Munich U-Bahn

Metro · Munich · Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG)

8 lines · 96 stations · 43 interchanges

Every line drawn through its stations. Tap a line in the legend to hide or show it.

Lines

Quick facts

Operator
MVG operates the U-Bahn, MVV coordinates fares across Munich's transit region.
Payment
Buy in the MVV/MVG app or machines. Validate paper tickets before travel, there are no normal gates.
Munich is an honor-system city, and inspectors can be expensive if your ticket is unstamped or expired.
Mobile ticketingFare inspection
Airport
Munich Airport is S1/S8 S-Bahn or Lufthansa Express Bus, not U-Bahn.
Airport linkS-Bahn
Lines to know
U6 matters for Schwabing, the Andaz, and Garching, U3 matters for Olympiapark and Thalkirchen, U4/U5 help across the central east-west spine.
U6U3
Network type
A modern heavy metro that pairs with the S-Bahn trunk through the center.
MetroS-Bahn

Mike’s notes

Munich is a rail city in two layers: U-Bahn for the city, S-Bahn for the airport and regional spread. The mistake is treating the U-Bahn map as the whole system.

How to pay

Use the MVV/MVG app or ticket machines. If you buy a paper ticket, validate it before riding. There are no gates, but the honor system is not casual. Munich inspectors are the reason every guide eventually says "validate it once."

Network character

The U-Bahn is clean, modern, and easy. U6 is the line I care about most because it serves Schwabing, the Andaz side, the university spine, and Garching. U3 matters for Olympiapark and Thalkirchen. The central trunk around Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, and Sendlinger Tor is usually easy to read once you are there.

Munich Airport uses the S1/S8 S-Bahn or the Lufthansa Express Bus rather than the U-Bahn. That distinction saves a lot of wrong-map staring on arrival.

Short history

  1. 1971

    U-Bahn opens

    Munich opens the U-Bahn just before the 1972 Olympics, creating the rapid-transit backbone that still serves Olympiapark.

  2. 1972

    Olympic city

    The Olympics make modern transit part of Munich's international image, especially the northern line toward Olympiapark.

  3. 2006

    U6 reaches Garching

    The U6 extension strengthens the university/research corridor north of the city.

Sources and references (3)
  1. MVG
  2. MVV
  3. Munich guide