Travel to Munich
ORIENTATION
Munich’s center is a circle split into four quarters by one horizontal and one vertical line. The east-west and north-south thoroughfares cross at Munich’s epicenter, the Marienplatz, and connect the traffic rings at Karlsplatz (called Sta-chus by locals) in the west, Isartorplatz in the east, Odeonsplatz in the north, and Sendlinger Tor in the south. In the east beyond the Isartor, the Isar River flows north-south past the city center. The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is just beyond Karlspl. to the west of the Ring. To get to Marienpl. from the station, use the main exit and head across Bahnhofpl.; keep going east through Karlspl. and Marienpl. will be straight ahead. Or, take any S-Bahn to Marienpl.
The University is north of Munich’s center, next to the budget restaurants of the Schwabing district. East of Schwabing is the English Garden; west of Schwabing is the Olympiapark. South of town is the Glockenbachviertel, filled with all sorts of night hotspots, including many gay bars. The area around the train station is rather seedy, dominated by hotels and sex shops. Oktoberfest is held on the large, open Theresienwiese, southeast of the train station on the U4 and 5 lines.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Several publications help visitors navigate Munich. The most comprehensive is the monthly English-language Munich Found (3), available at newsstands and bookshops, which provides a list of services, events, and museums.
TOURIST, FINANCIAL, AND LOCAL SERVICES
EurAide (59 38 89), along track 11 (room 3) of the Hauptbahnhof, near the Bayerstr. exit. Books train tickets for free, explains the public transport, and sells maps (1) and tickets for English tours of Munich. Pick up the free brochure Inside Track. Open June-Sept. daily 7:45am-12:45pm and 2-6pm; May 7:45am-12:45pm and 2-4:30pm; Oct. 7:45am-12:45pm and 2-4pm; Nov.-Apr. 8am-noon and l-4pm.
Main Tourist Office: ( 23 39 65 00), on the front (east) side of the train station, next to the SB-Markt on Bahnhofpl. Books rooms for free with a 10-15% deposit, sells English city maps (0.30), and offers the Munich Welcome Card. Open M-Sa 9:30am-6:30pm, Su 10am-6pm. Branch office just inside the entrance to the Neues Rathaus on Marienpl. Open M-F 10am-8pm, Sa 10am-4pm.
Discover Bavaria (25 54 39 88), Hochoruckenstr. near the rear entrance of the Hof-brauhaus. Helps find rooms for free, rents bikes, and dispenses coupons for a variety of activities. Also sells tickets for the hugely popular Mike’s Bike Tours of Munich, Neus-chwanstein, and Dachau. Open Apr.-Sept. daily 8:30am-9pm.
Consulates: Canada, Tal 29 (219 95 70). Open M-Th 9am-noon and 2-5pm, F 9am-noon and 2-3:30pm. Ireland, Dennigerstr. 15 (m20 80 59 90). Open M-F 9am-noon. South Africa, Sendlinger-Tor-PI. 5 (23 11 63 37). Open M-F9am-noon. UK, Burklein-str. 10, 4th fl. (b21 10 90). Open M-F 8:30am-noon and l-3pm. US, Koniginstr. 5 (288 80). Open M-F 8-1 lam.
Currency Exchange: ReiseBank, in front of the train station on Bahnhofpl. Open M-Sa 7:30am-7:15pm, Su 9:30am-4:45pm.
Bi-Gay-Lesbian Resources: Gay services information (ra260 30 56). Lesbian information (725 42 72). Phone staffed M and W 2:30-5pm, Tu 10:30am-lpm, Th 7-9pm. Also see Gay and Lesbian Munich (502).
Laundromat: SB Waschcenter, Paul-Heyse-Str. 21, near the train station. Turn right on Bayerstr. then left on Paul-Heyse-Str. Wash 4, dry 0.60 per lOmin. Open daily 7am-11pm. Kingsgard Waschsalon, Amalienstr. 61, near the university. Wash 3, dry 1.50. Open M-F 8am-6:30pm, Sa 9am-lpm.
