Driving to Munich from Calais
Take a road trip from Calais to Munich with LeShuttle. Driving to Munich takes in some fascinating cities whichever way you go – plus, the Bundesautobahn is toll-free!
Driving to Munich from Calais
Munich is one of Europe’s great cities – home to Oktoberfest, stunning architecture and magnificent museums. There are so many wonderful places to visit in Munich, and the drive to Germany is packed with highlights too. Drink it all in with a weekend or more in the capital of Bavaria!
How long does it take to drive from Calais to Munich?
It might surprise you that Munich is closer to Calais than some cities in France. With a travel time of between ten and eleven hours, driving from Calais to Munich takes you through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany on a journey full of interesting places to take a break.
Places to visit in Munich
Marienplatz
Marienplatz is Munich’s main city square, and what a sight it is. Its main features are the Neues Rathaus (new town hall), the Altes Rathaus (old town hall) and the Mariensäule (Mary’s column). The new town hall was completed in 1874 and is built in the Gothic style, with a stunning tower containing a glockenspiel, which attracts large crowds every day for its renactment of scenes from Munich’s history. Mary’s column was erected in 1638 in gratitude for the end of the Swedish army’s occupation of the city during the Thirty Years War.
Hofbräuhaus
The Hofbräuhaus is arguably the most famous pub in the world. It has been in existence for over 400 years and is at the heart of beer culture in Munich. Oktoberfest and the Hofbräuhaus go hand in hand, because it was the marriage of King Ludwig I that inspired the first Oktoberfest, and it was Ludwig who opened the Hofbräuhaus to the people of Munich in 1828. Bavarian culture is celebrated in grand style every night at the Hofbräuhaus, with authentic cuisine, traditional dress, Oompah music and of course, those heady steins of locally brewed beer.
The Hofbräuhaus has brewed or served beer since 1589
Englischer Garten
Munich’s huge green space is where the city folk come to chill, get some exercise or just soak up the sunshine. The ‘English Garden’ covers an area of 1.4 square miles and is one of the world’s largest public parks. Here you’ll find lakes, rivers, waterfalls, two beer gardens, basketball courts, tennis courts, a Japanese garden, Chinese pagoda and Greek temple. Don’t be surprised to see surfers riding the waves down the river or open air drama and concerts taking place in the amphitheatre.
The fastest route from Calais to Munich: the A26, A4 and A8
It takes around ten hours to drive from Calais to Munich on this, the quickest route (with tolls). Find out more about what you need to know for driving in France. Leave Calais on the A26, before picking up the A4 south of Reims and heading to Strasbourg. Once over the German border head north to join Bundesautobahn 8, which goes all the way to Munich.
Places to visit en-route
Reims
A tasting at one of the champagne houses of Reims may have to wait (you are driving, after all) but we’re sure you could find room for a bottle or two in the boot!
Reims is also a fantastic place for foodies, with its own signature dish, a sweet treat called ‘Biscuits rose de Reims’ which is conveniently meant to be dipped in champagne. There are also beautiful buildings round every corner. The Gothic cathedral is the greatest, a building where 25 French kings were crowned. There are over 2,300 statues here, stunning stained glass windows and a 250-step tour up the main tower.
Strasbourg
Around six hours into your journey you will pass close to the beautiful city of Strasbourg. Often referred to as the ‘capital of Europe’ because of its proximity to Germany and Switzerland and the cosmopolitan nature of its population, Strasbourg is packed full of history, culture, architectural delights and things to do for the family.
Why not explore the city on Strasbourg’s extensive network of cycle paths, or poke around the cathedral, which has welcomed visitors for nearly 700 years? You are in the Alsace, so if you are here overnight you could even sneak out into the hills for a spectacular walk or mountain bike ride.
A Calais to Munich road-trip on the A8 through Belgium & Luxembourg
The journey time for this largely toll-free route is just over ten hours too. Taking the A16 out of Calais, you pick up the A25 towards Lille and then cross into Belgium on the E42 European route. Leave the E42 north of Namur and follow the E411 and E25 to Luxembourg. Once in Germany most of the trip is taken on the Bundesautobahn A8.
Points of interest en-route
Mons
The Belgian city of Mons is two and a half hours from Calais and is a mix of beautiful architecture, fascinating museums and poignant war memorials. Make sure you visit the St Symphorien Military Cemetery, which commemorates the soldiers lost in the Battle of Mons, the first major battle of World War 1. Also on your to-do list should be the city’s two World Heritage Sites – the Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes and the Mons Belfry. If you have any more time in Mons try and find the small iron monkey outside the city hall – patting it is reputed to bring good luck.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg City is just over 5 hours into your journey and makes an ideal halfway point for a stopover. Everything is within walking distance in this small but charming city. Among the highlights are the Corniche terrace, often called Europe’s most beautiful balcony, and the Bock Casemates, the underground tunnels built in the 17th century as defensive fortifications.
It is no surprise that Luxembourg old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – there are delights around every corner, from the Grand Ducal Palace to the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Chocolate House, where you can indulge in some delicious cakes and fabulous coffee.
See more of Germany on the A3 via Bonn & Frankfurt
This route from Calais to Munich travels across Belgium and takes in more of Germany, passing close to Ghent and Brussels before heading over the Rhine. Cologne, Bonn, Frankfurt and Nuremberg are the major cities you could stop at as you head your way on Bundesautobahn A3 and A9 southwards to Munich. The travel time is 10 hours 40 minutes and the route is toll free.
Places to visit en-route
Cologne
The city of Cologne is an ideal place to stop on your trip from Calais to Munich, being about halfway, and is always a popular spot for its vibrancy and diversity. With stunning churches, vintage shopping, fabulous bars and amazing art galleries, there is no shortage of things to do in Cologne. Take a boat trip on the Rhine, visit the Chocolate Museum (yes, every city seems to have one, and why not?) or take the family to Cologne Zoo, home to more animals than any other zoological park in Germany.
There are also some fascinating museums, beautiful churches and the Gothic masterpiece of Cologne cathedral.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is less than two hours from Munich but it would be a shame to bypass the second biggest city in Bavaria. Nuremberg is rich in history, art and culture, and retains its medieval charm. It is a delight wandering through the wide cobbled streets of the Altstadt, full of colourful half-timbered houses.
One of these belonged to the celebrated artist Albrecht Dürer, and the Dürer House museum gives a fascinating insight into his life and work during a tumultuous period of German history. Overlooking Dürer’s house and the old town is the Kaiserburg Castle, which evokes the golden age of Nuremberg during the Middle Ages.
How much are the tolls from Calais to Munich?
For the fastest route above, which takes you via Reims and Strasbourg, you should expect to pay around €55 in tolls each way driving from Calais to Munich. Belgian, Luxembourg and German roads are almost completely toll-free, so the other routes will be free or incur only minimal toll charges.
An Emovis tag will help speed up your passage through the tolls. We have an exclusive offer saving customers €10 on the application fee of an Emovis tag if you apply with LeShuttle.
Drive from Calais to Munich with LeShuttle
Your road trip to Germany starts with LeShuttle and a crossing from Folkestone to Calais in only 35 minutes. Check out our other European driving guides for ideas of where to go in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and even further afield.
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