Where to Stay in Munich
Munich, Germany, is located in Bavaria and is well-known for being the home of the REAL Oktoberfest celebration that happens annually for two weeks in late September and early October. (Any other “Oktoberfest” you have attended elsewhere around the world, even in Germany, is not the one TRUE Oktoberfest!) For my dad’s milestone birthday last year, we planned a two-week-long family trip to Germany and Austria with the main event being Oktoberfest in Munich!
Once my dad finalized what dates he wanted to be in Munich, the hotels were the first things we booked because hotels sell out WELL in advance if you are planning to attend Oktoberfest (or even the Christmas markets). You have a bit more flexibility if you are visiting Munich at any other time of year. In this post, I shared where to stay in Munich including a review of the hotel my partner and I stayed at for Oktoberfest, the best area to stay in Munich, and a round-up of spots I recommend you check out for your next stay in Munich!
Best Places to Stay in Munich Germany
Where to Stay in Munich
When you visit Munich, I recommend staying in an area of the city that is close to all of the places you want to explore BUT it’s not a must, especially if you are traveling on a budget. Munich is well-connected by subway and there are also some light rail lines. Here are popular neighborhoods and areas in Munich that are worth checking out, especially if you are planning to visit for Oktoberfest:
Old Town (Altstadt)
Westend (near Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is held)
Lehel (where we stayed, near Old Town)
My number one tip when finding a place to stay in Munich is to look at the subway lines to see where the stops are and pick an accommodation within walking distance of a subway stop. If you do that, you’re golden and can go all over the city with ease—even if you are visiting during a popular time of year, like during Oktoberfest or the Christmas markets!
Read on for my review of the hotel we stayed at for Oktoberfest 2023, the best area to stay in Munich, and a list of the best places to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest! There’s also a map at the end of the post with tons of hotels and vacation rentals ready for you to browse and book in Munich.
Unsöld’s Factory Hotel Review
Book direct or via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Expedia.
After lots of browsing, Korri and I booked and stayed at the Unsöld’s Factory Hotel (a top-notch recommendation from Jessica!) during our family trip to Oktoberfest and would not hesitate to stay here again!
We stayed in a Superior Double Room, which offered a little more room than their Premium Double Room (the Deluxe Double Room is bigger than the Superior Double Room). Beds in Europe are generally listed as being a double or queen; our “queen” bed definitely felt more like a king (it seemed like two twins pushed together). We had plenty of space! I loved the individual duvets.
In addition to the bed, our room featured a lounge chair, desk, closet space, TV, and a fan that we used every night; we sleep with a fan at home and this one had some noise that we really appreciated! Usually room fans are so quiet, lol. Our bathroom only had a shower but it did have a towel heater. I did not like that the shower only had a half-wall, so I definitely got water everywhere…oops.
Unsöld’s Factory Hotel is located in Lehel, which is a neighborhood adjacent to (and within walking distance of) Old Town and the English Garden (Englischer Garten), featuring Eisbachwelle. It’s home to our new favorite coffee shop, Cafe Lehel! I miss their blended drinks. The closest subway stop (Lehel) was under a 10-minute walk away. We were four subway stops from Theresienwiese, the Oktoberfest grounds.
The rest of my family stayed closer to Theresienwiese; we were not within walking distance of Oktoberfest like they were, but I also didn’t want to be that close. (For what it’s worth, my dad said he’d book our hotel next time!)
I booked Unsöld’s Factory Hotel via Hotels.com in mid-November 2022 for our late September 2023 visit to Munich! We stayed in a Superior Double Room for $242 (USD) per night (fully refundable until two weeks before our trip). Breakfast was not included, which was fine because we enjoyed walking down to Cafe Lehel!
Best Area to Stay in Munich
In my not-at-all biased opinion, the best area to stay in Munich is either Old Town or Lehel. If you are visiting Munich for the first time, it’s worth staying in the middle of everything and being within walking distance of most of the sites. While Munich has public transit, we found it easier to either walk or take the subway to everywhere we needed to go. The light rail routes didn’t seem as connected or convenient as they are in other cities (like Berlin).
