Monat: Juni 2019

Munich Hotel Review – The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham)

Munich Hotel Review - The Super 8 Munich West (by Wyndham)

Is the Super 8 Munich-West (by Wyndham) a good choice? Find it out here in my hotel review.

I had the opportunity to test a standard room (double) for one night, including breakfast. Read on the following hotel review to see what I experienced in the Super 8 Munich-West.

Location

The Hotel is located in Munich’s Laim district, about 5 kilometres (~3 miles) from the city centre (Marienplatz). The Super 8 is situated about 200 metres (~220 yrd.) from Laim urban rail station where nearly all Munich S-Bahn lines stop.

Laimer Tunnel Munich

On the picture, the hotel is a few steps to the right. Above the tunnel, the S-Bahn station “Laim” is located. Right next to the station, you can find a steak-restaurant, a starbucks-style coffeeshop and two supermarkets (ALDI, REWE) reachable through the tunnel. From Laim stations it’s just one station to “Pasing”. There many regional and also national trains stop, so it is ideal to make a daytrip.

The hotel is quite new and it’s location is great, especially for travellers coming to Munich for business, people trying to get a good middle class hotel for a rather low rate and budget travellers.

Super 8 Munich West entrance

The entrance can’t be missed and is easy to find in Landsberger Street in Munich’s Laim district. Of course I have to mention Laim district isn’t a district known for its nightlife or specific quarter-culture. Laim was a worker’s district and is primarily used as residential area. You’ll hardly find fancy coffeeshops or hip bars in the quarter around the hotel. Also the Landsberger Street is one of Munich’s main arterial roads leading to the city centre, which is great for people coming with their own car or rental for a stopover or using the hotel as a basecamp for daytrips.

View from the lobby of Super 8 Munich West
Super 8 Munich-West lounge

Lobby and Lounge

When you enter the Super 8 Munich-West you will find a small but very nice designed lobby or lounge, the reception and a small snack shop/café where you can have a bite and a hot or cold beverage. I liked the design and how they managed to produced a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Right next to the reception there is the breakfast room and the elevator. This hotel has 6 floors where the rooms are located.

Super 8 Munich West corridor
Super 8 Munich West corridor with rooms

The floors can be accessed with your room-keycard. Just scan your keycard inside the elevator and press your floor number. I realized it is only possible to choose the floor where your room is located (or the lobby). So if you’re a group and you have different rooms on different floors, you have to walk the stairs to see your fellow travellers, as the elevator won’t allow you to go to a different floor.

Super 8 Munich-West room
Super 8 Munich-West bed and wall
Super 8 Munich-West table

Rooms

The room I got was quite nice. It had twin beds (pushed together, so it was actually a king-size-bed), a really nice photo wall showing Munich’s Siegestor (Victory Gate) in Schwabing district. Right next to the bed in front of the window stood a table with chair and a bench for luggage.

I had a street-view room on the first floor, which I do not recommend for those in need of an open window during the night. As said, Landsberger Street is a major arterial road to the city center and with lot’s of traffic. When the window is closed, it’s very quiet. The architects did a good job to to put in anti-noise windows. Fortunately it was a calm sunday, so there was much lesser traffic than during the week.

Super 8 Munich West view from a room

The Bathroom was very good. It had everything I needed. A nice, quite big shower, towels, shampoo/shower gel and hand soap. It is also big enough to fit two people, at least when one of them is taking a shower.

All was very clean. The cleaning staff did a very professional job. Only downside is the toilet, as there is no extra door to have some privacy. Also the bathroom has a huge frosted glass wall in the shower which is nice to have daylight also in the bathroom, but reduces the privacy again.

Super 8 Munich-West bathroom detail
Super 8 Munich-West bathroom shower
Super 8 Munich-West bathroom

Room Equipment

The room was also equipped with a telephone, a hair dryer, a safe, a wardrobe, air condition and a flat smart-TV. I also liked the hall with the wardrobe, as there were collapsible shelfes right next to the long mirror. Unfortunately a closet was missing. Therefore a longer stay could get a bit annoying living out of your luggage.

WiFi is free of charge in the entire hotel. The flat-TV was the hotspot, meaning every room has it’s own WiFi hotspot and therefore a very good connection. A very smart idea in my opinion. Unluckily the safe is quite tiny. It is not possible to lock a laptop or a tablet, but it will work really fine for wallets, passports, jewellery, smartphones etc..

