From the airport to the city centre Bavaria

Munich. If you arrive in Munich by plane, you'll land at Franz-Joseph-Strauss airport (MUC). With 48 million passengers a year, it's Germany's second-largest airport, after Frankfurt am Main (FRA). It lies to the northeast of the Bavarian capital, 38 km from the city center. By cab, you'll need to allow 40 minutes for the journey, which adds up to a pretty hefty bill. Of course, public transport is also an option, with an S-Bahn ticket between the airport and the city costing a flat €11.90. The airport is served by two S-Bahn lines: the S1 and the S8. They run every ten minutes and both connect to the central hub stations: Hauptbahnhof, Marienplatz, Karlsplatz, etc. The journey takes around fifty minutes. The S8 is ideal for travelers staying in eastern Munich (e.g. in the Haidhausen district). The S1 crosses Munich from the west. Another option is the Lufthansa-Express-Bus, which links the airport and Hauptbahnhof in around 50 minutes. It runs every 20 minutes and costs €11.50 one way and €17 round trip.

Nuremberg. You'd never suspect it, but Nuremberg airport (NUE) is Germany's 10th largest! Getting to the city center is child's play. The airport is served by the U2 subway line (automatic and very comfortable). It takes no more than fifteen minutes to reach the main station (Hauptbahnhof). Single tickets cost a modest €3.20. Tip: if you buy your ticket not from the ticket machine, but from your smartphone, the price is slightly lower: €2.75.

Arrival by train Bavaria

Munich. It's easy to get to Munich by train: the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) is very central and has excellent public transport links: U-Bahn and S-Bahn. However, pharaonic redevelopment work has begun on the station, and the construction site is likely to last for many years without disrupting traffic. Be prepared to take a few detours between two construction gates.

Nuremberg. Getting to Nuremberg by train is equally straightforward: as you leave the station, you can already see the city's fortifications. Just cross the boulevard to enter the city center. If you're staying a little further away, you can take public transport: all three Nuremberg subway lines run through the city! In addition, there are 4 S-Bahn lines, 3 streetcar lines, etc.

The other medium-sized Bavarian cities are well served by the Deutsche Bahn network. Stations are often within walking distance of the city center. The only exception is Ingolstadt, where the main station is a long way from the historic center.

A number of Bavarian stations are now served by two Flixtrain lines, allowing you to make your journeys more economically. FLX25 connects Bamberg, Erlangen, Nuremberg, Augsburg and Munich three times a day. The other is a night service (FLX N35) from Frankfurt via Aschaffenburg, Würzburg and Augsburg to Munich.

Public transport Bavaria

Munich. The Bavarian capital boasts an excellent public transport network. The first line of the Munich subway was created for the 1972 Olympic Games, and since then the city has had 8 U-Bahn lines and 96 stations. A single ticket(Einzelfahrkarte) for zone M (M = Munich) costs €3.40. It simply allows you to travel in one direction, including changes. There's also the Streifenkarte whose operation is rather complicated. Hold on to your hats! A Streifenkarte costs €14.60 and has 10 strips. The strips are stacked one after the other, starting from the bottom. To do this, fold the card and insert it into the composter. A short journey (2 metro stations or 4 streetcar or bus stations) is equivalent to one stripe. A single journey (more than 2 stations) is equivalent to 2 strips: in this case, one strip is left uncomposted. For each additional zone outside zone M, we add one stripe. For example, a single trip to Dachau is equivalent to three bands (M+1). To get to the Erding thermal baths in zone 4, the single journey is equivalent to 6 bands (M+4). Granted, the system isn't exactly intuitive, but the locals will help you out, even if most of them find the system just as ubiquitous. Another option is the day pass, which costs €7.90 for zone M. More information on routes and fares at www.mvv-muenchen.de.

Nuremberg. Nuremberg has an excellent network, with three automatic subway lines and several streetcar and bus lines. You don't need to take the metro or streetcar to explore the medieval city. However, you may need them to get to the Memorium or Fürth, for example. Single tickets cost €3.20. You can get a discount if you buy a dematerialized ticket. Purchased on a smartphone, a single ticket costs just €2.75. To calculate your itinerary and find all the fare grids: www.vgn.de. If you buy the Nürnberg-Card (which costs €28 for two days), it will give you access not only to public transport, but also to all museums.

Medium-sized cities such as Bamberg, Würzburg, Bayreuth, Regensburg and Augsburg can be easily reached on foot, without you needing to familiarize yourself with the bus and streetcar networks.

