Anyone know if Salzburg is an included stop w/ Germany railpass?

Posted by Marielle (Tucson, AZ, USA) on 06/10/08 04:54 PM

I am planning to purchase a SelectPass for France, Benelux, and Germany, and read in a guidebook somewhere that Salzburg was included as a 'bonus' with the German railpass, as long as you do not go any further into Austria. We plan to take the night train from Berlin to Salzburg, stay one night in Salzburg, and then head to Munich.

Has anyone done this or know if this is accurate info? Just don't want to find out we should have paid extra for the 4 country railpass (adding Austria) once we get over there!

Thanks,
Mari

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

06/10/08 05:18 PM

19274 posts

German Rail does indicate that the German Rail pass (the pass issued by German Rail just for Germany) does include Salzburg, however, the Eurail website does not say anything about places outside of a covered country being included in a Eurail Select pass.

For what part of that trip (which night train) do you plan to use the railpass? Many of the night trains from Berlin to Salzburg pass through more of Austria than just the line into Salzburg, so you would definitely need Austria on the pass. However, if you are just concerned about the part from Salzburg to Munich, you can purchase a ticket from Salzburg to Freilassing, just over the border into Germany, for €2 per person and use your railpass from there. Better yet, do not plan to use your railpass for Salzburg to Munich at all, since you can make that trip with a Bayern-Ticket for €27 (for up to 5 people, €13,50 each for two). That way you can save a day of a railpass.

Posted by Travel Boss

Myrtle Beach, USA

06/12/08 02:09 AM

12313 posts

Salzburg is considered the last German stop on the line.

I was traveling on a rail pass and expected to pay some type of suplement to go to Salzburg. I asked and the conductor said there was no suplement but that Salzburg was the last stop included on my German rail pass.

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

06/12/08 06:44 AM

19274 posts

Yes, Brad. It is a very short distance (less than 10 min) from the German border into Salzburg on the line from Freilassing, so German Rail runs the trains on that line. Therefore, Salzburg is considered a "border" station.

Posted by Marielle OP

Tucson, AZ, USA

06/12/08 07:31 AM

3 posts

"For what part of that trip (which night train) do you plan to use the railpass? Many of the night trains from Berlin to Salzburg pass through more of Austria than just the line into Salzburg, so you would definitely need Austria on the pass."

The train that I was planning to take on the night journey says that it goes from Berlin through Munich, and then on to Salzburg. We then plan to stay one night in Salzburg, and head to Munich the next day.

We have numerous stops on our trip, so are purchasing an 8 day YouthSelectPass for France, Benelux, and Germany.. so using a rail-pass day for the Salzburg to Munich hop is not a problem. My main concern was whether we would need to pay the extra $39 per pass to add Austria.

It sounds from these replies as if we don't... thanks!

Mari