An iron was missing as well as a kettle or other tea/coffee making facilities. When I read through the information of the hotel, I saw it is possible to borrow an iron or a kettle from the reception for a deposit of 20 EUR (ca. 23 USD, 17 GBP). That’s nice they offer this.

I also liked the smart-TV. Through the TV you can access all hotel based information but also watch TV (also some English programmes, mainly news channels like BBC or CNN) or even surf the internet. The Welcome-screen also has a “Discover Munich” site, but unfortunately there was no content on this site. I hope they will soon add content.

Super 8 Munich-West room entrance
Super 8 Munich-West TV welcome screen
Super 8 Munich-West in-room safe

I slept very well in the bed and had a nice warm shower before heading down to the breakfast room. When you check in and opt for breakfast (9 EUR/person; ca. 10 USD, 8 GBP) you will be given credit-card sized vouchers. These you have to hand over to the breakfast staff. This system was quite new for me, but everything worked out as described.

Breakfast

The breakfast room was quite huge. I didn’t expect such a big buffet-style breakfast in a budget-hotel. There were lots of things to choose from and start your day either with a continental breakfast or an English/American breakfast. Breakfast is available between 6:30 am and 10 am (11 am on weekends).

Ham, sausages, eggs, baked beans, toast, frankfurters, Bavarian white sausages, cold cuts and different types of cheese were on the savoury side while on the sweet side you could choose from different jams, nutella, honey, fruit salad, yoghurts, chocolate croissants, warm belgian waffles and more. But my favourite was the fact you could mix your own yoghurt. You could take plain yoghurt and add different cereals as well as jam or three types of fresh fruit puree (white peach, mango and strawberry). This is something I never saw in a budget or business hotel. Thumbs up!

All in all the breakfast flashed me a bit. It’s very seldom to see such a huge variety of different breakfast items. Also the staff on duty was extremely friendly and helpful and did a very good job. Only one minor thing is to improve. There are just two coffee machines. So during the breakfast rush hour between 7 am and 9 am, you will sometimes have to wait in qeue with 5 people in front of you waiting for the machine to produce coffee, cappucino or other coffee varieties.

Super 8 Munich-West live kitchen
Super 8 Munich-West breakfast tables
Super 8 Munich-West coffee machines
Breakfast at Super 8 Munich West

Conclusion

The stay at Super 8 Munich-West was really nice. Especially the breakfast was outstanding. I would recommend this hotel to business travellers, travellers looking for a fair price and those who do not necessarily need to stay in the city centre.

As the urban rail station Laim is just around the corner, it is very convenient to take the S-Bahn to the city center (ca. 10 minute ride with the S-Bahn). Also Laim station is very convenient for travellers heading from or to Munich International airport.

Very convenient is also the fact you have to check out by noon, which is quite late compared to other hotels where check out is at 11 am or even 10:30 am.

Do you have any thoughts you want to share? Contact me via Email or WhatsApp (see footer).

Ratings

TheSuper 8 Munich-West has very good ratings throughout the Internet:

Google: 4.1 (of 5)
Booking: 8.3 (of 10) “very good”
tripadvisor: 4.0 (of 5) “very good”
Holidaycheck: 4,4 (of 6)
Expedia: 4.1 (of 5) “very good”
trivago: 8.2 (of 10) “very good”
Agoda: 8.3 (of 10) “Fantastic”

Andy’s Munich Tours Rating:

Public transport connection?

4.5/5

Hotel facilities

3/5

Staff (friendly? helpful?)

4.5/5

Cleanliness

5/5

Airport-connection (Munich Intl. Airport)

4/5

Room size

3/5

Breakfast

4.5/5

Value for money

4.5/5
Overall rating
4/5

The best time to visit Munich

The best time to visit Munich

When is the best time to visit Munich? Whenever you go to a destination abroad where you’ve never been before, you will ask yourself: When should I go there? Are there “good” or “bad” months? Of course every city looks far better on a nice sunny day than in heavy rain. There are only a few places in the world where it doesn’t matter when to go, as the weather conditions are always perfect. Unfortunately, Munich is not such a place. Also hotel prices vary throughout the seasons. Here I will tell you about the best months of the year when you should visit Munich, and of course when you should avoid visiting Munich.