In the countryside , on the other hand, it can be useful to take the bus for excursions from your base. Here, the stereotype of German accuracy is seriously undermined: buses are not always the most reliable. At the very least, the timetables given at bus stations, in leaflets and on websites don't always coincide - a real headache. There's no miracle solution here. It's best to have two timetables in your sights, so that you can get back on your feet if the bus doesn't show up.

In some towns and regions, visitors are obliged to pay a small tourist tax (often around €2 per night) to their hotel, known as Kurtaxe. In return, they often receive a Gästekarte (or Kurkarte) which offers a number of advantages for the duration of the stay, and some of these cards offer free transport. This is the case in Füssen and the surrounding area, for example: simply present the "Füssen Card" you received at your hotel and you'll be able to hop on the bus and explore the region free of charge. This initiative invites visitors to leave the car in the garage and explore the region in an environmentally-friendly way. These cards depend on negotiations between communities and transport companies, and are therefore fundamentally different from place to place. You can count on your hosts at the hotel reception desk to explain the specifics to you: they'll give you the booklet that lists the promotional offers granted by the card and, where applicable, a leaflet with bus timetables.

Deutschlandticket. Since May1, 2023, for €49 a month, you can travel anywhere in Germany with no restrictions. This measure was taken following the success of €9 train tickets in the summer of 2022, to encourage Germans to leave their cars behind: www.bahn.com/fr

Bike, scooters & co Bavaria

Bicycles. Bavarian city dwellers have no hesitation in calling cycling their preferred means of transport. In the city centers, there are bicycle lanes everywhere! Bicycles are so widespread in Bavaria that even small towns have their own rental companies, or Fahrradvermieter. Rates vary widely depending on the location, and a day's rental costs between €12 and €15. If you're out and about on foot, make sure you respect the cycle paths: cyclists quickly get annoyed by pedestrians who cut them off.

A few tips on how to get around: there are a number of rules to follow when cycling, to avoid any fines. For a complete list, visit www.cec-zev.eu/thematiques/tourisme/faire-du-velo-en-allemagne/

Scooters. There are a number of private services offering electric scooters in the cities: Lime in Nuremberg, Erlangen, Augsburg, etc., Tier in Nuremberg, Erlangen, Munich.

With a driver Bavaria

The average charge for cabs is €4. Then count on about €2 per kilometer, €1.50 from the tenth kilometer onwards. From Munich city center to the airport, you should expect to pay at least €60 (special rates apply during major events - see www.muenchen.de for details).

By car Bavaria

It's easy to get around Bavaria by car. The signposting system is very well organized. Most roads are marked A for freeways and B for state roads. In town, it's advisable to leave your car on or in a parking lot, as access to the city center can be limited, and parking lots are very rare and expensive.

Traffic speed. Where there is no sign indicating the speed limit, the following rules apply: traffic is generally limited to 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h on trunk roads. On the other hand, it is well known that there is no speed limit on German freeways, although this is not the case on all sections: more and more stretches of freeway are limited to 120 km/h or 100 km/h. In some places, illuminated traffic signs allow you to adjust the speed limit to the prevailing weather conditions. In case of rain or fog, it is of course advisable to slow down. German freeways are free of charge.

The ecotag. To reduceCO2 emissions and the effects of pollution in cities, access to certain zones is restricted to cars with an ecotag(Umweltplakette). The color of the sticker (red, yellow or green) on the windscreen determines whether a car is allowed into certain zones. At the entrance to one of these zones, an "Umweltzone" sign indicates the regulations in the zone: the permitted stickers are indicated above the word "frei". Foreign cars are also subject to these regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations carries a fine of €100 in green zones! The aim is both to improve the city's air quality and to encourage people to buy less-polluting vehicles. If you drive a rental car, most agencies have already taken the necessary steps to obtain the green sticker.

Driving under theinfluence of alcohol. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 ‰. In the event of an accident, the tolerance drops to 0.3 ‰. For those under 21, the tolerance is 0.0 ‰.

Accessibility Bavaria

Munich. All subway stations are equipped with elevators or ramps. Most stations originally built without elevators were equipped in the 1990s and at the turn of the millennium. In addition, each platform edge is equipped with a tactile groove strip for the visually impaired, marking the start of the safety strip. The new metro trains feature boarding areas and stop bars accessible to people with reduced mobility, as well as a visual and acoustic passenger information system.

Nuremberg. All 42 Nuremberg subway stations are equipped with elevators.