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Salzburg to Munich by train -- buy in advance??

Posted by (West Coast) on

I've already booked my Venice to Salzburg bus/train tickets successfully (and cheaply!) thanks to the great information people have shared on this forum. I will wait to buy train tickets for Italy when I'm there, again based on information I've gleaned from these forums. And I have my Eurostar tickets, again at what I consider a bargain price, by following the advice here.

Now it's just occurred to me that maybe I should buy my Salzburg to Munich tickets in advance, too. I just checked the OBB website and it looks like I can purchase one-way tickets on June 28th for 34 euros each which can be used on any train that day. Can anyone tell me if I'm reading their site correctly? And is it to my advantage to buy the tickets now? My date is certain -- unless the volcano changes my plans completely. With that in mind, unless there would be a considerable saving by buying in advance, I'd rather not lay out any more nonrefundble money yet.

Thanks to anyone who has any knowledge of the sometimes inscrutable OBB website.

Posted by
19274 posts

I agree that the ÖBB website can sometimes be less than easy to use. I think that the German Rail website is far more user friendly.

The German Rail website will also offer an advance purchase, train specific, online ticket with limited refundability for €34, total, one way, for two people including seat reservation. This Sparpreis ticket would be valid for a specific express train (ICE/IC/EC/RailJet) and could be booked for any time of day.

If you would "rather not lay out any more nonrefundble money", there is also the Bayern-Ticket, an all day (after 9 AM workdays) on/off pass for regional trains in Bavaria, including the line to/from the Salzburg Hbf. It's €20 for a single person, €28 for up to five people traveling together. Regional trains only take about ½ hr longer from Salzburg to Munich than do express trains.

The Bayern-Ticket is not limited in quantity, doesn't sell out. You can purchase it any time right up to train time from a German Rail automat at the Hauptbahnhof in Salzburg, and use it on any regional trains to Munich. Not only that, once you get to Munich, it's valid for all conveyances (U-/S-Bahn, streetcars, and buses in the MVV)

Posted by
138 posts

Lee - Thanks for such helpful, specific information. You are truly an expert. One further question: with the Sparpreis ticket I would have reserved seats. With the Bayern-ticket I would not, correct? Would it be to my advantage to have reserved seats? Thanks again!

Posted by
19274 posts

The price I gave you, €34 for 2, for the Sparpreis Ticket includes reservations at €2,50 per seat - you could also purchase a Sparpreis Ticket without reservations for €29 for 2 people.

In almost every case, regional trains are not reservable. I have only had 2 SRO regional trains in 10 years, both of them during afternoon rush hour. So, if you get to the station 15 minutes early, and there are any empty seats, take them; they're yours for the trip as long as you don't leave them. The regional trains start in Salzburg, so they come into the station completely empty.

I should mention 1 caveat. In the past, the Bayern-Ticket has been available at the Hbf in Salzburg from German Rail automats (it's a shared station). I suspect they have also been available from ÖBB automats, since I saw an ÖBB automat in Neumarkt, about an hour from the German border, selling Bayern-Tickets. Right now the Hbf in Salzburg is closed for renovation. It looks like the ticket operation is in a temporary building to the south of the station building. Do they have ticket automats there? Maybe someone whose been there in the last few months can tell us.

You know, the full fare ticket for an ICE/RJ from Salzburg to Munich is €33 per person; by IC/EC (also reservable) it is €29 pP. Reservations, if you purchase them online or from an automat, with a ticket, are €2,50 per seat. They are €4,50 without a ticket or from a counter.

Posted by
138 posts

Lee -- thank you once again. Your information is invaluable. I'm printing this out and taking it with me.

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