Munich

Munich Airport is Bavaria’s main international hub and a practical entry point for skiers heading to the Austrian Tyrol and the Bavarian Alps. Built on the Erdinger Moos plains northeast of the city, it is Germany’s second busiest airport, handling 41.6 million passengers in 2024. It is a major base for Lufthansa and the Star Alliance network. The layout is straightforward, with two main terminals linked by the Munich Airport Center, a large covered plaza that holds a winter market and ice rink in December.

Airport layout & location

Munich Airport sits on a large greenfield site 28.5 kilometres northeast of central Munich, near the town of Freising. Before the current airport was built, the city was served by Munich-Riem Airport, which operated from 1939 to 1992. As air travel boomed in the post-war decades, Riem became increasingly inadequate. Its single runway could not handle the growing traffic, and its location close to the city centre meant that noise pollution was a major issue for local residents. The decision to build a new airport on the Erdinger Moos was made in 1969, but construction did not begin until 1980 due to lengthy legal battles and protests from local communities.

The new airport finally opened in May 1992. The move from Riem to the new site took place entirely overnight on 16–17 May 1992, an enormous logistical operation that shifted thousands of vehicles and equipment in a few hours. The airport is officially named after Franz Josef Strauss, a former Bavarian prime minister who played a key role in its development, though most locals simply call it Flughafen München.

The current site covers 15 square kilometres, giving it plenty of room for a parallel runway system. The two runways (08R/26L and 08L/26R) are 4,000 metres long and 2,300 metres apart. This gap means aircraft can take off and land simultaneously on both runways without interfering with each other. The passenger terminals sit in the midfield area between the runways, which keeps aircraft taxi times short. The approach roads and railway lines feed directly into the central core between the buildings. The airport is operated by Flughafen München GmbH (FMG), which is jointly owned by the State of Bavaria, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the City of Munich.

Terminals & passenger flow

The airport has two main terminals separated by the Munich Airport Center (MAC). The layout keeps walking distances relatively short compared to older, sprawling European hubs.

Terminal 1 opened with the airport in 1992 and has a capacity of around 25 million passengers a year. It handles non-Star Alliance airlines, including Middle Eastern carriers, low-cost operators, and other European legacy airlines. The building is split into five independent modules (A, B, C, D, and E). Each module acts like a self-contained mini-terminal with its own check-in desks, security checkpoints, and baggage claim. This modular design means you can often park directly outside your specific module and walk just a few dozen metres to the gate. Module F sits slightly apart and handles high-security flights, primarily to Israel. Terminal 1 also houses the VIP Wing, a premium facility that offers private suites, conference rooms, and a dedicated passport control and security screening process for high-paying passengers. The airport is currently building a new pier extending from Terminal 1 into the apron to add more gates and retail space.

Terminal 2 opened in 2003 as a joint project between the airport authority and Lufthansa. It is used exclusively by Lufthansa, Star Alliance partners, and a few affiliated airlines like Air Dolomiti. Unlike Terminal 1, Terminal 2 has a central plaza where all passengers pass through a single large security checkpoint before heading to the gates. It was designed specifically to handle connecting traffic, with a minimum connecting time of just 30 minutes. Terminal 2 features a glass facade that allows natural light to flood the interior, reducing the need for artificial lighting, and the roof is equipped with solar panels to generate renewable energy.

A Satellite Terminal was added to Terminal 2 in 2016 to handle an additional 11 million passengers annually. It has 27 gate positions but no landside facilities of its own. Passengers check in and clear security in Terminal 2, then take an underground automated train to the satellite gates. The train journey takes less than a minute.

Winter airlines & connectivity

Munich Airport connects to 224 destinations across 66 countries (as of 2024). In winter, it handles heavy ski traffic from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The airport also handles significant cargo volumes, processing over 277,000 metric tons of air freight and mail in 2023. The cargo centre is located to the south of the passenger terminals and handles a wide variety of goods, from automotive parts and electronics to perishables and pharmaceuticals.