If you are visiting Munich for a big event like Oktoberfest and want to be within walking distance, you might prefer staying closer to Theresienwiese, such as the Westend neighborhood on the west side of Theresienwiese. Those hotels will definitely be among the first to sell out, and of course, the nicer ones will sell out before the others, so be sure to jump on it if you are planning a trip. I recommend staying outside of Theresienwiese for fewer crowds and less rowdiness that may go well into the middle of the night.
Best Places to Stay in Munich for Oktoberfest
I rounded up 10 hotels worth checking for availability in my top neighborhoods for Oktoberfest in Munich (Old Town, Westend, and Lehel). All of these areas felt safe to me, though there were more (drunken) people the closer you got to Oktoberfest. These hotels in Munich are all local (or European chains), but there are some American hotel brands that call Munich home, too.
Bavaria Boutique Hotel (Westend)
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This family-run hotel is a quick and easy walk from the entrance to Oktoberfest without being on the same street. It’s the perfect spot to call home for a few days in Munich! There are a bunch of places to eat and drink around the hotel (including beer gardens), and some of their rooms feature balconies. Get directions.
Cortiina Hotel (Old Town)
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If you’re looking for an upscale hotel experience in Old Town Munich, look no further than Cortiina Hotel! It’s located east of Marienplatz and steps away from Viktualienmarkt, a popular farmers market. Indulge at Grapes Wine Bar and explore the area’s many local bars and restaurants! Get directions.
Hotel Augustin (Westend)
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You can’t beat this location right next to Theresienwiese if you are headed to Oktoberfest! This hotel comes highly rated AND features a 2 pm check-in time, which is great if you want to start the festivities early. This hotel is close to Bavarian restaurants as well as the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum that highlights historic vehicles, buses, and train cars. Get directions.
Hotel Deutsche Eiche (Old Town)
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This 3-star hotel is located on the southern end of Old Town and within walking distance of Deutsches Museum, a technology museum (you could also opt for public transport). Enjoy the hotel’s restaurant, rooftop terrace, and sauna! It’s also close to Viktualienmarkt and a variety of bars and restaurants. Get directions.
Hotel Krone München (Westend)
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This hotel is another great option right by Theresienwiese. It’s located in the cutest, brightest yellow building (and like most buildings in central Munich, very historic). There are only 30 rooms in this hotel that also features a cozy bar. A fitness studio is located next door if you want to move your body even more (or even indulge in a massage) while you’re on vacation. Get directions.
Hotel Torbräu (Old Town-Lehel)
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This isn’t the fanciest 4-star hotel, but it does boast an excellent location in Old Town Munich! It’s right off of the subway line so you can get around the city with ease. While you’re in Munich, walk down to Hofbräuhaus, Viktualienmarkt, Isartor (Isar Gate), and the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. Get directions.
Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor (Old Town)
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Motel One is a popular European chain that comes recommended by Europeans. It’s generally on the less expensive side though I would expect elevated prices around Oktoberfest. This hotel is located on the southern end of Old Town near the Sendlinger Tor subway stop that connects you to the rest of the city. Get directions.
Motel One München-Westend (Westend)
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There’s another Motel One located in the Westend neighborhood on the west side of the Oktoberfest grounds. It’s a bit farther away from Theresienwiese but still within walking distance (and it’s likely a bit quieter on that side of the neighborhood). Popular brewery Augustiner-Bräu is down the road! Get directions.
Platzl Hotel (Old Town-Lehel)
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This highly-rated 4-star hotel is located close to all of the sites in Old Town Munich, including Marienplatz, Hofbräuhaus, and numerous bars and restaurants. Because it is so centrally located, you’ll pay a little more to stay here versus other areas of town. Get directions.
Unsöld’s Factory Hotel (Lehel)
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I shared more about our experiences staying in this 4-star hotel above! It’s located in a quiet neighborhood northeast of Old Town within walking distance of public transit, Englischer Garten, Munich Residenz, Marienplatz, and more. There are also a number of Bavarian restaurants nearby, including one we loved called Tattenbach Wirtshaus & Stüberl. Get directions.