Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
Choose from awide choice of trains on this route:
For train journeys between Munchen/Munich and Salzburg you can choose between:
(1) THESE Railjet trains - the fastest trains AND can be cheapest if the discounted tickets are still available (and they still tend to be available up to the day before you want to travel).
OR
(2) THESE EC trains -they tend to be around 14 mins slower than the Railjets, but can be cheapest (particularly if the discounted tickets for the Railjets have sold out)
Our step-by-step guide to booking train tickets (and reservations) on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.
(3) The alternative Meridian (M) regional trains – they’re the slowest option because they're not express trains, though they’re only 4 minutes slower than the EC trains.
When the discounted tickets for the Railjets and EC trains have sold out, those Meridian trains become the cheapest option.
So they will be usually be the cheapest option if you will be buying tickets last minuute at the station.
They also depart hourly.
BOOKING TICKETS:
It can also be particularly worthwhile comparing prices on the national ticket agents for this journey - when the cheapest tickets have sold out on the DB (German railways website), they can still be available on the OBB (Austrian railways wesite) and vice versa.
How To Buy Tickets and Reservations on with DB – follow this GUIDE
How to buy tickets on OBB – follow this GUIDE
RESERVATIONS:
Reservations are highly recommended for this journey - If you book a First Class ticket on DB your seat(s) will be assigned, but OBB will charge a reservation fee for First class tickets.
You will have to pay to add a reservation when booking second class tickets, no matter which ticket agent you use.
Paying a €4.50 reservation fee for a Second Class seat may seem extravagant for such a comparatively short journey, but the Railjet and EC trains can be busy by the time they reach Zurich.
So if you want to be absolutely certain of a seat, particularly on Mon-Saturday morning departures and on Friday and Sunday evenings, reserving can be worthwhile