January

Until around January 6th, there is still the “Christmas High Season” going on in Munich. January 6th is a National Holiday (Epiphany) and most Germans enjoy the last days of their Christmas holidays. People go skiing to the Alps, enjoy a winter walk through Munich’s parks and woods and try to digest the masses of food eaten from Christmas to New Year’s Day. But generally after New Year’s Day everything settles.

After January 6th all people go back to work and the extreme low season in Munich begins. January is also the kick-off of the “real winter” in Munich. It is getting quite cold, it might be snowing or have slushy rain and everything is freezing around 0°C (32°F).

My recommendation: In January you can enjoy the winter feeling. If you like to take a walk in the fresh icey air, visit a few museums and try different beer halls, January might be a bargain month for you.

Average sunshine hours (2 hrs.):

Daylight max. (8:30hrs – 9:15hrs):

Temperature range (3°C/37.5°F to -2°C/28.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

1/5
1/5
1/5
1/5
1/5
2/5
1/5

February

Surprisingly, this is the month where it gets really icey in Munich. Late January until mid February is in my opinion the worst season to visit Munich. The sky is usually cloudy or overcast and often temperatures do not rise over 0°C (32°F). You can sometimes encounter significant amounts of snow. This time of the year is the “real winter” in Munich.
The only thing that brings people out is Fasching (carnival) where usually some parties with people dressed in carnival costumes take place. February is also the ultra high season for catching a cold or even the flu. In February there is also the Munich Fashion Week, which additionally brings some tourists to Munich.

My recommendation: February ist the month to avoid for a Munich trip. It’s cold outside and the chance to catch a cold is high. Sightseeing is limited to museums and indoor things as long as you don’t want to bring your extra thick clothes, heated boots and skiing gloves.

Average sunshine hours (1 hrs.):

Daylight max. (9:30hrs – 11:00hrs):

Temperature range (5°C/41°F to -3°C/26.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

0.5/5
1.5/5
1/5
1.5/5
1/5
2/5
1/5

March

During March, every citizen of Munich awaits spring. But often winter won’t go and it still stays cold, especially during the night. Snow can still fall in the first weeks of March, but it won’t stay long. After Fasching (carnival) the Starkbierzeit (strong beer season) begins in Munich. This brings the first boost to tourism in Munich, as the different brewery festivals, known as Starkbierfest get more and more popular with tourists from abroad. But March can also be the first month of spring, depending on the weather conditions. When there is a dry period or days with a warm wind from the south (called “Föhn”), you may have luck to enjoy a drink in a beer garden. The temperatures then may rise up to 15°C/59°F.

My recommendation: March can be an ideal month for a trip to Munich, but only if the weather conditions are good. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, especially the daily temperature and be quite spontaneus booking a flight and a hotel in Munich.

Average sunshine hours (3 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (9.5°C/49°F to -0°C/32°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

1/5
2/5
2/5
2/5
2/5
2.5/5
1.5/5

April

April in Munich is usually the month in Munich, where the weather conditions bend between winter and spring. In the last years we saw either a really nice spring rollout or a city still freezing and craving for sun. April is therefore not really predictable. The foodies love April as it is also the beginning of the asparagus season in Bavaria. In case you didn’t know, Bavaria is famous for its white asparagus and every year the same hype sets off. You’ll hardly find restaurants in Munich not offering asparagus (soup, plain, salad, and every meal you can imagine).

My recommendation: In late April chances are higher to get a spring feeling with warmer days and longer daylight. Sightseeing is not limited anymore and you can also find the first festivals of the year like the Auer Dult (late April), the Frühlingsfest (spring festival, late April) and Easter celebrations (beginning to late April, depending on the year). Try to avoid the Easter-weekend as this brings quite a lot of tourists to Munich, mainly from Germany and the neighbouring countries. This tourism-boost will be even stronger when the weather is fine on that weekend.

Average sunshine hours (5 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (13.5°C/56°F to 3°C/37.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

2/5
3/5
2.5/5
3/5
2.5/5
3/5
2/5

May

May is usually the first month of the year where it is possible to do all kinds of outdoor activities. Often the weather conditions are good and temperatures are perfect. In the last years we could also see the first heat wave in May bringing the temperatures up to 25°C/77°F. Unfortunately these heat waves come and go quickly, which stresses your body. It’s normal during such a period that the temparture may rise from around 10°C/50°F to 25°C/77°F. This is an increase of 15°C/27°F sometimes within 24 hours!

