Hello RickNiks,
My family and I are planning our Germany and Austria trip this June. There are 6 of us. (all adults) Do you recommend flying or going on a train? I know the train ride will be around 4 hours, and for the plane we have to be there 2 hours early, etc.
Thanks!
That answer is easy: the train. It's quicker. It's easier. It's more comfortable. And probably a lot cheaper. I checked at the German railways (www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml) the price of an advance-bought ticket. They can be as cheap as EUR 29.
I personally find it more enjoyable to sit near one another, perhaps around a little table (when you choose your seats you can see if this is a possibility, or in a private compartment (again I don't know if this is an option of your particular train route) than sit cramped up on a plane even if it a shorter actual flight.
Much appreciated for the fast responses!
Buy those tickets as soon as they become available on the website of the Deutsche Bahn. The process is simple and reliable: payment by credit card and an emailed pdf for home printing. (On the train you can be asked to show the credit card you've bought the tickets with.)
Enjoy!
Awesome, thank you so much. Hope to visit the Netherlands eventually too. :)
If you book your tickets at 29€ as soon as they become available you will probably be able to pick the car and seats you want. When we've traveled with a group I get picky and look for seat configuration and closeness to luggage racks or between seat storage. Go to this website to see the seating options for a typical railjet train. This is your Munich to Vienna option. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30006269/trainseatplans/OBB-railjet.docx
You can go to here and see what the interiors of these trains look like. http://www.seat61.com/railjet.htm
Hope to visit the Netherlands eventually too
You're most welcome, but first enjoy Germany and Austria.
Pat,
Absolutely, travel by train! Travel time is about four hours, often with one change in Salzburg (depending on which train you use). Going by train will be a much more pleasant experience! Travel by air will be more of an ordeal with security, restrictive baggage charges, waiting times and the usual "dog & pony show", and of course travel to and from each city from the airports.
I would say that if you are arriving to Europe through Munich and then immediately travelling to Vienna, then it would be better to just fly to Vienna as you are already in transit. Flight time is about 30 minutes.
If you are already sightseeing in Munich for a few days, then the train makes the most sense.
Won't you stop in Salzburg on the way?
Hi Emily,
We are definitely going to be sightseeing in Munich. :)
