rail travel austria

• Book ticket

Latest informations

Nightjet of the new generation

Now bookable!

Select here your start and end station in the drop-down boxes, as well as the time and date of your trip.

Due to construction work and a route closure in Italy, unfortunately no Nightjets can travel to and from Rome from 8 June to 9 September . We ask for your understanding!

Construction work

Current and planned construction work affecting train traffic. Find out more

ÖBB Vorteilscard

For immediate saver and frequent customers., news around the öbb.

Extensive renewal and maintenance work

• Information for passengers from Ukraine

Do you want to receive more information and tailored offers and news from us? Then simply sign up to our Newsletter through your ÖBB Account.

Our offers at a glance

Travel to many destinations in Europe.

Taking a deep breath ahead of meetings.

Go further with our smart mobility services.

ÖBB ticket + touristic offer.

Getting around Austria Local offers and information

For events, take the train!

Freizeit-Ticket Steiermark

Culture and events in Carinthia

Diagonale ’24 in Graz

Jazzfestival Saalfelden

New mobility services for Korneuburg

A region devoted to culture

Ybbstaler Alpen

The Joys of Train Travel in Austria Span Everything From Adventure To Art

Climb aboard a high-speed railjet train to trek from alpine paradise to historic cities and wellness retreats..

• Copy Link copied

Sit back and enjoy views like the Gastein Valley aboard the ÖBB railway.

ÖBB Personenverkehr AG/Harald Eisenberger

There are unforgettable train journeys tucked away in every corner of the Earth, but perhaps the most under-recognized are those with Austrian Federal Railways. Classic melds with the contemporary aboard Austria’s ÖBB, the country’s national railway company, where the romance of train travel meets engineering ingenuity. There’s no easier (or more sustainable) way for you to relax as you enjoy the views zipping from Vienna, the artistic and intellectual capital of the country, into the heart of the countryside where farm-to-fork cuisine beckons, landscapes amaze, and small villages offer hiking, biking, and intimate retreats.

Along the way, those in first and business classes can enjoy spacious leather seats with electrical outlets, Wi-Fi, a welcome drink, meal service at their seat, and digital access to more than 100 publications. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to take your eyes off mountains and castles, however, as ÖBB whisks and wends you across Austria’s most historic and beautiful sights and cities. Here are some highlights to consider.

Start in the capital, Vienna

Of the few urban cities in the world ringed by lush forests and well-marked hiking trails, Vienna is one of them. Trekkers and cyclists can enjoy the view of oak trees and then segue to oak barrels on City Hiking Trail 5, where cozy Heurigen wine taverns await oenophiles who love to sip what’s local and fresh. Regular rules don’t apply here when it comes to aging, and you’ll learn that in Viennese German, the word heuer translates to “this year.” What’s available for sampling is typically produced from a recent harvest.

If coffee is more your speed, then you’ll want to stop in at Cafe Hawelka. The kaffeehaus has been owned by the same family for three generations, and their buchteln sweet rolls are a highlight.

Coffeehouse culture in Vienna is legendary, and for centuries artists, writers, and thinkers have thrived in their bohemian atmosphere. You can check out some of their masterpieces at the MuseumsQuartier or spend a night listening to classical music at the Vienna State Opera. After all, Austria is the birthplace of Mozart, Strauss, Mahler, Schubert, Bruckner, and Schönberg, to name only a few.

Discover Graz’ museums, architecture, and cuisine

Murinsel, a floating, glass-paneled island, is one of Graz’s architectural marvels.

Graz Tourismus/Harry Schiffer

From Vienna, head directly via Railjet to Graz . It’s Austria’s second-largest city, but for many travelers from outside the country, Graz is a gem waiting to be unearthed. The UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site is also a UNESCO City of Design, and there are just as many modern marvels as historic ones. Check out the juxtaposition at the bubble-shaped Kunsthaus museum in the arts district around Mariahilferstrasse, or grab a cocktail at Murinsel, a floating, glass-paneled island.

Food fans will want to hit up one of two daily farmers markets, since Graz, surrounded by hundreds of farms, is the culinary capital of Austria. Make a picnic from the seasonal treasures at Kaiser Josef Markt or Lendplatz, and grab a souvenir like nutty pumpkin seed oil, Styria’s so-called “green gold.”

Castles, Mozart, and beer in Salzburg

The medieval Hohensalzburg Fortress, high above Salzburg

ÖBB Personenverkehr AG/Georg Pölzleitner

All that glitters isn’t simply gold, as you’ll see while admiring the treasures at Hohensalzburg Fortress after a scenic four-hour train ride to Salzburg. The castle watches over the baroque city from high atop Mönchsberg mountain, Mozart’s birthplace and the filming location of The Sound of Music . You can walk in the composer’s footsteps on charming Getreidegasse, a street lined with courtyards and tiny boutiques where chocolate lovers will find tasty Mozartkugel nougat treats.

Or raise a glass to good times and new discoveries at the Stiegl-Brauwelt museum, an institution devoted to the art of making beer. Brewing culture is strong in Salzburg—Austria’s beer capital with 11 breweries— and it’s easy to strike up a chat with locals at one of the communal tables that fill the beer gardens here.