The good side is the clear sky, and the summer feeling. May can therefore feel (at least during a heat wave) like summer but with lower hotel prices.

During May many flowers are in full bloom, so you won’t get disappointed when taking photos.

My recommendation:
May is a perfect month for traveling to Munich. Beer gardens are open, in and outdoor sightseing is possible and it can feel like summer when the weather conditions are good.

Average sunshine hours (4 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (19°C/66°F to 8°C/46.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

2.5/5
3.5/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
2.5/5

June

June is a very good month for a trip to Munich. During June, you will have daylight from about 5 am to 10 pm which gives you the opportunity not only to do sightseeing and daytrips but you can also enjoy an evening in the beer garden or see the sunset in a rooftop bar. The weather is usually quite stable and temperatures are really ok. Sometimes, June also brings hot summer temperatures and heat waves up to 30°C/86°F for a couple of days. The chance of (severe) thunderstorms rises with the temperatures.

End of May or beginning June is also the rollout for the tourism-high-season in Munich starting with Pentecost/Whitsunday. Most Europeans do have a two weeks break around Pentecost, so you will find quite a lot of tourists (usually Germans and Europeans) in Munich.

My recommendation: June is an ideal month to do sightseeing in the city. It’s often warm, but usually not too hot. The city is not packed with tourists yet and if you decide to explore the city in depth you can really feel like a local. In my opinion, June is the best month to visit Munich.

Average sunshine hours (4 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (22°C/72°F to 11°C/52°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

2.6/5
5/5
3.5/5
3.5/5
4/5
3.5/5
3/5

July

July is the month in Munich where you see a big boost in tourism. Tourists everywhere. Especially after July 4th, you will encounter lot’s of guests from the USA, but also China, Russia and Arabic countries. In July the city feels fuller and fuller. Especially towards the end of July this feeling intensifies, as all European countries, but also the USA, are on holiday. Munich is a popular destination, as day trips to the Alps or Austria can also be made from here. The weather in July is mostly stable and there are only few rainy days. In Munich July is actually the real summer month. Everything is open, you can enjoy the beer gardens and cafés, go hiking, go sightseeing by bike or just spend the day at one of the lakes.

My recommendation: A warm, sunny day in July offers countless possibilities. I would start the day with a nice Bavarian breakfast and then do a sightseeing tour on foot through the city. Afterwards I would get a coffee or a refreshing beverage and watch the surfers at the Eisbach creek. In the evening I would go to a beer garden and enjoy the atmosphere.

Average sunshine hours (6 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (24°C/75°F to 13°C/55.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

5/5
5/5
5/5
4/5
5/5
4/5
4/5

August

You’d think August would be the real summer month. In Munich this is unfortunately only true to a limited extent. The first part of the month is as warm as July and it feels like summer. From August 15th, however, one often has the feeling that autumn is already in the preparations. In the morning you will open the window and breathe in cool, fresh air. In the evening, it quickly gets cooler again, even if it was a nice, sunny and warm day. Also the number of rainy days rises in comparison to July. Nevertheless August is a month in which still a large number of tourists from all over the world visit Munich. Therefore the city still feels very full. You can experience the same things as in July, e.g. going to the beer garden, day trips or sightseeing.

My recommendation: August is an ideal month for excursions to the Bavarian lakes or the Alps. Especially from mid August on, you can often enjoy a great view from the alpine peaks. If you always wanted to hike in the Alps, you should do it now. The weather is mostly stable, and the probability of thunderstorms decreases compared to the previous month.
Also the number of tourists in the city decreases, albeit slowly.

Average sunshine hours (6 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (24°C/75°F to 12.5°C/54.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

5/5
5/5
5/5
3.5/5
5/5
4/5
3.5/5

September

September in Munich is divided. At the beginning of September the number of tourists drops quite strongly, since most European holidays end. Munich then has a short off-season. From mid-September the numbers will rise again, as the Oktoberfest is imminent. Oktoberfest usually begins every year between September 20th and 25th. It usually ends around October 3rd.
At the latest with the beginning of the Oktoberfest the city is fully booked. Those who need a hotel room now, pay either a lot of money (hotels sometimes triple the prices) or accept the fact to accomodate, far outside of the city.

