Hi... Going to Austria in Sept. Arrive into munich airport... considering the reality that no matter how hard I try in advance to offset jet lag, I know I'm prob. gonna feel cruddy... If we want to go straight to Innsbruck after arrival, would you drive or take the train? We will be getting a rental car for austria travel, but figure could do that in innsbruck if we took the train.
Thanks,
Denise
you have answered your own query , take the train , you'll be glad you did .
Public transport is well organized and comfortable in Austria.
Take the train; it's convenient, efficient and you can enjoy the countryside without worrying about navigating. Also good for a nap!
Take the S8 from the airport to Munich East (München Ostbahnhof) and transfer to the EC originating in Munich Hbf to Innsbruck. There are connections every other hour: dep. airport at min 04, (7:04, 9:04 etc.), arrive at Munich East at min 35, dep. at min 44. Total travel time is 2:14, faster than by car. BTW, renting a car in Germany and turning in in Austria will result in a hefty return fee.
There are connections every other hour: dep. airport at min 04, (7:04,
9:04 etc.),
You don't have to leave the airport at 4 minutes after the hour. There are S8s to Ost every 20 minutes, at :04, :23, and :44 past each hour. If you take the next one leaving and it's earlier than 4 minutes after, you'll have more time to find your way at the Ostbahnhof, although 9 minutes is enough if you know where you are going.
@sla019 thanks... we would be renting and returning the car in the same place. Planning to do our traveling around Austria by car so we can stop and go at our leisure. So I guess if were taking the train in to Austria, then renting there, we'd have to return to Munich via Innsbruck? Hadn't thought about that aspect of things. Had planned on a loop around Austria, starting in Innsbruck, ending in Salzburg, then back to Munich the night prior to departure.
You don't have to return to Innsbruck. Return the car in Austria (Salzburg) and take the train from there to Munich. The regional Meridian train runs from Salzburg to Munich almost every hour, takes about 2 hour, and you can do it with a Bayern-Ticket (no advance purchase necessary).
BTW, you didn't say from where you are coming to Munich. If it is from North America on a trans-Atlantic flight you don't want to book an advance purchase Savings Fare ticket on the EC because it is only valid on a specific train. If your flight is late, and you miss that train, you lose the ticket. Full fare (not train specific) on the EC to Innsbruck for 2 people is 89,40€.
You might want to take one of the regional Meridian trains to Kufstein. They leave Ost at 52 minutes past each hour and you can go from the airport to Kufstein with a Bayern-Ticket (31€ for two). The train ends in Kufstein. There you purchase an OeBB ticket (probably from an automat) to Innsbruck for 14€/adult and take the next train (any train, even a RailJet).
If you don't mind spending more time (2h51m), you could take one of the regional trains via Mittenwald (runs every two hours). It will cost 36€ for two with a "Werdenfels plus Innsbruck" ticket. No advance purchase is necessary; purchase at the airport. Via Mittenwald is a much more scenic route than via Kufstein. But the regional train to Innsbruck via Mittenwald leaves from the Hbf (Starnberger Bhf, Gleis 27-36, north side of the Hbf), not from Ost, so take either S1 or S8 from the airport to the Hbf.
