While Berlin is the capital of Germany, Munich is the capital of Bavaria, Germany’s Southern state. Munich is a fairly large city, with about 1.5 million residents, and is a prime tourist destination with too many activities and attractions such as Englischer Garten and Deutsches museum within the region.

Best known for beer gardens and Oktoberfest, Munich is a must for any German vacation itinerary. In total, Munich has 25 boroughs. To help plan your trip, we’ve rounded up some of the best Munich neighborhoods and Munich hotels to choose from. Trying to work out where to stay in Munich Germany?

We will cover off all types of Munich accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Munich hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Munich 2023, the best Munich hotels, best places in Munich to visit, the best places to stay in Munich, hotels near Munich attractions, Munich neighborhood guide and many more.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy. 

Altstadt-Lehel – Where to stay in Munich first time visitors

The first borough of Munich is Altstadt-Lehel. Altstadt is the “Old Town” and where you’ll find a large concentration of tourist attractions, including Hofbrauhaus, Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel. Lehel is the adjacent neighborhood once considered a suburb, but it’s been part of Munich since 1724.

Visitors who want to be in the center of everything and are willing to pay a premium for that convenience will find lots of options within walking distance in Altstadt-Lehel or head to the train station for ease of getting around and the Munich airport is a short ride away. This area of Munich is considered the best part of Munich to stay due to its central location and offers some of the best Munich hotels.

Where to stay in Munich Old Town

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Altstadt-Lehel:
Gspusi Bar Hostel
Wombat’s Munich
Euro Youth Hotel
Smart Stay Hotel Station

Budget Hotels in Altstadt-Lehel:
Pension Seibel
Am Sendlinger Tor
Hotel Atlanta
Pension am Jakobsplatz

Mid-Range Hotels in Altstadt-Lehel:
Maximilian Munich Apartments & Hotel
Hotel an der Oper
Hotel Lux
CORTIINA Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Altstadt-Lehel:
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munchen
Hotel Isartor
LOUIS Hotel
Hotel Concorde

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Altstadt-Lehel:
Bayerischer Hof Hotel
BEYOND by Geisel
Platzl Hotel
Mandarin Oriental, Munich

Schwabing – Cool places to stay in Munich

Schwabing is another excellent place to stay in Munich. A Bohemian neighborhood that is now very trendy thanks to gentrification, Schwabing is home to several museums, the English Gardens and a University. The neighborhood is lined with shops and cafes; important criteria when selecting a Munich neighborhood for your stay. From Schwabing, the rest of the city is easily accessible via the Metro.

Best Places to Stay in Schwabing

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Schwabing:

a&o Munchen Hackerbrucke
Smart Stay Hotel Station
The 4YOU Hostel & Hotel Munich
Haus International

Budget Hotels in Schwabing:
Creatif Hotel Elephant
Ibis Muenchen City Nord
Hotel Lex garni im Gartenhof
SVG Boardinghaus

Mid-Range Hotels in Schwabing:
Mercure Hotel Muenchen Schwabing
Hotel Vitalis by Amedia
Motel One Munchen Olympia Gate
H’Otello F’22

Family Friendly Hotels in Schwabing:
Fleming’s Hotel Munchen-Schwabing
Hotel Europa
Munich Marriott Hotel
Hotel im Hof

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Schwabing:
Steigenberger Hotel Munchen
Hotel Koenigshof
Hilton Munich Park
The Charles Hotel

Maxvorstadt – Where to stay in Munich on a budget

To be near the highest concentration of museums and art galleries, consider Maxvorstadt. Known as the intellectual hub of Munich, you’ll find art, culture and education in Maxvorstadt, which is home to several universities as well as Munich hostels.

With so many uni students around, there are many great options for budget dining and shopping, as well as street food and nightlife. Maxvorstadt is very walkable, and you can also easily hop on the Metro to reach the rest of Munich.

Best Places to Stay in Maxvorstadt

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Maxvorstadt:

Jaeger’s Hostel
Wombat’s Munich

Budget Hotels in Maxvorstadt:
Hotel Amba
Novum Hotel Muenchen Am Hauptbahnhof
Ibis Muenchen City
Creatif Hotel Elephant

Mid-Range Hotels in Maxvorstadt:
Augusten Hotel
Hotel Montree
Ruby Lilly Hotel Munich
Hotel Konigswache

Family Friendly Hotels in Maxvorstadt:
KING’s HOTEL CityStay
Hotel Erzgiesserei Europe
Arthotel ANA Diva

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Maxvorstadt:
Conrad Hotel de Ville
Le Meridien Munich
Hotel Koenigshof

Nymphenburg – Where to stay in Munich with family

The area around Nymphenburg Palace is another great place to stay in Munich. A bit quieter and off the beaten tourist track, Nymphenburg offers a glimpse at how locals live in Munich. For families seeking a quieter escape from the city, Nymphenburg should be considered. Hirschgarten park is located here, as well as the largest beer garden in the world, Königlicher Hirschgarten.