Hot springs, hikes, and other day trips surrounding Salzburg

First Class aboard Austrian Federal Railways

Courtesy of ÖBB/Harald Eisenberger

The beauty of making Salzburg your home base for a few days includes what’s nearby. The city makes for a convenient jumping-off point for taking trains to nearby villages that aren’t often explored by travelers outside of Europe.

If you’re seeking some R&R, head by rail to the hot thermal springs in the small village of Bad Ischl. The healing salt waters made it a fashionable resort in the early 19th century after doctors recommended Archduchess Sophie receive saline treatments.

If the Middle Ages fascinate you, there are two must-visit attractions in the countryside outside the city of Salzburg. A train to Werfen includes hiking along the Sound of Music trail, and an opportunity to feel the wind whip through the feathers of birds of prey at Hohenwerfen Fortress. The medieval landmark hosts falconry demonstrations in its impressive courtyard gardens, where other period entertainment includes sword fights.

In Kufstein, a little more than an hour west of Salzburg by train, medieval meets multimedia at the Kufstein Fortress, built in the year 1205 C.E. Visitors can wear 3-D glasses to interact with a hologram, a “talking” painting, and 270-degree projections. It’s an impressive way to experience what life was like here a millennium ago.

Jump into Innsbruck’s mountainous history

See views of Innsbruck’s towering mountains from the 360-degree bar, Cafe Lichtblick.

Christof Lackner/Innsbruck Tourismus

Reaching great heights is easy in Innsbruck , a train ride that’s just under two hours from Salzburg. Whether you’re more into the arts or athletics, there’s plenty to marvel at Bergisel Ski Jump. The Zaha Hadid-designed architectural masterpiece towers high above the city overlooking the Nordkette mountain range, and you can visit the lift, jump tower, and glass-walled café for stunning panoramas and traditional Tirolean treats like kasspatzln , a traditional Tirolean dish of spätzle (egg noodles) with cheese.

Use Innsbruck [LINK TO: 3 Ways to Experience Innsbruck, Austria’s Imperial Gem ] as your hub for other regional adventures, too. In nearby Wattens, Swarovski Crystal Worlds’ intricate topiary awaits, while 17 futuristic Chambers of Wonder exhibits put you in the center of a gleaming jewel box.

Or, in the village of Mutters, admire the wooden balconies and painted facades of farmhouses en route to take the Mutteralm cable car up the mountain for a hike followed by lunch in a cozy mountain hut. Typical dishes include tasty schlutzkrapfen (dumplings stuffed with cheese or spinach,) and hearty Tiroler gröstl, (a dish of potatoes, meat, and vegetables).

Journey to the top of the world in the Arlberg region

The Arlberg Trail connects Arlberg’s five villages and can be enjoyed on individual shorter treks or on one unforgettable 25-mile journey.

DIE WEST Werbeagentur/Arlberg Marketing

Venture even further into Alpine paradise in Arlberg , just a one-hour train ride from Innsbruck. There, five intimate villages all feature hikes for varying abilities winding past pristine lakes, streams, and flower-filled fields. Serious trekkers will want to plan ahead to spend several hours outdoors, while others may choose to take the “easy way” on the Galzig and Valluga cable cars that whisk you up 9,222 feet to the top of Valluga, the region’s tallest mountain.

Save 20% on selected Passes for travel from 1 September 2024. Offer ends 18 July. Shop the sale.  →

Get our Rail Planner app

Plan your trip, get extra discounts, and show your Pass as you go.

Our favourite off-season routes

Chase the sun long after summer ends with these 7 train routes

All about seat reservations

Everything you need to know about booking your seats

Alternatives to Busy Routes

Travel between popular European cities without seat reservations

Through our Chatbot in the bottom right corner.

Ask the Community

Browse questions from fellow Interrail travellers, or ask your own!

• Plan your trip
• Popular Destinations
• Order overview
• Reservations overview
• My Trips & Travelers
• {{translatedTraveler}} {{#promotional}} {{currencySign}} {{standardPrice}} {{/promotional}} {{quantity}}x {{currencySign}} {{finalPrice}}
• Child {{childPasses}}x FREE
• {{translatedPassType}}
• {{translatedValidityPeriodDescription}}
• {{translatedClass}}
• Remove Pass(es)
• {{variant.localizedTravelPackDescription}} {{quantity}}x Free
• {{variant.localizedPassUpgradeDescription}} {{quantity}}x {{currency}} {{price}}
• Your order will arrive by {{expectedDeliveryDate}} 1 x {{currency}} {{price}}

Your cart is empty

Travelling by train is the ideal way to get the most out of your trip to Austria. With your Interrail Pass, you can discover the refreshing city of Vienna, take the ‘Sound of Music’ tour in Salzburg and explore snow-capped mountains in Innsbruck. During your journey, admire the stunning natural beauty and spectacular scenery from the train window.

Austria quick facts

Population: 8.9 million

Language: German

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Dialing code: +43

Trains in Austria

Find out all you need to know about Austria’s rail network, different train types and reservation requirements.

More about trains in Austria

Interrail passes for Austria

Interrail austria pass.

