If you are flying from Munich Airport Terminal 1 and want to find the best lounge at Munich Airport Terminal 1 in 2026, this guide ranks the two Schengen lounges we have reviewed so for food, drinks, seating, comfort, Wi-Fi, charging, facilities, and overall pre-flight experience.
The Air France KLM Lounge and The Airport Lounge Europe are located close to each other in the D gates section on level 5. Both are small lounges with windows overlooking the terminal rather than the apron, so neither provides runway or aircraft views. The ranking therefore comes down to atmosphere, seating, charging, food, drinks, and how useful each lounge feels before a Schengen flight.
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Last updated July 2026.
| Rank | Lounge | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air France KLM Lounge Munich Airport Terminal 1 | A quieter atmosphere, charging, German beer, and a calmer visit | 6.5/10 |
| 2 | The Airport Lounge Europe Munich Terminal 1 | Varied seating, privacy screens, Prosecco, and Priority Pass access | 6/10 |
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Lounge Rankings at Munich Airport Terminal 1
2. The Airport Lounge Europe Munich Terminal 1 (6 out of 10)
The Airport Lounge Europe Munich Terminal 1 ranks second. It has the more varied seating of the two lounges, including café-style tables, high stools, and large armchairs with privacy screens. It also offers Prosecco, bottled beer, wine, coffee, hot food, fresh pretzels, German meats, and cheeses.
However, it was busy during our Saturday lunchtime visit, and the small rectangular layout felt cramped. Larger groups were struggling to find seats, while some passengers were being turned away at reception. Charging ports were also limited, there were no toilets inside, and the lounge had no runway or aircraft views.
Best for:
- Priority Pass members flying within the Schengen area
- Solo travellers who can secure an armchair with a privacy screen
- Prosecco, bottled beer, coffee, and a light lunch
Food and drinks
The Airport Lounge Europe had enough food to put together a light lunch. Hot dishes included rice, chicken, and tomato soup. The tomato soup was one of the stronger items during this visit, while fresh pretzels added a local touch.
Cold options included German meats and cheeses, fruit, cake, bread rolls, pastries, and a basic salad selection with tomato, cucumber, and green leaves. The spread was useful rather than memorable, but there was enough variety for a snack or light meal before a flight.
The drinks selection included bottled beers, red and white wines, Prosecco, tea, and coffee. Proper glassware made the drinks area feel more polished than the Air France KLM Lounge.
The spirits selection was extremely limited, with only Limoncello and Martini noticed during this visit. Travellers looking for a wider spirits range or cocktails may find the selection disappointing.
What to know before you go
- Located airside in the D gates section of the Terminal 1 Schengen departures area
- Open daily from 5:00 AM until 9:00 PM
- Entry is normally limited to three hours before departure
- The lounge can become busy and may restrict entry when full
- No runway, apron, or aircraft views
- Limited charging ports
- No toilets inside the lounge
- No showers
Final verdict
The Airport Lounge Europe is the stronger choice if you have Priority Pass, or want Prosecco. The privacy-screen armchairs are particularly useful for solo travellers, while the food selection is sufficient for a light lunch.
Its biggest weakness is the atmosphere when busy. The lounge is small, the ceilings feel low, and the rectangular layout becomes cramped quickly. Limited charging and the lack of internal toilets also reduce its usefulness.
1. Air France KLM Lounge Munich Airport Terminal 1 (6.5 out of 10)
The Air France KLM Lounge Munich Airport Terminal 1 ranks first, although only just.
The main advantage is the calmer atmosphere. During our visit, the lounge was quiet and peaceful, with straightforward check-in and plenty of seating available. Charging ports were positioned around the lounge, including close to many of the armchairs, and the Wi-Fi worked reliably.
The two German beers on tap were another highlight. Fresh pretzels were also one of the strongest food items, while staff calling Air France KLM flights for boarding added a more personal touch.
The lounge still has several clear weaknesses. It is small, most of the seating consists of similar armchairs, the hot food was basic, the spirits selection was tiny, and there was no sparkling wine or Champagne. There are also no toilets or showers inside the lounge, and its windows overlook the departures area rather than the apron.
