Hauptbahnhof / Ludwigsvorstadt

Wombats City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof

★★★★★

For budget travellers, Wombats City Hostel Munich Hauptbahnhof gets the essentials right, and it does so in a location that is hard to beat for anyone planning day trips. The hostel stands at Senefelderstrasse 1, the second building on a side street off the Bayerstrasse, right next to the main station: walk out of the Bayerstrasse exit, cross the road and turn into Senefelderstrasse, and you are there. That means a direct S-Bahn ride of around 45 minutes from the airport, on the S1 or S8, and easy access to trains to Neuschwanstein, Salzburg, the Zugspitze, Chiemsee and Dachau, as well as to the U-Bahn and tram lines that fan out across the city. Marienplatz is around twenty minutes on foot or a few minutes by S-Bahn. Wombats is one of Europe's best-known hostel brands, and its formula is designed for comfort and safety rather than party chaos. Dorms have sturdy bunk beds, three bunks to a room, with en-suite showers and toilets, and every guest has a robust personal locker. Classic and quiet dorms are for guests aged 18 and over, though age policies vary by season. Private double rooms are available for couples and friends who want their own space at a lower price than a hotel. There is a fully equipped guest kitchen for cooking your own meals, which saves money in an expensive city, and the WomBAR is the social heart of the hostel, where dorm guests get a free welcome drink. Breakfast, which ranges from a classic spread to vegan options, comes with unlimited coffee and tea. The station area is not Munich's prettiest, and the streets around it can be busy and gritty at night, but they are full of cheap Turkish, Middle Eastern and Asian restaurants, and for value, convenience and atmosphere, Wombats is one of the best budget beds in the city.

Location: the hostel is in the Ludwigsvorstadt, the busy quarter south of the main station, with the Augustiner Keller beer garden a short walk north-west and the Theresienwiese, home of Oktoberfest and of the winter Tollwood festival, about fifteen minutes' walk south-west. The old town begins at the Karlsplatz (Stachus), around ten minutes away. Day trippers can roll out of bed and onto a train within minutes.

Who it suits: backpackers, solo travellers, students and groups of friends on a budget, and anyone who wants to use Munich as a base for train day trips. Couples on a budget may prefer a private double. Families should check the current age policy and room types before booking, and light sleepers should bring earplugs, as in any hostel.

Compared with nearby options: the other big hostels and budget chains around the station are similar in price, but Wombats is consistently well regarded for cleanliness, security and atmosphere. For a little more money, Motel One Sendlinger Tor offers private rooms with more style, and the Hotel Excelsior on the Schuetzenstrasse offers four-star comfort a few minutes away. During Oktoberfest, prices for beds rise sharply and the hostel books up far in advance.