We will be in Salzburg and taking a train to Munich during Octoberfest and would like to buy our train tickets in advance. Does anyone have a website that they prefer. We would also like to print out our tickets in advance. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Bonnie
Always buy on the website of the company running the train.
This is DB (German Railways, Salzburg is a joint DB and ÖBB station). Website: www.bahn.de
Yes, you can buy a discounted ticket in advance on www.bahn.de and print it out before you leave home. You must bring the credit card used to buy the ticket. When asked to show your ticket on the train, you need to show the printout and the credit card as ID.
Thank you Chris!
Purchasing tickets in advance will only be of benefit if you also buy seat reservations and then only on express trains (IC or EC from the Bahn or RailJet from Austrian Rail) that take reservations. Regional trains (RE and RB) do not have reserved seats. With just a ticket, you can always board any train on that route, no matter when you bought the tickets, as long as there is space to stand.
If you can leave after 9 a.m. (any time on the weekend) you can use a Bayern ticket bought from the DB machine in Salzburg station -- good for all your train trips in Bavaria on REGIONAL trains during that day so covers round trip Salzburg-Munich-Salzburg. Second class, no reserved seats but really cheap and not that much slower than EC trains. You can buy a Bayern ticket the day before you travel if you prefer.
Bonnie,
For buying discounted tickets in advance for Germany, France and Italy, I've found that www.capitainetrain.com works well. Unfortunately they don't cover Austria or Switzerland yet, but I suspect that may change in future.
As Laura mentioned (and Lee usually does), I would recommend a Bayern Ticket.
I assume you plan to return to Salzburg? This would be a great deal, especially since I gather that more than one of you will be making the trip. You can also make a trip to Andechs, since it's at the end of its line on the S-Bahn. Not that I've done this... ;-)
This way, you don't have to make a specific train, in case you're having - or NOT having - a great time at Oktoberfest. You DO all have to travel together, though.
Your price would be 23€, plus 5€ per each additional person. Five people total are allowed on a single ticket. So, two people could travel R/T b/n Salzburg and Munich (and on the Munich S-Bahn, subway, trams and buses) for 14€ each. Three people would be 11€ each, and four would pay 9,50€. Not too shabby. Train times are basically the same, so no difference there. Just buy the ticket at the Salzburg train station (from a machine, or for probably about 2€ extra from an agent).
Even during Oktoberfest, these trains won't sell out, so don't let that color your decision. You'd think they'd be crazy full, but in my experience over several trips it has never been the case. You might consider skipping the U-Bahn and walking to the grounds from the train station, though. It's usually less busy and less crowded. If you get to the platform and it's a mob scene, just walk.
Hi Bonnie,
I am also going to be in Salzburg and then on to Munich for Oktoberfest late September. I have also seen on different forums that the Bayern ticket is a good way to go. Are you flying back to Geneva from Munich? On another side note I live in West Dundee, Il not to far from Geneva. A funny coincidence that we both have these travel plans right around the same time.
I wholeheartedly agree with Chris F. Our trip was just as he laid out. We took a day trip from Austria to Munich and I booked our tickets well in advance to take advantage of the discounts. We purchased from the www.bahn.de/en, printed out at home and presented them with the credit card used to purchase them on the train.
The ticket takers we met were so nice and friendly and love to give travel advice, so ask them if you have questions.
Jenny
