Munich Airport

MUNICH AIRPORT: Munich’s “Franz-Joseph-Strauss” Airport (code: MUC) is the most obvious connection if you’re coming to Munich from overseas.

It’s the second busiest airport in Germany after Frankfurt. If you’re used to going through airport hell in other parts of the world, don’t worry, this one is different.

It's every bit as efficient as you’d expect from a German transport hub and gets consistently voted among the best airports in Europe.

READY FOR TAKE OFF: Passenger jets lined up
at Munich Franz-Joseph-Strauss Airport.
Pic: CC Wikimedia

The airport is about 30km (18mi) north-east of central Munich and connects by S-Bahn (the Munich subway/suburban train system).

There are also buses running to Munich’s central station and other ways of getting in and out.

For more info about getting to and from the airport, see Munich Airport transfers.

The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 is home to Germany’s Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners including Continental, United, US Airways, Air China, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Air Canada.
All other airlines use Terminal 2.

What to do at the airport

CHECK IN: Passengers getting ready to take off
from Munich's airport. Pic: CC Wikimedia

Here’s a few ideas for what to do if you’ve got time to kill at Munich Airport.

Munich Airport Centre (MAC)
This is a concourse area that connects the terminals.

There are a bars, a supermarket, shops and access to the S-Bahn, all under a huge, transparent roof.

It’s also where you’ll find the luxury Kempinski Hotel Munich.

But for many visitors the main reason to come is….

Airbräu - The world's only airport brewery?
While most airports aren’t known for being cheap and delicious
Munich’s Airbräu is exactly that.
This huge beer garden / restaurant is getting such a good reputation some Müncheners even go out to the airport just to make a visit.
It’s a perfect place to make time fly during airport “dead” time.
Main meals are under €10 and a half-litre beer costs just €2.30 so it’s among the cheapest pints in Munich.
Airbräu brews its own beer including Helles (lager), Weißbier (wheat beer), and a powerful strong beer called Aviator. The 600-seat beer garden is open from April to October.
It’s in the MAC concourse.
More info: Website www.airbraeu.de.

TAKE OFF: A board showing departures
from Munich Airport. Pic: CC yisris

Visitors’ Park
One stop away from the airport is the Visitors’ Park (Besucherpark), where air-heads can watch planes roll in and out of Terminal 1 from the top of a hill.

As well as this look-out spot there are a couple of historic planes on display including a Lockheed Super Constellation and a Junkers “Auntie Ju” 52.

Napcap
Sick of falling asleep on airport benches?
Last year Munich Airport opened rentable, private “pods” called Napcap. Inside there’s a small couchette as well as a flat-screen TV, desk, and internet connection.
The pods cost between €10 and €15 an hour and the minimum charge is €30. You can pay with your credit card at the pod.
The Napcaps are in Terminal 2 next to Gate H32.
More info: Website www.easy-sleep.com

Kempinski Hotel Munich Spa
You can visit the spa centre of this 5-star airport hotel as a day guest. There is an indoor pool, whirl pool, sauna and steam bath (with separate men’s and women’s sections), gym, massage and beauty palours.
More info: Website http://www.kempinski.com/en/munichairport

SERVICE: Wheelchairs lined up inside one of the terminals at
Munich's airport. Pic: CC Daquella manera

Getting to Munich Airport by car

Franz-Joseph-Strauss links to the A92 Autobahn, which connects to the A9 Autobahn for access into central Munich.
If you’re going to another part of the city you may need to use the A99 ring road, see the map below.
Note that to go right into central Munich – beyond the Mittlerer Ring road, your vehicle has to have a valid red, green or yellow sticker indicating the car's carbon output.

EASY ACCESS: This map shows the major Autobahn routes around Munich, including the A92, which links to the airport. Pic: CC Wikimedia

Parking

There is a long-term parking zone opposite Terminal 1 and more parking zones near Terminal 2 and the Visitors’ Park.
See here for more details about parking at Munich airport.

Contact details

Website (in English) www.munich-airport.de

Phone numbers

Medical center/emergency service 089 97 56 33 44
Flight information 089 97 52 13 13

Terminal 1 lost and found 089 97 52 13 70
Terminal 1 service center 089 97 52 13 75

Terminal 2 lost and found 089 97 52 28 70
Terminal 2 service center 089 97 52 28 75

Here’s a map of Munich Airport with a key listing important points in German. Click on the map for a larger version.

As you can see the airport is close to Freising, a town with a history older than Munich itself.
This map also shows the planned Terminal 3 to the north of the two existing runways.

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