If you are one of those visitors who don’t necessarily need to come for Oktoberfest or prefer to experience a quiet, not overcrowded city, then I recommend either to avoid September completely or at least to visit Munich between the last days of August and September 15th.

Interestingly, the weather conditions during Oktoberfest are often quite good. It is often sunny, but you will feel that summer has come to an end and autumn is near. You will definitely need a jacket in the evening and the leaves on the trees begin to change their colour to yellow, red and brown.

My recommendation: Oktoberfest of course :-). But you can also enjoy hiking in a landscape with changing coulours. This produces stunning views and picture worthy scenes to enjoy. The beer gardens are still open and it is a great feeling to sit in the warm evening sun having a drink and a bite. It is also a great time to see Munich off the beaten path while having a walking tour through the city.

Average sunshine hours (5 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (18.5°C/65°F to 8.5°C/47°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

4/5
4/5
3/5
5/5
4/5
5/5
5/5

October

After the first week of October, tourism in Munich calms down quite quickly. October is therefore the month in which you won’t see tourist masses anymore. Everything becomes less hectic and a bit of cosiness returns. Unfortunately, October also shows that summer is finally over and that nature is slowly preparing for winter. The leaves fall and the sunny days are no longer particularly warm. It also gets dark quite early, so that in the evening hours of the day you can only do limited sightseeing. Also the beer gardens close for the winter season. The weather conditions change significantly. There are a lot more days with rain. In late October there is also a chance to see the first snow. Anyway, October can be a bargain month as the hotel prices cool down after the Oktoberfest peak.

My recommendation: Shortly after Oktoberfest, the city comes to rest. The weather conditions can still be quite good and it is possible to see the so called “golden autumn” (indian summer) in Munich. So October 5th to 15th can be a great time for visiting Munich, but check the weather conditions before booking your trip.

Average sunshine hours (4 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (14°C/57°F to 5°C/41°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

2.5/5
3/5
2.5/5
3/5
3.5/5
3.5/5
3/5

November

In my opinion, November is the worst month for a visit to Munich. The weather is usually cloudy and rainy. In addition there are relatively low temperatures, so sightseeing outside is only possible with winter clothes. Basically, it is difficult to pursue any outdoor activities. Of course, it is still possible to go hiking in the Alps on a nice day, but you should be aware that in the mountains an onset of winter may have already taken place.

There are only a few tourists in the city and also most of the citizens are working as it is not worth to use up days of vacation for such unpleasant conditions. The best things in November are the stunning sunsets (quite early). The foggy and partially cloudy air produces nice red, yellow and golden colours and you can feel the winter season in the fresh rainy air.

My recommendation: Try to avoid visiting Munich in November. The Christmas Markets are not open yet, the weather conditions are usually bad and it is quite cold. Sightseeing is actually limited to indoor things like museums or galleries. November isn’t a good month to visit Munich.

Average sunshine hours (3 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (6,5°C/44°F to -0°C/32°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

1/5
1.5/5
2/5
1.5/5
2/5
2/5
2/5

December

For travelers who enjoy Christmas markets and the Christmas season, December is the best time to travel. Around  December 1st, all Christmas markets in the city open their gates. You can see traditional nativity scenes, buy Christmas tree decorations, enjoy mulled wine and gingerbread and be captivated by the Christmas feeling. The whole city gets into a Christmas mood. There aren’t as much tourists in the city as in the boosting summer months, but the number is still high, especially in the two weeks before Christmas. Fascinatingly, the wetaher conditions are often fine and it feels more like autumn than winter. White Christmas in Munich is quite seldom as significant amounts of snow will only fall from late December on until February.

Sightseeing is a bit limited due to the cold temperatures, but lot’s of stalls are offering mulled wine, coffee and hot meals, so you can handle the temperature better. it’s also great fun to do window shopping in the city.

My recommendation: Visit a few Christmas Markets in the city. The main Christmas Market in the city center is quite stunning, but also the tiny ones like in Haidhausen or Pasing district are really nice and can be a contrast to the big one. But try to avoid the inner city on the Advent-Saturdays (four Saturdays before Christmas). The inner city will be overcrowded as lots of tourists and also locals hunting Christmas presents will be there.