Best for:
- A quiet seat before a Schengen flight
- Charging phones, tablets, and laptops
- Franziskaner Weissbier and German lager on tap
- Fresh pretzels and a light meal
- Travellers who prefer a calmer lounge atmosphere
Food and drinks
The Air France KLM Lounge offered soup of the day, chicken, and rice as its hot dishes. The chicken was soft and juicy, but it did lack flavour.
The cold selection was more appealing. Fresh pretzels were the highlight, tasting soft and fresh. There were also German meats and cheeses, plain croissants, apples, bananas, sweets, and biscuits.
The drinks were all self-serve. Two beers were available on tap: Franziskaner Weissbier and Lagerbier Hell. Both suited the Munich setting and were the strongest part of the drinks selection.
There were also red and white wines, bottled soft drinks, and a coffee machine with vanilla and hazelnut syrups. However, the spirits range was tiny, and there was no sparkling wine or Champagne. Glassware, ice, and lemon were not laid out during this visit.
What to know before you go
- Located airside by the D gates on level 5 in the Terminal 1 Schengen departures area
- Open daily from 5:30 AM until 10:00 PM
- Suitable for Schengen departures only
- Access is available to eligible SkyTeam business-class passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on qualifying flights
- Plenty of charging ports, although travellers with UK or US plugs may need an adapter
- No runway, apron, or aircraft views
- No toilets inside the lounge
- No showers
Final verdict
The Air France KLM Lounge is the best lounge we have reviewed in the Schengen area of Munich Airport Terminal 1, but the margin is narrow.
It wins because it was quieter, had more convenient charging, reliable Wi-Fi, two German beers on tap, fresh pretzels, and a calmer overall atmosphere. These features made it more useful for relaxing or working before a flight.
Which Is the Best Lounge at Munich Airport Terminal 1?
The Air France KLM Lounge is the best of the two Schengen lounges we have reviewed at Munich Airport Terminal 1.
They are small, neither has runway or aircraft views, neither has toilets or showers inside, and both offer fairly modest food selections.
For the strongest all-round experience, choose the Air France KLM Lounge. For Priority Pass access, Prosecco, and more varied seating, The Airport Lounge Europe remains a useful alternative.
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Munich Airport Terminal 1 Lounge FAQs
The two lounges have similar food selections. Both offered chicken, rice, soup, fresh pretzels, German meats and cheeses, fruit, and sweet snacks during our visits.
The Air France KLM Lounge is best for beer, with Franziskaner Weissbier and Lagerbier Hell available on tap. The Airport Lounge Europe is the better choice for Prosecco and also offers bottled beer, red wine, white wine, tea, and coffee.
The Air France KLM Lounge is better for working because it was quieter and had more charging ports around the seating areas. There was also a large table with high stools near the entrance. Travellers using UK or US plugs may need a European adapter.
No. The Air France KLM Lounge and The Airport Lounge Europe have windows overlooking the departures area rather than the apron. Neither lounge offers runway, aircraft, or apron views.
Neither lounge has toilets inside. Passengers need to leave the lounge and use the terminal toilets located nearby.
No. Neither the Air France KLM Lounge nor The Airport Lounge Europe has shower facilities.
The lounges covered in this ranking are located in the D gates section of the Schengen departures area and are intended for Schengen flights. Travellers departing from non-Schengen gates should check which lounges are accessible from their departure area.
For a one-off pass, both lounges are accessible through LoungePair.com. The Airport Lounge Europe is accessible for Priority Pass members, whilst the Air France KLM Lounge is available for SkyTeam Elite Plus cardholders and business class passengers.
The Air France KLM Lounge is the best Munich Airport Terminal 1 Schengen lounge that we have reviewed. It ranks ahead of The Airport Lounge Europe because it was quieter, had more convenient charging, reliable Wi-Fi, fresh pretzels, and two German beers on tap.
For further information, you can visit Munich Airport’s official website here.
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