Schwabing

The university and artist neighborhood with cafes and wine bars. Safe, active until late, less touristy than the center. Good cafe culture if you want to sit and read.

University students, young professionals, and artists live here. Leopoldstraße stays busy late with people walking home from dinners or meeting for drinks - enough women out alone that it doesn't feel unusual. Cafes around Münchner Freiheit fill with people sitting for hours with laptops or books. You'll hear English regularly since the university brings international students, and bar staff expect English-speaking customers. Nightlife leans toward wine bars and cocktail spots rather than loud clubs - the creative crowd hangs out in places where you can talk. Police patrol regularly and main streets have decent lighting. After midnight, stick to Leopoldstraße and Hohenzollernstraße instead of quiet residential side streets. U3 and U6 lines serve the area (stations at Münchner Freiheit and Giselastraße). The vibe is young professional, not backpacker party scene. Costs more than local neighborhoods but less than the tourist center.