The Interrail Austria Pass is your ticket to discover famous cities in Austria by train, as well as jaw-dropping scenery as you travel between destinations

View Interrail Austria Pass

Interrail Global Pass  

The Interrail Global Pass is the flexible and budget-friendly way to get around up to 33 countries in Europe. Travel by train from one cool destination to the next. One day you're on a pub crawl through Amsterdam and the next you're white-water rafting in Interlaken, Switzerland.

View Interrail Global Pass

Pass benefits in Austria

Check out the extra discounts and offers for Interrail Pass holders in Austria.

Places to visit

Attractions not to be missed

Spend half a day browsing around the Hohensalzburg Castle – the crown jewel of Mozart's birth city Salzburg. Built in 1077 this well-preserved castle has a medieval royal room, a palace, a church and a number of towers to keep you eagle-eyed. While you’re in the area, don't miss Austria’s cheesiest attraction: the Sound of Music Tour. You’ll be taken to some of the key film locations, where the story of the all-singing von Trapp family was brought to life, including Hellbrunn Palace and Mondsee Cathedral.

Crystal lakes and crashing waterfalls

Visit Austria’s salt mining region of Salzkammergut and set your eyes on bewitching blue lakes and wooded mountains. Take a hike, go cycling or relax around Grundlsee or Toplitzsee lake , then take a dip in the crystal waters. Finally savour a local culinary delight: Kaiserschmarrn (pancake pieces with raisins). Also, try and fit in a trip to one of Austria’s top beauty spots: Krimml Falls at the National Park Hohe Tauern. With a combined height of 380 metres, this three-levelled waterfall is Europe’s biggest and makes for picture-perfect photography.

Pumping night clubs and sumptuous cocktail bars

Salzburg isn’t alive and kicking only during the ski season there’s also a great nightly offering all year round. Built in the Rainberg mountain, the Cave Club pumps out techno and other hard sounds into the early hours. Alternatively, take a train to Austria’s second largest city, Graz for a night to remember. This student city has a great choice of bars, but it’s the cocktail bars that are the best-loved nightly attraction in this city. One of them, the Pharmacy Bar Lounge, has a vibrant atmosphere, along with a mouth-watering selection of cocktails.

River and mountain activity

Austria’s main river, the Danube is a great place to enjoy water sports – especially popular is wakeboarding and cable wakeboarding. There are a number of reputable wakeboarding camps along the river where you can sign up for an intensive short course. Salzburg is the birthplace of the Austrian musical maestro Mozart. It's also one of Europe’s top alp ski destinations, with a variety of runs for beginners and the more experienced skiers and snowboarders. The après-ski is also one of the wildest on the European ski circuit

Vienna: a top European city destination

Vienna (Wien), Austria’s endearing capital has been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world – a few days there and it will be easy to see why. The city is laden with green space, architectural jewels passed down through Austria’s rich heritage, plus an enigmatic injection of modern-day cool. Visit the city’s MUMOK (MUseum of MOdernKunst) and set your eyes on major works from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Or simply take a stroll around one of the pretty parks.

Christmas markets

Nearly every Austrian town puts on spectacular outdoor Christmas markets, complete with food, mulled wine and gifts of all shapes and sizes. Vienna and Salzburg are two cities that go all out during Christmas!

Amazing trip!

​Amazing trip, we visited almost entirely Austria! I recommend Interrail for sure. ​TrustPilot from Laure, France ​ View Review> 

Related Pages

Interrail Global Pass

Change of currency

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.

Related Content

Introducing austrian rail travel:, helpful links, the 9 things most worth knowing..., the railjets:, the ice trains:, the ec and ic trains:, the non express trains:, westbahn's trains:, the nightjets:, journeys within a länder / state:, discounted 'sparschiene' tickets;, reservations:, child tickets:, the detailed train ticket guide:, help with booking train tickets, top 8 scenic mainline journeys:, journeys from wien/vienna, journeys from salzburg, journeys from innsbruck, making your way to the train:, detailed info on the major stations, international rail journeys, please support showmethejourney, general travel guides which feature austria:, inspirational travel guides which feature austria:, related resources.

• Cities & Stations

• Austria by train

Welcome to our guide how to save money, time and confusion when travelling in and from/to Austria by train.

Travelling by train in Austria is generally a joy! On the majority of journeys you’ll be passing through stunning scenery and most of the stations look as though they were built or modernized yesterday. Also the ticketing and trains are comparatively uncomplicated; though something to keep in mind that all travellers will need a form of photo identification with them such as I.D. cards or passports, so remember to have them with you even when making a rail jouney solely within Austria.

