Most scenic train route from Bavaria to Salzburg

There are various routes you might take. If you prefer routing via Innsbruck and Bischofshofen, then input those stations as stopovers (with 00:00 stopover time) when you do your itinerary search at the DB site. Use this link:

https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

(and click "add intermediate stops")

I came up with 3-4 different trains and about 6 hours travel time. Some journeys have you transferring in Schwarzach-St. Viet, some not. Wörgl seems to be a transfer point as well. Some of the journeys send you back into Germany (Rosenheim) where you would complete the trip using much of the same route to Salzburg that you took before from Munich; the stopover designation of Bischofshofen tacks on a round trip to that town from Salzburg! Very messed up.

You can play around with the stopovers - try using other rail station stopovers prior to Bischofshofen like Kitzbühel or Zell am See to see if you can force the trip through Bischofshofen.

If you must drop in Germany, it could be possible to do your journey through Austria by car and arrange to drop in Freilassing, just a few miles from Salzburg.

This is what I'm trying to do: (from Eurail website)
Many Austrian trains travel from Salzburg to Innsbruck by detouring into German territory. But insiders will tell you that the southern route, via the Austrian town of Bischofshofen, is far more scenic. Heading straight up into the Alps and passing right by some of the region’s most scenic sights, you’ll find ancient covered bridges, emerald rivers, hilltop monasteries, restored castles and picture-postcard towns, such as Zell am See.

The route goes through some of the most-famous destinations in the skiing and climbing world. Reservations are not necessary but are recommended. Few direct trains exist. This route is usually made with a single transfer in the Alpine town of Schwarzach-St. Veit. It generally takes about 3.5 hours – a bit longer than the 120 minutes of the regular, direct route, but definitely worth it in terms of the views.

Thanks, Russ, for showing me how to get the intermediate stop in. I used Schwarzach-St. Veit and found a train leaving Garmisch at 10:02. It makes for a long trip, but there's an hour stop in Innsbruck at 11:23 which could work for a lunch break. I'm still not sure this travels through Bischofshfen, where I don't need to stop, but the whole point is to find the most scenic route.

I think if you use both Zell am See and Schwarzach-St. Veit as stopovers, you will be routing yourselves as desired.

You can double check the routing using the "map view" link at near the bottom of each journey box. You can track every rail station you pass through for itineraries that come up by looking under the "products" column and clicking on the train numbers there (for example... RE + #, RJ + #, S + #.)

oh, wow, Russ. Didn't know how to do this either. Very helpful! Thanks

TICKETS: You may want to look at ticketing via the Austrian rail site. I think I saw the same Nov. 29 10:02 departure from G-P priced at €35,80 for 2 adults + 2 kids for the trip to Salzburg (enter a "VIA" of Zell am See.) The train numbers at the Austrian site matched the train numbers for the German site - so same trip.

www.oebb.at

I'm confused because you ask about group tickets and such but are using the Eurailpass website? Do you have a rail pass?

Nigel, no rail passes. When I googled “scenic route” the Eurail site came up.

Russ, if that ticket price works, it’s amazing. I don’t really understand how two companies ticket so differently on the same train, but I’ll take it! Thanks again for your help. I would not have known to look for an Austrian ticket on a train originating in Germany.

Note: the Eurail site doesn't always show you all the trains. Bahn.com is the German rail website in English.

Are you really talking about Eurail (www.eurail.com)) or are you talking about RailEurope?

I haven't noticed Eurail giving much routing info (although I don't follow them closely; they might have changed).

Eurail is a conglomerate of European national rail lines organized to package and market rail passes; RailEurope is only a travel agency (a rail pass and ticket booking agency), and they don't offer the lowest fare info or complete routing information.

Trust the Bahn website link Russ gave you (and learn how to use it).

I don't know how I can emphasize this enough, RailEurope is not Eurail! RailEurope is a ticket reseller, one of many, like Expedia. Buy tickets from them if you must, but don't confuse them with an official fare price authority.

Lee, googling "most scenic train between Innsbruck and Salzburg" took me to blog.eurail.com article "Austria's Most Enchanting Train Rides." Possibly that's someone's personal blog space. Not using the eurail.com site. Not talking about RailEurope. Familiar with the Bahn website. Used it occasionally when I lived in Germany, but never adept at it because I had a car. Really happy about Russ's suggestion to try www.oebb.at.

I think I'm confused. You said you wanted the most scenic route from Bavaria (GaP??) to Salzburg I think.