Lufthansa is the main carrier, operating a dense network of European short-haul flights and long-haul routes to North America and Asia. Skiers flying from the UK or Scandinavia often use British Airways, easyJet, or SAS, which fly into Terminal 1. Condor, Eurowings, and TUI fly handle much of the leisure traffic, connecting Munich to various holiday destinations. Long-haul passengers also arrive via major international carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines. The high volume of Star Alliance flights makes Munich a popular transfer point for skiers flying in from the United States or Asia who then connect to smaller regional airports like Innsbruck or Graz, though many simply drive straight from Munich to the resorts.

Into Munich city

The Munich Airport Terminal station sits directly beneath the central area between the two terminals. It is accessed via escalators and lifts from the Munich Airport Center.

Two S-Bahn (suburban rail) lines connect the airport to the city. The S1 runs through the western suburbs, and the S8 takes an eastern route. Both lines join the main line through central Munich, stopping at Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and Marienplatz. The trip to the city centre takes 40 to 45 minutes, with trains leaving every 10 minutes in alternating directions. Travellers often buy an Airport-City-Day-Ticket, which covers the journey from the airport and allows unlimited travel on Munich’s public transport network for the rest of the day. There are long-term plans to improve the airport’s rail connections through the Erdinger Ringschluss project, which aims to link the airport directly to the regional rail network in eastern Bavaria, bypassing the Munich city centre.

The Lufthansa Express Bus runs directly between the airport and Munich Hauptbahnhof, stopping once in Schwabing (Munich North). It departs every 20 minutes and takes about 45 minutes in clear traffic. You do not need to be flying with Lufthansa to use the bus. Taxis wait at designated ranks outside both terminals for a direct drive into the city, which usually takes around 35 to 45 minutes depending on the Autobahn traffic.

Baggage, skis & special items

Both terminals handle large volumes of winter sports equipment, including ski bags, snowboards, and avalanche airbags. The airport’s automated baggage handling system is highly efficient, but oversized items require manual drop-off.

In Terminal 1, you drop off bulky luggage at dedicated counters within your departure module (A through E) after checking in and getting your baggage tags at the main desks. In Terminal 2, Lufthansa and its partners use specific bulky baggage (Sperrgepäck) drop-off points located near the main check-in islands on Level 4.

On arrival, oversized items do not come out on the standard baggage carousels. They are sent to separate bulky baggage belts in the arrivals halls of both terminals. If you travel with an avalanche airbag containing a gas cartridge, check your airline’s dangerous goods rules well in advance. Most require you to detach the cartridge and declare the backpack at check-in. Some airlines also require you to register the airbag with their customer service team before the flight.

Parking & airside facilities

The airport has over 30,000 parking spaces across multi-storey car parks and surface lots. The P20 car park sits directly next to Terminal 2, while P1 to P4 serve Terminal 1. Remote economy parking areas (like P41 and P81) are used for longer stays and connect to the terminals by a complimentary shuttle bus or the S-Bahn.

Inside the terminals, dining options range from Bavarian beer gardens to standard international restaurants. Terminal 1 features Airbräu, a fully functioning brewery located airside, which claims to be the world’s first airport brewery. The retail areas include duty-free shops, luxury brands, and travel essentials.

The Munich Airport Center (MAC) is the large outdoor space between the terminals, covered by a massive glass tent roof designed by architect Helmut Jahn. It hosts events year-round. During the ski season, it holds a winter market with an ice-skating rink, pine trees, and stalls selling mulled wine and Bavarian food.

Alpine destinations within reach

Munich Airport is a major entry point for the northern Alps. The motorway network runs south into the Bavarian Alps and across the border into the Austrian Tyrol and the Salzburg region. The A9 and A8 motorways are the primary arteries heading south, though they can become heavily congested on winter weekends.

In clear traffic, typical road times to major ski areas are roughly 1½ hours to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1½ to 2 hours to Kitzbühel, and 2 to 2½ hours to the Zillertal or Ski Arlberg.

Road distances to major ski resorts:

DestinationRoad distance
Garmisch-Partenkirchen125 km
Kitzbühel130 km
Mayrhofen155 km
Zell am See190 km
St. Anton am Arlberg190 km
Sölden200 km
Ischgl235 km

Written by the Alps2Alps editorial team.

This guide is published by Alps2Alps for general information only. It is not affiliated with Wikipedia or any resort, airport, or lift operator. Facts were accurate at the time of writing; always check official sources before travel.