These are the ninethings that are particularly useful to know about Austrian rail travel:

• ÖBB is the national rail operator in Austria, though many of the long-distance trains it operates, including the daytime Railjet trains travel between Austria and international destinations including Budapest, Munich, Prague, Venice and Zurich.
• ÖBB also operates the Europe's largest network of overnight trains, which are provided by the Nightjet services - which link Austria with multiple cities including, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Florence, Hamburg, Milan, Paris, Rome and Venice.
• Seat reservations are optional when travelling on the express trains for journeys wholly within Austria.
• When booking tickets with ÖBB for journeys by the express trains, seat reservations and travelling 1st/Business Class are sold as 'extras' which need to be proactively added to a booking.
• Tickets for journeys by the Railjet and IC trains are typically placed on sale from 6 months ahead of the travel date.
• The discounted tickets are branded Sparschiene tickets - and an adult booking this type of ticket for 1st or 2nd class, can take up to four children aged 15 and under with them at no extra cost.
• Trains operated by Westbahn compete with the Railjet trains operated by ÖBB on the main Vienna - Linz - Salzburg - Innsbruck route.
• The main central stations in each city are known as hauptbahnhofs, so on timetables these stations are named Innsbruck Hbf and Salzburg Hbf etc.
• The signage at OBB’s stations is bi-lingual, it is in English and German, as are the announcements on the Railjet and Westbahn trains, but the station announcements will be in German only.

Good to know about the trains:

ÖBB is the national operator and it provides the majority of Austrian trains, except for: (1) some independent scenic mountain railways (2) the Westbahn trains, which provide alternative services to the ÖBB trains on the Wien/Vienna – Linz – Salzburg - Innsbruck route.

ÖBB daytime train services are broadly categorised as: (1) Railjet Express (RJX): the fastest trains on the Wien/Vienna - Salzburg - Innsbruck - St Anton - Bregenz route (2) Railjet (RJ): the other express trains between major cities (3) IC: the less frequent express trains to tourist resorts (4) REX: the regional trains and the local trains outside the major cities (5) S-Bahn: the local trains in Austrian cities (not including the Vienna Metro)

ÖBB also operates the Nightjet network , which comprises most, but not all, overnight train services from and to Austria.

The Railjet (RJX and RJ) services from and to Wien/Vienna tend to operate to fixed schedules, departing hourly or every other hour. Many Railjet routes also extend over the border, so these trains also link Austria to Budapest, Munchen/Munich, Praha/Prague, Venezia/Venice and Zurich.

The pride of ÖBB are the Railjets which depending on your point of view are either hideously ugly or wonderfully futuristic. However, what they definitely are is comparatively comfortable, with a wide range of catering options available, including a restaurant service.

Railjets were initially only used on the top tier express routes in Austria, but now the overwhelming majority of express train journeys are by Railjet.

On the main Wien - Linz - Salzburg - (Innsbruck) route some Railjets are faster than others, because they skip more stations; and OBB has now branded these services as 'Railjet - Express'. On the OBB ticket booking site and on some departure screens at stations, RJX is used to designate these faster trains.

Railjets are also used on international journeys to/from:

• Budapest via Gyor
• Prague/Praha via Breclav (some Railjets on this route are provided by CD, the Czech national rail operator).
• Zurich via Buchs
• Munchen/Munich
• Venedig/Venice

Seats don’t HAVE to be reserved on Railjets on journeys solely within Austria and in SMTJ's experience finding a spare seat is unlikely to be a problem; unless you’re travelling at peak business hours (particularly on Fridays) OR on summer weekends. Though OBB's ticketing service, now indicates which departures will be exceptionally busy.

Reservations are also available, but optional, on the Railjet routes to Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland, but are mandatory and therefore included when booking tickets for journeys to and from Italy.

German ICE-T trains can also be used to travel between Wien/Vienna and Wels via Linz; a route they share with Railjet and Westbahn trains.

They are deployed on these routes between Austria and Germany: (1) Wien – Linz – Nurnberg – Wurzburg – Frankfurt – Koln (2) Wien – Linz – Nurnberg – Wurzburg – Kassel - Hannover - Hamburg (1 x train per day) (3) Wien - Linz - Nurnberg - Erfurt - Halle - Berlin (1 x train per day)

Reservations are optional, but highly recommended when travelling on these ICE trains.

IC trains are more typical of standard, but comfortable, European express trains, and prior to the arrival of the Railjets, they were the top tier trains on ÖBB. Though these IC train services are becoming quite rare, because on many routes and services, they have been replaced by Railjets in recent years. They are now mainly used on less frequent services; some tourist destinations have only one or two direct trains per day from Wien/Vienna and IC trains are used on these services.

Austrian IC coaches are also used for the international EC (EuroCity) trains on these routes:

(1) Munchen - Innsbruck – Bolzano – Verona – Bologna/Venezia (2) Munchen – Salzburg – Villach – Ljubljana – Zagreb (3) Wien – Graz – Maribor - Ljubljana and Zagreb

Reservations are compulsory when travelling to Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia.

Non express trains operated by ÖBB have differing categories depending if they operate in big cities or not. Longer distance regional trains and the local trains are branded 'REX'. Local trains to and from the larger cities are the S-Bahn services.

1st class is not usually available on REX trains or local trains, including the S-Bahn trains.

Trains operated by Westbahn compete with OBB's Railjet trains, in both drections on the Wien - Linz - Salzburg - Innsbruck route.

Nightjet trains are operated by Austria’s national rail company, OBB, and it sets a specific and consistent standard of service for these trains on its domestic and international routes . All international Nightjet trains convey compartment seats, couchettes, standard sleeping cabins (no showers) and deluxe sleeping cabins (with showers). Nightjets also have a dedicated section on the OBB website .

