Safety at nightSafe. Munich is generally a safe city to navigate at night as a solo female traveler. Public spaces are well-lit, frequented by locals, and patrolled by Polizei (local police), even during the later hours. Always stay alert, stick to bustling areas and use common sense when walking alone.
The answer is yes. Munich is a very safe city where violent crime is rare. There is however the occasional petty crime. To prevent such incidents from occurring, you should always leave important documents in a safe place and avoid carrying valuables with you.
Germany, in general, has a high level of safety even at night. However, like any other urban areas in the world, some parts can be less secure than others. It's always prudent to stay aware of your surroundings, avoid less populated areas, and stick to well-lit lanes.
Like in every bigger city in the world you can become a victim of theft and lose your travel money. Places where masses of people or tourists are, may also attract pickpockets. So you should take some basic precautions and not leave your backpack, handbags, camera, mobile phone, wallet, etc.
You can walk most places after dark and even for solo female travel, Munich is super safe. If you are still a bit cautious though, stick to the city centre and stay in places like Marienplatz or Karlsplatz.
It's when making noise on Sundays (and weeknights after 10 pm) is legally off-limits. So, doing things like running your washing machine, mowing your lawn, or even vacuuming on a Sunday might lead to a complaint from your neighbors, a fine, or in extreme cases, legal action.
The commonly agreed upon quiet hours in Germany (Ruhezeit time period) are from 10pm and 6 or 7am on weekdays and the entire day on Sundays, although there can be some exceptions in different cities or if your landlord imposes other rules as well. Ruhezeit also applies to all public holidays for the entire day.
Germans are extremely punctual and well-mannered. Showing up late, losing your cool, or raising your voice are all considered rude and thoughtless. If you step out of line, don't be surprised or offended if someone corrects your behavior, as this is very common in the German culture.
It's quite common to see people out walking around the city late in the evening. While the area around the city's main train station, Hauptbahnhof, looks a bit seedy, it's generally considered safe.
It's a terminus for mainline trains, so as you can see in the photo below there is easy level access from street to concourse to platforms without any steps or stairs, so no problem at all changing trains with luggage. It's a safe place to be at any time of day or night.
Munich is an extremely walkable city. The old town and surrounding areas can easily be explored on foot, as can all of the city's parks, and the main shopping area is completely pedestrianized.
Munich is a thoroughly international city, and you'll often be able to find somebody who speaks English, but some German phrases will help you get by in places that are less frequented by tourists. In some spots, you may be greeted with a strong local accent.
Most major food stores in Munich are open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00. Most shops in the city centre are open from 10:00 to 20:00. Smaller shops often have shorter opening times.
Can I still take showers during quiet hours in Germany? Don't worry, of course, you can still do your everyday routines after 10 p.m. and also on Sundays and public holidays. You can flush the toilet, take a bath or shower at night as usual.
In business situations, most Germans shake hands at both the beginning and the end of a meeting. The German handshake may be accompanied by a slight nod of the head. Although this gesture is subtle, it is important. While Germans are open and generous with close friends, they tend to be formal and reserved in public.
In Germany, tipping is a voluntary act with which one can express one's satisfaction with a service. It is customary to tip in restaurants, hotels, cabs, at cloakrooms and at the hairdresser. The amount depends on the price of the service and the occasion.
The Totensonntag is a so-called “silent day” (stiller Tag). In some German states music or dance events are prohibited by law. Like on any other Sunday, offices, banks and schools are closed. Public transport usually runs on a normal Sunday schedule.
Sunday is also a day of rest at home in Germany. Though what is considered as "Quiet law" varies from town to town, it is generally frowned upon to do any noisy housework on Sundays in Germany. This includes using motor-driven lawn equipment, such as a lawnmower, or home equipment like a loud vacuum.
In Germany, quiet hours are typically from 10 pm every day, 6 am to 7 am on weekdays, and the entire Sunday. Time may vary in different cities in Germany as the German city Hamburg have a quiet time between 1 pm to 3 pm. In Berlin, quiet hours are between 10 pm to 6 am.
Walking through Munich, it's easy to understand why it is consistently voted one of Germany's most livable cities — safe, clean, cultured, a university town, built on a human scale, and close to the beauties of nature.
It may not be known for its tropical weather or laid-back lifestyle, but make no mistake: There's a lot to recommend about Munich (and Germany in general). Expats in Munich benefit from affordable education and a strong public healthcare system, not to mention some of the best job opportunities in all of Europe.
If you grow weary, refresh yourself aboard the city's excellent public transportation — the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram or bus. Coincidentally, you can also take the S-Bahn from the Franz-Josef-Strauss Airport (MUC), located just about 20 miles northeast of the downtown area. Taxis are available, too, but these are expensive.
