My Way Alpine Tour - which airport for arrival?

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing your trip reports!

Chani, what would you recommend if we go to Vienna first? We've never been there before.

Thanks,
Laurie

We flew into Munich and stayed for four days before taking a train to Salzburg. Munich and area are wonderful. So much to see. Very easy to use public transportation to move around. Great food and fun experiences. The train was a nice trip, pleasant scenery, about 2 hours. Easy bus transfer from Salzburg train station to the “old town” near our first tour hotel. Your sense about transfer from the Munich airport to the main train stations is a little off - the time is shorter and it is easy and straightforward if you are intent on going directly to Salzburg from Munich without spending any time in Munich. I think the two tour days allotted to Salzburg is plenty to see most of the city itself. You might want a day more if you have an itinerary of sites to see outside of Salzburg.

Thank you for your replies and suggestions! I think we’re leaning more towards Vienna for our first stop. I appreciate the helpful hints.

Laurie

Hi! We are booked for the Alpine My Way tour in May. Being adventurous, we are landing in Prague for a few days and then taking the five hour train from Prague to Salzburg. We are very excited for this tour for the destinations,and because we did My Way Spain in 2023 and it was fabulous. Adding on to the end and beginning of the tour has worked out very well for us.

My husband and I flew in to Vienna before the My Way Alps tour last June. We arrived in Vienna on Saturday morning and took the OBB Railjet to Salzburg the following afternoon. The express ride took 2 hours, 25 minutes and the scenery was lovely. We paid a nominal amount to upgrade to first class and ordered a late lunch during the ride. Wifi was available on the train. We were bewitched by Vienna and will be headed back in the future to spend more time. You are going to love the tour. It was absolutely brilliant.