Munich City Card and Pass

This article is a comprehensive guide to Munich City Cards, the tourist passes for Munich that allow you to visit the city while saving on entrance fees to tourist attractions.

Munich one of Germany's most popular cities for a sightseeing trip, from weekend to more robust stays, up to even 4-5 days or a week.
It is a beautiful city to walk around, but it holds a rich landscape of museums and tourist attractions worth considering in your sightseeing travel itinerary.

Tourist cards for Munich are intended to save you money in visiting the city's attractions, as opposed to having to purchase individual admission tickets for each.

The Munich City Card (or Munich City Pass) is the only currently available official tourist pass of interest.
This card providesfree or discounted access to more than 45 sights and tourist experiences in Munich, and can also include unlimited use of public transportation.

In this guide we take a detailed look at how the Munich City Pass works, what it includes, how much it costs, and how to choose the version that best suits you, depending on the type of trip and the areas you plan to explore.

Discover and purchase the Munich City Card

What is the Munich City Card?

The Munich City Card is an all-inclusive tourist card, offered by supplier Turbopass, designed for people who want to discover Munich while optimizing time and costs.
It is the only official tourist pass available for Munich and allows:

• Free access (included in the price of the pass) to more than 45 attractions, museums, guided tours and sightseeing experiences
• Unlimited use of public transportation in Munich (optional)
• Discounts on tours, stores and restaurants

It is available in 3 different versions, combining attractions and public transportation, so as to fit every traveler's needs.
Whether you want to focus on the main attractions in the city center, or you want to go as far as the airport or the Dachau concentration camp.

On the other hand, if you are only interested in a public transportation card, consider the City Card unlimited transportation only.

Munich City Card: variations and formats

The Munich City Card is distributed in 3 main variants, combining attractions and public transport, to be flexible to different travel needs.
Added to these is the Card for public transport only, not including tourist attractions.

• Attractions only
  Includes free access to over 45 attractions, museums, tours, experiences. Does not include public transportation, which you may do independently. Ideal if you walk, bike or use your own transportation.
• Attractions + transportation only downtown (zone M)
  In addition to admission to attractions, includes unlimited public transportation (streetcar, bus, metro, S-Bahn) in Munich's central area (zone M). Perfect if you are only staying in the city.
• Attractions + transportation center + extended area (M-6 area)
  Full version that, in addition to attractions, offers unlimited public transportation in outlying areas up to zone 6, including: Munich Airport, Dachau Field, Allianz Arena
• City Card only public transportation
  Card that includes unlimited public transportation only, with a choice of urban (M) or even suburban (M-6) zone. Ideal for those who want to visit the city without museums and attractions.

All variants work the same way, it just changes the things that are included.
For the "transportation only" version, the respective section in this guide explains in detail how it works and how to save money.

Later in this guide to choosing a pass to Munich, you will understand which one is best to choose, based on your trip.

How does the pass to Munich work?

Whichever variant of the Munich card you choose (attractions and/or transportation), all the different formulations of the pass are valid for 1,2,3,4 or 5 days.
This allows the pass to be adapted to different travel durations, from the classic weekend (2-3 days), to longer stays.
In the case of particularly extensive vacations, it is also possible to purchase multiple passes to be used consecutively (e.g., a 5-day pass + a 2-day pass to cover an entire week).

The days of validity of the pass are understood to be consecutive.
Also, remember that on the day you activate the pass (by visiting the first attraction included and/or taking the first public transportation), the first day of validity expires at the end of the same day of activation.
To be precise, you will be able to use public transportation until 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the day following the expiration.

👉 Example: 1-day pass, I activate it today, it expires tomorrow morning at 6:00.

It is always advisable to activate it in the morning to take full advantage of the entire first day of the pass's validity.
In case you arrive in Munich in the afternoon or evening, consider activating it from the next day (perhaps saving a day of pass duration).

What can you do with the Munich City Pass?

Considering theattractionscomponent, once purchased, within its validity you can see all the attractions included in the pass, free of charge.
Each attraction can only be visited once, but you can potentially see all of them as well.
The more you see, the greater the total savings from this card for Munich.

In the case of formulas that also include public transportation, the same logic applies.
Within the days the pass is valid, you can enjoy unlimited use of Munich's public transportation, urban only or urban+extra-urban depending on the formula you choose.

What does the Munich City Pass include?

As we saw earlier, the Munich City Pass is distributed in different formulations, which pair city tourist attractions with public transportation.
Let's look in more detail at what the Munich City Pass includes, both for attractions and public transport.

Free admission to more than 45 attractions

With coverage of more than 45 museums, tourist attractions, experiences and guided tours, this Munich pass covers virtually all of the city's major tourist attractions.
Let's look at some of the major tourist attractions included:

• Nymphenburg Palace
• BMW Museum
• Bavarian National Museum
• Residence of Munich
• Deutsches Museum (the world's largest science museum)
• Alte, Neue and Pinakothek der Moderne
• Hop-on Hop-off Tour
• Guided walking tour of the historic center
• FC Bayern Munich Museum

These attractions are probably only some of the most relevant.
The full list of attractions and experiences included in the Munich City Card can be found at the following link (in the "Full Description" section on the page).

