausen as we used to live there (the HIT supermarket in the shopping center next to the hotel was my main super market).
DJ
Thank you both!! I have us booked at the City Center but was second guessing myself. We only have 3 days in Munich and wanted to have a good location. Only getting to experience Octoberfest for 1 day but it will be so worth it.