Munich hotel: near the train station or city center?

So you ask advice on staying either at the train station or old city center and then the last statement is "Any suggestion of a hotel near the train station"...why ask a question if you've made your decision already?

The answer is the same as it always is to this question. Train station is kind of seedy and Viktualienmarkt and Marienplatz are much nicer and easily reached from the train station by the underground system.

I've only ever stayed at the train station once with free Marriott points. That was a mistake for me.

I hate dragging a suitcase through a city to my hotel, so I opted for a place near the train station for a one-night in-transit stay last year. I agree that the area isn't attractive, and I think you'll be much happier in a different location since you're staying there for three nights.

The hotel I used was the Vi Vadi, an acceptable enough 3-star but without air conditioning, which you might need in late May. I had an early bus out so can't comment on the breakfast, if any.

Either place. It doesn't matter much. In Munich, the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) and city center (Marienplatz) are not that far apart. They are within easy walking distance and only one stop apart (Karlstor) on the main S-Bahn trunk line through Munich.

If you are arriving at the airport, you will be coming into town on the S-Bahn. You could just as easily get off at either station. Lindner is a short walk from Marienplatz. There are a number of hotels around Marienplatz. Hotel Royal is between Karlstor and the Hbf. We stayed here, at Münchner Kindl, a couple of years ago. It's a short walk to the Karlstor S-Bahn station.

If your sidetrip is to Dachau, you take the S2, which you can board at the closest S-Bahn station in town. If you are going by train to, say, Füssen or Salzburg, you leave from the Hbf or München Ostbahnhof. Then you would use a Bayern-Ticket, which also covers any conveyance in town.

@ Tim-
........"So you ask advice on staying either at the train station or old city center and then the last statement is "Any suggestion of a hotel near the train station"...why ask a question if you've made your decision already?"

I must have left a sentence or two on my post that led you to believe that I've "already made my decision." Actually, the answer is No, I haven't. And since I haven't booked anything yet; I am weighing all options. But thank you for your input.

@acraven--
Thank you! I have had experienced same scenario like you in my travels to Italy. Especially if you have just arrived from a long flight it's a bit tiring! I'll go ahead and check Vi Vadi.

@ Lee--
We are coming from Berlin by train and we're arriving quite late at night. From Munich Hbf, maybe a taxi would be an option to reach Marienplatz? If we feel that we're too tired to hop on another train with luggage in tow, perhaps taxi is more convenient, if rates are reasonable.

There's so many places we would like to see outside of Munich but unfortunately, we only have a few days... places like Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Garmisch came to mind. We're still working on an itinerary to fit all these into 2 days. We will use the train instead of renting a car...any help with train info is much appreciated.
Thank you, Lee!

Jay,

Given the fact that you plan on doing a lot of touring by train during your short visit to Munich, being close to the Hbf will make that more convenient. That also gives you easy access to the U-Bahn / S-Bahn for shorter trips.

While the area around the Munich Hbf is a bit "colourful", that never deters me as I usually stay at Hotel Royal (they serve a great breakfast). If you'd like a more sedate neighborhood, you could also consider Hotel Uhland which is about a 12 minute brisk walk from the Hbf in a quiet residential area.

Thank you, Ken! I do appreciate your input. I will look into those two hotels.

We booked Eden Hotel Wolff based on good recommendations from a few posters here.
It is near train station but from what I gather- not the "seedy" side. Never been to Munich so I don't know if that is true.

We will actually be there just before your dates.

https://www.eden-hotel-wolff.de/english/

Ken, I just booked Hotel Royal! I would go for the convenience to the train station; plus the price is within my range.

Thanks again.

Jay,

It's great to hear that you've got a room booked at Hotel Royal. While the area outside the hotel is somewhat "distinctive", I've never been bothered by anyone on the street, and the inside is much different than the neighborhood would suggest. The staff at the hotel have always been very helpful.

THIS will give you an idea what the outside of the hotel looks like at night. The hotel is one floor up from the street, and there are both stairs and an elevator.

I normally walk from the hotel to Marienplatz and the sights there (it's not really that far).

Hi Christine,

Thanks for the hotel info. I've booked a non-cancellation rate at Hotel Royal. I think we will just be fine staying in the area.

Ken,

Thanks for the photo--"colorful and distinctive" indeed! I see some guys standing along the sidewalk; is it still safe to walk late at night. Do they bother people? We are arriving quite late in the evening by train; what are your thoughts...safe at night? Do you mind giving me some instructions how to get to the hotel from where we get off at the train station?

We're doing a Rhine river cruise; a day trip from Frankfurt...Bacharach looks amazing! Where did you take that photo? Looks like you're high up on a hill or something?

Hi,

There are numerous small hotels and Pensionen near the Munich Hbf on Schillerstraße and Goethestraße, which fit your price range. I stay at a Pension (45 Euro for a single) near the train station, very convenient when leaving so you don't have rely on public transportation back to the train station. If you decide one in the centre, take a taxi since you're arriving so late and are unfamiliar with the city.

Jay, I stayed at a hotel a few steps away from the Royal, the neighborhood was fine, lots of coffee shops on that street stay open late.

Hi, All!

Thanks for your recommendation, Fred. We're already booked at the Royal.

Zoe...thanks for the heads up. Fingers crossed, we will just be fine.

Jay,

"is it still safe to walk late at night. Do they bother people? We are arriving quite late in the evening by train; what are your thoughts...safe at night?"

I've always found it safe at night, although I'm not usually out past midnight. No one has ever bothered me or approached me.

"Do you mind giving me some instructions how to get to the hotel from where we get off at the train station?"

With the tracks at your back, walk straight ahead and out the front entrance of the station. Turn right and walk to the main street that goes past the station, Bayerstraße, and cross the street at the crosswalk. When you get across the street, turn left and walk about a block to Schillerstraße. Turn right and walk about a block and a half (you'll cross one side street on the left, Adolf-Kolping-Straße) and you'll see Hotel Royal on the left side just after you pass the side street. Hotel Royal has a large banner mounted on the front of the building (just a sign, no lighting). They may have a sign board on the sidewalk with an arrow pointing to the corridor leading to the hotel. As I recall, there's a high end jewellry store just inside that corridor, on the right side.

If you're concerned about finding the place, you could do a test run and "walk" the route on Google Earth.

Hope the directions are understandable.

Ken, perfectly understandable! It's now copied and pasted onto my notes.

You've been so helpful---I can't thank you enough!

Jay

Google Street View is a helpful resource for getting acquainted with a neighborhood. But be aware that the Street View images of Munich have not been updated since about 2008, and the images of many locations are blurred out. German privacy laws have kept Google's cameras off the street. Google aerial images of Munich are newer, about two or three years old, but the resolution is not as good.

I know we've been there done that with the whole Munich Hbf area discussion on several threads. I'm sure Ken's providing great advice re: Hotel Royal. My view of the neighborhood (and the mental reaction I had) was "I spent a thousand bucks to cross the Atlantic, and I'm staying in a hotel in a part of town I wouldn't be caught dead in back home. What the H am I doing here?!"

Jay, as long as you know what you're getting into and you know that it's a neighborhood you likely wouldn't hang around in back home, okay.

When we went back in 2012 we stayed at Pension Jakobsplatz and had an AMAZING time there. My boys were 14, 12 and 9 when we went. We had 2 rooms. There was another family there while we were, who also rented 2 rooms. None of us locked our doors the entire stay. It was phenomenal! It is a little hole in the wall place but the location can't be beat.

http://www.pension-jakobsplatz.de/wp/en/pension-2/