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Hohensalzburg Fortress above Salzburg's Altstadt, the view that greets arrivals from Munich.
Photo: Carsten Steger / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Munich to Salzburg by Train
An international route between Germany and Austria.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30
- Duration
- 1h 30m – 2h 10m
- Price from
- 9 EUR
- Distance
- 117 km
- Operators
- Deutsche Bahn (DB)OBB
- Frequency
- Roughly hourly departures, around 40-50 direct trains per day combining fast Railjet/EuroCity and slower regional services
Compare and book Munich–Salzburg tickets
Check pricesWhat makes Munich to Salzburg different
- Many of the fast trains on this route are joint EuroCity/Railjet services run in partnership by Germany's DB and Austria's OBB on the same physical train, continuing beyond Salzburg to Vienna (and some through to Budapest) — a cross-border operational partnership rather than two separate national services meeting at the border.
- Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is treated as a shared 'common border station' under a roughly 150-year-old Austria-Bavaria treaty, which is why Bavaria's regional Bayern-Ticket day pass — normally invalid outside Bavaria — is honoured all the way into Austria, but only as far as Salzburg Hbf.
- Because both countries are in the Schengen Area, there's normally no passport control crossing from Munich into Salzburg, though Germany has periodically reinstated spot checks at its Austrian border in recent years.
Munich station
Departs from Munchen Hauptbahnhof, which has been under major multi-year renovation alongside a second underground S-Bahn trunk line being built beneath it — it's a few minutes by tram/S-Bahn from Marienplatz, with no airport-style security screening before boarding.
Salzburg station
Arrives at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof at Sudtiroler Platz, on the east side of the Salzach River in the newer part of town — about a 15-20 minute walk to Mozart's Birthplace in the Altstadt, or a 10-minute ride on trolleybus lines 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 from outside the station.
Train vs. other options
At only ~117km, flying isn't a realistic option for this trip. Driving via the A8 autobahn takes about 1h15m-1h30m without traffic — close to the fastest Railjet/EC train's 1h30m, but door-to-door the train wins once you factor in Munich's traffic and Salzburg's paid old-town parking.
Booking tips
- Both DB Sparpreis and OBB Sparschiene fares can be booked far ahead for the cheapest prices on the faster Railjet/EuroCity trains — check both national carriers' sites since this is a jointly run corridor.
- If cost matters more than speed, regional RB/RE trains cover the same route in around 2 hours and are usually cheaper than the express Railjet/EC fare.
- If you already hold a Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria's regional day pass), it's valid all the way to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof thanks to a long-standing cross-border agreement — see the booking quirk below.
Good to know: The Bayern-Ticket's validity extends specifically to Salzburg Hbf and no further — it does not cover onward travel or the city's own transit network beyond that historic exception — so travelers using it need a separate ticket the moment they leave the station area.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Munich to Salzburg take?
The fastest Railjet and EuroCity services take around 1 hour 30 minutes. Regional trains with more stops take closer to 2 hours.
How much does the train from Munich to Salzburg cost?
Fares start from around 9 EUR on regional trains. Advance fares on the faster Railjet/EuroCity services are generally higher, often from around 20 EUR when booked well ahead.
Do I need my passport to cross from Germany into Austria by train?
Both countries are in the Schengen Area so there's no routine passport control, but Germany has intermittently reintroduced spot checks at its Austrian border, so it's worth carrying ID.