In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The airport is in MVV fare zone 5, so a trip to Hauptbahnhof is a zones M to 5 journey. The S1 and S8 reach Hauptbahnhof in about 45 minutes, with a train every 10 minutes between the two lines, for €15.10. The Lufthansa Express Bus runs every 20 minutes in about 45 minutes for €12.50 online. The Airport-City-Day-Ticket is €17.50 and pays from a second journey, or €32.60 for two to five people. Taxis run on the meter from the ranks at both terminals. Only the S3, S5 and S8 run through the centre from 3 to 6 November 2026; use the bus then. Or book a transfer: a private transfer to the cityad is about 1 hour from €58 (GetYourGuide).
The airport to the centre, compared
The S-Bahn stops at “Flughafen München”, under Terminals 1 and 2, and at “Besucherpark”. Fares are in the Munich public transport guide.
An S8 train at the airport’s underground S-Bahn station. Photo: Poudou99, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Option | Journey | Frequency | Fare, one adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-Bahn S1 | About 45 minutes to Hauptbahnhof, via Moosach | Every 20 minutes, about 3:00 to midnight; non-stop at weekends and on holidays | €15.10 |
| S-Bahn S8 | To Hauptbahnhof via Ostbahnhof and Marienplatz | Every 20 minutes, round the clock; every 40 minutes about 1:00 to 4:00 | €15.10 |
| Lufthansa Express Bus | 45 minutes to Hauptbahnhof, 25 to Schwabing | Every 20 minutes, every day | €12.50 online, €13.50 from the driver |
| Taxi | Metered | Ranks at both terminals | On the meter |
The S1 and S8 alternate, so there is a train every 10 minutes between the airport and the city. The airport quotes about 40 minutes to Hauptbahnhof.
The S-Bahn
€15.10, zones M to 5 · about 45 minutes · every 10 minutes between the two lines
The S8 runs round the clock, so it is the train at any hour. Machines at the airport and at most S-Bahn stations sell the ticket and take coins, notes, debit cards and credit cards, and the MVGO and MVV apps sell it by phone. A paper ticket from a fixed machine in the city must be stamped before you board; a ticket bought at the airport, at a DB machine or on the app is already valid. The MVV ticket page lists the stations where a machine cannot sell the airport ticket: pick “Airport” as the destination there.
The S-Bahn platform at Munich Airport, Gleis 2. Photo: JIP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Lufthansa Express Bus
€12.50 online · 45 minutes to Hauptbahnhof · every 20 minutes
The non-stop bus runs from Hauptbahnhof via Munich North (Schwabing) to the airport, every day of the year and for any airline. It stops at Terminal 2 (bus stop 1, arrival area E03) and Terminal 1 (arrivals B, the Munich Airport Center south courtyard and Module D). The fares:
| Ticket | Online | From the driver |
|---|---|---|
| Adult single | €12.50 | €13.50 |
| Adult return | €20.30 | €21.50 |
| Child 6 to 14, single | €7.50 | €8 |
| Child 6 to 14, return | €15 | €16 |
| Family (2 adults, 3 children aged 6 to 14) | €29.50, online only | |
| 10 journeys | €93 |
An extra bag or sports item is €7. The bus is cheaper than the S-Bahn: two adults pay €25 against €30.20. It is the way in on 3 to 6 November 2026.
The Airport-City-Day-Ticket
€17.50 single · €32.60 group of two to five · valid until 6:00 the next day
The ticket covers all MVV services in zones M to 5: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, buses and regional trains. A single covers one adult and up to three children aged 6 to 14. It costs €2.40 more than the S-Bahn single, so it pays when you make one more journey that day. From 1 January 2027 it is €18.50 and the group ticket €33.90.
Taxis
Metered · ranks at Terminals 1 and 2
The ranks are at the arrival and departure areas of both terminals, and the taxi service point is on level 03 of Terminal 2. The airport prints no fare, so ask for the meter.
Which to take
- To Hauptbahnhof or Marienplatz: the S-Bahn, with no change. The S8 passes Marienplatz.
- For one adult, cheapest: the Express Bus, €12.50 online.
- Two to five people making city journeys that day: the €32.60 group Airport-City-Day-Ticket.
- Arriving after midnight: the S8, which runs round the clock.
- Heavy luggage or a late arrival: a taxi from the rank.
- A card that covers the airport: the Munich Card for zones M to 6 and 24 hours is €28.90, and the Munich City Pass for one day with zones M to 6 is €66.90. They pay only if you use their sights, as Munich City Pass or Munich Card works out.
Works on the S-Bahn
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3 November (4:00) to Friday 6 November 2026 (3:30) | Only the S3, S5 and S8 run through the centre, every 20 minutes. The S1 runs only between Freising or the airport and Hauptbahnhof, without a stop at Hackerbrücke. The S8’s eastern branch runs only between the airport and Johanneskirchen, with buses to Ostbahnhof |
| Weekends of 13 to 16 November, 27 to 30 November and 4 to 7 December 2026 (Friday 22:20 to Monday 4:30) | Fewer lines run through the centre, and the S1 skips Leuchtenbergring |
The S-Bahn’s own works page lists changes as they are announced. The timetable changes on 13 December 2026.
From Hauptbahnhof to your hotel
Hauptbahnhof is a building site while the second S-Bahn trunk line is built, so expect crowds and detours. A single ticket for zones M to 5 is valid for five hours in one direction, with changes, so the S-Bahn ticket also covers the ride on to your hotel. Munich public transport has the tickets, and hotels near Munich Hauptbahnhof lists the hotels by the station.
What to book before you go to Munich lists the sights that need tickets and has the entry rules for Germany. Where to stay in Munich compares the areas, and the day trips from Munich leave from Hauptbahnhof.
Common questions
How do I get from Munich airport to the city centre?
By S-Bahn line S1 or S8 from the station under the terminals, to Hauptbahnhof in about 45 minutes, with a train every 10 minutes between the two lines. A single ticket for zones M to 5 is €15.10. The Lufthansa Express Bus is the alternative, every 20 minutes for €12.50 online.
Which is cheaper from Munich airport, the S-Bahn or the Express Bus?
The Express Bus for one adult: €12.50 online or €13.50 from the driver, against €15.10 for the S-Bahn. For a day with other journeys the Airport-City-Day-Ticket at €17.50 wins from the second journey, and the €32.60 group version covers two to five people.
Is there an S-Bahn at night from Munich airport?
Yes. The S8 runs non-stop around the clock, every 20 minutes and every 40 minutes from about 1:00 to 4:00. The S1 runs every 20 minutes from about 3:00 to midnight.
What is the Airport-City-Day-Ticket?
A day ticket for all MVV services in zones M to 5, which is the city and the airport. It is €17.50 for one adult and up to three children aged 6 to 14, and €32.60 for a group of two to five, valid until 6:00 the next day. It pays when you make one more journey in the city.
Will the S-Bahn work in November 2026 affect the airport trains?
Yes. From Tuesday 3 November at 4:00 to Friday 6 November at 3:30 only the S3, S5 and S8 run through the centre: the S1 runs only between Freising or the airport and Hauptbahnhof, and the S8 runs only between the airport and Johanneskirchen, with buses to Ostbahnhof. Use the Express Bus or the S1 to Hauptbahnhof.
