Car Rental Munich

Munich is a great city to drive in, and the German road network one of the finest in the world. The autobahns (freeways) are extensive and well-maintained.

Speed limits are clearly signed and in the built-up heart of Munich it is 50kph (around 30mph). The autobahns have a ‘suggested maximum’ limit of 130kph, and while some people do drive above that, there will be areas with signed limits which you must abide by.

Only use the left lane to pass – other than that sit in the right lane. Seat belts are compulsory for everyone in the car.

The suburbs of Munich are very easy and pleasant to navigate by road. In the center itself, especially around Marienplatz, parking spots are hard to find.

It’s a good idea to park nearby, using a meter or a private car park. One-way systems are in operation in many parts of the city. You can avoid the city center by using the Bundesautobahn 99 – the city’s outer ring road.

Getting out of Munich, there are plenty of scenic drives that take in rolling hills, forests and mountains. The famed ‘Romantic Road’ passes to the west of Munich and takes in Augsburg, Wurzburg, Neuschwanstein Castle and numerous medieval towns. It’s marked out with brown signs reading ‘Romantische Strasse’.

Heading west on the A1 and A96 will lead all the way to Switzerland. Hop across the border to visit the Swiss side of the Alps, or take a two-hour drive south-east on A8 (a toll road) to explore the gorgeous Salzburg in Austria.

Alternatively, head into the center of Germany, driving north on the A9 past Ingolstadt to Nuremberg. From there you can pick your way north-west on the A3 to Frankfurt. Whichever way you head from Munich, you’ll find Germany a welcoming country packed with great sights.

A city that combines the best of classic and modern German culture, Munich life starts at the very center and radiates out to the suburbs.

Join the crowds at Oktoberfest, sample a real Bavarian Christmas at the festive markets or head out into the lush countryside for fresh air and an escape from it all.

Make for the Marienplatz

Marienplatz is one of the great main squares of Europe, the equivalent of Brussels’ Grand Place in terms of status and beauty. It has been at the heart of life here for centuries, home to a market in the middle ages. At its heart is the column of St. Mary, erected in 1638 but crowned with a statue from 1590.

Confusingly, the Old Town Hall is newer than the New Town Hall. That’s because the Old Town Hall was burnt down in 1460, rebuilt later the same century and then destroyed during World War Two.

The current version was rebuilt after the war from the original plans. The towering New Town Hall, with its imposing Gothic architecture, was finished at the very start of the early 20th century.

While you’re in the square, you’ll also find the Fish Fountain – originally from 1864 but another war casualty rebuilt in 1954 – and the carillon or glockenspiel. The latter attracts visitors for its displays three times a day.

The market and the middle ages

The Viktualienmarkt was moved from Marienplatz to its current location by royal decree in 1807. It combines a daily open-air market and various food halls, it’s the place to come for fish, meat, and local honey, butter and eggs.

Stroll from here to the Frauenkirche, a 15th century church with two 99m towers that must remain, by law, the tallest in the city. The interior is quite plain (it was heavily reconstructed after bombing raids from the war led to the collapse of the roof) but has an incredible sense of scale and light.

It also hosts a rich collection of notable art spanning from the 14th to the 18th century. See if you can spot the ‘Devil’s Footstep’ on the floor, an original feature.

Elsewhere in Munich, you can discover more elaborately decorated churches, such as St. Michael’s Church (Michaelskirche) and the city’s oldest church, St. Peter’s (Peterskirche).

Modern day Munich 

Make time for a whistle-stop tour showcasing Munich’s more modern side. The 75,000-seater soccer stadium Allianz Arena is home to Bayern Munich, one of European football’s true powerhouses. It looks amazing at night as its exterior changes color.

At Olympiapark, motoring marque BMW have built an incredible glass and steel building to showcase their wares, the BMW Welt, while modern galleries Lenbachhaus (with its impressive Kandinsky and Klee collections) and Pinakothek (Dali, Picasso, Goya and more) pull Munich into the 21st century.

Finish off at the stunning 1970s retro interior of Tantris restaurant. Its sombre outside belies the inside, which is a riot of style. It’s not just about the looks though, the restaurant has held at least two Michelin stars every year since 1974.

Expect confit turbot with parsley gnocchi and roast onion cream, or the stunning stuffed curd dumpling with buttermilk strawberry sorbet terrine and nougat cream ice cream. It brings Bavaria bang up-to-date.

A city that strides across the centuries with boldness and style, Munich is truly rewarding for visitors. Car rental in Munich means you can pack in as much sightseeing as possible and then strike out for the rest of beautiful Bavaria.