Munich Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

There are many ways to explore Munich, but if you don't have much time during your trip and don't want to miss any of the sights in this German city, I recommend buying a one- or multi-day pass for the Munich tourist bus.

The tourist buses that run around Munich are designed to connect the city's main points of interest, saving you time and effort. And from €31 you can buy a ticket to hop on and off as many times as you like.

How does this service work?

Munich's tourist buses are based on the hop-on hop-off concept. This means that passengers do not pay for each journey, but instead pay a fixed fare for 24 or 48 hours, allowing them to get on and off the bus as many times as they like and at any stop they choose.

How I recommend using the tourist bus

Firstly, use the service as a regular means of transport, with the difference that you will arrive at your destinations faster and find your way around much better than you would by tube or regular bus.

Secondly, enjoy the tour, the panoramic views of the city's different monuments and the audio commentary in several languages available on board. In other words, I recommend that you take the entire route at least once during the validity of your pass, without rushing, just to see the city in a comfortable and leisurely manner.

In Munich, you can choose between two sightseeing bus services that are very similar in format but with slight differences. Both offer 24- or 48-hour passes, allow you to hop on and off at any stop, and include a multilingual audio guide. The main difference is in the route structure and the operator.

• The Munich Tourist Bus is a practical option that offers two versions: a shorter express route and a longer route (Grand Tour). Ideal if you are looking for something functional to see the essentials of the city.
• The Munich Big Bus is part of an international network of tourist buses and offers two distinct routes (one through the historic centre and one through the north). If you choose the 48-hour pass, you can do both. Highly rated for its visual approach and organisation.

Both options include digital tickets, recorded commentary, free cancellation and the possibility of exploring Munich at your own pace.

You can purchase your tourist bus pass online, regardless of whether you prefer a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket. Once you have made your reservation, you will receive the pass by email.

You will have plenty of time to activate it, so you can buy it before your trip with peace of mind. Furthermore, if your plans change, you can request cancellation of your pass 24 hours before the start of your trip and you will be refunded the amount paid.

How to activate

The tourist bus pass is activated the first time you use it, and from then on, the time starts to run. To make the most of it, I recommend activating it first thing in the morning. All buses are wheelchair accessible, and younger children do not need to pay for a pass if they are seated on an adult's lap.

The Munich sightseeing bus pass entitles you to two different routes around the city: the shorter Express route and the Grand Tour, which covers a larger area of the city and is ideal for getting to know Munich in more detail.

Express Tour

The Express Tour takes you to places of interest such as Marienplatz, the English Garden, the Pinakothek art museums and the House of Arts. The stops on this route are as follows:

Grand Tour

The Grand Tour includes many of the stops on the shorter route, but also adds other monuments such as Ludwig University to the itinerary. These are the stops:

Ana's Traveller Tip

Get the most out of your pass by activating it first thing in the morning and completing the entire route at least once to hear the audio commentary.

In Munich, the tourist bus stops are clearly marked. When there is a stop shared by two routes, pay close attention to the illuminated signs on the bus to find out which route it is taking.

The shortest route is ideal for visiting the city's main tourist attractions and saving time, but to learn about the meaning and history of Munich's different monuments , it is best to take the longer route and listen to the audio commentary available in several languages.

A good way to get to know the city in depth is to combine walking between nearby monuments with bus trips to more distant areas.

If you've made good use of the sightseeing bus, you'll have already seen practically all the sights in Munich, but there's still much more to see during your trip. In the surrounding area, you'll find the Bavarian mountains with their stunning landscapes, cities such as Salzburg, fairytale castles and historical sites such as the Dachau concentration camp.

Take a look at this article on 7 Best Tours and Day Trips in Munich to continue making the most of your trip.