Greetings! We are travelling to Germany in later July. Definitely going to Salzburg from Munich for a couple of days as have tickets to festival events. Thinking of going to Nurenberg as a day trip. Does it make sense to buy train tickets online now, or just wait until we are in Munich? I've been playing around on the DeutscheBahn website and it's a little overwhelming. Also not sure right now what time we'd want to depart for these ciites so would rather not be committed yet. Would a 3-day rail pass make more sense (1 day for Nurenberg,, and 2 days for RT to Salzburg)? There will be 2 of us travelling together so we could also take advantage of the twin rate. If we get the rail pass, how far ahead (if at all) should we reserve seats? Probably will get first class tickets just for comfort and quiet. Thanks!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19238 posts
In my opinion, first class is a needless luxury. The seats are a little wider, so if you are really obese, it will make a difference. Other than than, a waste of money. If you are willing to go in 2nd class and by regional trains, you can use Bayern-Tickets, all day on/off passes for regional trains in Bavaria (including to/from Salzburg), €26 for a two person version (€78 for your three days of travel). A Bayern-Ticket is valid from 9 AM on workdays, all day on weekend days, and includes local transport in Munich and Nürnberg. If you would be willing to commit to a specific train (date and time), and I know you said you aren't, you could get advance purchase Savings fare tickets for 2 on express trains for as little as €79 in 1st class each way between Munich and either Nürnberg or Salzburg. 2nd class would be €29 for two, each way. Savings fare tickets have no time restriction like the 9 AM one for Bayern-Tickets. In 1st class, without advance purchase, all three days of travel would cost €556. A German Rail Twin pass for all three days would cost €500. Reservations, if you want them, would cost the same extra, either way. By regional trains would cost €390,40; there are no reservations on regional trains. Lastly, in 2nd class on express trains, individual tickets would cost €344 for all three days vs. €366 with a three day 2nd class Twin pass. Reserved seats are only good on the train for which they are reserved, so reserving in advance will commit you to a time and date. I have never seen a reservable train that had all seats reserved. Occupied, yes, but reserved, no.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
259 posts
Thank you so much. That is really helpful and I hadn't realized how drastic the price variation would be.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
259 posts
Would the Rail Pass also cover Munich's S-BahnCard or U-Bahn or would those be additional?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33513 posts
A German railpass covers S-Bahns as they are trains. It does not cover U-Bahn as they are municipal transport, no more than it covers buses.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19238 posts
The Bayern-Ticket is valid for all public transit inside the Verkehrsverbünde (metro districts) in Bavaria. According to the Bayern-Takt website, the Bayern-Ticket is not valid on "einzelne Buslinien außerhalb von Verkehrsverbünden" (individual bus lines outside metro districts). The Bayern-Ticket is valid on all the privatized regional train lines (ALX, BOB, etc) in Bavaria, but rail passes (German Rail pass and Eurail passes) are not accepted by BOB (Bayrische Oberland Bahn) which operates trains around Holzkirchen, Bad Tölz, and Schliersee.
Posted by
Mumbai, India
79 posts
I would definitely recommend that you buy the tickets as early as possible. The earlier you but the better are the rates. Someone said that the first class travel is a needless luxury - I would tend to agree. The second class carriages are excellent, so enjoy your trip.