Navigating the Hauptbahnhof / central station

Hi, this is my first post. I've tried a search and have not been successful, so forgive this most basic of questions.

I will be traveling with my wife and three young boys (2, 5,7) by train from Frankfurt, and we are unfamiliar with Munich. We will need to get from our train to the sbahn/ubahn platforms very quickly because of time commitments later the day we arrive. My wife and I will each have a backpack; I'll have another bulky but light bag. the youngest will be in a stroller.

My question is pretty simple: what's the fastest way to the sbahn/ubahn platforms? If I have to transfer to U6 at Marienplatz, northbound, should I take a UBahn to Marienplatz, or would an SBahn work just as well?

Thanks for your patience.

Go straight out from the trains. Stop at the ticket machine and get a partner tages karte. Continue straight and down the escalators until you get to the bottom. Turn right and go to the U4/5 and stamp your ticket on the way. Go down the escalator and take the train on the left to Odeonsplatz. There you can switch over to the U6.

Since you have to change platforms twice anyways, I would rather recommend you take the S-Bahn to Marienplatz, a better station to change trains than Odeonsplatz (granted, there's construction going on at Marienplatz, but usually you'll have a way better opportunity to get into the train with all the luggage and the stroller, especially if you walk towards the middle/end of Marienplatz platform - (my personal opinion) - Also, S-Bahn trains to Marienplatz usually depart Hauptbahnhof more often than U4/U5 U-Bahn trains.)

So here we go.

Munich Hauptbahnhof is a dead-end station. So, as soon as you get off the train, walk with the crowd and then head left to the S-Bahn platforms. Walk down the stairs/escalators and you will face a couple of ticket vending machines. Walk towards those and look right. There are huge TFT monitors showing the next trains to depart (if they are not out of order, again...). Go down the escalators by these monitors and you are at the S-Bahn.

To Marienplatz, take any S-Bahn train heading in the direction of Ostbahnhof.

Once you arrive at Marienplatz, exit the train on the right hand side (hehe) and take yet another escalator down.

Northbound trains will depart on the platform to your right, make sure you catch a U6 train (blue line) to Garching-Hochbrück or Kieferngarten since some peak hour trains terminate at Münchner Freiheit (However, if you intend to exit the train at Odeonsplatz, Universität or Giselastraße, that should be ok with you / Though to Odeonsplatz there's also a direct connection via U4/U5 - as eurovol pointed out earlier)

As for tickets, if you have to go back and forth a lot using the U-Bahn you might want to consider purchasing a "Partner-Tageskarte-Innenraum." (except you are going all the way to Garching-Hochbrück which is "Außenraum") There are 1-day and 3-day tickets available. Take whichever fits your needs.

If you only have to make the trip to your destination and back to the Hauptbahnhof, get a Streifenkarte (stripe ticket). - Since 2 of your boys will ride for free (under age 6), use half of the ticket (5 stripes: 2+2+1) - that will take you all the way to your destination.

Find ticket and pricing info at the MVG site

Have a nice stay in Munich,

Herzlichst,
Tobi

Just a quickie - if you're actually going to Garching or the institutes, you can buy an XXL Partner Tageskarte rahter than an aussenraum ticket. The bus to take all the way out to the institutes from GH is 291, although if you just want to get to Garching the 290 will also work (get off at rathausplatz)

Listen to Eurovol he lives right exactly in the direction you need to go. I took by coincidence wise the same plan it will only take a few minutes to connect to the U6 if you follow his plan. The only thing I can add is when you get off to the U6 look for the sign that says U6 Allianz Arena that is the one you want it should only be less than a 5 min walk to that train. Good luck and enjoy Munich.

Thanks, everyone...I have a better sense of the station and realize now that there's more than one option to get to U6...I have the subway plan, but hadn't even noticed the U4 line. I'm assuming that Odeonsplatz is an easier connection to manage than Marienplatz to go northbound on the u6.

Anyway, thanks!

