Travel to ESO Headquarters, Garching
No public visits are currently offered to ESO Headquarters.
Media visitors please consult this page.
ESO Headquarters is located in Garching, near Munich, Germany. This is the scientific, technical and administrative centre of ESO, where technical development programmes are carried out to provide the observatories with the most advanced technology.
How to reach Garching and ESO Headquarters
The town of Garching lies about 13 km north-east of Munich. ESO Headquarters are located roughly 2 km north-east of Garching. The ESO building is situated in the "Forschungszentrum" area.
For an interactive overview of the Munich area with the location of Garching and of ESO, please take a look at the Google map on the right.
Arriving by plane
The Munich FJS Airport is 17km north-east of Garching. The easiest way to get to Garching or ESO Headquarters from the Airport is by taxi. The fare is about EUR 40 and takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
Alternatively, if you wish to use public transport, you can take the train (S-Bahn S8) from the airport to Ismaning (20 minutes; EUR 8.40) and from there either a taxi (EUR 12–15) or Bus 230. For detailed information, please check the Bus 230 time table on the MVV Journey Planner.
To reach ESO from the Bus 230 stop, please see this map.
Arriving by rail
The easiest way from the main railway station is to take a taxi to Garching or ESO Headquarters (the fare is approximately EUR 40).
Alternatively, if you wish to use Public Transport (single fare: EUR 5.80), take the S-Bahn (underground railway) from the Main Railway Station (Hauptbahnhof) to Marienplatz and then the U-Bahn U6 to Garching-Forschungszentrum. Exit the train at station Garching for the town of Garching and station Garching-Forschungszentrum for the ESO Headquarters.
Arriving by car
There is a system of motorways (Autobahn) and ring-roads in and around Munich. For details see the schematic map. Follow these to the Autobahn for Nürnberg (A9). To reach Garching there are two turnoffs (Ausfahrt): Garching-Süd (Garching South) and Garching-Nord (Garching North). Both exits lead you directly into the town of Garching.
If you wish to get to ESO Headquarters, you need to take the turnoff Garching-Nord (Garching-North), which leads you directly to the "Forschungsinstitute" area. Go straight ahead at the traffic lights and continue until the road makes a sharp turn to the left. Do not turn left: ESO is straight ahead.
Public transport
- The MVV is the Munich area public transport company, embracing the U-Bahn, S-Bahn and Bus networks. For more information, click here.
- Bus/Railway timetables for Munich.
- German railway (Deutsche Bahn) information
- Further information about transport in Munich and tourism can be found on the Munich Tourist Office website
Accommodation in Garching
The map below gives the location of ESO, and where you can find hotels, restaurants and the most important bus stops in Garching.
Most of the hotels are within walking distance from the U-Bahn station in the centre of Garching. For other hotels you can use the bus services 230 (to Ismaning) and 290 (to Garching-Hochbrück). For detailed information, please check the Bus time tables on the MVV Journey Planner.
Below is a list of hotels in Garching and how to reach them when arriving from Ismaning (from the airport), Garching, or the Munich main railway station.
The U-Bahn U6 brings you directly to the centre of Garching (stop Garching) and to ESO (last stop, Forschungszentrum).
- Guesthouse Park-Residence: From Ismaning, take Bus 230 direction Garching. From Garching, take Bus 290 direction Ismaning. Stop Wasserturmstrasse. If you arrive by train, from the U6 station Garching take Bus Service 290 direction Ismaning and get off the bus at Wasserturmstrasse. Alternatively you can walk to the hotel (see map; 10 min). Hotel website: http://www.park-residence.de/
- Hotel König Ludwig II: From Ismaning, take Bus 230 direction Garching. Stop Garching (Maibaum); cross over the main street and go left. After the bakery you enter the pedestrian area (fountain!); the sign of the hotel is visible behind the underground station. If you arrive by train, take the U-Bahn exit Bürgerplatz. After leaving the U-Bahn station the sign of the hotel is visible. Hotel website: http://www.hkl.de/
- Hotel Hoyacker Hof: From Ismaning, take Bus 230. Stop Garching (Maibaum); continue approximately 100 metres on the Freisinger Landstrasse direction north (Forschungsinstitute); the hotel is to your left. If you arrive by train take the U-Bahn exit Garching (Maibaum) and continue approximately 100 metres on the Freisinger Landstrasse direction north (Forschungsinstitute); the hotel is to your left. Hotel website: http://www.hoyackerhof.de/
- Hotel Garni Maria's Inn: From Ismaning, take bus 230 direction Garching-Forschungszentrum. From Garching, take Bus 230 direction Garching-Forschungszentrum. Stop Lehrer Stieglitz-Strasse. Cross over the main street at the traffic light, continue approximately 50 metres on the Lehrer-Stieglitz-Strasse and turn right into the Neufahrner Strasse, where you will find the hotel on your left. Note that this bus service is only available Monday to Friday. Hotel website: http://www.marias-inn.de/
- Hotel Coro Garni: From Ismaning, take Bus 230. Stop Garching Mailbaum. Then cross the road and take Bus 290 direction Garching- Hochbrück and get off at stop Keltenweg. The hotel is across the road, about 50 metres in the direction from which you have come. If you arrive by train, take the U-Bahn exit Garching (Maibaum). There you will take Bus 290, following the previous instructions. A time table for Bus 290 is available on the MVV Journey Planner. Hotel website: http://www.hotelcoro.de/
- Motel 1 Garching-Hockbrück: two stops on the U6 U-bahn from the Forschungzentrum. Motel website: http://www.motel-one.com/en/hotels/munich/hotel-muenchen-garching/#t=hotelinfo
- Derag Living Hotel: https://www.deraghotels.de/hotels/muenchen/
Food at Garching
There are plenty of restaurants in the town of Garching.
ESO facilities in Garching
- The ESO Headquarters building is shown on the map below (click to enlarge).
ESO Headquarters at Garching Forschungszentrum. Credit: ESO - Max Planck Canteen and Cafeteria next to ESO
Virtual tour
Experience the ESO Headquarters in Garching with ESO's Virtual Tours.
Further information
Please follow the links below for more information about Garching and the Munich area
- Garching – Official Town Website
- Munich tourist office – Up to date information for visitors
- Munichfound – Magazine for English speaking visitors.
- Munich Airport – Official Website Franz Josef Strauss Airport
- Toytown Munich – Anything you need to know about Munich, events, buy/sell items, restaurants, places to go, doctors, etc.
Health & Safety
Weather and Clothing
There are not any special health and safety considerations in Garching. Just remember that winters are very cold, so dress appropriately. Follow the links for climatic information and weather forecasts.