Munich Resident Outraged by Lack of Public Toilets in City Center
Munich, April 27 – Dieter Appelt, an 83-year-old resident of Sendling, has expressed significant anger and frustration over the scarcity of customer toilets in Munich’s city center department stores. During a recent shopping trip, Appelt discovered that even major department stores lacked public restrooms, a situation he described as “unbelievable cheek.”
Appelt recounted being advised by sales personnel to use the facilities at a neighboring Augustiner restaurant, an experience that left him deeply annoyed. “I had to realize that even the largest department stores on Munich’s ‘show mile’ do not have customer toilets,” Appelt stated in a letter to our editorial team.
No Legal Obligation for Retailers
In response to Appelt’s query about potential regulations mandating restrooms in businesses and department stores of a certain size, the Munich and Upper Bavaria Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) clarified that there are no general commercial or building law requirements for retailers to provide customer toilets. The only relevant legal basis in Bavaria, the Assembly Venue Ordinance, applies exclusively to catering establishments, not retail stores.
While large supermarkets and department stores may offer this service voluntarily, customers have no legal right to use them, as the decision rests with the establishment’s house rules. “There is no must,” an IHK spokesperson confirmed.
Gastronomy Sector’s Stance on Restrooms
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) stated that regulations regarding toilets in restaurants are determined by individual federal states. The Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association elaborated that, in principle, free use of toilet facilities is reserved for paying guests, a condition tied to their license, which dictates the number of toilets based on guest capacity.
However, the association noted that many restaurateurs are understanding when individuals urgently need to use their facilities. They suggested that a relieved guest might, in return, purchase an espresso or leave a small tip.
City Center Restaurateurs Show Goodwill
Tobias Ranzinger, spokesperson for the city center restaurateurs, affirmed that the issue of non-guests using toilets is generally not a problem. “Most establishments say yes out of goodwill,” Ranzinger explained. While there is no legal entitlement, he added, “restaurateurs have an interest in people feeling comfortable in the city center.” He also noted that a grateful toilet user might be encouraged to return for a regular meal. However, during major events, when the influx of non-paying guests becomes overwhelming, some reluctance may be observed to ensure paying customers can still access the facilities.
Finding Public Toilets in Munich
For those in need of public restrooms in Munich, several digital resources are available:
- The WC-Finder: This official app (available at https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/info/wcfinder/10413297/) provides locations of public toilets owned by the City of Munich, including both barrier-free and non-barrier-free options. It offers basic information such as address, category, responsible body, and contact details. For accessible toilets, detailed information on accessibility, equipment, and condition is also provided.
- Toiletten Hero: The “Toiletten Hero” website (https://toilettenhero.de/muenchen/) lists an extensive 2067 toilet locations in Munich. This includes 528 public toilets, 816 cafes, and 824 fast-food restaurants with customer restrooms.
These resources aim to assist residents and visitors in locating available facilities, mitigating the challenges highlighted by Mr. Appelt.
