Timing train Salzburg to Munich Airport

[Anonymous]

Op again. Thank you all for the helpful information.

We will likely leave early morning from Salzburg. This leads me to two questions: 1. Where is a convenient place to store luggage, should time permit? 2. Is the S-Bahn also suffering from delays?

As an afterthought, has anyone hired a private car or used something like Flixbus? How variable is the traffic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in Germany this summer, though not these cities. I had this idea that German trains were great--efficient, easy to use, ran on time, etc. They were not. I don't know if it's decaying infrastructure or I was just delusional, but some of our trains ran late and it was not easy or efficient to get around. (FWIW I have had good recent train experiences in other European countries). I would not rely on the train right before departure unless missing the flight is not a big deal.

Also, I found security lines long and inefficient at some of the airports I flew through. Again, not Munich. But I wouldn't count on breezing through. It actually made me appreciate TSA in the US.

Pp here and I was under this impression too, but after moving to Germany learned that the reputation is woefully outdated. (Locals would laugh at me when I mentioned having expected the train service to be good). DB now ranks among the worst across all of Europe
- even Italy now has better on time performance.

Ha today's Post has an article about the decline of DB.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/08/05/germany-trains-delays-broken-railroad/

[Anonymous]

Honestly I would just rent a car and forget the trains. It’ll provide you so much more flexibility for the entirety of your trip. Somewhere to store your luggage. Flexibility for all kinds of other things (Hallstatt! Salt mines! Trick fountains outside Salzburg!) Germany and Austria are like the easiest places in the world to drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -we have to be in Salzburg the night before for an event, so we can’t spend the night in Munich. The flight (within the EU) leaves at 6:30pm, with the airline saying we should arrive by 4:30pm.

For those who have most recently dealt with DB and OBB how long are delays? How common are cancellations?

We did something similar earlier this year. Track problems arose on the German side. All trains - not just DB - were hugely delayed in both directions for many hours.

I would go to Munich as soon as I awoke. I am sorry this is not what you want to hear, but doing anything else leaves a decent chance you also get caught up in unplanned track repairs and then miss your flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I would just rent a car and forget the trains. It’ll provide you so much more flexibility for the entirety of your trip. Somewhere to store your luggage. Flexibility for all kinds of other things (Hallstatt! Salt mines! Trick fountains outside Salzburg!) Germany and Austria are like the easiest places in the world to drive.

This always cracks me up when this topic comes up about Europe. Renting a car can be its own kind of pain. I’ve done it plenty, and it’s as much of a mixed bag as taking trains. Even in Austria and Germany.

[Anonymous]

German here. Today's DB is not the DB I grew up with, sadly. They really need to get their crap together. Better than Amtrak, but that's not really saying much.

https://www.austriantrains.com/munich-to-salzburg#:~:text=Without%20a%20doubt%2C%20traveling%20from,need%20at%20the%20perfect%20price!


Try to stay off DB. Same tracks, but the trains are a bit better. Take an early one to give yourself time, and then spend time in Munich city center. Store luggage at train station, then take train to airport which is easy. And reliable.

[Anonymous]

Uber is $300 - $350 well spent, zero stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I would just rent a car and forget the trains. It’ll provide you so much more flexibility for the entirety of your trip. Somewhere to store your luggage. Flexibility for all kinds of other things (Hallstatt! Salt mines! Trick fountains outside Salzburg!) Germany and Austria are like the easiest places in the world to drive.

This always cracks me up when this topic comes up about Europe. Renting a car can be its own kind of pain. I’ve done it plenty, and it’s as much of a mixed bag as taking trains. Even in Austria and Germany.

I have zero clue what you are talking about. Don’t be scared - the drivers there are way better than the US. You’ll probably get a nicer newer rental car in Germany than here. Are you concerned about parking? Tolls?

Sure there are some places where it makes more sense to take trains - this region is not one of them.