Where to Stay in Munich: Altstadt, Maxvorstadt, Schwabing or Haidhausen?

Stay in the Altstadt for a first trip and the sights on foot. Pick Maxvorstadt if museums matter most, Schwabing for a base by the Englischer Garten, Haidhausen for a residential feel across the Isar, and the streets south of the Hauptbahnhof for early trains and a lower budget. The Altstadt is named by all 17 guides Roam Munich read, in English, German, French and Spanish. Maxvorstadt comes up in 16, and Schwabing, Ludwigsvorstadt and Haidhausen in 15 each.

The areas below follow how many guides name them. No hotel prices are printed and no hotel is named, because none has been checked against its own page. Rooms for your dates are on the Stay22 booking map, and the map shows what’s around each area. What’s on while you’re there is on the events page and the live music page.

The short list

Altstadt

Recommended by 17 of 17 guides read.

The old town is the answer nearly every guide gives for a first visit, mostly for one reason: you can walk to everything. Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche, the Viktualienmarkt and the Residenz are all inside it. Most guides add that it costs more than other districts and is the most touristy part, and a few mention terrace noise on summer evenings.

Marienplatz is a stop for the U3, U6 and every S-Bahn line, according to MVG, so the airport and the other districts are one ride away. See the Altstadt guide and things to do in Munich. Four guides treat the quieter, more residential Lehel on the eastern edge as a separate choice. See the Lehel guide.

Maxvorstadt

Recommended by 16 of 17 guides read.

The museum quarter, with the Pinakotheken and the university streets. The guides give it to museum visitors and to anyone who wants to be central without paying old-town rates. Several say it’s lively without being rowdy. Two warn that few restaurants stay open late. It’s also a short walk from the Hauptbahnhof. See the Maxvorstadt guide.

Schwabing

Recommended by 15 of 17 guides read.

North of the centre along Leopoldstraße, next to the Englischer Garten. The guides call it bohemian, green and a bit upscale, and they suggest it to couples, repeat visitors and families. Several warn that the old town is a longer trip than it looks on the map, with a U-Bahn ride the usual answer, and two say the prices aren’t much lower than in the centre. See the Schwabing guide.

Ludwigsvorstadt and the Hauptbahnhof

Recommended by 15 of 17 guides read.

South of the station, and the area the guides give to Oktoberfest visitors, early departures and tighter budgets. It’s also the only central area some guides say has hostels. Six guides warn about the streets right around the station, mostly the north side after dark, and two add that you shouldn’t book a room there without looking at the exact address. One advises staying toward the Theresienwiese instead. See the Ludwigsvorstadt guide.

The station is also the practical reason to stay near it. MVG says all S-Bahn lines, several tram lines and the U1, U2, U4 and U5 stop at the Hauptbahnhof. The airport’s own page says the S1 and S8 link the airport with the city and that the ride to the Hauptbahnhof takes about 40 minutes. S-Bahn München sends the S1 through the west of the city and the S8 through the east, with a train about every 10 minutes between them.

Au-Haidhausen

Recommended by 15 of 17 guides read.

East of the Isar, with squares, wine bars and the riverside. Most guides send families, couples and anyone who wants to be away from the crowds here. The guides disagree on nightlife. Two point to late clubs, and four call it residential and low-key. Three warn that it has fewer hotels, and two that the walk to Marienplatz is longer than it looks. See the Au-Haidhausen guide.

Neuhausen-Nymphenburg

Recommended by 6 of 17 guides read.

The west side, built around the Nymphenburg palace and its gardens. Guides give it to families and anyone who wants space and green. They also say it has fewer hotels and is far from the centre. See the Nymphenburg guide.

Glockenbachviertel

Recommended by 5 of 17 guides read.

South of the old town, around Gärtnerplatz. Five guides give it to nightlife, independent restaurants and an LGBTQ+ scene, and two warn that street-facing rooms are loud on weekends. It sits in Isarvorstadt, so see the Isarvorstadt guide.

Less common picks

Sendling and Giesing (3 guides) come up for travellers on a budget who don’t mind the ride in, and Bogenhausen (2) for upscale hotels in a large district where it matters which part you choose.

Oktoberfest and busy weeks

The guides agree that prices jump during Oktoberfest and trade fairs. The official Oktoberfest FAQ says hotels near the grounds are usually fully booked months before the start and that a room in the centre is difficult but not impossible, so the sooner you book the better. The festival ground sits in Ludwigsvorstadt, which is why guides give that area for it. See the Oktoberfest guide.

Which area to pick

• First trip, short stay: Altstadt.
• Museums and a calmer evening: Maxvorstadt.
• Parks and cafés: Schwabing.
• Early train, Oktoberfest or a tighter budget: Ludwigsvorstadt, away from the north side of the station.
• A local feel across the river: Au-Haidhausen.
• Nights out at your door: Glockenbachviertel.

To plan the trip around it, see things to do in Munich, where to eat in Munich, day trips from Munich and Munich travel tips. All the neighbourhoods are on the neighbourhoods page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best area to stay in Munich for a first visit?

The Altstadt. All 17 guides read name it, and they give it for sights on foot. Most add that it costs more.

Is it a good idea to stay near the Hauptbahnhof?

South of it, in Ludwigsvorstadt, yes for early trains and Oktoberfest. Six guides warn about the streets right around the station, so check the address.

Where should you stay in Munich for Oktoberfest?

Ludwigsvorstadt is the area guides name for it. The festival’s own site says hotels near the grounds are booked months ahead and a room in the centre is hard to get.

How do you get from Munich Airport to the city?

The S1 and S8. The airport says the trip to the Hauptbahnhof takes about 40 minutes.

Places in this guide

Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.

Residenzmuseum Altstadt Photo: Allie_Caulfield Neue Pinakothek Maxvorstadt Photo: Allie_Caulfield Chinesischer Turm Schwabing Photo: digital cat Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum Ludwigsvorstadt Photo: Fred Romero Museum Villa Stuck Au-Haidhausen Photo: Fred Romero Marstallmuseum Nymphenburg Photo: Fred Romero Haus der Kunst Lehel Photo: Fred Romero Deutsches Museum Isarvorstadt Photo: Fred Romero