Salzburg to Berchtesgaden

Janie, In the same situation, I'd probably just buy a couple of Bus tickets and not worry about the Railpasses. The tickets won't be expensive and that method provides the shortest travel times. I'd use one of the "direct" Buses (one that doesn't have a "change").

A rail pass will not cover the bus. The trains, S-Bahn, BLB, or RE/RB will be covered by a pass - all the way to Berchtesgaden. There is a direct bus, RVO 840, also called the Watzmann Express, hourly from in front of Salzburg Hbf to the Berchtesgaden Bahnhof. A day pass, called a Tagesticket, is €9 per person and will cover round trip if you do it in a day. If you are staying for dinner in Berchtesgaden, be aware that the last bus back to Salzburg is at 7:25 PM. The last train leaves Berchtesgaden at 10:30 PM.

Take the bus. We did this last year with a group of high school students, and it was not a big deal at all. The bus stop is just across the street from the Main Train Station Entrance from what I remember.

According to OEBB's Bahnhofsplan for the Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, the Watzmann express leaves from Haltestelle 6, which is not one of the bus slips in Südtiroler Platz, directly in front of the station, but across the Karl-Wurmb-Strasse from a building to the left (looking at station) of Südtiroler Platz. The H6 is in day-glow chartreuse on the map and not easy to see. The building is called Forum 1 and includes the Ramada. An advantage of paying for the Tagesticket and taking the bus is that all other bus transportation in Berchtesgaden, such as the bus to the foot of the Eagle's Nest and the bus to Koenigsee will also be covered for no extra charge.

Does anyone know if it is difficult to get there by bus in the December (Winter)?