We will be in Munich this May and I have been looking at B&B's. I am just not sure of which area to stay in, Schwabing, Ludwigsvordadt, Schwanthalerhohe, Maxvorstadt, or Alstadt.
We are down to earth, laid back, and prefer residential areas rather than touristy 5 star hotels. I just need to be near the train station (have to get to airport), and would like to be close to the city center (we don't mind walking). And, of course, near the beer!
Thanks!
Munich is a lovely city and all of those sections are fine places to stay.
I don't know anything about B&Bs, but the Eden Wolff hotel is across the street from the RR station on one side (Arnulfstrassse) and the Europaischer Hof and Le Meridien are on the other side--Bayerstrasse.
The airport shuttle bus leaves from right outside the RR station or you can get the train to the airport there was well.
Several of those "boroughs" in Munich have parts that are on or next to the main S-Bahn trunk line through Munich, and that would make it most convenient for getting to the airport. It's possible to be in any of those boroughs and have to take secondary transportation (U-Bahn, preferably, or trams/bus)or walk to one of the S-Bahn stations. The S-Bahn trunk runs right through the center of the Altstadt, so there are several stations (Karlstor, Marienplatz, Isartor), not just the Hauptbahnhof, that will get you on an S-Bahn directly to the airport.
I stayed in the Altstadt last year, just a couple of blocks walk south of the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Isartor, and loved the location. It was so close to everything and a short walk to Marienplatz and the Hofbräuhaus. Here is the S-/U-Bahn map of Munich. The MVV website (www.mvv-muenchen.de) has a page where you can put in start at an address and end at Muenchen-Flughafen-Terminal and get directions to the airport.
Not sure what you mean by a B&B. Almost any hotel, except for the high star major hotels, will have breakfast included with your room. If you mean a real B&B (Privatzimmer), I'm not sure how many you will find in the downtown area.
The bus from the Hauptbahnhof makes one stop in Schwabing, near a U-Bahn station, on it's way to the airport, but if you come in on the S-Bahn with a Partner Gesamtnetz Tageskarte, it will cover any other public transportation in Munich that day, or if you use the Tageskarte to get to the airport, it will cover your transportation to the S-Bahn station.
Not sure what your price range is, but Pension Lindner is about a 7 minute walk down Sendlinger Straße from Marienplatz. Clean, comfortable, seemed quiet at night, and the breakfasts were wonderful. http://www.pension-lindner.com/index.htm
Another vote for Pension Lindner. I spent nine nights there last August, and I'm going back for five more in May.
As the proprietor hastens to mention when you e-mail for a reservation, there is a major construction project going on next door. But you probably won't be in your room during the workday anyway, and I found it to be forest-like quiet at night -- no city noise at all.
In addition to Marienplatz as mentioned above, Pension Lindner is within a five-minute walk of Asamkirche, St. Peterskirche and Viktualienmarkt; Deutsches Museum is about 10 minutes away; and the Munich City Museum and the Jewish Museum are across the street.
You can catch the S-8 to the airport from the Marienplatz underground station, and avoid Hauptbahnhof altogether.
Photos of Pension Lindner here; other photos of last August's trip to Bavaria, including the immediate neighborhood around Pension Lindner, here.
Hotel Am Viktualienmarkt is a down-to-earth hotel with a fantastic location at the Viktualienmarkt.
http://www.hotel-am-viktualienmarkt.de/
Hotel Am Markt is actually located in the middle of the Viktualienmarkt.
http://www.hotel-am-markt.eu/
Hotel Blauer Bock is also very near to the Viktualienmarkt and Marienplatz.
http://www.hotelblauerbock.de/
All of these selections have a very good location in the Altstadt. Don't be mistaken by thinking you must stay near the main train station to get to the airport. The S-Bahn and U-Bahn snake all through Munich and whisk you to the main train station quickly and efficiently. The area around the main train station can be a little seedy with lots of bars and strip clubs, and while it's not a dangerous place to be...why would you be there when you could choose locations that are SO much more appealing?
Thank you all! I had been looking on Airbnb to stay in someone's home, just thought it might be fun. I know we would give up privacy, though. I will look at all the places mentioned, too!
Great pics, Jeff!
If you are looking for laid back residential areas that have good access to the airport and the sights in the city center I'd recommend Au/Haidhausen. Great restaurants, close to the Deutsches Museum, easy access to S, U and trams and of course it has good biergartens (Hofbraü Keller and Paulaner Am Nockherberg).
You should not have a problem finding a place on Airbnb with privacy. There are also many smaller hotels/pensions in the area (here is one above a gelato shop http://www.eiscafe-adamello.de/). I've never stayed there but I've heard good things about mk hotel in Haidhausen (http://www.mkhotels.de/).
DJ
We love to stay near the Marienplatz. I personally don't like to stay near the main train station but you can catch the train to the main station from the Marienplatz. We've stayed at Hotel am Viktualienmarkt, Falkenturm Hotel, and the Platzl Hotel. My favorite is the Platzl and it's literally less than a 5 min walk to the Marienplatz and clock tower. This is great for when you need a rest after a tour or shopping. The others are a little further walk but decent. Also, the back of the Platzl is across from the Hofbrauhaus.
