London to Munich (LGW–MUC) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

British passport holders enter Germany (and the entire Schengen Area) visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day rolling period. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date with at least two blank pages. Since Brexit, UK passports are stamped on entry and exit, and UK nationals use the non-EU passport lanes.

Border officers can ask for proof of accommodation, return travel, and sufficient funds (Germany suggests EUR 45 per day). The 90-day limit is shared across all 29 Schengen states. ETIAS pre-travel authorization (EUR 7, valid 3 years) is expected to become mandatory in late 2026. For stays over 90 days, apply for a national visa (Aufenthaltstitel) at the German embassy in London before travel.

Direct flights from London to Frankfurt run about 1 hour 40 minutes, to Berlin about 1 hour 50 minutes, and to Munich about 1 hour 55 minutes. Lufthansa, British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair all operate nonstop service to multiple German cities. Germany uses the euro. No vaccination requirements for UK arrivals. A UK driving license is valid for visits up to 6 months. German autobahns have no blanket speed limit, but many stretches have posted limits enforced by fixed and mobile cameras.

The Gatwick Express runs non-stop from London Victoria to the South Terminal in 30 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes (from £21.50 one-way; advance fares cheaper online). Thameslink trains from London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, and Farringdon are slower (35–45 min) but significantly cheaper; often £10–13 on Oyster or contactless. Southern trains also serve the route.National coaches (National Express, Megabus) connect Gatwick to Victoria Coach Station for £6–15. Taxis from central London cost £70–100+ depending on traffic. Driving via M23 and A23 takes 35–60 minutes; multi-storey car parks are directly connected to both terminals by a 2-minute monorail shuttle.

S8 S-Bahn to Marienplatz (central Munich) takes 40 minutes (€13.60). S1 offers an alternative route. Both run every 20 minutes, starting from around 4am. The Airport City Day Ticket (€12.80) covers all city zones and is worth buying if making multiple journeys.

Lufthansa Airport Bus to Hauptbahnhof costs €12 (45 min). Taxis to central Munich run €65–80. For Nuremberg, ICE trains run from the airport station via Munich Hauptbahnhof. The terminal complex (T1 and T2) is efficiently laid out with short walks between check-in and gates.

Continental climate at 453m elevation. Winters (December–February) bring regular snowfall and temperatures of −5 to 3°C. The airport is well-equipped for winter operations and rarely closes for snow, but heavy snowfall and black ice cause delays. Munich can be hit by Föhn wind events: a warm alpine wind that reduces visibility and generates turbulence.

Summers are warm (22–28°C) with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. These can be severe enough to ground aircraft temporarily. Spring and fall are pleasant but variable. October is reliably clear and often the best month for connections.