Munich's transit nsystem is a sprawling network of light rail, subway, tram and bus lines that reach every corner of a city inhabited by 1.3 million people. It's an amazing system, but it can be overwhelming if you're a foreigner exploring the Bavarian capital.

Munich is Germany's third largest city, yet its mass-transit system is small compared to those in London, Moscow and New York. It's half the size of Berlin's mass-transit network. Still, it's among the most efficient in Europe. It includes 245 stops and more than 325 miles of track, and it carries more than 1.6 million passengers a day. It's clean and so incredibly comprehensive that it's said no household in Munich is more than 1,300 feet from a transit stop of some kind.

This vast network rests on two pillars. The U Bahn is a six-line underground subway system the features 98 stops on 62.5 miles of track. It's the workhorse of the Munich metro, carrying almost a million passengers a day. It is joined by the S Bahn, a light-rail system with six lines that run on 275 miles of track and stop at 147 stations. A fleet of buses and trams (.pdf) – some 410 in all – fill in the gaps.

The two systems are run by separate entities, and integrated by a third, and it all works seamlessly. And like other metros in Germany, it all runs on the honor system.

Riders purchase tickets at self-service kiosk priced by zone – a ticket covering most of the inner city costs €2.30 ($2.95) – and before boarding, stamp them with an old-school time clock. It's possible to score a free ride by "forgetting" to stamp your ticket, but at the risk of getting caught by plainclothes agents making random checks. They’ll slap you with a big fine, and the "I'm just a confused tourist" won't get you anywhere.



The Munich system provides excellent connections between lines, especially at the major stations in the center of the city. But the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming. Arriving at the Hauptbahnhof, Munich's main train station, from Austria, I had no fewer than 10 U and S Bahn lines and six trams to choose from. My hotel wasn't far, but it was freezing outside, so after much deliberation I hopped on tram #17 toward Reichenbachplatz.

Big mistake. It was going the opposite direction. Four stops in I finally realized my mistake, got off and boarded a tram headed the right way. I think it was the most crowded vehicle in the history of mass transit, a crush of rowdy teens, stressed out moms hogging up space with their enormous baby strollers, and a gaggle of Lufthansa flight attendants aloofly surveying the scene.

Making matters worse, the driver yelled at me three times in five minutes. First, because I forgot to stamp my ticket, then because I inadvertently produced a bus ticket and, for good measure, a third time when I missed my stop. It seems the trams don't stop unless you specifically ask. Everyone scowled at me because I took a picture. They did it again when I bumped a woman with my suitcase. A great experience all around.

I also spent some time on Vienna's transit system

, a smaller, gentler version of Munich's. The network consists of a 43-mile, five-line U Bahn system with 84 stations, a 10 line S Bahn, trams and buses.



It is similar to Munich's transit system with its ticket kiosks, time-punch machines and great connectivity between lines, but there are differences. The Vienna system has routes that form a rough ring around the city, which means it's easy to make short east-west trips. Munich lacks a ring line, sometimes forcing east-west passengers to ride north or south into the city and then back out to reach their destination. Vienna is cheaper (€1.70 per single-zone ticket vs. €2.30 in Munich), and it's a whole lot easier to navigate. And, the Vienna metro also comes with something I've never before seen on a subway: its own magazine. In most of the cars there were rows of them hanging from wires for people to browse through, though I didn't see anyone doing so.

Overall, I found Vienna system to be a delight. Stations were well lit and easy to navigate, trains were never packed, even during rush hour, and people were exceedingly polite, offering their seats to elderly passengers and making room for mom's with strollers.

Both systems are amazingly punctual. Trains, trams and buses are where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there, which is amazing when you consider how many people they carry. Displays at every station and stop show exactly when the next train or tram will arrive, and they were always accurate to the minute. I never waited more than 12 minutes for a ride.

In most ways, these two mass-transit systems run circles around those in the United States. They're clean, they run on time, and they get people where they need to be. If I had one criticism, it would be that there are too many options, especially in Munich. Trams, buses, trains and subways are so plentiful and so frequent that it's easy to get disoriented, especially if you're unfamiliar with your surroundings.

Main photo: Flickr/maxintosh

All others: Wired.com/Dave Demerjian

Metro map: München Verkehrs Gesellschaft/Munich Transport Authority

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