I'd say the connection from U4/U5 onto U3/U6 at Odeonsplatz is only slightly easier than from S-Bahn to U3/U6 at Marienplatz. If you do decide to take the U4/U5 from Hbf then turn right at the main concourse out of the Hbf (i.e. opposite direction from S-Bahn). If you have time at Hbf U station walk to the front of the train, as at Odeonsplatz you need to walk to the end of the platform at the front of the train to reach the U6

If you have the 'city ticket', it allows you to travel with the same DB ticket (Frankfurt-Mch) to your destination in Munich on the day of arrival in Mch with the S-Bahn or U-Bahn. No need to buy any other ticket. Check your DB-ticket, if is says 'city ticket'. I hope I have saved you that much.. then donate half your savings to..

ah, seeking beat me to it. check your FRA-MU ticket to see if there is the "city" option on it then no need to buy another ticket w/in munich.

Absolutely. Odeonsplatz is much smaller and there's no construction work.

I have to disagree with that.

Have you ever tried to get on a U6 train on Odeonsplatz during peak hours? - With 3 kids, 2 backpacks and a stroller, that is? - Good luck with that.

Nah, since Marienplatz is the stop where the train almost completely empties and fills again (thus stops way longer), I still regard it as the better option, especially if you walk up to the middle or end of the platform (towards Marienhof exit).

Outside peak hours, it won't matter anyways.

Yours,
Tobi

Who says they're arriving during peak hours? Anyway, I'd take Odeonsplatz over Marienplatz every time. In fact, I try to avoid Marienplatz because of the construction work and the crowds ANY TIME of day.

I agree with Eurovol and Verbatim , avoid Marienplatz unless you're a local...Marienplatz can confuse the hell out of tourists...

I would prefer Odeonsplatz to Marienplatz, given my reputation, seriously.

Exactly, Marienplatz is a disaster if you don't know what you are doing and are dragging luggage and kids. I know locals that have gotten on the Sbahn in the wrong direction because it is just that confusing. Remember, if it is rush hour at Odeonsplatz, it is 10 times as much at Marienplatz. The way I described also has elevators at both ends of your U4/5 trip and the way is marked much better for someone who hasn't been there before. I have done all three from the Hbf: SBahn, Odeonsplatz and Sendlingertor to get to the U6 and Odeonsplatz is by far the easiest and fastest.

I was there yesterday at Oplatz during the rush and it was still much better. Besides as soon as you get off there is the U6 sign leading you around the corner and boom you are on the U6. Well forget it i am just beating a dead horse ...I been through the desert on a horse with no name...

Who says they're not?

Anyways,
I will give in to the general opinion.
For what it's worth, take U4/U5, then U6.

Cheers,
Tobi

sorry for not being more clear in my original post...we're arriving at about 12:18. Our train actually originates in Langen, just south of Frankfurt. I'll have to check on the city part of the ticket...it would be a relief not to have to deal with the ticket machines right away (though I realize the machines are actually pretty simple to use...)

I have to say I've enjoyed reading all the posts, even with the disagreements! Everyone's attempt to be helpful has been encouraging.

you most probably have the city option on your ticket because munich particpates in the city ticket promotion. good thing is, you don't need any tickets to get to your friends house in munich & when you go back to get the train home.

that's funny! the machines are a catastrophe if you don't know any german. hell, i even know german and i have to think it through sometimes. the system in munich is confusing as hell. every now and again TT starts discussing tihs & it ain't pretty!

For what it's worth, I favour the "change at Odeonsplatz" option for the reasons already mentioned by others.

Hello, everyone...thanks again for the help with directions through the Munich s/u system...we made the change at odeonsplatz about 2pm on June 14 and it went very well...not too crowded, our luggage didn't get in anyone's way, and we got where we needed to go in plenty of time. The children especially enjoyed all the activity moving from the express train from Frankfurt down to the S train stop and onward...

Thanks again...

I thought that the DB changed the cityplan offer to only tickets purchased with DB cards.

@or
Glad to hear it went well.