Average sunshine hours (2 hrs.):

Daylight max.:

Temperature range (3°C/37.5°F to -3°C/26.5°F):

Tourists in the city (density):

Outdoor activities (walking, cycling, beergardening):

Hotel prices (5 stars = very high):

Stress factor (5 stars = very high):

1/5
0.5/5
1.5/5
4/5
3/5
4/5
4/5

Munich’s drinking water

Munich's drinking water

Get an answer to the question most tourists ask when they visit a city for the first time.

Travelers always have one question, when they arrive in their hotel, hostel or apartment. They ask themselves: “Is the water in this country or region drinkable or do I have to go to the supermarket and buy some bottles of mineral water?”

May I drink water from tap in Munich?

To make things short: Generally yes, but use common sense.

Munich’s water is very clean, so you can drink it. But the tap may be not! So avoid drinking from taps that are not used and cleaned regularly. A water tap in a good rated hotel is ok, but avoid water taps in public restrooms.

Where does Munich's water come from?

Munich’s drinking water comes directly from the alpine foothills near the Austrian border. Actually there are two main regions, where the drinking water for Munich comes from. The „Mangfalltal“ (Valley of River Mangfall), and the Loisachtal (Valley of River Loisach).

About 6.000 litres (1.585 US Gallons) per second are gathered and transferred to Munich via pipelines. In months with a high water demand (summer) this amount can be nearly doubled as there is an additional water reservoir around Munich: The Schotterebene, a huge gravel layer with a big amount of ground water underneath Munich and the greater Munich region.

0
mg/ltr.
Calcium
0
mg/ltr.
Magnesium
0
mg/ltr.
Sodium
0
mg/ltr.
Potassium
0
mg/ltr.
Sulfate
0
mg/ltr.
Chloride
0
mg/ltr.
Nitrate
0
mg/ltr
Hydrogen carbonate

Munich’s drinking water has an extremely high quality. It contains lots of minerals and has ultra low rates of unhealty containings. Above you can see the average amount of minerals you can find in Munich’s water. If you compare these to bottled mineral wateryou can buy in a supermarket, you will see that in Munich actually mineral water comes from tap.

Is chlorine added to Munich's drinking water?

Basically there is no need to add chlorine to Munich’s drinking wateras it has a high quality and is not contaminated by germs or bacteria. It’s also checked routinely by the city’s  municipal works.

Very seldom, usually during longer hot summer periods the city government adds chlorine for a couple of days on a very low level. The water still stays drinkable.

Are there drinking fountains in the inner city?

The situation concerning drinking fountains in Munich is quite complicated. Here I will try to explain all facts about public drinking water fountains in Munich.

First I have to say, there are hundreds of fountains in Munich. But not every fountain is connected to the drinking water pipelines but uses the same water over and over again. According to officials, there are 55 fountains suitable to be used to refill your empty bottle as they are connected to the drinking water system. But at the moment, only 11 of them are officially declared as drinking fountains.

It's all about liability

This beacuse the city doesn’t have the personal and maybe financial ressources to maintain the fountains especially concerning water quality and specific weekly tests. When the city declares a fountain as „drinking fountain“ the city is liable for potential issues related to the water quality.

Where to find the 11 official drinking fountains of Munich:

  • All 8 fountains at Viktualienmarket
  • Kräutlmarktbrunnen at Marienplatz (city centre, right next to the old town hall)
  • Merkurbrunnen in Tal street near Weisses Bräuhaus beer hall
  • Drinking fountain Rindermarkt

The Munich Taxi system – a guide

Munich's Taxi system

Getting around in Munich is easy. The most relaxed and convenient way is using a taxi. But how does the Munich taxi system work and is it expensive to ride in a cab? Find the answers here.

When it comes to the question “how to get from and to the airport/station/my accomodation?” every tourist will ask himself wether using a taxi in an unknown city is a good idea or not. I travelled a few countries and realized, that using taxis is something that tourists do more regularly than citizens and they often have questions like “Are there “good” and “bad” taxi companies?”, “Do they all have the same prices?” and “How is the tariff calculated?”. Here you will find all the answers you need about using a taxi in Munich.