But then I see you want the most scenic route from Innsbruck?

Will you be on the line from GaP via Mittenwald and Seefeld in Tirol?

Nigel,
I'll be in Mittenwald, with a car I plan to drop in Garmisch because I don't need it in Salzburg or Munich, and don't want to pay the drop-off fee in Austria for a German rental. I've taken the train from Ga-P via Munich to Salzburg, which is efficient but not especially scenic. I've also driven the beautiful Deutsche Alpenstrasse, so I know a more scenic path must exist. From what I've read, that scenic route seems to originate in Innsbruck, and I think the train from Ga-P to Innsbruck must be interesting as well.

I know I'm doing some backtracking here, but under no time pressure to arrive in Salzburg this time, and I really want to see some new alpine scenery, particularly some that I can enjoy through a train window.

"I think the train from Ga-P to Innsbruck must be interesting as well."

Garmisch-P. > Innsbruck

"I'll be in Mittenwald..."

Goodies that come with a stay in Mittenwald:
https://www.alpenwelt-karwendel.de/en/alpenwelt-karwendel-guest-card

Dated but helpful guide to Mittenwald:
https://hastingshouse.typepad.com/hastings_house_us/2007/04/mittenwald_germ.html

Thanks, Russ!
Mittenwald's Alpenrose hotei is my favorite place to stay in that part of Bavaria. When I bring my girl friends here, we usually stay at least three nights and do as much as we can of Partnachlamm, the castles. the Wieskirche, Oberammergau, and a full day with Coaching in Bavaria. Readjusting plans for a quicker two night stay with my grandsons in early December. We really have only one full day, and I wanted to take them to the Zugspitze and Partnachlamm. Just discovered Partnachlamm is closed after the floods, and even before then, the traffic pattern was changed during Covid so that one couldn't take the gondola up, then walk down the mountain and through the gorge from the back to the ticket cage - the easier American way than the sturdier German hike up the mountain. Now fingers crossed that we will have a blue sky day for the Zugspitze.

We will be in Mittenwald during Adventsmarkt der Sinne Wallgau, but I'll have to figure out where that is.

My grandsons have never traveled by train, and I think they will like that ride from Ga-P to Salzburg. The München Hauptbahnhof was the first big European train station I experienced (in university days) and I want them to see that too.
Thanks again for all your help.

If you want a nice time as you cross the border a stop at Seefeld in Tirol is a fav of mine. There's a funicular up into the mountains above too.

Adventsmarkt der Sinne Wallgau: I did a quick look through 3 websites and noticed that this event may only be scheduled in even numbered years. I did not see it appear on the calendar here: Alpenwelt-Karwendel calendar of events.

Of course, times are a bit mixed up, so who knows. I would love to hear about this if you do visit and it runs.

Weiss Kirsche

I'm sorry if I sound critical, but to someone of German ancestry who has studied the German language, "Weiss Kirsche" grates - it is just so wrong. With allowances for adjective declination, weiss Kirsche translates as "white cherry". You are obviously referring to the large white pilgrimage church in the meadow just north of Füssen. While weiss (or weiß) means white and and Kirsche is a cherry, wies means meadow and Kirche is a church, thus Wieskirche is a church in a meadow. (But, yes, the church is white.)

I've also driven the beautiful Deutsche Alpenstrasse, so I know a more
scenic path must exist. From what I've read, that scenic route seems
to originate in Innsbruck

The Alpenstraße does not originate, or even go through, Innsbruck. It crosses the Inn river in Germany, around Brannenburg. I think that route is scenic, particularly the part (road) of the Alpensraße that goes over the mountains from Bayrischzell to Oberaudorf via Tatzelwurm or the part around Reit im Winkel.

I've also been in Seefeld, on the GaP to Innsbruck line and agree that it is scenic delight.

If you take the route from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Salzburg via Bischofshofen, you will approach Salzburg from the south, through Werfen, and you can visit the castle Hohenwerfen, which was on the hill behind Maria when she was teaching the children to sing in Sound of Music and was used in the movie "Where eagles dare".

Debbie,
I haven’t uncovered any info about this market either. I had never heard of it, but the Alpenrose mentioned in when they confirmed my reservation. And who knows what will happen to the tiny markets during another plague year. I’m in wait and see mode on this one.

Lee,
You are completely right and I am completely wrong. My German language errors are likely surpassed by my German spelling errors.