I have a couple of things that need to be cleared up regarding the Bayern Ticket, which I'd like to use to go from Munich to Salzburg and/or Fussen.

First, can we purchase the Bayern Ticket from the ATM ticket machines at the Munich train station?

So we now have a Bayern Ticket - do we make reservations for a train? Or do we just hop on the train that works for us? If we need reservations, how do we make them? And how do we find out the train schedule?

Finally, do we validate the ticket before getting onboard? Or do we hand it to someone onboard the train?

I think that's it for now. Thanks for your help!

Last June we used the Bayern Pass from Munich to Salzburg and then Munich to Fussen. It was such a bargain for our family of four, we couldn't believe it. And those trains run on time, let me tell you!
We purchased the pass at the Munich train depot ticket counter (didn't notice ATM-type ticket machines) just a short while before the train departed. We simply asked at the counter and received a schedule printout. It was a bit of a problem one day, though, when returning from Fussen we discovered our printout was wrong, causing us to miss the direct train we wanted. We had to take another train that had a layover of 2 hours in a small town, so we weren't too wild about that at 10:00 at night, but it wasn't the worst thing in the world.
We didn't need reservations per se last June, but that's not the height of the tourist crunch. The Pass we bought may have been limited to travel after 9 a.m. weekedays-- but I'm not sure about that. Sorry, I don't recall how the tickets were validated. My husband had them, and I think it was done on the train but I don't recall for sure.

My understanding is that the pass is limited to regional trains, thus you can not hop EC trains to Salzburg, but locals that take longer. I may be wrong but you should clarify what trains you should take. Nobody makes reservations on regional trains i think but in Germany i think you can reserve several seats for the price of one reservation maybe..maybe.

You can purchase the Bayern Ticket with a credit card from one of the Red/blue DB machines (English interface), from any ticket counter, or from the DB online shop at www.bahn.de.
There may be other machines that sell it in Munich as well, I can't really say.

The RE and RB trains are the ones you will use with the Bayern ticket on these routes.

You can check and print itineraries for these trains in advance at

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Below, under "Means of transport", select "only local transport" - and you'll get trains eligible for the Bayern Ticket.

I've never reserved a seat on a regional train, but it's possible. Just hop on. No need to validate - it's only good for a certain day, but the conductors are usually stamp-happy and will stamp it when passing by.

Unless the policy has changed since I was last in Germany, you can't reserve seats on regional trains, which are the only trains you can use with the Bayern Ticket.

You might be right about that, teach. I just know that I used an RE train a couple of years ago and was bumped into another seat by a passenger whose reservation was clearly posted above the seat I was in.

Thanks for all of the great information! I did a search using the website Russ gave me. When I search for Salzburg I want the destination to be Salzburg Hbf, correct? The website gave me a long list of "Salzburg" choices. The trip is 2 hours - sound correct?

When I searched the schedule for Fussen, I again got a long list of options. Can anyone tell me which one I want?

Yes two hours to either Salzburg or Fussen. I think all Munich-fussen trains are regional trains you can take - every two hours direct trains.

Try inputting Fussen as FuEssen (emphasis on the "e" is mine)

yes,you want the Salzburg Hbf

Intrepid - I tried your FuEssen suggestion and still was told that my input was ambiguous. The list included Fussen Bahnhof, Fussen, and a long list of other names (Fischerbichl Fussen, Forderschule Fussen, etc.) Help!

Fuessen Bahnhof (which means train station) is what you want.

Remember to look for departures after 9 am on weekdays if you want to use the Bayern Ticket; if your trip starts earlier, you have to buy regular tickets for the stretch you cover before 9 am.

Thanks Russ!

I entered my info into the website and some of the itineraries they gave me said that I needed to change trains. If I don't have a reservation (and, therefore, no ticket - correct?) how do I know where to get off and change trains?

Thank you all for being so patient with me. This information is really helpful!

You just ask the conductor for Fussen (Foo-sun). on the www.bahn.de German Rail website you can print out trip details and it will clearly show where you change with arrival and departure times. Best to take the every two hour direct Munich-Fussen trains, instead of having to change at Buchloe on some other links (changing to the Augsburg-Buchloe-Fussen train, from one platform to the other. Once in Fussen hop buses, mini-buses or shared taxis the two miles to Mad Ludwig's castles or do a two-mile hike. reserve castle tickets online to prevent a lengthy wait in line, or not even being able to get in in worst case scenarios - i was there one November and the lines then were surprisingly long, with a lot of American GIs from nearby bases and their families - also short hours in winter. And don't neglect the cute town of Fussen itself - right in town is a fantastic gorge and roaring water cascade.

PalQ - thanks, now I see where I can print the details of the trip. Hopefully we'll be organized enough before we leave and I'll know when we want to go. Or perhaps our hotel (Anna) will have internet access and I can look up the info from there. I would prefer a direct train, but they only run at certain times.

We'll be in Germany in February. Wasn't planning on reserving tickets beforehand. But it sounds like it might be a good idea.

I'm hoping that we can stay in Fussen for dinner and walk around a little. Do you have any recommendations for a good place to eat?

Direct trains Munich Hbf (Hauptbahnhof, or main station)-Fussen leave 8:51am and then every two hours at same time - 10:51, 12:51, etc. Return: 15:05, 17:05 19:05; i'm not sure these trains are reservable and wouldn't worry about it myself - the bahn site will tell you if reservations are possible. I have no experience with any Fussen restaurants but there are many i saw, with lots of unpretentious family-run type places - Fussen is a summer and winter resort so lots of them. If you don't do the Bayern ticket keep in mind that in Germany when buying two tickets at once the second is 50% off. As they say in Germany 'Gut Fahrt' (Good ride!)

When die Bahn site displays the available trains from A to B, there is a column headed "Chg" which indicates the number of changes of trains you must make. Always choose the trip with "0" changes if possible - or at least the trip with the shortest duration if you have to change trains.

Over at the left, there are checkboxes that allow you to select one or more trips and pressing the "Details for selection" button will show you the legs of a multi-part trip.

Then hit the "Show intermediate stops" and you will see every station your train(s) will transit.

...Fussen leave 8:51am and then every two hours at same time...

hope nobody mind me using this thread but I'm just wondering if we can start using the Bayern Ticket for the 8.51am train since most likely the conductors only check the tickets after the train starts right?

You are supposed to pay the regular price for the trip between point A and your first train stop after 9:00 am; your Bayern ticket will be good from that point on. It shouldn't be more than a couple of Euros for the first stretch. The fines for getting caught without a valid ticket are a lot heavier. However, you can take your chances on getting a lenient conductor and try acting like a naive tourist if you feel adventuresome.

irchapma & akiace
I suggest you purchase your Bayern ticket from the EurAide office in the Munich train station.
It is located in room 3 by track 11.
The lady who runs the office is an American and is most helpful.
The nonstop train to Salzburg departs from the track next to her office.
We purchased our tickets for our trip to Salzburg from her and she answered all our questions.
I would recommend you take the train to see Salzburg and a bus tour from Munich to see Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles

We also liked Euraide for our longer train trip purchases, like Prague to Munich and Vienna to Prague. They really know the ropes regarding rail passes, like the Prague pass.

But looking at their brochure, the price seemed much higher to buy Euraide's castle tour ticket than just getting the Bayern Pass (which covers the bus from the train depot to the castle shuttle stop and ticket office).