The Taxi companies in Munich

Actually there are more than 1.500 different taxi companies in Munich, but you usually won’t notice a thing, as many of them are consolidated in taxi offices. With about 4.000 Taxis Munich has the highest density of taxis per inhabitant in Germany (2.5 taxis per 1.000 citizens). Even the capital of Germany (Berlin) has a lower density (2.3 taxis per 1.000 citizens).

Taxis waiting

Taxi offices (German: "Taxizentralen")

There are two taxi offices in Munich, which manage nearly all taxis in Munich.

Taxi-München: One of the oldest taxi offices in Germany, founded in 1917. It is a mutual company with about 3.000 members (taxis) and therefore the biggest taxi office in Germany.

IsarFunk: Another big taxi office with lots of members (taxis)

Taxis in Munich

Colour: All taxi cars have to be couloured in the same colour-scheme in Germany (exceptions in a few German states, but not Bavaria). Every taxi has to be painted in “bright ivory”. Actually it looks like cream white or a very bright yellow. 

Advertisements: Some taxis have advertisements on their doors. There is no difference between taxis with or without advertisements, so no worries about that.

Taxi signs: All taxis have a specific yellow/black taxi sign on their roof.

Car brands: taxis are often Mercedes-Benz’s but there is no rule that taxis must be Benz’s. You will also find VWs, BMWs, Chryslers, Toyotas and even Porsches or a Maybach.

Taxis waiting outside Terminal 1 of Munich International Airport

Finding a Taxi in Munich

When you’re in the inner city, you usually won’t have a problem to find a taxi as there are many of them driving around and there are also taxi ranks (cab stands) near main attractions and areas where lot’s of pedestrians are (e.g. rail stations, subway stations and tourist hotspots). But when you’re a bit off in the outskirts, you will have a hard time finding a taxi. There, you usually have to call a taxi office or use a mobile app for ordering a taxi.

Taxi driver

Other Taxi companies in Munich

As mentioned, there are many taxi companies in Munich and most of them are consolidated in the two taxi offices Taxi München e.G. and IsarFunk, but of course it is possible to call the taxi companies directly if you wish. To be honest this is something mostly residents do. As a tourist, I recommend hailing a taxi, or order a taxi through the taxi offices or mobile apps, which is much more convenient.
If you wish to contact the many taxi companies directly, you can search the web for those companies.

Taxi tariffs in Munich

The taxi tariffs in Munich are regulated and supervised by the City of Munich. The taxi tariff is set by a specific taxi tariff decree, therefore you can be sure that every taxi driver will charge you the same price for the same route. Here I will show you the taxi tariffs in Munich (as of Mar 1st 2019):

Type Price in EUR approx. price in USD approx. price in GBP
Base Fare
3.70
4.20
3.20
per kilometre (1-5 km)
2.00
2.25
1.70
per kilometre (6-10 km)
1.80
2.00
1.55
per kilometre (10+ km)
1.70
1.90
1.50
order fee
1.40
1.60
1.20
baggage fee (per bag)
0.70
0.80
0.60
waiting time (per hour)
30.00
34.00
26.00

These fares are programmed into the taximeters every taxi in Munich has. The tariff system seems quite easy, but most citizens will agree that the prices using a taxi are somehow not predictable. This because of the fare per kilometre is added to the waiting time fare. The waiting time fare always takes action, when the taxi doesn’t move. This is the case when the taxi is stopped by a traffic light, traffic jam or similar things. Every minute the taximeter will then add 0.50 EUR (approx. 0.60 USD, 0.40 GBP). Thats 1/60 of 30.00 EUR waiting time fee.

Taxi prices for specific routes in Munich

Here you will find the approximate price for routes in Munich usually tourists will do. Please note these prices are approximate and change due to traffic density, baggage and order fees.

Munich International Airport to Munich Main Station: ~80 EUR (ca. 90 USD, ca. 70 GPB)

Munich International Airport to Munich Trade Fair (Riem): flat fee: 67 EUR (ca. 75 USD, ca. 60 GBP)

Munich Main Station to Munich East Station: ~20 EUR (ca. 23 USD, ca. 18 GBP)

Munich Main Station to Nymphenburg Castle: ~20 EUR (ca. 23 USD, ca. 18 GBP)

Munich Main Station to Munich Trade Fair (Riem): ~30 EUR (ca. 34 USD, ca. 26 GBP)

 

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