Taking the train from Munich Airport to Ruhpolding
 

We are hoping to holiday in Ruhpolding, Bavaria next summer and would be flying into Munich airport .
Is it feasible to take the train from Munich airport to Ruhpolding?
How easy is it to get about by public transport around the Ruhpolding area and travel to places like Salzburg?
How suitable is Ruhpolding for small children?

Thanks in advance.

Check www.bahn.de for train schedules: Muenchen Flughafen Terminal to Ruhpolding Bahnhof. You have to change trains in Traunstein. You can use the Bayernkarte/Bavarian day ticket for EUR28 for he whole family. You can buy the ticket at the airport ticket counter. Limitations: On weekdays, you must wait until 9:00AM before taking the train; you can only use Regio (regional) rather than IC, ICE, etc. faster trains. However, on the relatively short trip, it really is only a matter of about 30 minutes longer by Regio, and from Traunstein to Ruhpolding there is nothing else but Regios. When checking schedules, I suggest that you take S-Bahn connection from the airport to the Munich main station (Muenchen Hauptbahnhof-Hbf.), rather than changing trains at the Ostbahhof (East station). The Hbf. is a headstation, where the train gets changed around, so there is more time to get on the train.

You can go by train from Ruhpolding to Salzburg, again using the Bayernkarte. You can also go by train and on the Bayernkarte to Berchtesgaden (and all its sights) as well as Prien (King Ludwig's palace on the Herreninsel Island). There is a cable car to the top of the Rauschberg, not far from Ruhpolding; not sure if the base station is accessible by public transport. The Rauschberg is a popular jumping off point (and I mean this literally) for parasailers. Fun to watch.

Now, if I were to stay in R., I would get a car, especially with kids. If you don't want to rent one at the Munich airport, you can do so in Traunstein.

Let me know if there is more info. you want. This area is my old "stamping ground" before I came to the US.

As treplow mentions, you will pay a small time penalty for going through the Hbf rather than the Ostbahnhof, but with kids it might be an easier change. The train from the Hbf stops in Ostbahnhof, in theory, for only one minute. Actually, they won't release the train until everyone is on board, but why push it. The trip from the airport to Ruhpolding by S-Bahn into town and by regional train from there takes less than 3 hours and you can do the whole trip, you and any number of your own children, with a Bayern-Ticket, for €28.

You can easily get from Ruhpolding to Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, or Herrenchiemsee by train. There are also a myriad of buses in that area. See http://www.rvo-bus.de/site/rvo__bus/...oberbayern.pdf.

In 16 weeks in Germany, I have never had a problem getting to anywhere with public transportation.

Hi, Just spotted this and wondering if you are still a fodorite with some advice?

Thinking of going to Ruhpolding in Feb. Will fly to Munich. Previously visited in July and hired a car but wondering if feasible to do with public transport? Staying a week with 2 kids and would hope to get a little bit of skiing done.

Thanks for any advice.

Still the same as in 2009.
Just forget the advice mentioned above to get the train towards Salzburg at Munich central station instead of at Munich East.
The trains towards Salzburg leave Munich Central from a wing that is a mile away (almost) from where the S Bahn stops.

What you want to do is to go to bahn.com and follow the given itineraries.
Take S8 from airport to Munich East.
Change to any regional train for Salzburg or Freilassing
Change in Traunstein for Ruhpolding.

If you can live with the restriction to leave Munich airport not before 9am on weekdays (no restriction on weekends and holidays), get a Bayern Ticket online for that specific date so you don't waste time queuing for a ticket at the airport.

We also will be heading to Ruhpolding, Sept 2013 and looking for nice place to stay for approx 10 days, 2 adults, not far from village ctr.
Thanks,