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Train from Munich to Vienna and back

Hi gang,

There is a speedy Rail Jet between Munich and Vienna. I am traveling next summer and wondering if I can just show up at the station and buy a ticket or should I make reservations? It's of course very early, but just curious.

Thanks!

Posted by
8889 posts

Yes, you can just show up at the station and buy a ticket, but it is LOT cheaper to buy tickets in advance. The earlier the cheaper (2-3 months), but there is a limit to how far in advance you can book (somebody will probably say what the limit is for Railjet). But, once you book tickets you are commited to a particular train, similar to the restrictions on booking a flight in advance.

Go to www.oebb.at and select a date 2-3 months in the future to get a price (€29), then try tomorrow's date (€92-98), and you can see the price difference.

Posted by
5362 posts

Just to add to the post above:

As your trip is originating in Germany, I would actually purchase the ticket through the Deutsche Bahn website at www.bahn.de.

Also want to confirm that buying in advance is the way to go as you will pay less than half of the walk up fare at the station.

Finally, a reservation is not necessary on the Railjet. All you need is a ticket. If you want to be sure to have a place to sit (as opposed to standing or not sitting together), then you should buy a seat reservation which will cost a few Euro extra.

Posted by
19052 posts

The Rail Jet starts at the Hbf in Munich and makes no other stops in Germany (next stop Salzburg), so search for tickets from the Hbf. It looks like to get the lowest fare on the Bahn website, you need to book nearly 92 days in advance.

There are, however, other discounts that don't seem to go as quickly, including an EC to Salzburg (also stops at Munich Ostbahnhof) and RJ from there, or an RE to Plattling (on the Danube) and an ICE from there to Vienna.

Posted by
19637 posts

Using a combo ticket with Meridian and Westbahn can get you there only 28 minutes slower than the Railjet. You do need to change trains at Salzburg, but the walkup fare is a lot less than the Railjet 93 euro "standard" fare.