Unlimited public transportation

In variants that add public transportation, the pass with transportation includes:

• Subway (U-Bahn)
• Suburban Trains (S-Bahn)
• Buses and streetcars

Available for both central zone M and extended zone M-6, depending on which variant you choose.
In a moment you will find explained the difference between the two zones, and when you'd better choose one or the other version.

Other benefits included

Rounding out the offerings of this good pass to Munich are some always interesting pluses to take advantage of.
These are benefits included in all variants of the Munich City Card.

• Discounts on restaurants, stores and shows
• Vouchers for guided tours and cultural experiences
• Discounts for children and teens

Difference between zone M and zone M-6 in transportation

Munich's public transportation system is divided into concentric zones, and the two main areas of interest to tourists are:

• Zone M: encompasses all of Munich's city center and closest neighborhoods.
  It is the main urban area where most tourist attractions, hotels, museums, train stations, and iconic sites such as Marienplatz, the English Garden, the Residenz, and the BMW Museum are located.
  → If your stay is mainly within the city, zone M is sufficient.
• Zone M-6: Extends pass coverage to outlying areas up to Ring 6, including more distant locations such as: Munich Airport (MUC), Dachau Concentration Camp, Schleissheim Castle, Allianz Arena, hotel areas outside the center.
  → Choose this option if you arrive in the city by plane, plan excursions outside the center, or stay in the suburbs. It will grant you unlimited transportation on the entire network (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, streetcars and buses) without having to buy extra tickets.

How much does the Munich City Pass cost?

Prices vary depending on the duration (1 to 5 consecutive days) and the variant chosen.
For your convenience, I detail in the following table, all the prices of this Munich card in the attractions-only version, from 1 to 5 days validity.
For the other variants, I only give you the adult prices to give you the order of magnitude of the price difference from the version without transportation, and the link where you can check the updated prices for all age categories.

Munich City Card - attractions only

This version of the pass is the one that includes attractions, without public transportation included.

You can check prices on the pass site,and proceed to purchase. You will find the portal available in your language, and you can purchase the pass easily,with immediate delivery by e-mail.

Munich City Card - attractions + unlimited public transportation area m

This version of the Munich City Pass adds unlimited transportation in Munich's M (central) area to the previous attractions package, as described in the previous sections.

Adult prices for the Munich pass that includes attractions + central public transportation are:

• 1 day -> $53.90
• 2 days -> $74.90
• 3 days -> $89.90
• 4 days -> €102.90
• 5 days -> €111.90

To check the updated prices and prices for teens and children, you can check the pass sales site at the following link.

Munich City Card - attractions + unlimited public transportation m-6 zone

It is a very similar formula to the previous one, the only difference being that unlimited public transportation is included for a larger area, defined as M-6.
That includes points of strategic tourist importance and interest, such as: Munich Airport (MUC), Dachau Concentration Camp, Schleissheim Castle, Allianz Arena, hotel areas outside the center.

Adult prices of the Munich pass that includes attractions + public transportation area M-6 are:

• 1 day -> €64.90
• 2 days -> $89.90
• 3 days -> €112.90
• 4 days -> €134.90
• 5 days -> $148.90

To check the updated prices and prices for teens and children, you can check the pass sales site at the following link.

Munich City Card - transportation only (unlimited)

There is a different version of the Munich City Card that includes only unlimited public transportation, for the chosen period of validity, again from 1 to 5 days.
You can choose to have them only in the city center(zone M), or also outside the city center(zone M-6) if you want to cover the route to the airport, visit Dachau and generally need to get out of the city center.

This attractive transportation card for Munich exists in both single (for one person) and group versions.
The group version is very interesting, as if you are traveling in a group, it allows you to save really a lot, compared to buying the single version each.

How does the group transportation card function?

The City Card Transport, based on the Munich Public Transport(MVV) system, is an affordable option designed for groups of up to five adults. This ticket allows unlimited travel within selected zones (M or M-6), from validation until 6 a.m. on the day after the last day of validity.

The ticket is valid for up to five adults.
In addition, two children between the ages of 6 and 14 count as one adult, allowing, for example, a group of two adults and six children to use one ticket.

Purchasing a group Transportation City Card is cheaper than purchasing individual Transportation City Cards for each member of the group.
Already with two people, the group card is more advantageous than buying two individual cards.

If you are traveling with at least one other person and plan to use public transportation several times throughout the day, the Group Transportation City Card offers significant savings over buying individual cards.
It is especially beneficial for families, couples, or small groups of friends who wish to explore Munich using public transportation.

