Munich Airport to Salzburg: Every Option Explained Step by Step

You have landed at Munich Airport (MUC), your destination is Salzburg, and roughly 145 kilometres lie between you and the Mozart city. Our VPC Premium Transfer team drives this route practically every day, often several times, and we know every variant first-hand: the S-Bahn platform below the terminals, the Flixbus stop, the rental car centre and, of course, the A8 motorway at every hour of the day and week. This guide walks you step by step from the arrivals hall to Salzburg for each of the four options, honestly and without spin. Because yes: for some travellers the train genuinely is the better choice. For a general overview of the Munich to Salzburg route, see our article From Munich to Salzburg; here we focus strictly on the practical steps starting at MUC arrivals.

Option 1: By train – S-Bahn to Munich Hbf, then Railjet or BRB

Munich Airport has no long-distance railway station. This is the key point many travellers underestimate: there is no direct train from MUC to Salzburg. You always ride into central Munich first and change there.

Step by step

• Step 1: In the arrivals hall, follow the green S-Bahn signs downstairs. Both the S1 and the S8 run to Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof, "Hbf"). The S8 via Ostbahnhof is usually the quicker choice; allow around 40 to 45 minutes.
• Step 2: Buy your ticket at a machine or in the DB Navigator app. A through ticket from the airport to Salzburg is available and often cheaper than separate tickets.
• Step 3: Change at the Hauptbahnhof. With suitcases this means escalators, crowds and, depending on the platform, a 5 to 10 minute walk. Allow at least 20 minutes for the connection.
• Step 4: From Munich Hbf, the ÖBB Railjet (fast, comfortable, seat reservations available, about 1 hour 30) or the Bayerische Regiobahn BRB (cheaper, more stops, about 1 hour 50) take you to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof.
• Step 5: From Salzburg station, continue by trolleybus, taxi rank or on foot into the city.

Total time from the arrivals hall: realistically 2.5 to 3 hours including the transfer and waiting times. The train is the cheapest comfortable option, often under 40 euros per person, and in winter it is independent of road conditions. Honestly: if you travel alone with hand luggage, are flexible and have no tight schedule, the Railjet is an excellent ride. With two children, four suitcases and ski bags the equation changes – the Hauptbahnhof transfer quickly turns into a luggage schlepp.

Option 2: Flixbus – cheap, but with limitations

Flixbus connects Munich Airport with Salzburg, partly directly and partly via Munich's central bus station (ZOB). From MUC, the journey takes around 2.5 hours or more depending on the connection and traffic.

• Step 1: Book your connection in advance in the Flixbus app. Departures from the airport are limited, often only a few per day. Miss one and you will wait a long time.
• Step 2: Find the coach stop at the terminal (signposted "Fernbus") and load your luggage yourself.
• Step 3: Arrival in Salzburg is usually at the south forecourt of the main station (Lastenstrasse).

Advantages: a very low fare and no transfer on direct connections. Disadvantages: a fixed, sparse timetable, no flexibility if your flight is delayed, A8 traffic jams hit the bus just as hard as a car, and ski or oversized luggage is subject to space and pre-registration. For budget travellers with a flexible schedule it is a perfectly legitimate choice.

Option 3: Rental car – A92, A99 and A8

The rental car centre at Munich Airport sits compactly between the terminals. The route is simple: A92 towards Munich, A99 eastern ring, then A8 towards Salzburg. Pure driving time: 1.5 to 2 hours.

• Step 1: Collect the vehicle, check the paperwork, reserve child seats in advance.
• Step 2: Important for Austria: from the border, a motorway vignette is mandatory. The digital vignette can be bought online; some rental companies already equip their cars with one, so be sure to ask.
• Step 3: Returning the car in Salzburg almost always triggers one-way fees, often substantial, because the vehicle crosses a national border. Factor this in before booking.

A rental car makes most sense when Salzburg is just one stop on a longer road trip and you need the car for several days anyway. For the transfer alone, the one-way fee, vignette, fuel policy and the hunt for parking in Salzburg's old town rarely make it the most relaxed choice.

Option 4: Private transfer – from the arrivals hall to your front door

This is our trade, so we will describe it as matter-of-factly as possible. A private transfer is the only option where the journey truly begins in the arrivals hall and ends at your exact destination address.

• Step 1: You book in advance and give us your flight number. We track the flight live; if it is delayed, your pickup shifts automatically, at no extra charge and with no stress.
• Step 2: Your chauffeur waits for you with a name sign directly in the arrivals hall (meet and greet) and takes care of the luggage.
• Step 3: You ride in a Mercedes E-Class or V-Class directly to Salzburg, around 1.5 hours, with water on board, child seats on request and ski luggage no problem at all.
• Step 4: You step out exactly at your address: hotel, holiday apartment or company office.

No changing trains, no ticket machines, no vignette questions, no waiting. For families, business travellers, ski groups and anyone who simply wants to arrive after a long-haul flight, it is the most comfortable way. Details and booking are on our Munich Airport to Salzburg transfer page.

Comparison table: all four options at a glance

Option	Time from arrivals hall	Transfers	Luggage	Flight-delay flexibility	Best for
Train (S-Bahn + Railjet/BRB)	2.5 to 3 hrs	1 (Munich Hbf)	Carry yourself, awkward transfer	Next train, ticket may need rebooking	Solo travellers with light luggage
Flixbus	2.5 hrs and up	0 to 1	Limited, ski gear must be registered	None, ticket usually forfeited	Budget travellers with time
Rental car	1.5 to 2 hrs plus pickup	0	Depends on vehicle	High, but you drive yourself	Road-trippers
Private transfer	approx. 1.5 hrs, door to door	0	Chauffeur handles everything	Flight tracking included	Families, business, ski groups

Luggage, families and ski gear: what to consider

• Lots of luggage: the Munich Hbf transfer is the weak point of the train option. Two large suitcases per person are doable but exhausting.
• Families with small children: child seats are irrelevant on the train, not provided on Flixbus, a paid extra to reserve with rental cars, and included on request with a private transfer.
• Ski gear: allowed on the Railjet, but storage space is limited. Must be pre-registered on Flixbus. Our V-Class takes ski bags for up to seven passengers without any fuss.
• Late arrivals: after around 10 pm, train connections thin out and the last Flixbus has often left. Plan late landings conservatively.

Traffic warning: Fridays, holidays and the A8

The A8 between Munich and Salzburg is one of the most congestion-prone stretches in the Alpine region. Friday afternoons, the start of German and Austrian school holidays, winter Saturdays in ski season and major public holidays can turn 1.5 hours into 3. This affects bus, rental car and transfer alike; our chauffeurs switch to proven alternative routes when needed and build in buffer time. If you land on a Saturday in February, factor this into any road option. On such days the train genuinely is the most punctual choice, provided the connection works out.

Conclusion: which option suits you?

There is no single best answer. Solo travellers with a backpack ride the Railjet cheaply and well. Budget travellers with time take the Flixbus. Road-trippers collect a rental car. And if, after landing, you simply want to arrive in Salzburg without transfers, luggage hauling or time pressure, choose a private transfer. If you like, we will gladly prepare a no-obligation quote for you: request your transfer now. See you in the arrivals hall.

Written by the VPC Premium Transfer team, Salzburg. Last updated July 2026.

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