We have started many a European ski odyssey from Munich. Of all the major airports dotted around the Alps, it is only second to Zurich on our list of favourites, and that’s only because it is further away from the mountains and, perhaps strangely, from our experience more likely for disruption than its Swiss competitor. Worth noting is that if flying to the Alps from within Europe or the UK, the best airports are more likely Innsbruck (or Geneva if skiing further west), with a question mark over Zurich depending on your ultimate destination. We say that because generally the first the first thing I do upon landing in Munich is leave by rental car or train toward Innsbruck!

For visitors from well beyond Europe & the UK, the airport provides fast & efficient egress upon landing. Car rentals & the train station are across an open plaza toward the secondary airport terminal. If renting a car, whilst they will all come with winter tyres, check the wear & quality of them before accepting the vehicle. German rentals can often have lower quality winter tyres than those hired from Austria. By train, if immediately heading beyond the city toward Innsbruck or Salzburg, you will have to catch the train to Ostbahnhof. Whilst the S1 and S8 lines go to Ostbahnhof, the S8 line is the swifter journey.

In summary, Munich is a fantastic entry point for intercontinental travellers to access the best ski resorts in Austria, Germany & northeast Italy (i.e. Dolomites). It is a fun city with a beautiful old town and the world’s greatest beer drinking establishments including the original Hofbrauhaus. The flight, train & highway connectivity to the mountains in the south is very good. The city itself is well worth an overnight stay before heading home, if only to wander the old town and experience one (or two) of the traditional beer halls. Prost!

See our thought on the pros & cons of the airport & staying in the city on our Munich overview page.