Prices Munich City Card Transportation (single/group)

In the following table, I give you the Adult prices of Munich City Card Unlimited group transportation, for zones M and M-6.
Which is the most advantageous option when you are traveling from 2 people and up.
If you would like to see the prices for individual cards as well, in case you are traveling alone, click on the link given after the table.

To check the prices of individual versions, and the total price of your travel group, you can go to the transportation card sales site at the following link, enter your information, and see the options.

Benefits of the Munich City Card Transportation

First of all, let me remind you that by purchasing the City Card Transport you have a slightly higher cost than buying the equivalent native pass from the Munich transport company MVV.
However, the card, for a slightly higher price, gives you the following benefits:

• you can purchase it online before you leave, using it right away, and without having to waste time in the city having to do transportation ticketing (perhaps in a language unfamiliar to you)
• in addition to transportation, the card includes variable discounts of up to 70 percent on all major Munich attractions, tourist experiences, stores and restaurants.

If you already use a couple of discounts during your vacation, you will have abundantly recouped the difference in the price of the card, going into active gain.

Where to purchase the Munich City Pass?

The pass is conveniently purchased online, in the retailer's GetYourGuide portal.
GetYourGuide is preferable to the official pass website, as - for the same price of the pass - it includes the very useful option of cancelling the purchase free of charge within 24 hours of departure and getting a full refund.

Although one hopes that there will never be any unforeseen contingencies to the trip, since it does not affect the purchase price, it is a useful and preferred benefit.

The pass is digital, and you will receive it immediately after purchase.
You will receive an email with the QR code, which you can show directly from your smartphone or print and take with you in hard copy.

I report links for purchasing the 4 versions of the Munich City Pass:

• Buy the Munich City Card - attractions only
• Buy the Munich City Card - attractions + unlimited transportation zone M (downtown)
• Buy Munich City Card - attractions + unlimited transportation zone M-6
• Purchase the Munich City Card - unlimited transportation only zone M or M-6, single or group

How to purchase the Munich City Card?

Both the Munich City Card attractions (+transportation) and the transportation-only version can be easily purchased online at the GetYoruGuide portal.
Once on the GetYourGuide purchasing portal, you must:

• select the number of adults and children/youth for whom you wish to purchase the pass
• Enter the date of first use of the card (likely the first available travel date)
• Enter the language (English, French, German available). The language is that of the information and instruction material sent to you with the pass.
• click on "Check Availability"

A long menu will open with all the purchase options. Where you will find denominations from 1 to 5 days for each pass variant (attractions, attractions + M Transport, attractions + M-6 transport).
Once you have placed the desired passes in the shopping cart, you can proceed to enter the buyer's information and make the payment.

In the case of the "transportation only" version of the card, there is a different purchase page (via the links on this guide), where likewise you can purchase it.
In this case you choose the duration, version (single or group), and coverage (downtown M only or also suburban M-6).

Is it really worth buying the Munich City card?

If you plan to visit the city through its main attractions, and travel by public transportation, Munich City Cards are definitely convenient.
To assess the affordability of the Munich City Pass, we can make a practical example calculation.

Suppose we do 2 days in Munich on a classic weekend.
The average cost of a Munich tourist attraction is about €15 (of course some major ones cost far more, others less).
In one day of exploratory sightseeing we can consider visiting 3 attractions (including sights, tours, experiences), so 6 attractions total.

We also add the cost of public transportation downtown for two days, which is about €17.

The total cost without the pass would be about €107 (6x€15 = €90 + €17 transportation)
In contrast, the 2-day Munich City Pass, with area M transportation, costs €74.90.

In multi-day cases, the savings increase proportionally. The more you visit, the more you save.

When is the purchase of the Munich pass recommended?

It is recommended in all cases where there is interest in exploring Munich through visiting its tourist attractions.
Not only museums and monuments, but also guided tours, services such as the hop-on / hop-off tourist bus, and the most popular points of interest (stadium, sports museums, galleries, viewing platforms, theaters, observatories, etc.).

If, on the other hand, your trip is purely focused on seeing the city, without entering museums and attractions, this pass is probably not useful for you.

The transportation-only card, on the other hand, is probably always useful, even in case you don't want to visit many attractions.
Getting around the city is always necessary, and the wide range of discounts included in the transportation card guarantee you benefits should you want to visit a particular attraction, but also on guided tours and restaurants.
Even if you reach Munich by your own means, it is probably advisable to get around by public transport, to avoid traffic and the problem of parking.

Which version to choose?

A quick summary to help you figure out which version of the Munich City Pass to choose, based on your travel characteristics.

Validity and refunds

Once purchased, passes are valid from the date indicated of first use during purchase, for the number of consecutive days chosen.
They are activated on first use at an attraction or public transportation used.

All versions of the Munich City Card reviewed in this guide are available for purchase on the GetYourGuide portal, which offers a free cancellation policy within 24 hours before the date indicated which use the pass.
Plus always useful in case of the unexpected, even if you hope you never have to use it.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Munich City Card