By plane
Getting to the “S-Bahn” railway station on Munich airport: Upon arrival, proceed through passport and customs and follow the signs to the “S-Bahn” (railway). The “S-Bahn” station is located directly underneath the airport terminal. The logo of the “S-Bahn” is a white letter S on a green circle. You will be directed to escalators leading down to the “S-Bahn” platform. Near the escalators are MVV (public transport) ticket machines and some detailed information of the train departure schedule. The trains go into Munich about every 10 minutes.Purchase a ticket at the ticket machines: a ‘”Streifenkarte” will cost € 11.50 and contains 10 “Streifen” (strips). There are blue boxes with an “E” on it for validating your ticket at the top of the escalators. Do not proceed to the platform until you have validated your ticket by inserting it into the blue box. You need to validate it at number 8 (i.e. use 8 strips).
After validating your ticket go down the escalator and get on the next train ( S1 or S8 ) to Munich. You can not go the wrong direction because the airport is the last stop. Stay on the train until “Marienplatz” (this is the town centre of Munich).
Change trains from the “S-Bahn” to the “U-Bahn” (underground, marked by a large white U on blue background). Take line U6 direction “Klinikum Großhadern” to the stop “Großhadern” Change there to bus No. 266 direction “Planegg” and go as far as “Max-Planck-Institute”.
There is no need to validate your ticket again when you change from “S-Bahn” to “U-Bahn” to bus.
Alternative:
If you are on the S8 you can stay on the “S-Bahn” and go all the way down to the last station “Pasing” The journey will take approximately 45 minutes and passes through the centre of Munich. At “Pasing” get off the train. On leaving “Pasing” station take a taxi (there should be some waiting outside the station on your left) and ask to be taken to the Max Planck Institutes in “Martinsried” (Note: there are other Max Planck Institutes in other parts of Munich). The taxi fare is about € 12.
By train
If you arrive by train at Munich “Hauptbahnhof” (central station) look out for a MVV ticket machine. Choose button “2” and pay the fare which is about € 2.30. Follow the signs to the “S-Bahn” (white S on green background). Validate your ticket by inserting it into the blue box with an “E” on it before entering the “S-Bahn” area. Proceed to the “S-Bahn” platform in direction “Ostbahnhof” Take the next train (all trains go the same direction) and go to “Marienplatz”. Change trains from the “S-Bahn” to the “U-Bahn” (underground, marked by a large white “U” on blue background). Take line U6 direction “Klinikum Großhadern” to the stop “Großhadern”. Change there to bus No. 266 direction “Planegg” and go as far as “Max-Planck-Institute”. There is no need to validate your ticket again when you change from “S-Bahn” to “U-Bahn” to bus.
By car
Coming from Autobahn Nürnberg (A9): take exit “Mittlerer Ring West” (A99) and stay on A99 direction “Lindau/Garmisch”. Once A99 intersects with Autobahn Lindau (A96) follow A96 direction “München Zentrum/Garmisch”. Take exit 36b and follow direction “Gräfelfing”. In Gräfelfing turn left onto “Würmtalstraße” (direction “Großhadern”), turn right after approx. 1.5 km and follow the white signs to the “Max-Planck-Institute”.
Coming from Autobahn Stuttgart (A8): exit Autobahn A8 and follow A99 direction “Lindau/Garmisch”. Once A99 intersects with Autobahn Lindau (A96) follow A96 direction “München Zentrum”. Take exit 36b and follow direction “Gräfelfing”. In Gräfelfing turn left onto “Würmtalstraße” (direction “Großhadern”); turn right after approx. 1.5 km and follow the white signs to the “Max-Planck-Institute”.
Coming from Autobahn Salzburg or from Autobahn Garmisch: Take the exit “München-Fürstenried” and turn right direction to Neuried. Then turn left after 500 m onto “Neurieder Straße” and after an approx. 1 km take the “Graubündener Straße” on the right. After an other 3 km turn left in the “Würmtalstraße” (direction “Großhadern”). Now turn left after approx. 1 km and follow the white signs to the “Max-Planck-Institute”.
Coming from Autobahn Lindau: Take exit 36b and follow direction “Gräfelfing”. In Gräfelfing turn left onto “Würmtalstraße”; turn right after approx. 1.5 km and follow the white sign to the “Max-Planck-Institute”.