Reserve a seat with "D" ticket? (Germany)

Posted by Mumbling & Stumbling on 05/10/26 08:15 PM

Our trip in December will be better suited if we get a "D" ticket for Munich and Salzburg. I know it gives us a lot of choices to take any local train. I am also aware that I cannot buy the ticket until 5 days before the beginning of the month of use.

For a longer trip such as from Munich to Salzburg, if we wanted to reserve seats, would we be able to do so? I know this entails identifying a certain train and we must take that train to utilize reserved seating .

Since I cannot buy the "D" ticket until the end of November, nonetheless, would I be able to reserve seats on a specific train even without having purchased a ticket yet? About a month out, I would like to reserve seats together for the four of us traveling together.

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

05/10/26 08:37 PM

23564 posts

If you are using a "D" ticket, you are riding a regional train and there are no seat reservations. However, if you are boarding at Munich Hbf going to Salzburg, you will be among the first on board if you get there early when the train gets spotted on the platform, You stand a good chance of getting 4 seats together since you will be boarding an empty train.

Posted by Mumbling & Stumbling OP

05/11/26 12:34 AM

560 posts

Sam, thank you for answering my question.

Joe in Hodag country

Posted by Paul

Eastern Iowa, USA

05/11/26 12:55 AM

9405 posts

Just to add, the only German trains you can reserve seats on are the faster ICE and IC trains, neither of which you can travel on with the Deutschland Ticket. The regional trains, buses, and city transportation, no reservations are possible

For Munich to Salzburg, the "D" ticket can get you to the Salzburg HBF, but no further, and is not valid on Salzburg city transportation. Note that you can use the ticket on Austrian OBB trains (except fast trains) between Munich and Salzburg.

I am not aware of the restriction of buying a Deutschland ticket only 5 days before the month of use. Perhaps on some platforms, but I buy mine from Tranzer. a source recommended by "The Man in Seat 61", see his comments about the ticket here https://www.seat61.com/websites/deutschland-ticket.htm On tranzer, right now, you can get one for both June and July, you can even get one for the remainder of May. They also get you the ticket and cancel immediately, so no subscription. They do charge a 3.60 euro fee.