Big Bus Munich FAQ: your questions answered

For the historic centre alone, probably not as your main way around. Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, the Residenz, Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche sit in one cluster that works well on foot in a half day. The bus earns its place when you want the Orange Line's Nymphenburg Palace and Olympiapark stops, which are too far apart to walk, and the Green Line can then be a convenient extra. Compare ticket pages before you commit.

The Green Line loop runs about 1 hour, and the Orange Line loop about 1 hour 20 minutes. If you stay aboard for the whole loop, that is the time you will spend on the bus, and getting off at stops adds to the total. Plan the Orange Line for a longer part of the day than the Green Line.

Karlsplatz (Stachus) is named as the main boarding stop for both lines, though you can board at other stops on each route. It is a useful place to begin if you are not sure where to start.

Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz are stops in their own right on the Green Line. Max-Joseph-Platz is about 100 metres from the Munich Residence, Marienplatz is about 200 metres from the Frauenkirche and Viktualienmarkt and about 100 metres from St. Peter's Church, and Odeonsplatz is about 300 metres from the Hofgarten.

No. None of the stops on either line sits within walking distance of Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace or the Dachau memorial site. Plan these as separate day trips, and do not count on the city bus to get you there.

Yes. The Orange Line calls at Nymphenburg Palace and at the Olympiapark and BMW Welt area, and it also includes Schwabing. The order of stops is not set out for this line, so check the ticket page for a map before you plan your sequence.

Check the ticket page before booking so you know which category your children fall into. Once on the route, the palace gardens and Olympiapark give children room to get off and run around between rides.

Getting on and off at stops is the basic idea of a hop-on hop-off ticket, but the number of times you can board and the rules for rejoining sit with the ticket you choose. Look for those rules on the ticket page before you buy.

Validity depends on the ticket you pick, and the periods differ between products. Check the ticket page for the exact period before you book, so you know how many days or hours it covers for your plans.

Hop-on hop-off products across Munich are offered in as many as eleven languages, including German and English. Which languages a particular bus uses should be checked on the ticket page, since that varies by product.

Wheelchair space and other vehicle features should be confirmed on the ticket page before you book. Stops are spread across the central area and the palace and Olympic districts, so check how each stop suits your needs.

Late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable time for an open-top ride, and the palace and park stops are nicest in dry weather. Winter rides are possible but cold, so bring warm layers. Pick the drier months if you plan to combine the bus with time in the gardens.

A walking tour usually follows a set route with a guide, which suits the old-town cluster around Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz. The bus lets you choose when to get off and reaches Nymphenburg and Olympiapark, which lie outside that cluster. Many visitors do both: walk the centre, then ride out to the palace.

Yes. Several operators run hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses in the city, most as open-top or double-decker loops, with loops running from roughly an hour to 90 minutes. Compare the products on the ticket page to find the one that fits your route.