Notes on the ticketing:

When looking up journeys on the OBB website the only price you will initially see is the cheapest 2nd class price per departure. You need to click on this 2nd class price in order to access a range of upgrades, which include;

• 1st class tickets
• Seat reservations
• Adding 'highest flexibility' to your booking; do that and your ticket won't be tied to a specific departure and will be able to claim a refund if you subsequently alter your travel plans.

Tickets are typically made available up to 6 months ahead of the travel date, but this booking period can be shorter when looking up journeys which involve travelling after the second Sunday in each December. The nationwide and international train timetables / schedules have a major annual update, which takes effect from the second Sunday in December. However, tickets can't be placed on sale until the new timetable is confirmed and this confirmation tends to occur around mid-October, there isn't a set date for this. So if you will be be looking up a journey for travel after the second Sunday in December and can't find any tickets on the route you want to take, it will be because the tickets haven't yet been made available.

How far you will be travelling matters when booking second class tickets in advance online, on the OBB ticket booking service ; OBB is the national rail company in Austria.

Different types of second class ticket are available for journeys which involve crossing länder / state boundaries compared to journeys wholly within a länder / state

Austria has nine länders / states one of which is the greater Vienna/Wien area, but when taking journeys by train wholly within each of the boundaries of the other eight länders, how second class tickets can be booked and used differs in comparison to taking a longer-distance journey, which involves crossing at least one boundary that separates the länders.

That's because each länder manages its public transport through its own transport authorities, VVV, VVT, SVV etc, and that includes the sale of tickets for journeys by train when travelling in second class. The tickets are sold on the OBB, national rail, website, but as explained in greater detail on the guide to booking tickets for Austrian rail journeys the terms for how these tickets are sold and how they can be used, differ from the discounted Sparschiene tickets that OBB makes available for the longer-distance journeys. The two universal differences are:

• the tickets aren't discounted, so you won't save by booking online in advance
• the tickets can be cancelled and therefore refunded up to before the travel date.

What's also worth knowing is that the transport company, SVV, in the länder of Salzburg, which includes Bad Gastein, Radstadt and Zell-am-See; and the transport company, VVV, in the länder of Vorarlberg, which includes, Bregenz, Bludenz, Dornbirn and Feldkirch, both don't release second class tickets for sale more than around a month in advance. However, because OBB takes responsibility for selling first class tickets, it's possible to look up journeys more than a month ahead when travelling between stations that are wholly within Salzburg or Vorarlberg. If you do so:

• for departures and connections by the express train services, EC, IC, RJ, or RJX, you will only find first class tickets
• for departures and connections by the local (S-Bahn) and regional (REX) train services, you will see 'tickets are not available', because these trains don't include first class. It doesn't mean that second class tickets for the express trains and all of the tickets to travel by the REX trains have sold out, instead it's because the tickets haven't yet been released for sale. So if you want to book second class tickets in advance for journeys wholly within Salzburg or Vorarlberg, you will need to look up the journeys no more than a month ahead.

The discounted tickets for journeys by RJX, RJ and IC train services, which involve cross state boundaries within Austria, and on international trains from Austria are branded as ‘ Sparschiene’ tickets These tickets can be booked online or on the OBB app . They're usually available from 6 months ahead of the travel date, but note that they can't be booked at all at stations.

Though the discounted ‘Sparschiene’ tickets may not be available so far in advance, or made available on every departure on the route you will be taking. Also the specific departure you will be taking and the date/day of the week you will be travelling, can matter more to the ticket prices, than how far in advance you will be booking.

The price of ‘Sparschiene’ tickets can increase depending on how popular a departure is, the limited numbers at the very cheapest prices will inevitably sell quickly. So it can be a good idea to search through departures to find the cheapest fares - particularly when travelling between Wien/Vienna and both Salzburg and Innsbruck.

Note the restrictions when booking Sparschiene’ tickets; both 1st and 2nd class. These tickets will be specific to the departure you selected when making a booking and can't be refunded at all if you subsequently change your travel plans. They also can't be exchanged to alternative, later departures.

Seat reservations are available, but optional on journeys within Austria by express RJX, RJ, IC, ICE and EC train services, but are not available on REX trains.

Reservations are compulsory when travelling to Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia, but not on the RJX, ICE and EC services to Czechia, Germany and Switzerland.

Note that seats don't have to be reserved on the Railjets on all routes within Austria. Unless you’re travelling at peak business hours (particularly on Fridays) or on summer and winter weekends a, finding a spare seat is unlikely to be a problem. Though for peace of mind, you can opt to pay a reservation fee on Railjets and ICs when booking online; the OBB booking service now indicates if a specific departure will be exceptionally busy.

Because seat reservations aren't mandatory, you have to be proactive and add them when booking Also reservations are available if the express train services are an option when making journeys within lander/state boundaries

On the OBB trains children aged 5 and under travel for free Children aged 6 – 14 travel at half-fare, except when travelling with adults who have booked Sparschiene tickets - when up to four children can travel at no charge.

You can’t just hop on a train with your bike in Austria. To travel by regional REX trains you will need to purchase a special bicycle ticket, which costs 10% of the full price 2nd class ticket; a minimum fee of €2 applies. For journeys by Railjet trains; IC trains and on international EC trains within Austria, you will need to reserve a space for your bike prior to boarding; the reservation fee for bikes on these trains is €3.50.

