I am planning to attend Oktoberfest with my daughter and boyfriend Sept 21-25 and have rooms reserved in Munich. I'd like to arrive about a week early and rent a car to visit Bavaria including Fussen and the castles, Zugspitze, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg and perhaps a few other short stops along the way. My original thought was just to arrive in Munich 4-5 days early and rent a car there, but now I'm wondering if it make more sense to fly into Salzburg or does it even matter? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by
Schaumburg, IL
279 posts
Salzburg is a very small airport so your flight choices & travel time will be much better for Munich.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6985 posts
Yes, fly to Munich. Salzburg is an easy train ride from Munich.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33861 posts
Munich airport will give you much more choice. You will likely have to connect to get to Salzburg airport. If you have to connect anyway, see if there is something that works from wherever you are flying from... good luck
Posted by
8248 posts
- Going to the fest and going early is good. Be sure to see the opening day parade. Go early, it gets very crowded. Also, when going to the fest, be sure to try more than one fest tent. My favorite Munich beer is Spatenbrau. They should have a tent. Go for lunch when it is not as crowded at in the evening. Still, on another day so you can be there when the tent is full and eveyone is singing.
- Forget flying into Salzburg, take the train down, it is short and scenic. Recommend staying in Salzburg or Berchtesgaden for at least one night. Take the Sound of Music tour, visit the Castle in Salzburg and walk the streets (Mozart's house and the Cathedral). For Berchtesgaden, do the Eagle's Nest and of course check out the town.
- For the Fussen, Garmisch area, recommend staying in Garmisch and doing the castles. There are three in the area. Also, take the cog train or cable car up to the top of the Zugspitze. Plan on 3 days minimum in the area.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
A number of years ago we had an event in the Kitzbühel Alp region of the Tyro. We flew in to Salzburg 3 or 4 days ahead of our event, traveled by train to Fiberbrunn for the event, and returned via Munich by charterred coach from Fiberbrunn to the Munich Airport.
Consider an open jaws flight into Salzburg and returning from Muncih. Salzburg airport is small and relatevely close to Salzburg. Taxi or local bus into town from the airport. Then enjoyed a car free holiday in Salzburg, a very walkable town. Don't need a car in Salzburg. Rental car from Salzburg via your Bavarian road trip to Munich one way. Question would be cost of one way rental from Salzburg with drop off in Munich before the Octoberfest (don't need a car while indulging in beer).