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 above.

Arriving by plane

The Munich Franz-Josef-Strauss Airport is 17km north-east of Garching. Currently the easiest way to get to Garching or ESO Headquarters from the Airport is by taxi. The fare is about EUR 50 and takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes.

Due to track works which will be happening for the duration of the conference,
we advise you not to travel to/from Munich Airport by public transport this time.

Details below:

Due to track renewal and bridge maintenance at the airport, there will be timetable changes on the S1 and S8 lines from 4am Friday 3 November until 4am Monday, 13 November 2023 with train cancellations and bus replacement services between Neufahrn and the airport terminal as well as between the visitor park and the airport terminal.

There will be a rail replacement bus service for the S1 between Neufahrn and the airport terminal.

The S8 ends and starts at the Visitors Park. A shuttle bus will run between the Visitors Park and the airport terminal every 10 minutes.

On Friday/Saturday, 3/4 November and Saturday/Sunday, 4/5 November, the S8 will run every 40 minutes between Ostbahnhof and Ismaning from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., with rail replacement bus services continuing to the airport terminal.

At night from Sunday, 5 November to Monday, 13 November 2023, there will be a rail replacement bus service between Ismaning and the airport terminal.

At night between 10.30 p.m. and 4 a.m. there will be a rail replacement bus service between Neufahrn and the airport terminal as well as Johanneskirchen / Ismaning and the airport terminal.

Arriving by rail

The easiest way from the Main Railway Station is to take Public Transport (single fare: EUR 5.20), take the S-Bahn (underground railway) from the Main Railway Station to Marienplatz and then the U-Bahn U6 to Garching-Forschungszentrum. Exit the train in the station Garching for the town of Garching and Garching-Forschungszentrum if you want to get to 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 exists 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 U-Bahn, S-Bahn and Bus networks. For more information, click here.
• Bus/Railway timetables for Munich
• German railway (Deutsche Bahn)

Virtual tour

Experience the ESO Headquarters in Garching with ESO's Virtual Tours.