Though be aware that bike space reservations on the Railjet trains in particular can sell out days in advance. On the Innsbruck to Feldkirch via St Anton route the Railjet and EC trains are the only services available west of Landeck-Zams, so if the bike space reservations are sold out, no alternative trains will be available.

More info about how to book these bicycle tickets is available here .

Discounts for Seniors aren't automatically applied to Austrian rail tickets .

A Vorteilscard Senior card for those aged 65 and over costs €29 and can be purchased at station ticket counters. It then gives a 50% discount on most Austrian rail tickets.

The super smart and useful ÖBB website also has its quirks

• Salzburg <> Villach via Bad Gastein
• Innsbruck <> Brennero
• Wiener Neustadt <> Villach via Klagenfurt
• Feldkirch <> Innsbruck
• Innsbruck - Jenbach - Zell am See - Stainach-Irdning - Leoben - Graz
• Wiener Neustadt <> Graz
• Attnang-Puccheim - Hallsat - Bad Ischl - Stainach-Irdning
• Innsbruck <> Mittenwald

The journey guides include access to booking links and information about the trains, tickets and destination stations. Plus for the scenic routes there are insights on how to make the most of the rides on the trains.

Search for a journey:

• Wien / Vienna
• No Matching Cities
• List is empty.

Tips for using the stations:

Five Things that are good to know when using the main stations in Austria:

1 . Austria’s major stations (the hauptbahnhofs) including those in Graz , Innsbruck , Linz , Salzburg and Wien/Vienna are comparatively simple to use. They all follow a similar pattern of having underground passages that are located beneath the tracks that give access to the trains above.

There are always lifts and escalators, which connect the bahnsteigs (platforms/tracks) that the trains arrive at/depart from, with these passage ways. You never have to use the stairs at a hauptbahnhof (major station) to access the trains.

2 . The signage at OBB’s stations is bi-lingual, it is in English and German, but the announcements will be in German only.

3 . Announcements are generally made to alert travellers to something out of the ordinary, such as delays If you think the announcement may be referring to your train watch the departure screens closely.

Particularly pay attention to any scrolling text to the right of the ‘nach’ column, which shows the train’s final destination. The English translation should follow the German text, so you may need patience to find out what you need to know.

4 . The major stations don’t have paper departure sheets, so you have to depend on the electronic departure screens. Though at busy times the smaller screens will only show trains departing in around the next 25 mins.

5 . If you will be changing trains at a hauptbahnhof (major station) there will be blue electronic departure summary screens on the bahnsteig (platform/track). Though if you will be changing trains and can’t see your next train on this departure screen, the best option is usually to make your way to the main departure hall and wait there for the details of your next train to be confirmed.

You may then need to re-trace your steps, but you can often avoid this if you will be travelling on a Railljet, IC train, or on some EC trains. While you're on the train, check the paper guide to the departure you’re travelling by, which you should find by your seat. It will list the details of connections from your train, including the number of the bahnsteig (platform/track) which your next train should be departing from.

It's worth being aware of these six steps:

1 . When looking at the main departure screens ‘Abfarht’ = departures and ‘Ankunft’ = arrivals

2 . The bahnsteigs (platforms/tracks) at the hauptbahnhofs (major stations) are divided into zones - A to E. Most trains only occupy some of these zones, they tend to be shorter than the bahnsteigs (platforms/tracks).

3 . On the blue departure screens, small and large, the NUMBER of the bahnsteig (platform/track) will be listed to the right, of the list of stations that the train will be calling at. To the right of this ‘bahnsteig’ number will be some letters and these letters are the zones on the bahnsteig (platform/track) where the train will depart from.

4 . When you arrive on the bahnsteig you will see other blue screens; from a distance they look similar to the smaller version of the departure screens, but they show different information.

Those screens show the ‘Wagenreihung’, which are the formations of the next three trains to depart from the bahnsteig (platform/track). They indicate which zone each specific coach of a train will occupy when it arrives. So they’re very useful for working out in which zone you should wait for 1st class, or for a specific coach/wagen where a reserved seat will be located.

5 . The departure indicators on the bahnsteigs (platforms/tracks) can show the details of arriving trains. So don't be surprised if you don't initially see the details of the train you will be taking.

6 . If you have a reservation or a Sparschiene ticket it will have a Zug (train) number on it; a four digit number beneath the departure date and time. This number will also be shown in the ‘Zug’ column on the blue departure screens.

If you will be taking an international train and aren’t sure of its final destination, you may need to rely on this ‘Zug’ number to work out which bahnsteig (platform/track) your train will be leaving from. The stations that international trains call at can be omitted from the departure screens, but you can use the ‘Zug’ number to find your train.

Click the buttons below to discover how to travel to and from the stations by public transport, plus links to additional info including the station and city websites.

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help. We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you .

Practical info which will help ease the journeys

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.

See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.

