Car Rental Munich Airport Franz-Josef-Strauss

Munich Airport is the second busiest in Germany and a convenient pick-up location for anyone wanting to explore the city and Bavaria both. Once you touch down and get comfortable in your car, you can reach the city in just 35 minutes via the A92 and A99.

A few rules of the road - remember that Germans drive on the right hand side, as at home. In terms of speed, many stretches of the autobahns – the country’s freeways -  are without a specified limit. However, in some places speed is capped at 81 mph so check signs for guidance when you’re driving from Munich Airport.

The city itself is car-friendly, albeit with some one-way streets and trams to keep an eye out for – they have priority in the center, as do buses. There are numerous large parking lots, including on Max Joseph Platz and Adolf Kolping Strasse. The 2R highway forms the old town ring road that circles the very heart of the city, while the city’s main route is the Mittlere Ring.

Car-lovers can drive northbound along the A9 and visit Ingolstadt, home of car-manufacturer Audi. Alternatively, go north-west along the A8 to the traditional German cities of Augsburg and Ulm, or southeast to the Berchtesgaden National Park for a breath of fresh air. Whichever direction you take, you’ll find charming small towns, stunning Bavarian scenery and hidden places to discover.

Munich is an exciting place to visit all year round. Admiring the historic architecture, you’d never guess the city had endured such hardship and destruction during World War II. Since then, it has been tastefully restored to its former glory, emerging from the darkest period in its past as a friendly tourist destination full of 19^th century charm.

Known locally as the ‘city with a heart’, Munich is a superb urban escape. Visit world-class galleries, such as the Deutsches Museum, or sample German cuisine at one of the city’s many delicious bratwurst restaurants.

Make for Marienplatz

Marienplatz, the city square, is the beating heart of Munich. Stroll across the square to the Neues Rathaus – the New Town Hall. This enchanting building houses the Glockenspiel, a whimsical chiming clock which fills the air with the sound of tradition at 11am and noon every day throughout the year – and at 5pm through spring and summer too.

From here, you can tour many of the city's most famous buildings, churches and landmarks, including Frauenkirche – the towering dome instantly recognizable in the Munich skyline. If you’re in the mood for a challenge, you can climb around 300 steps to the top of St. Peter’s Church tower for a view of the city and the Bavarian Alps which is nothing short of breathtaking.

Going for gold

In the summer of 1972, Munich hosted the Olympic Games and you can pay a visit to the Munich Olympic Park and relive the action. This green-seated complex took inspiration from the Alps, with sweeping curves creating a rather futuristic design.

For some live sporting action, drive ten minutes to the nearby Allianz Stadium and catch one of Europe’s greatest soccer teams, Bayern Munich, in full swing on their home turf.

Explore the English Garden

With the Isar river flowing lazily by, the English Garden in the heart of Munich is a wonderful place to relax during the summer months. Boasting an area much bigger than Central Park in New York, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in this inner-city oasis.

Rent a paddle boat, stroll through the woods and head to the Monopteros for a front row seat to a spectacular city sunset. If you’d like serenity and refreshment, there’s a beautiful Japanese teahouse at the southern end of the park.

Behold Bavaria

The state of Bavaria is filled with enchanting German towns and historic castles to explore. Drive north from Munich Airport towards Augsburg and step back in time amongst spires and canals in one of Germany’s oldest cities.

Another popular day trip is to the remote city of Ingolstadt. Built around the River Danube, this place is treasured for its picturesque, Gothic architecture. However, it’s the presence of car manufacturer Audi which has given the city its place on the map.

Said to have inspired Walt Disney, Neuschwanstein Castle is a magical structure which sits above the small Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau. Whether you’re a fan of the Disney films or not, feasting your eyes on this iconic, yet strangely familiar castle is a must – especially when it’s less than two hours away from Munich Airport via the A95. It’s stunning at any time of year, but perhaps at its best when the tops of the turrets are kissed with snow.

From medieval buildings to traditional towns, there’s so much to see and do in the historic state of Bavaria. So whether you’re flying in for two weeks or two days, rent a car at Munich Airport and soak up all this remarkable area of Germany has to offer.