Best Places to Stay in Nymphenburg

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Nymphenburg:
a&o Munchen Laim
MEININGER Hotel Munich City Center
a&o Munchen Hackerbrucke

Budget Hotels in Nymphenburg:
B&B Hotel Muenchen City-West
Ibis Muenchen City Arnulfpark
Hotel Moosbichl
Hotel Tessin

Mid-Range Hotels in Nymphenburg:
Hotel Laimer Hof
Hotel Kriemhild
Prinz Myshkin Parkhotel
Amalienburg

Family Friendly Hotels in Nymphenburg:
Leonardo Hotel Munich City North
Harry’s Home Hotel Munich
Holiday Inn Express Munich City West
Super 8 Munich City West

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Maxvorstadt:
Roomers Munich Autograph Collection
Le Meridien Munich
Sofitel Munich Bayerpost

Haidhausen – Where to stay in Munich for nightlife

Live like a local by staying in Haidhausen. This is a popular residential area for Munich’s younger population, thanks to a vibrant nightlife scene. If you’re visiting Munich for the nightlife, consider staying in Haidhausen.

Two of the popular areas are Kultfabrik and Optimolwerke, both of which have dozens of nightclubs to suit various tastes. Some of the clubs are open until 6 am, so if you’re looking for a quiet experience, this may not be the best place to stay in Munich.

Best Places to Stay in Haidhausen

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Haidhausen:
Euro Youth Hotel
Smart Stay Hotel Station
Smart Stay Hostel Munich City
Gspusi Bar Hostel

Budget Hotels in Haidhausen:
Motel One Munchen-Deutsches Museum
Brecherspitze Hotel
Mk | Hotel
Haus Isartor

Mid-Range Hotels in Haidhausen:
Hilton Munich City
Derag Livinghotel am Deutschen Museum
Holiday Inn Munich – City Centre
Novotel Munich City

Family Friendly Hotels in Haidhausen:
Hotel Aurbacher
Hotel Isartor
Design Hotel Stadt Rosenheim
Hotel Prinz

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Haidhausen:
Mandarin Oriental, Munich
BEYOND by Geisel
Platzl Hotel
Hotel Muenchen Palace

Bogenhausen – Best neighborhood to stay in Munich

Munich’s largest borough is Bogenhausen. Stately mansions line the streets of Bogenhausen, which now house many foreign embassies. Bogenhausen is an interesting mix of old and new, with 19th century villas, and modern buildings like the Hypovereinsbank Tower, one of Munich’s few skyscrapers.

You’ll find many of the best hotels in Munich, such as Sheraton and Westin, alongside other options, depending on your budget. Since Bogenhausen is such a large district, make note of which area of the borough you are considering, to ensure your criteria are adequately met.

Best Places to Stay in Bogenhausen

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Bogenhausen:
Jaeger’s Hostel
Wombat’s Munich
Gspusi Bar Hostel

Budget Hotels in Bogenhausen:
ibis Styles Munchen Ost Messe
Motel One Munchen-Deutsches Museum
Ibis Muenchen City Nord

Mid-Range Hotels in Bogenhausen:
Sheraton Muenchen Arabellapark Hotel
Hotel Ritzi
Leonardo Hotel Munich Arabellapark
Hotel Rothof

Family Friendly Hotels in Bogenhausen:
Hotel Adria Munchen
Hotel Muenchen Palace
Motel One Muenchen City-Ost
Hotel Opera

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Bogenhausen:
The Westin Grand Munchen
Hilton Munich Park
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munchen
Hotel Muenchen Palace

Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt – Where to stay in Munich for oktoberfest

Best known as the home of Oktoberfest, Ludwigsvorstadt is sometimes called Little Istanbul, thanks to the many Middle Eastern stores and restaurants in the area. The adjacent area of Isarvorstadt is a popular destination for LBGTQ and hipster travelers. Both areas are still very central, meaning easy public transportation and a 20-minute walk to Altstadt.

There are many public squares, with biergartens, cafes and entertainment. There are many hotels in this area, with a wide range of options for differing budgets.

Best Places to Stay in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt:
Smart Stay Hostel Munich City
Jugendherberge Muenchen-Park
MEININGER Hotel Munich City Center

Budget Hotels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt:
Litty’s Hotel
Hotel-Pension Schmellergarten
Hotel Westend
Hotel Pension Haydn Munich

Mid-Range Hotels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt:
Hotel Seibel
Hotel St. Paul
Bavaria Boutique Hotel
Hotel Uhland

Family Friendly Hotels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt:
Relexa Hotel Munich
Four Points by Sheraton Munchen Central
Hotel Brack
Bold Hotel Munich Center

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt:
Sofitel Munich Bayerpost
Conrad Hotel de Ville
Hotel Koenigshof

If you’d like to save it for later, please save it to Pinterest.