• Belgium by train
• Bruxelles / Brussels
• Czechia by train
• Praha / Prague / Prag
• Denmark by train
• København / Copenhagen
• France by train
• Germany by train
• Frankfurt (Main)
• Köln / Cologne / Koeln
• München / Munich
• Great Britain by train
• Hungary by train
• Italy by train
• Firenze / Florence
• Milano / Milan / Mailand
• Roma / Rome
• Torino / Turin
• Venezia / Venice / Venedig
• Netherlands by train
• Norway by train
• Poland by train
• Warszawa / Warsaw
• Portugal by train
• Lisboa / Lisbon
• Spain by train
• Sweden by train
• Switzerland by train
• Basel / Bâle
• Genève / Geneva
• Zürich / Zurich

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney , which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.

• Europe by Train
• Journey Guides
• Rail Stations
• Trip Planning
• Travel Articles
• Tips from 100s of journeys
• How to take a night train
• Good to know about daytime trains
• Travelling with Children
• Taking Bikes on Trains
• Travelling with Luggage
• Taking dogs on trains
• Common benefits of first class travel
• Journeys with multiple connections
• Money saving advice
• The best permanent deals and offers
• Intro to seat reservations
• Step-by-step booking guides
• InterRail/Eurail
• Access over 500 rail holidays
• Save 5% on more than 30 Swiss rail holidays
• Book a range of Swiss rail passes
• Buy Half Fare Cards for Switzerland
• Book train tickets with Trainline
• Book rail holidays worldwide with Bookmundi

Welcome to the Holiday Information Service

Our holiday experts are here to assist you with your holiday planning. Send us a message and we will get back you as soon as we can.

Please fill in fields marked with *

Give us a call Monday to Friday from 8am to noon. Outside of our office hours please drop us an email and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

Telephone: 00800 400 200 00 Österreich Werbung Vordere Zollamtsstraße 13 A-1030 Wien Wien AT

[email protected]

*toll-free; calls from mobile networks may incur charges

OEBB Railjet in Autumn Landscape Oebb / Harald Eisenberger media_content.tooltip.skipped Good to Know about Traveling by Train

• Austria's Beauty Secrets
• Explore Austria with ÖBB
• Things to Know About Train Travel

Austria's extensive train system is easily one of the most convenient ways to travel between its major cities and small forgotten hamlets. Here is what you need to know before hopping on board!

Types of Trains

All ÖBB trains are state-of-the-art, with comfortable seating and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Certain trains just add that little extra something to your trip! Railjet

The Railjet offers more comfortable wagons, free Wifi on board, and much faster connections. At interval speeds of 140 mph (230 km/h), you can now reach Salzburg’s Main Train Station from the Vienna International Airport in as little as 2 hours and 49 minutes. Even service from Vienna airport to St. Anton am Arlberg - all the way in western Austria - is available, as the ÖBB Railjet whisks you to the ski destination of your dreams in less than 6 hours. Nightjet

 With the Nightjet , you can comfortably travel while you sleep in cosy sleeper cars, couchette coaches and day coaches. The next morning, you will arrive fully refreshed at your destination - directly in the city centre. Nightjet routes will take you all throughout Austria, including Salzburg, Vienna, Innsbruck, Bregenz, and Arlberg, among others. Sleeper cars and couchette coaches range from 1 to 6 beds, accommodating groups of different sizes and letting you choose your level of privacy.

Austrian Railways Nightjet in landscape ÖBB Personenverkehr AG / Harald Eisenberger media_content.tooltip.skipped

Travel Classes

Economy Class

The Austrian Railways’ Economy Class is all but basic. Modern, comfortable seats in perfectly air-conditioned trains feature power outlets and tables. WiFi is available on many trains, and a small onboard bistro is just a short walk away. First Class

For an upgrade, choose First Class , which gets you adjustable seats, more legroom and space on each side, extra wide tables, and power outlets at each seat. You can also order food and drinks straight to your seat! Business Class

Ultimate comfort waits in Business Class , which is even more luxurious than First! Maximum distance between seats, leather covers, leg rests, reading lights, and plenty of table space make this not just an ideal place to relax completely.

Lady in the Railjet ÖBB Personenverkehr AG / Harald Eisenberger media_content.tooltip.skipped

Convenient Services

Air to Rail

Austria's cities and Alpine regions are now more accessible than ever. Instead of renting a car after a long transatlantic flight or dealing with complicated shuttle services, you can now board your train right at the Vienna International Airport and be on your way. From the Vienna Airport , Railjets depart twice hourly for Salzburg, the city of Mozart and "The Sound of Music." There are hourly connections to Innsbruck, Tirol's capital city in the heart of the Austrian Alps. And at least every two hours, you can zip from Vienna's airport to St. Anton and Bregenz in Austria's westernmost province. Advance Seat Reservation

An online booking on the Austrian Railways' website allows you to reserve your seat for a small fee! Most trains allow for advance seat reservation, making travelling with others a breeze and guaranteeing a spot by the window. Night trains include an automatic seat or bed reservation with your ticket. This service only costs 3 Euros on domestic trains! Split Your Journey

Want to hop off the train along the way and explore? No problem, as long as you stay on the same route and complete your journey within 2 days. That means you can buy a ticket from Vienna to Salzburg and discover under-the-radar cities like Linz or Wels along the way! Or make a pit-stop in stunning Innsbruck en route to Austria's western mountains.

