Munich's public transport hits record ridership in 2025 after pandemic slump

Munich's public transport has bounced back strongly in 2025, with passenger numbers reaching new heights. The city's operator, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), recorded 621 million journeys—just surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 2019. This marks the first time ridership has fully recovered since COVID-19 disrupted travel patterns across Germany. The 2025 figures show a steady climb from the previous year, with overall ridership rising by around one percent. Buses carried 220 million passengers, nearly matching pre-COVID levels. Meanwhile, the tram network hit a record high of 127 million journeys, reflecting growing popularity.

The subway system, however, saw a slight dip to 442 million passengers. Despite this, the transport network as a whole demonstrated renewed stability and growth. While other major German cities like Berlin struggled to regain 2019 numbers, Munich's gradual recovery has now pushed beyond those earlier records. During the pandemic, ridership in cities like Berlin plummeted to 40 percent of normal levels. A brief surge came in 2022 with the 9-euro ticket, but numbers later settled at 2018 levels. Munich's consistent rebound contrasts with this trend, showing a more sustained return to pre-pandemic travel habits.

MVG's 2025 performance confirms a full recovery from the pandemic's impact. With 621 million passengers, the system has not only matched but slightly exceeded its 2019 peak. The results highlight Munich's resilience in restoring public transport usage to its strongest levels in years.