Help! We fly into Munich (from a cruise) on Thursday night, June 27, and have to leave early Monday morning, June 30. I've been to Munich and Salzburg, as well as Eagle's Nest, and would love to see them all again with my family. However, from what I see on the Web we'd have to spend two nights in Salzburg because of the train schedule/bus tour times, which would leave only one day for Munich (we're staying in the center of town on points). Would you suggest leaving for Salzburg on Friday, seeing Salzburg in the afternoon, Eagle's Nest on Saturday, and returning to Munich on Sunday, leaving only Sunday to stroll the center? Would the expense/effort be worth it? Or better to spend 3 relaxing days in Munich, with a day bus trip to the countryside? Thanks for your help!

Why can you not take an early train from Munich to Salzburg using a Bayern Ticket, see the sights, and return to your hotel in Munich the same day?

Of course the early train would have to be on a weekend day if you use the Bayern Ticket, which allows low cost travel on LOCAL trains for up to 5 family members.

Several options here.

In essence you have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to look around.

Bob,
Your're wonderful! That's what we wanted--a one day trip (looked at another train site; didn't know about Bayern). I went to the Bayern website, but am still a bit confused with all the codes. It looks like there are plenty of trains in the morning so we can take a 9:00 Eagle's Nest tour, but how late do the trains leave for Munich? I'm not sure I'm reading it correctly. Also, would that be 27 euros for all of us if we did the roundtrip on Friday? But it's not offered for a two-day trip? Sorry to ask so many questions; feeling more stupid/tired by the minute.

Another option is to choose a guided bus tour from Munich that includes the Eagle's Nest - this choice would give you a chance to sit back and let someone else worry about the details and provide you with English language information along the way.

The Bayern Ticket is 27€ for up to 5 people. On weekdays it only applies to trains after 9am but you will still have plenty of time. You can get the ticket from a machine at the Bahnhof for 27€ or from the window for 29€.

Get to the station @ 8:30, get you ticket, pick up come breakfast and catch the next train out.

In Salzburg there are busses right outside the train station that will take you to the Altstadt. The busses are @ 3.50€ each way per person.

The ride from Munich to Salzburg is about 1 1/2 hours on the slow trains.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the information and choices!

Thanks from me too - my son and are doing this same thing in June!

I don't think the Bayern Ticket applies to EC trains or IC trains.

I copied from the Deutsche Bahn site the following:

Bayern-Ticket – EUR 27* and Bayern-Ticket Single – EUR 19*
are valid for:
Groups of up to 5 persons or parents/grandparents (maximum
2 adults) with unlimited number of own/grand children under 15 (Bayern-Ticket)
Individual travellers (Bayern-Ticket Single)

Validity
For unlimited travel on regional trains in second class

Monday to Friday from 9 am until 3 am the following day,

and on weekends and public holidays for the whole of Bavaria, even from midnight

Througout Bavaria on all regional trains, public transport
(Underground, trams, buses) and nearly all regular bus services)

The key word is REGIONAL. IC and EC trains are not regional. Those trains are designated RE on the Deutsche Bahn scheduler.

The RE trains take a little longer than the EC trains, but for up to 5 people the fare is much cheaper.

Salzburg and Kufstein are two Austrian cities served by the Deutsche Bahn and they are included in the validity area of the Bayern Ticket.

http://tinyurl.com/3unfxp

The above link will take you to a pdf file that gives a full description of the Bayern Ticket. You must be able to read pdf with Adobe to see it.

The description is written in 4 languages. Scroll down the page until you come to the English description, unless of course German is a language you know.

(My friend Didi is quadra lingual - fully. She just reads the first language she comes to that she knows. Disgusting at times and fantastically helpful at others.)

bm