Train travel question to and from Munich and Salzburg

You can take the train from Munich airport, which will take you to the main Munich Hauptbahnhof to catch a train for Salzburg. But rather than buying your tickets in advance, I would take advantage of the Bayern ticket, which is an all day pass that will allow you to travel by train from the airport to the city center, and then on to Salzburg for €27. Even better, tickets for each additional passenger (up to 5 persons) are only €9. And children under 5 travel free.

It is valid Monday through Friday beginning at 9 am on day one and ending at 3 am the next day. On weekends and on public holidays the ticket is valid from midnight. And the price remains the same no matter when you buy it. Here is more information: https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/regional-day-ticket-for-bavaria

I should also mention that if you use the Bayern ticket when you come back to Munich from Salzburg, it will also cover all local public transport in Munich during the relevant time period; which includes buses, trams, and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn.

I see the train station, both above ground and underground, is available right there in MUC airport. It looks like the above ground will take us right where we need.

There is only one station in MUC and it is underground, downstairs from the MUC Airport Center. There are 2 S-Bahn lines leaving there, and the one you need is the S8. Take it to Ostbahnhof and change there to the train to Salzburg. As @Mardee says, the most economical solution is the Bayern Ticket (valid from 9am), which is valid for the S-Bahn and the local train (operated by BRB) to Salzburg. The two alternatives, S-Bahn + WestBahn or S-Bahn+Railjet, are much more expensive.

I’m following sketterer’s post and the answers because I’m a little confused about day tickets and trains/local transport. Instead of starting a related new post, I’m hoping someone can answer three questions.

1) I’m flying into MUC for 3 days before going to Berlin. From MUC I’m taking the S8 to Marienplatz. If I buy a day pass on the Munich S/MVV app can it used from the app or Apple Wallet?

2) I’m headed back to Munich three weeks later from Salzburg for 2 days before flying home. I just want to to confirm that the Bayern day ticket works in reverse, ie Salzburg to Munich.

3) I see passes are either one day or 7 day. So I have to buy a day pass every day, right? Buy through the app?

Thanks for your help!

PS, Mardee thanks for the link.

Follow sla's advice. S8 to the Ostbahnhof and transfer to the Train to Salzburg. Avoid the main station (Hauptbahnhof) if you can, it is under a years long renovation (a mess) and the change from the SBahn to a regional train is more complicated than at Ostbahnhof.

There are hourly regional trains from Munich Ost to Salzburg so you don't have to worry about booking a train ahead of time. Just purchase a Bayern ticket when you arrive and you are all set.

DJ

1) I’m flying into MUC for 3 days before going to Berlin. From MUC I’m taking the S8 to Marienplatz. If I buy a day pass on the Munich S/MVV app can it used from the app or Apple Wallet?

2) I’m headed back to Munich three weeks later from Salzburg for 2 days before flying home. I just want to to confirm that the Bayern day ticket works in reverse, ie Salzburg to Munich.

3) I see passes are either one day or 7 day. So I have to buy a day pass every day, right? Buy through the app?

1) You can take either S1 or S8, whichever is leaving next.

For the possibilities to buy the day pass see here:

https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/tickets-and-fares/online-und-handyticket/index.html

My choice would be the DB app, through which you can also buy the Bayernticket and any other train tickets.

2) Yes, it does.

3) Yes, sorry. For Tickets cf. 1).

Thank you sla019 for the information.

horsewoofie, as sla19 has said, the Bayern ticket will work both coming and going. The rationale behind it is that the ticket allows travel between places in Bavaria, and this includes border cities, like Salzburg. So you can use it to get to Salzburg (and back) but you could not use it to get to Innsbruck, for example.

Also keep in mind that the Bayern ticket can be used for local transport during the time period as well, but only in Germany. So you can use it to get to Salzburg but not to get around. Coming back, though, you can use it for local transport in Munich once you return for the rest of the time period.

Oops, also meant to add that tickets cannot be added to Apple Wallet, however the DB Navigator app does a good job of storing that information and letting you access the QR code for the conductor quickly. It also gives you quick updates if there is a change to the schedule, etc.

You can take either S1 or S8, whichever is leaving next.

There are two S-Bahn into the Munich "stem" tunnel that runs from the Hbf to München Ostbahnhof, which includes Marienplatz, and there is one platform between 2 tracks in the airport station. For the most part, you can just stand on the one platform and take the next S-Bahn leaving. The S1 and S8 each leaves every 20 minutes (at different times, of course).

However, in the last few years, they have added a regional train, RE22 going to Regensburg, leaving from track 1 at 16 minutes past the hour. So, don't just blindly get on a train on track 1 without making sure it's not the regional train to Regensburg.

The S1 leaves 7 or 8 minutes after the previous S8; The next S8 leaves 12 or 13 minutes after the S1. That means that if you arrive at a random time at the station, 60% to 65% of the time the S8 will be the next train, and you will take it. The S1, which takes 11 minutes longer to get to Marienplatz, only arrives there 2 minutes sooner than the S8. That's why SLA said to take the next S-Bahn. There is only a two minute difference in arrival time.

As long as you don't plan on going anywhere on public transportation after checking into you hotel, you can simply purchase a one ride ticket to Marienplatz. If you want to use any more public transit that day, buy a Tagesticket (day pass).

When purchasing a Bayern-Ticket, note that it is only valid for one day, and that is the day for which you buy it. You don't buy it for a multi-day round trip, and if you buy it in advance, make sure the day you want to travel is printed on the ticket. Bayern-Tickets are only valid on the day printed on them, and once you buy one, it is non-refundable.