Trains from Munich

München Hauptbahnhof (Munich Central Station) is the city's main rail hub, located in the city center. It handles long-distance ICE and IC trains, regional services, and S-Bahn commuter lines. The station has luggage lockers, shops, restaurants, and direct connections to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn networks. A major renovation is underway, so expect construction detours inside the station.

The S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 connect Munich Airport to the city center, with the journey taking roughly 40 minutes to Marienplatz. Trains run frequently throughout the day. You can buy tickets from machines at the airport station. Make sure to validate your ticket before boarding, inspectors check regularly and fines for unvalidated tickets are steep.

Both Salzburg and Innsbruck are easy day trips from Munich. Salzburg is roughly 90 minutes away, and Innsbruck around two hours, with frequent direct services on both routes. The Bayern-Ticket (Bavaria Ticket) covers unlimited regional train travel within Bavaria for a day and extends to Salzburg, making it a cost-effective option for groups since additional travelers pay a small supplement.

The Bayern-Ticket allows unlimited travel on regional trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn) and most public transit across Bavaria for one calendar day. It covers up to five travelers on a single ticket, with each additional person costing far less than a separate fare. It is valid only on slower regional trains, not on ICE or IC long-distance services. Check current pricing at Deutsche Bahn or in the DB Navigator app.

For regional and S-Bahn trips around Munich and Bavaria, no advance booking is needed, just buy at a station machine or via the DB Navigator app. For long-distance ICE routes to cities like Berlin, Hamburg, or Frankfurt, booking early typically gets you significantly lower fares. Advance-purchase (Sparpreis) tickets are tied to a specific train, while flexible tickets cost more but allow any departure.

Munich Hauptbahnhof has coin-operated luggage lockers in various sizes, located in the main hall and lower levels. Availability can be limited during peak travel periods like Oktoberfest. There are also staffed left-luggage counters near the station. If lockers are full, nearby private luggage storage services operate within walking distance of the station, search for options before arriving during busy seasons.

There is no direct train to Neuschwanstein. Take a regional train from München Hauptbahnhof to Füssen, which takes roughly two hours. From Füssen station, local buses run to the castle ticket office at the base of the hill. The Bayern-Ticket covers both the train and the bus. Arriving early is strongly recommended, in summer, as the castle limits daily visitor numbers and queues build quickly.