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Train from Saalbach Austria to Amsterdam - suggestions please...

Posted by on

I’ll be staying with some friends at the hotel interstar in Saalbach, Austria in a couple of weeks. We’re going to split up at the end of our stay and I’m going to Amsterdam for a few days prior to my flight back to JFK in NY.

I’d like to take a train from Saalbach to Amsterdam but am not quite sure of the “best” way to go about this.. I’m not necessarily looking for the fastest way - scenic would be nice. I’ve been on a couple of Rick Steve’s trips to Europe So am not a travel virgin :-). I’ll have a backpack and a small rolling suitcase.

I’ve read that 2nd class is fine. And that it’s a 10 - 12 hour trip with a minimum of 3 stops. As long as there are functional bathrooms on the train I’m good. For reference I’m a junior senior (mid 60’s).

Thank you very much!

Steve Ashe

Posted by
33848 posts

are you planning to take multiple days for the return to Amsterdam or do you want to go all in one day?

Posted by
33848 posts

How will you get to the resort?

There aren't trains very close to Saalbach. When you leave you will likely either get out to Innsbruck or Salzburg . Either way you will likely go via Munich. Train would be via Zell am See or Hochfilzen. So getting out of the mountains is the big hurdle.

From Hochfilzen (maybe taxi or your friend?) it is 3 hours by train to Munich via Wörgl and Kufstein. From Zell am See (same question) the fastest connection is at 6 am. Can you get there that early? Assuming not, that 3 connection route next is at 9:45, arrival at Amsterdam Centraal at 20:28. 15 minutes faster to Munich. Changing at Wörgl, Munich, Frankfurt am Main Haubtbahnhof and then direct to Amsterdam.

I normally much prefer to be on ground transportation but for the distance have you considered flying from Salzburg to Amsterdam? Or breaking the journey?

Posted by
18 posts

Thank you Nigel and Joe for your responses. I just checked into flights from Salzburg and they all stop in LGW. Price is similar to train.

In any case I’ll just prepare for a long day. Zell am see is a taxi from my hotel.

The Kindle is my friend :-).

Posted by
33848 posts

True about Salzburg - but both Lufthansa and KLM do Munich to Amsterdam several times a day in 90 minutes... FYI

Posted by
18 posts

You’ve got me thinking maybe I should take a train from zell am see to Munich (1 change, under 3 hours total) and then fly to AMS. I have a couple of days to think and book. Leaving for Pisa this Friday and I want to be done booking travel by then.

Thanks again!

Posted by
7304 posts

Yes, I would really fly, as you're looking at a twelve hour journey with three to five transfers... Whatever scenery is on the way will quickly "get old". You'll have some scenery on the way from Zell am See to Munich, then you should fly from there.

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