Quick answer. At Munich Airport (MUC), Lufthansa's second hub, the trap is the blue Euronet ATMs, which charge a high fee and push DCC. Use a real bank machine instead, and if you carry a Bank of America card, Deutsche Bank is a BoA Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free for BoA debit. Bavaria, and Germany generally, is notably cash-friendly, so withdraw a useful euro float. Decline DCC and choose euros. To central Munich (about 35 km): the S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 reach the city in roughly 40 minutes for about €13 (or a cheaper Airport-City-Day-Ticket); contactless and the MVV ticket machines both work.
Where to get euro at MUC
The key Munich Airport fact is to avoid the blue Euronet ATMs and use a real bank machine; Deutsche Bank is fee-free for Bank of America cards, and any bank ATM is cheap with a no-FX-fee card. The cost math below assumes you withdraw the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank ATM (BoA Alliance, fee-free for BoA cards) | City; airport where available | 0% for BoA debit; interbank otherwise | ~$110 + $0 fee (BoA) |
| Other bank ATM on a no-FX-fee card | Airport and city | Interbank rate, little or no surcharge | ~$110 + $0 fee |
| Blue Euronet ATM | MUC terminals | High operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$95-102 |
| Airport exchange counter | MUC arrivals | A wide spread plus fees | ~$95-100 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +4-12% if you choose 'charge in USD' | ~$96-104 |
Where to find the real bank ATMs at Munich Airport (MUC), and the Euronet machines to avoid
Munich Airport (MUC), named after Franz Josef Strauss, is Germany's second-busiest airport and a major Lufthansa and Star Alliance hub, with two terminals: Terminal 1 and the newer Terminal 2 (the Lufthansa and Star Alliance home), linked airside and by the central forum. As at Frankfurt, the key money fact is to avoid the blue Euronet ATMs in the terminals, which dispense euros but charge a high operator fee and push dynamic currency conversion. Use a real bank machine instead. Bavaria is one of the more cash-attached parts of an already cash-friendly Germany, so a euro float is genuinely useful, especially for beer gardens, bakeries, and markets. If you carry a Bank of America card, Deutsche Bank is a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM gives fee-free withdrawals for BoA debit. Otherwise a no-FX-fee card (Wise, Schwab) at any bank ATM is cleanest. Decline DCC, choose euros, and take the S-Bahn into the city.
Terminal 2
Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners (the main home for Lufthansa long-haul and European flights), shared with the satellite concourse
In the arrivals area, walk past the blue Euronet ATMs; use a real bank machine, and if you have a Bank of America card, a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free as a BoA Alliance partner. With a no-FX-fee card, any bank ATM is fine. Decline DCC, choose euros, then follow signs to the S-Bahn station beneath the central forum
Terminal 1
Other carriers, including SkyTeam, Oneworld, and leisure airlines. Connected to Terminal 2 and the S-Bahn via the central area (München Flughafen station)
As in Terminal 2, avoid the blue Euronet machines and use a real bank ATM, ideally Deutsche Bank if you hold a Bank of America card. Decline DCC, choose euros, then head to the central S-Bahn station for the S1 or S8 into Munich
Do you actually need cash at Munich (MUC)?
Not to leave the airport (the S-Bahn takes contactless and tickets), but yes in town, since Bavaria is cash-friendly. Here is what works, and where euro cash still helps:
S-Bahn (S1 / S8 to central Munich) (~€13 single (cheaper day ticket)): About 40 min to Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz. The Airport-City-Day-Ticket is better value; groups can share a day ticket. MVV machines and contactless.
Lufthansa Express Bus (~€12-13): Direct coach to Munich Hauptbahnhof, roughly 45 min. Pay by card.
Taxi (~€60-80 to the centre): From the terminal taxi ranks; cards generally accepted.
Regional connections (Varies): Onward regional trains and buses from the city stations; tickets and contactless accepted.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Munich (MUC) to Munich?
No. S-Bahn (S1 / S8 to central Munich) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order euro before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euro to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 euro for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM should I use at Munich Airport, and which to avoid?
Avoid the blue Euronet ATMs in the terminals; they charge a high operator fee and push dynamic currency conversion. Use a real bank machine instead. If you have a Bank of America card, Deutsche Bank is a BoA Global ATM Alliance partner, so a Deutsche Bank ATM is fee-free for BoA debit. With a no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab, any German bank ATM gives euros at the interbank rate with little or no surcharge. Always decline DCC and choose euros, and if in doubt, withdraw a small float at the airport and a larger amount at a bank machine in the city.
Is Deutsche Bank a Bank of America Alliance partner in Germany?
Yes. Deutsche Bank is a member of the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance in Germany, so a Bank of America debit card withdraws euros at a Deutsche Bank ATM with no BoA non-network fee and no Deutsche Bank operator surcharge. That makes Deutsche Bank the best machine for BoA cardholders in Munich. Look for Deutsche Bank branches in the city. Even so, decline dynamic currency conversion and choose euros, because DCC is a separate avoidable markup that the Alliance does not cover.
How much cash do I need in Munich and Bavaria?
A useful amount. Germany is notably cash-friendly and Bavaria especially so: beer gardens, bakeries, smaller restaurants, market stalls, and some shops still prefer or require cash, even though cards and contactless are increasingly accepted in the cities. Carry a euro float and top it up at a bank ATM rather than the airport Euronet machines. The S-Bahn and MVV transport take contactless and ticket machines, so you do not need cash just to leave the airport, but you will want euros in town.
How do I get from Munich Airport to the city?
The S-Bahn is the standard option: lines S1 and S8 connect the airport to central Munich (Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz) in roughly 40 minutes. A single ticket is about 13 euros, but the Airport-City-Day-Ticket is better value if you will use transport during the day, and groups can share a day ticket cheaply. Buy at the MVV machines or use contactless where available. A taxi to the centre runs roughly 60-80 euros, and the Lufthansa Express Bus also serves the Hauptbahnhof. The S-Bahn is the cheapest and most reliable way in.
Should I change money at the Munich Airport exchange counter?
No need. The exchange counters at MUC run a wider spread than a bank ATM withdrawal. Since the euro is a major currency and German bank ATMs give the interbank rate (fee-free at Deutsche Bank for BoA cards, or cheap with a no-FX-fee card anywhere), withdrawing euros from a real bank machine is cheaper. Avoid the blue Euronet ATMs and the exchange counters, decline DCC, and if you want euros before flying, order them from your home bank, since the euro is widely stocked.