Anyone who has ever urgently needed a restroom in Munich knows the frustration: many public toilets require payment, and costs are rising.
Depending on the operator, the fee ranges from 60 cents to €1.50 — the latter now charged at Munich’s main train station.
The senior citizens’ advisory board is sharply critical. “We are of the opinion that all public toilets must be free of charge,” said board member Ulrich Gammel.
He warned that price increases hit vulnerable groups the hardest: “It may sound surprising, but in Munich there are people who simply cannot afford €1.50 for a toilet visit.”
The Munich transport company (MVG) charges 60 cents at its facilities, while city-run toilets are free of charge. Critics argue, however, that there are far too few of them.
Social fairness debate
According to Gammel, charging money for such a basic need is socially unbalanced, especially for seniors and low-income residents. Calls for more free access to restrooms have grown louder as private providers continue to raise prices.
City council promises new facilities
In response to the criticism, Munich’s city council had already approved an expansion of free facilities back in 2019. The building department has now confirmed that six additional municipal toilets will be completed by the end of this year.
Locations include:
- Theresienhöhe (Bahndeckel near Max-Hirschberg-Weg and Ganghoferstraße)
- Wilramstraße (close to the large playground)
- Hogenbergplatz (at Valpichlerstraße/Fröbelplatz intersection)
- Tassiloplatz (southern edge of the park near the playground)
- Bajuwarenpark (entrance at Marianne-Plehn-Straße 28a)
- Johannisplatz (at the site of a planned sports facility)
For now, many Munich residents must continue paying for restroom use, depending on the location. But with new free facilities in several neighborhoods, the city hopes to strike a better balance between convenience, affordability and accessibility.
