I am reaching Munich Hauptbahnhof, Germany by 00:30 am from India. I need to reach Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße, Garching bei München, Germany. Since it is late night, I plan to take a taxi from Munich Hauptbahnhof (roughly 20 kms).
I intend to ask the following:
Approximately how much will be the charges for an economical ride (single traveller)?
What is the best way to book the taxi in advance (preferably online) and being economical?
Are you coming from the airport to the train station? If so it is probably best to just take a taxi from the airport as you destination is actually closer to the airport than the main train station. There is no need to book a taxi ahead of time from the airport, just follow the signs to that taxi stands (http://www.munich-airport.de/en/consumer/anab/taxi/index.jsp?viewType=h)
I would not expect the charges to be more than 30-40€ (a journey to the city center from the airport is about 50€).
If you are indeed coming from the train station (ie - arriving by train), just get a taxi from the stand. Should also be about 30-40€. No need to book online.
DJ
Thanks for the reply. Sorry for not making it clear. I am reaching Munich by train at its central station. From there, I plan to go to Garching which is roughly 20 kms.
So I can get a taxi from the train station( Hauptbahnhof) for Garching around 01:00 am?
Yes, the taxi drivers know when the late trains arrive and there is always taxis waiting to meet passengers. If for some reason other passengers take all the taxis that were at the stand just wait and another will arrive soon.
There are three taxi stands at the Hauptbahnhof so just follow the signs when you arrive.
DJ
According to the website TaxiFareFinder, the trip from the Hauptbahnhof to the Institute would cost about 40€ (35€ plus 5€ tip) and take about a half hour.
If the train is early or on time, and if you can figure out where you are going, there is an U-Bahn station (U4/U5) just outside the south entrance to the Hauptbahnhof (go right at the end of the platforms). Buy a 2 zone ticket for 5,40€. There is an U-Bahn (direction Neuperlach Süd) on Gleis (track) 2 at 00:44. Get off in 3 min at Odeonsplatz. It's about a 3 min walk thru the station to the U3/U6 platforms. Take the U6 at 00:53 from Gleis 1, direction Garching-Vorschungszertrum. From there it is about 24 minutes to the station at the Vorschungszertrum (research center ). Walk south about a hundred meters south to Karl-Schwarzschild-Straße and turn left.
Thanks for the all the suggestions.
That €5 tip seems a bit weighty.
That's 15% - much more than any Germany taxi driver would expect.
Yep. Nigel is correct. 5 € is too high of a tip for a 35 € fare.
1 or 2 € is enough for taxi rides unless they carried a lot of suitcases for you.
OK, so it's 37€ instead of 40€. TaxiFareFinder suggested the 5€ tip, not me.
That's 37€ vs 5,40€ for the U-Bahn.
Why are you arriving at the Institut für Astrophysik at 1:30 in the morning? Do they have rooms there.
Yes, there is guest house where the accommodation is booked.
Be sure to warn them that you will be arriving very late.
Thanks for your concern. Sure, I will send this message across.
ascan_www: will you already have euro with you for the taxi or the U-Bahn, or will you need to use ATM (Geldautomat)? It's possible to purchase tickets for the Munich Metro (MVV) in advance, here, either tickets printed from you home computer or on your phone.
Does anyone know where an ATM is in the Hbf. The Bahnhofsplan shows a bank on the north side of the front entrance.
