Honestly, if you've ever spent four hours pacing the gray, soul-crushing hallways of a mid-tier international airport, arriving at Airport Franz Josef Strauss feels like a fever dream. It’s clean. It’s fast. And, surprisingly, it actually feels like Bavaria.
Most people just call it Munich Airport. But the formal name—honoring the late Bavarian minister-president—carries a certain weight. This isn't just a place where planes land; it's a massive, high-tech engine that somehow manages to serve 43.4 million passengers a year without making you want to tear your hair out. In 2026, it was even crowned "Airport of the Year" at the ATW Awards, and if you've seen the new Terminal 2 extensions, you'd know why.
The Layout: Terminal 1 vs. Terminal 2
Navigating this place is basically a tale of two cities.
Terminal 1 is the veteran. It’s been around since the airport opened in 1992, replacing the old Riem site. It’s built in blocks (A through E), which is great because you can park almost directly in front of your gate. The downside? It can feel a bit fragmented. However, a massive €665 million expansion is currently wrapping up. This new pier is specifically designed for non-Schengen traffic, meaning if you’re flying in from the States or the UK on a carrier like Delta or Emirates, your experience just got a lot shinier.
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Then there’s Terminal 2. This is the Lufthansa kingdom.
It’s a joint venture between the airline and the airport, which is pretty rare in the aviation world. It works. The flow is intuitive, and the satellite terminal—accessible via an automated underground train that takes about 60 seconds—is arguably the quietest, most light-filled place to wait for a flight in all of Europe.
Why the Security Lines Don't Suck
You know the drill: take out the laptop, find the liquids, pray the guy in front of you doesn't have a belt with a giant metal buckle.
At Airport Franz Josef Strauss, they’ve largely fixed this. As of 2025, Terminal 2 completely switched over to state-of-the-art CT scanners. You don’t have to take anything out of your bag. Electronics stay in. Liquids stay in. It’s so efficient that 95% of passengers now clear security in under ten minutes. It’s the kind of small detail that makes a massive difference when you’re running late for a connection to Singapore or San Francisco.
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Eating and Drinking (Yes, There’s a Brewery)
Let’s talk about Airbräu. It is literally the world’s first airport brewery.
It’s located in the MAC (Munich Airport Center), the big open-air plaza between the terminals. You can sit in a traditional Bavarian beer garden, under a massive glass roof, and drink a jet-black "Jetstream" beer brewed right on-site. The prices are actually "downtown" prices—not the typical $15-for-a-sad-sandwich airport robbery.
- Mountain Hub Gourmet: If you’re feeling fancy, this place has a Michelin star. It’s the only airport restaurant in Germany with that honor.
- Dallmayr: For the coffee snobs and those who want high-end German chocolates.
- Edeka: A full-scale supermarket landside. If you’re a local returning home or a tourist who needs cheap snacks, this is a lifesaver.
Getting to Airport Franz Josef Strauss
Basically, you have three main choices to get from the city center to the gates.
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- The S-Bahn (S1 and S8): These run every 10 minutes. The S1 goes around the west side of the city; the S8 goes through the east. Both take about 40 minutes. Pro tip: If you're coming from the Hauptbahnhof (Main Station), just take whichever one leaves first.
- Lufthansa Express Bus: It’s not just for Lufthansa passengers. It leaves every 20 minutes from the main station and Schwabing. It’s often faster than the train if the traffic on the A92 is behaving.
- The ÜFEX: This is the "Airport Express" train that connects the airport to places like Regensburg and Landshut. It’s great if you aren't actually staying in Munich but exploring broader Bavaria.
The Green Future and the Third Runway
The airport has set a pretty aggressive goal: Net Zero by 2035.
They’re currently installing 50 Megawatts of photovoltaic systems and swapping out every vehicle on the apron for electric versions. Even the fire department is looking at alternative fuels.
But there is a bit of a local drama: the Third Runway.
It’s been debated for decades. Supporters say it’s vital for growth; opponents (and a 2012 referendum) have kept it stalled. Currently, the project is on ice until at least 2028, but as passenger numbers climb back toward the 50 million mark, the conversation is getting loud again.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Visit
- Book a Napcab: If you have a long layover in Terminal 2, these tiny private cabins are a godsend. You pay by the hour, and they have a bed, a desk, and a TV.
- The Visitors Park: If you have kids (or just love planes), take the S-Bahn one stop back to "Besucherpark." There’s a hill you can climb to watch the 08L/26R runway action and some vintage planes you can walk through.
- Skip the Line: Check the Munich Airport app for "Live Security Wait Times." It’s actually accurate.
- Free Coffee: In certain Lufthansa gate areas in Terminal 2, there are still free coffee and tea stations. They’re becoming rarer, so hunt them down.
Airport Franz Josef Strauss manages to be a massive international hub while still feeling somewhat human. Whether you're there for the Michelin-starred food or just a quick transit to the Alps, it's a blueprint for how modern airports should actually function.
Next Steps for Your Trip
If you are planning a transit soon, check your terminal assignment on the official Munich Airport website, as Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are not physically connected behind security. For those with a layover longer than six hours, consider taking the S8 to Marienplatz for a quick look at the Glockenspiel before heading back—just ensure you have a valid Schengen visa or entry permit.