I know more time is always better. But ... We'll be in Munich for several days in mid-July and thought about driving (rental car) over to Salzburg for a day trip. We're mostly interested in museums, walking tours, and history.
Is this do-able? Or are we setting ourselves up for a rushed disappointment to travel there and back to Munich?
Thanks!
Is this do-able? Or are we setting ourselves up for a rushed disappointment to travel there and back to Munich?
We took a day trip there; leave early It only takes about 2 hours to get there and sunset is a little before 10pm. You may wish you had allocated more time there than to Munich which I find is over rated. I'd go to Salzburg again.
Given the hassle of driving- city traffic, need for an Austrian vignette, possible difficulty finding parking- I'd seriously consider taking the train instead. You can use the Bayern ticket for any of the regional trains. Salzburg is always worth more than one day, but if you travel early and plan your day in advance, it can be very enjoyable.
What CJean said.
If there were no trains and lots of parking, driving might be a reasonable option.
But trains are frequent and parking less so.
Only caveat is that Salzburg train station is a bit of a stroll from the Old Town area.
Definitely possible. But even I, a Munich resident who owns a car, would only travel to Salzburg by train. Parking in Salzburg is really annoying. And as mentioned, you'd have to buy a autobahn vignette for Austria. Unless you take side roads to Salzburg, which takes considerably longer.
Actually I like Munich better than Salzburg but only because while beautiful, Salzburg is very, very touristy.
You can do a long day trip by train. Either by the fast OBB train or the cheaper regional train-can all go on the Bayern Ticket.
The Salzburg train station is far from the center but there are buses that can take you to the city center or taxis are plentiful.
Actually I like Munich better than Salzburg but only because while beautiful, Salzburg is very, very touristy.
I disagree; well, in part. I love Salzburg and yes, it does get a lot of tourists, but I would never consider it "touristy." To me, that's a place where you are stumbling over huskers at every turn, and every other shop sells cheap souvenirs. Salzburg is crowded, yes, but very beautiful and you will not regret visiting there.
I do agree with the others that you should take the train and not drive. It's difficult to find parking there, and it's very easy to get around using public transport. You can get an early train and be there in about 90 minutes. It's around a 20 minute walk to from the train station to the city center, and since you're there on a day trip, you shouldn't have any luggage to weigh you down. And of course, you can always get a taxi into town.
Really easy by train. Definitely worth it.
It is definitely worth a visit, and suggest taking the train. Get there early, and leave late. Pre-book a walking tour, which should include Mozart's birthplace and Mirabell Palace & Gardens. If you have the time & energy, visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
It's perfectly doable, but as many others have said, it's much easier by train. And there are several bus routes that connect the central station to the old town.
I don't drive on holiday. Period.
But, if i had the money i would hire a driver like DayTrip.com and make a few stops along the way. Then spend the night there and take a morning train back.
Fantastic information. Thank you! - Fletcher
Yes, absolutely. Friends and I did it (we drove), it was very easy and we had no problems finding parking despite driving a nine seater mini van. I too prefer Salzburg over Munich as I also find it a bit overrated except for the beer gardens.
My wife and I were there in both cities back in September. We think the train is the best option for travel between Salzberg and Munich. We went back and forth throughout the day and evenings too, really easy, less time dealing with an auto and less expensive as well. Id opt for the train unless you needed a car for other things.
We did Salzberg in a day, which is do-able. Same thing with Munich, but really nice if you had two days. I'm familiar with Salzberg the best. We headed for the old town section, toured the castle, and then spent several hours walking around, great churches to view as well. Then we went through the shops, which is all walking distance in the old town section. All pretty nice.
Day trip is great but you would miss out on rooftop views of the fortress at night and that is a beautiful sight.
if you are concerned about riding the train by yourself, you might consider Rick‘s suggestion of “Radius Tours” which offers a day trip on the train with a guided tour in Salzburg so you don’t miss anything. It’s a 10 hour total trip
Salzburg is sitting on the border with Germany, so if you drive you need an Austrian highway sticker only for a couple of kilometers. Yes, there are back roads avoiding the last kilometer of Austrian highway but it is easy to get lost (much easier to go back to Germany: you basically go to salzburg airport and drive straight through Walserberg, there is a one-way entrance to German highway direction Munich but no exit coming from Munich).
The highway between Munich and Salzburg is very trafficked and I remember few cases I drove it without finding a queue somewhere. Add that parking in Salzburg is plenty but very expensive, so probably it is much easier to go by train.
one day trip to Salzburg is sufficient?
one day trip to Salzburg is sufficient?
Depends on what you want to see and do, and how much time you have available once you arrive. I've been there 4 or 5 times and never for less than 2 days. YMMV. Make a list of everything you want to do and make a realistic estimate of how much time each will take. Adding time for meals and getting from place to place.
Look on Viator for a Sound of Music tour. Includes a train ticket there and back and a guide to show some of the interesting sights in Salzburg, as well as some free time.
