Salzburg to Munich by train

Salzburg to Munich takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by direct train, with no change needed. The faster trains are railjet services run by ÖBB and EuroCity or ICE services run by Deutsche Bahn, and Westbahn also runs a few departures a day. The slower option is the hourly RE 5 regional train run by Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB), which takes just under 2 hours and accepts the Bayern-Ticket. All of them leave Salzburg Hbf for München Hbf, so check your travel day for exact times.

Direct trains from Salzburg Hbf to München Hbf

Every train on this journey is direct. You board at Salzburg Hbf, the city's main station, and get off at München Hbf, the main station in Munich. There is no check-in at either end, so you walk to the platform and board.

Three kinds of train share the line through Freilassing, Traunstein and Rosenheim. The express trains, railjet and EuroCity, are the quickest, at about 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Westbahn's double-deck trains take about 1 hour 35 minutes. The BRB RE 5 calls at more stations and takes just under 2 hours.

An express train and the RE 5 each leave about once an hour, from early morning until late evening. Westbahn adds a few departures a day, so it is an extra option rather than something to plan around.

Which train to choose

Take an express if you want the shortest journey or need to leave before 09:00 on a weekday. Take the RE 5 if you hold a Bayern-Ticket or a Deutschlandticket, or if the timing suits you better than the next express.

Trains that start in Vienna or Graz arrive in Salzburg already part full, so boarding in Salzburg is busier than boarding in Munich. On a summer weekend or a holiday, a seat reservation on an express is a sensible precaution. The RE 5 has no seat reservations at all, so you simply sit anywhere.

Tickets and fares

Express trains use point to point tickets from ÖBB or Deutsche Bahn. Advance fares are tied to one train and the cheapest ones sell out first, while a flexible ticket costs more and works on any train that day.

The Bayern-Ticket costs €34 for one traveller in 2nd class, plus €10 for each extra person. It is valid on regional trains from Salzburg Hbf into Bavaria, so it works on the RE 5. It is not valid on railjet, EuroCity or ICE trains. On weekdays it is valid from 09:00, so an early RE 5 out of Salzburg is not covered. At weekends and on public holidays it is valid from midnight.

The Deutschlandticket is also accepted on the BRB RE 5 between Salzburg and Munich, but not on express trains. You can buy a BRB ticket at the BRB machines in Salzburg Hbf.

Westbahn sells its own tickets, separate from ÖBB and DB. A ticket for one operator does not cover the other's trains.

Interrail and Eurail passes

Your pass is valid on ÖBB and DB trains between Germany and Austria. On the RE 5, board and show your pass. On railjet and EuroCity trains a seat reservation is optional for pass holders and costs €3 in either class, plus a €2 booking fee if you reserve through Interrail. Keep the pass price, the reservation fee and any ticket you buy for another operator separate when you budget.

Check with Westbahn before relying on a pass for its trains, because pass rules on Westbahn differ from ÖBB and DB.

Border checks on the way to Germany

Germany carries out checks at its land border with Austria, and has extended them several times. The government has asked to extend them to 15 March 2027. Trains from Austria can be stopped and checked by German police, and that can add some delay to your arrival in Munich.

Carry a passport or national ID card for the whole journey, and do not plan a tight connection in Munich straight after arrival.

Arriving in Munich

All of these trains finish at München Hbf, which is the right stop for the city centre and for connections across Germany. Some trains, including Westbahn's, also call at München Ost, which suits you if you are staying on the east side of the city. Check the stops on your ticket before you get off.