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My Way Alpine Tour - which airport for arrival?

Hello!
I am wondering about people's experiences flying in to Munich, Salzburg, or Vienna before beginning the My Way Alpine Tour. I've traveled around Europe, but never been to any of these three possibilities. We hope to spend some time in Salzburg before the tour begins, so our question is what has worked well for others?

It looks like the airport in Munich is about an hour from the train station, so that gives me pause about that option. We'd like to get to Salzburg and explore there more than exploring Munich on this trip. If it was a situation like Zurich where the train station is right at the airport, we'd consider this...but it doesn't seem that way in Munich, per Rome2Rio.

Landing in Vienna would mean a nearly 3 hour train trip - but maybe that's a beautiful route, and enables us to see another city?

Flying directly to Salzburg is the most straightforward, and also most expensive, it seems.

I just wondered if we were missing anything in these considerations.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Laurie

Posted by
2658 posts

I've been on this wonderful tour! I flew into Munich and immediately took the train to Salzburg, about 2 hours away. It was super easy.

Posted by
76 posts

We flew into Frankfurt and then caught a connecting flight to Salzburg. That worked very well for us. The My Way Alpine tour was absolutely incredible! Enjoy!

Posted by
22968 posts

The point of flying into Munich is that you can use a Bayern Ticket to get to Salzburg. Cost is 44 EUR for 2 people and nothing needs to be booked in advance. Takes less than 2 1/2 hours with a departure every hour. One change at Munich Ostbahnhof.

Posted by
410 posts

Another response with how fantastic the tour is! I travelled early June 2024. I flew into Munich and had one full day before using the train to Salzburg the morning of the evening meet up.
If you have an interest in modern history I devoted the full day to a private guide and tour focused on the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party. I also went to Dachau.
In Salzburg be sure to attend a Mozart concert! I skipped the fortress (personally underwhelmed by that site) dinner concert option and used the other listed in Rick's guidebook- it was a short (45 minutes) matinee in a church, wonderful!

Posted by
565 posts

Thank you, everyone! I appreciate hearing the options. Sam, thanks for reminding me-a RS Tours employee had mentioned that Bayern pass to me a while back and I’d forgotten!

The Munich route would get us a non stop flight, so that is a plus!

Posted by
3937 posts

I’m taking this tour next year and have my airfare booked. I’m flying into Vienna and out of Zurich. I have used both airports before and they are both easy to navigate with train stations right at the airport.

I have 3 additional nights in Salzburg before the tour and 2 nights in Lucerne at the end of the tour.

If you can get a nonstop to Munich, but not to Vienna, I would go with Munich. I haven’t used that airport, but from what I remember reading, there’s a tram or subway right outside the airport that you would take to the main train station and then easy train on to Salzburg.

Are you aware of free public transport for Salzburg?

https://www.salzburg.info/en/travel-info/arrival-traffic/guest_mobility_ticket

Salzburg is very walkable, but with luggage, the bus might be a good option for getting close to your hotel.

I’m staying at a different hotel, weisse taube, pre-tour, then will move to the tour hotel, Hotel Hofwirt. I have stated at the weisse taube before and prefer it’s location in the old town.

Posted by
565 posts

Thank you, Carrie! I sent you a pm.

I've never been to Vienna, so one thought was to experience a new city there before Salzburg...
Now knowing that there's an easy tram to get to the train station makes Munich seem easier, too...

So, more decisions!

Thanks again, everyone!
Laurie

Posted by
3937 posts

If Vienna is an option for a few nights, that would be my choice. I was there earlier this year with my sister, and we had a great time.

My trip report might give you some ideas:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sisters-in-vienna-and-prague-our-trip-report

If they extend the running time for phantom of the opera (currently running through June), I might figure out a way to see it again.

I’ve responded to your PM, but I’ll add my reason for changing hotels in Salzburg here in case others are curious: The main reason is location. The two hotels are not terribly far apart. But, it is about an 18 minute walk between the two. I’m one who likes to pop out in the early morning to take photos. And most of what I like to photograph in Salzburg is in the old town. I’ll actually be in the old town with the pre tour hotel. And when I move to the tour hotel, I can explore things that are closer to that hotel.

Posted by
148 posts

We did this tour and it was one of our favorites. We flew into Salzburg and arrived 3 full days ahead.
It was wonderful. We love Salzburg and could go back and back.
You will love the tour.

Posted by
15896 posts

If you have the time, I suggest to spend a couple nights in Vienna and then go to Salzburg.

Posted by
18320 posts

From Munich Airport, take the S8 (train) to Munich Ost (East). It will take about 30 minutes. From there transfer to a high speed train to Salzburg. The entire trip around two hours and 15 minutes.

You can see schedules at:

https://int.bahn.de/en