We will be flying into Munich and plan to connect via train to Mittenwald as a base for 2-3 days, doing a day trip to Innsbruck. From Mittenwald, we will return to Munich for 2 days (sightseeing in town and Dachau). From there we are considering the bus/train to Hallstatt for an overnight (stopping in Bad Ischl)...then on to Salzburg for 4 days of sightseeing, with a day trip to the Lakes area. Our final destination is Passau. We usually rent a car with our travel buddies, but they cannot join us this year. Which of these segments will qualify for the Bayern ticket and do we need to purchase them in advance? Any help would be appreciated as we have not taken trains in Germany or Austria and my German is very limited.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19091 posts
Except for a few exceptions, like the train line from Freilassing, Germany, into Salzburg, or from the border to Kufstein, Austria, The Bayern-Ticket is only valid for trains in Bavaria.
So, it could be used for regional trains (no RailJet or EC) from Mittenwald to Munich, Passau, or Salzburg (via Rosenheim), but not from Salzburg to Hallstatt or to the lakes of the Salzkammergut. From Mittenwald to Innsbruck via Seefeld, it could only be used to the border, which is not far enough to justify the price.
There is no price advantage to purchasing a Bayern-Ticket in advance. Buy it from an automat (preferably) or at a ticket counter (2€ more) the morning of travel. If you buy it in advance, the it's only valid on the date printed, so you can change you mind.
Posted by
Paradise
6621 posts
"From Mittenwald, we will return to Munich for 2 days (sightseeing in town and Dachau)."
You would only use a Bayern Ticket for "sightseeing" in town and/or "Dachau" if you were also traveling Munich - Mittenwald on the same day. Travel around Munich and Dachau on a separate day would be done on MVV tickets - which saves you some cash; no sense in paying for ALL of Bavaria for that.
https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/tickets-and-fares/tickets-daytickets/index.html
That trip from Munich or Munich Airport to Mittenwald can be done more cheaply too. Buy the "Regioticket Werdenfels", €29/2, at the airport. Besides "cheap", it also has looser use restrictions. It's valid at any hour of the day, while on weekdays, the Bayern Ticket is valid only from 9 am onward.
Map of Werdenfels ticket coverage (München Flughafen Terminal is the airport.)
And of course you might want to use that Werdenfels ticket to return to Munich as well (again, at any hour) instead of the Bayern Ticket - if you are staying near one of the Munich train stations or S-Bahn stations (it won't work on the U-Bahn or buses however.)
The Werdenfels ticket might be your hero for outings from Mittenwald too. The map below shows all the rail and bus lines you can use it for. Train routes include the very scenic one to Pfronten-Ried via "Ehrwald Zugspitzbahn" (access to the Zugspitze) and Reutte. Some use this route for getting to Füssen (additional bus ride.) The Werdenfels ticket to Innsbruck costs a little more - €39/2 - but that's a savings over the standard fare you get from DB for Mittenwald-Innsbruck.
Posted by
OP
36 posts
Thanks, Lee! It sounds as if you are very familiar with this area. Do you have any b & b or hotel suggestions in Mittenwald or Munich?
Posted by
OP
36 posts
One or two other question./s....What type of (advance?) ticket should we purchase from Munich to Hallstatt...purchase as one ticket??? A member on the Austria forum suggested that the bus between Salzburg and Hallstatt is more scenic so we thought we would take the bus back to Salzburg, via Bad Ischl, after Hallstatt. Opinion?...