We are taking Lufthansa SFO to Munich and arriving at 5:00 PM. Where would you advise we stay overnight and how can we travel to visit our host in Iserlohn?
I'm assuming you have already purchased your flight to Munich or I would suggest you fly into Dusseldorf or Cologne rather than Munich unless you are planning to see the Munich area, they're both much closer to Iserlohn. Arriving at 5:00 pm your best bet is to stay in Munich near the train station and take the train to Iserlohn the next day, it's about a 5 hr train ride with a couple of changes.
It would be a 7-8 hour trip from Munich airport to Iserlohn, so yes, you probably want to take the S-Bahn into Munich for a night or two and get an early start on your travel day. There are quite a few hotels convenient to Munich Hbf (central train station), such as [Hotel Monaco(https://www.hotel-monaco.de/). See the DB train schedule link and tips for using it at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online.
Thank you, Nancy and Laura, for such prompt replies. Our hostess had told us to fly to Munich and we did book our flights. We do not want the expense of changing the flights now. We will check the train schedule to downtown Munich and the hotels you recommend. Do you think we should exchange currency in the US before we leave so we have some money for the train?
Janet, no problem with flying into Munich, it's just a little farther to travel is all. I hope you plan to spend a night or 2 in Munich before flying home - assuming you're also flying out of Munich.
If you want to relax after getting off the flight, consider staying at nearby Therme Erding.