Flying to Munich then Train To Salzburg

There are no direct trains from the airport. You would need to first take the Sbahn 1 to the Munich Hauptbahnhof, then a direct train to Salzburg. Trains are quite frequent, no need to buy ticket in advance.

No direct trains but a simple change at Munich East. Plenty of services throughout the day

https://int.bahn.de/en

Just a note that the S8 which ordinarily goes to the Munich Ost station currently has construction on the line and requires taking a bus to bypass the works. The S1 to the Hbh may be faster during this period.

Any idea how long S8 will undergo construction? We’re arriving mid September. Thanks

Construction dates and affected sections of S-Bahn Munich line S8 :

https://www.s-bahn-muenchen.de/de/fahren/baustellen/s8

Just a note, the Bahn website still shows using the S1 all the way to München Ost, and changing to the RE5 there. A more detailed analysis might be warranted, as the S-Bahns (S1 & S8) leave the airport 6 times an hour. At sometimes it might be better to go to the Hbf, but for the fastest connection, they say to take the S1 to Ost.

Update: If you get off the S1 at the Hbf, you'll have to come up from the underground S-Bahn station under the street on the north side of the station and walk all the way across the "shed" of the main tracks coming in at ground level over to the Holzkirchen wing station on the south side (tracks 5 - 10). The schedule says you have nine minutes to make the trip before the regional train leaves the station. Doable but you need to know exactly where you are going and hustle.

On the other hand, if you go all the way on the S-Bahn to Ost, you'll have 8 minutes to go from track 4 at Ost out to track 8. Probably an easier trip. On the other hand, the regional train only stops for about a minutes at Ost, so even if you are on the platform, you can't dally; you'll have to board right away. But then at the Hbf you probably get to the train just before it leaves and have to board right away, anyway. If it were I, I think I'd prefer the change at Ost.

Unfortunately the link to construction info (after changing to EN) has details in German only.:(…

Mein deutch ist genug gute nicht (?) to fully understand but I think it says construction is from August 25 until mid 2028?

So, S1 into city center it is or Luthansa airport bus it is for us.

PS: sorry to piggybacking on OP’s thread

I just looked for Sept 17 and it shows taking the S8 to Munch Ost. So it all depends on your travel date.

If you use the regional train to Salzburg and travel after 9 am weekdays, it is a Bayern Ticket for 34 EUR for the 1st person and 10 EUR for each additional person up to 5 people riding together. Just buy it out of a kiosk at the airport train station.