Munich Hop On Hop Off Bus – See the city this way

Are you one of those who enjoys seeing the top sights of a city all in one go? When I was in Germany, I used one of the Munich Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses, specifically, Big Bus Munich.  

If you’re not familiar with the Munich Hop On Hop Off sightseeing bus (or any hop on hop off bus), it’s basically an audio tour double decker bus that takes you to popular landmarks around the city. You are free to disembark at any stop and explore whichever iconic landmark you wish. When you are done, head back to the bus stop, wait for the bus to arrive and continue on to the next landmark. Hence the term, ‘hop on hop off’. 

Advantages/Perks of the Munich Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus

Okay, so you might think doing this type of activity might be a little too much on the touristy side for you. I say give it a chance and here’s why:

See landmarks on your own time
If you’ve ever been on a tour bus with a schedule, you know that you’re only given a little amount of time to do what you want. Tour buses usually drop you off and tell you when to come back. With Munich Hop On Hop Off, you have the entire length of time of your ticket to see what you want with no rush!

One of my favorite stops was Olympiapark/BMW Welt. You could spend hours walking the grounds of these 2 places!

Get to know the city’s history
When you check in for the tour, you are given a pair of headphones (each seat has a headphone jack) and a map. The tour is offered in nine languages, and as you pass various landmarks in the city, tidbits of information are provided to you. And depending on where you are in the city…the audio tour will give you snippets about Munich’s original city gates…beer…or which buildings were significant to the Third Reich Movement!

It’s an easy activity
If you are suffering from jetlag, use the day you arrive (or day after) to hop on a bus and go through the city. Don’t be stressed out about your vacation. The Munich Hop On Hop Off bus tour gives you the chance to sit back and relax and still get a chance to explore the city but without the rush. Munich (and Bavaria for that matter) has such distinctive architecture…

It’s family friendly
All family members can enjoy this activity. Not only is it reasonably priced, but all family members get to share in seeing a new city together. If you have family members with mobility challenges due to health or injury, this is a great way to experience Munich together. Just seeing the city come alive as you pass by…you’ll all revel in the idea that you’re someplace new and NOT at home. 

Disadvantages of the Munich Hop On Hop Off Bus

Nothing in life is ever perfect, and I’ll admit that there are a few disadvantages to using Munich Hop On Hop Off bus tours.

Long wait times
Definitely be aware of the time when you ‘hop off’ the bus at one stop and ‘hop on’ again. If you get to the bus stop too late, you could be waiting for a while, depending on traffic. On the day I used Munich Hop On Hop Off, a bus would arrive at the stops every 30 minutes. Check with the driver to confirm the schedule, since it may vary depending on the drivers that day.

Selfies can be difficult
This isn’t one of those ‘let me hop off, take a selfie real quick and hop on’. If you plan on taking any photos for your personal collection or for social media, this is not the way to do it. You will have to get off the bus, get closer to the landmark for your photo/post, then head back to the bus stop and wait for the next bus. For example, Schloss Nymphenburg is about a 5 minute walk from the bus stop, and you’ll have an unobstructed view but be somewhat far away. And Marienplatz, the main square of the city, can take hours to explore with its shops and landmarks within walking distance – Frauenkirche (the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich) and Rathaus (the town hall). 

Limited number of seats with the best views
I’m listing this as a disadvantage, even though it’s not something that we as humans can control. Unfortunately, the bus only has 4 seats in the very front of the upper deck that offer a fully unobstructed view. So if you’re a family of more than four, then the others might be left out of the nice view unless you are willing to split up who sits where.

Ticket Information

Hours of Operation: 10am – 5pm

Grand Ticket 
The Grand Ticket covers 3 different segments in Munich: City Center, Nymphenburg/Olympia and Schwabing/English Garden. If you stay on the bus through all three segments and never disembark, the tour will take 2 ½ hours.

24 hr ticket/1 day ticket price
Adult: 29 euro
Child (ages 4-14): 16 euro
Family (2 adults/3 children): 60 euro

48 hr ticket/2 day ticket price
Adult: 35 euro
Child (ages 4-14): 19 euro
Family: not available

Express Ticket
The Express Ticket is only valid for the City Center and will take 1 hour to finish. 

24 hr ticket/1 day ticket price
Adult: 24 euro
Child (ages 4-14): 16 euro
Family: not available

(Note: Prices may have changed since the time of this post. You may save money by purchasing in advance online. Check the website for the most up-to-date prices.)

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Next time you’re in Munich, take a tour on a hop on hop off bus!

What are your thoughts on this mode of transportation? Have you ever done this in Europe?