Holiday Inn Express Munich – Olympiapark, an IHG Hotel

Hotel Description

Honestly, when I first pulled up to the Holiday Inn Express near Olympiapark, I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, it’s a chain hotel, right? But you know what really surprised me? The place actually feels like it belongs in Munich, not like some generic box dropped from corporate headquarters. The building sits in this quieter residential area north of the city center, and while that might sound boring, it’s actually perfect if you want to experience Munich like locals do instead of being stuck in tourist central.

What I love about this spot is how it puts you right in the sweet spot between the Olympic grounds and the real Munich. You’re maybe a ten-minute walk to the U-Bahn station – Olympiazentrum on the U3 line – which honestly becomes your lifeline to everything. The Olympic Park is literally across the street, which is incredible if you’re into morning runs or just want to climb that crazy tower (the views are insane, by the way). But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: this neighborhood comes alive in the evenings when locals hit the beer gardens and smaller restaurants that tourists never find. I stumbled onto this fantastic Turkish place just two blocks away that had better döner than anything in the Marienplatz area.

The hotel itself runs like clockwork – check-in was smooth, the breakfast spread is actually decent (real German bread, not that soft American stuff), and the rooms are what you’d expect but cleaner and quieter than most city center places. I slept incredibly well here, which surprised me because I’m usually sensitive to street noise. The staff seems genuinely helpful too, not just going through the motions. Look, it’s not fancy – no marble lobbies or fancy spa – but sometimes you just want a place that does the basics really well without charging you extra for location bragging rights. Plus, parking is straightforward if you’re driving, which is more than I can say for most Munich hotels. The 8.5 rating makes total sense once you realize this place nails what business travelers and smart tourists actually need: comfort, reliability, and easy access to both the city and some breathing room.

Facilities