We planned an 8 day trip to Munich and Austria in December. We will arrive in Munich for two days and go to Salzburg for two days, then Vienna for four days and then fly out. We are thinking of renting a car when we leave Munich, keeping it for two days while in Salzburg and then dropping it off when we arrive in Vienna. While in Salzburg, we have reservations on the Old Town. Is a car advisable? if not, can you please advise on the rail system-what trains run the Munich-Salzburg-Vienna route? Many thanks.
Posted by
Chicago
8201 posts
Most of the travelers on this forum say renting a car in one country and dropping it off in another is not advisable. You have to research to see if the costs are not a problem for you.
I took the bus from Munich to Salzburg and the train back on the same day.
But for what trains run the Munich-Salzburg-Vienna route you can use the German rail site to research https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
And the one for Austria https://www.oebb.at/en/
or this one middle-man sells tickets that cover both rail lines https://www.trainline.eu/ but at no markup
Posted by
2852 posts
Why would you want a car to drive from Munich to Vienna when you can easily take the train? I don’t see any advantage. Are there other places you want to go?
I have been in all three cities several times without a car and never wished I had one.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you both!
Are tickets always available as we go or should we reserve in advance? How far in advance does one reserve to get better fares?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
Munich to Salzburg you can use a Bayern (regional) ticket -- about 2 hours. Salzburg to Vienna the cheap tickets are on Westbahn. Both are easy to buy on day-of. Unless you plan to do touring outside the cities, car would be an expensive anchor IMHO; we have used public transit exclusively in all three cities.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Munich to Salzburg is EUR 31 for the two of you, using the Bayern-Ticket on the hourly Meridian train.
Salzburg to Vienna is EUR 39.98 for you together on the hourly Westbahn. Around the same price with the OBB (state railways), but only when bought well in advance.
Posted by
Southwest Florida
905 posts
Check http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en? and you can purchase in advance. Get the ÖBB app for your phone as well. Booking is easy. You can book ÖBB from Munich airport to Salzburg as well as from Salzburg to Vienna. Check https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml as the DB might have cheaper fares to Salzburg and more frequent trains.