Online Ticketing Through the ÖBB App

Your whole booking experience can now be handled through the ÖBB App, which functions as a seamless digital travel companion. Book your ticket through the app, make a seat reservation, and get your final ticket right on your phone or tablet. The app also delivers real-time travel updates tailored to your itinerary, so you're prepared for any changes!

Get the ÖBB App:

ÖBB App in the Apple AppStore ÖBB App in the Google Play Store

Shared Mobility App

With ÖBB's smart mobility services, mobility extends beyond the train station: Get to work on the train, ride an e-scooter through the city, take a trip in a rental car, or maybe you'd rather get out and about by bike – there are plenty of smart mobility options.

Finding, booking and paying for our new mobility services couldn't be easier with the  wegfinder app – one app for all the different options. You can also compare different route options.

Discover All of Austria by Train

Train journey with unesco views, from vienna to salzburg by train, travel austria on the night train, book first class for ultimate comfort.

Am Hauptbahnhof 2

1100 Vienna

The 3 Most Beautiful Scenic Train Routes in Austria

Walter Geiersperger / Getty Images

Austria is an interesting mountainous country wedged between the Western European countries of Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. It also borders on the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.

Mountainous territories offer lots of technical challenge to railroad designers, as well as a high degree of danger to those who work on rail routes. Of course, it is this difficult landscape which produces the most awe-inspiring views from the window of a train car.

The three scenic rail routes described in here were first built in the mid-1800s, a pioneering phase of railroad construction, and represent some of the greatest feats of civil engineering of their time.

Two of the scenic routes, the Semmering and the narrow gauge Mariazellerbahn are in eastern Austria near Vienna , the third, Arlberg , is found in western Austria near Innsbruck . The routes offer fine opportunities for hiking in the summer and skiing in the Winter.

How to Buy Tickets

Most Austrian trains are run by the state-operated Österreichische Bundesbahnen (Austrian Federal Railroad or ÖBB). There are nineteen small privately owned railroads operating primarily narrow-gauge lines.

You can buy point-to-point rail tickets and see schedules on Rail Europe. You will also find seasonal specials on rail travel there. 

A number of Austria rail passes are available. For the traveler interested in scenic rail journeys, the combined Eurail Austria-Switzerland Pass is probably the most interesting, because Switzerland contains some great scenic railways, including the Bernina Express , the Centovalli Railway, the Glacier Express, and the Wilhelm Tell Express.

Austria is also included in the European East Pass, which includes the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as the Eurail Germany/Austria Pass.

The Semmering Railroad

The Semmering Railroad, running between Gloggnitz and the winter resort town of Semmering, passes through some extraordinary Austrian mountain scenery. Built between 1848 and 1854, the Semmering is considered to be one of the greatest feats of civil engineering from this pioneering phase of railway building and was acknowledged by UNESCO World Heritage Center in 1998.

The Semmering railway line is part of the Südbahn railway that runs between Vienna and Graz, continuing on to Maribor, Ljubljana and eventually to Trieste.

Built by the Carl Ritter von Ghega between 1848 and 1854, the scenic Semmering route was quite daring for the time; it had a maximum gradient five times that of previous railways.

What You'll See Along the Semmering Scenic Route

• 16 viaducts supported by several arches
• The main tunnel, 1,430 meters long, at the time, considered the most famous construction of its kind.

The Semmering railway was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1998.

Rail World Photography offers a fine Photo Tour of the Semmering Scenic Route.

Semmering has long been a mountain health resort, known for its clean air. Winter sports and Summer hiking are the top draws for the town.

The Semmering Railway site: Die Semmeringbahn .

Arlberg Scenic Train Ride

After the Semmering route was finished, engineers considered a route through the Arlberg range as part of an England to Egypt route. Construction was started in 1880 and the route finished in 1884--if you had the money, you could now take the Arlberg Orient Express from London to all the way to Bucharest.

The scenic train ride seen on the map above takes you between Innsbruck and the Lake Constance area of Switzerland.

What to Do Along the Arlberg Scenic Train Route

Arlberg is the birthplace of modern Alpine Skiing, so winter sports will top the list. But scenic routes mean the train ride is your primary entertainment.

• Snowboarding
• Skiing at St. Anton (St. Anton offers Austria's largest ski school and perhaps the best skiing for intermediates in the region.
• Hiking and Trekking

See Mike's Railway History: Progressive Development in a Mountainous Country

The Mariazell Railway:Narrow Guage Scenic Route in Eastern Austria

The Mariazell Railway is a narrow gauge track rail route running between the towns of St. Poelten and Mariazell. See this spectacular virtual tour with a detailed route description of the Mariazellerbahn Scenic Route.

20 Top Things to Do in Vienna, Austria

How to Use Swiss Trains and the Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland Travel Guide

Prague: Planning Your Trip

Austria Travel Planning Guide

15 Top Things to Do in Baker City, Oregon

Scenic Train Trips Across Canada

20 Amazing Train Journeys Through Mountain Scenery Around The World

Your Trip to Switzerland: The Complete Guide

Regensburg: Planning Your Trip

Mount Hood Attractions and Activities

The 10 Most Adventurous Things to Do in the Adirondack Mountains

16 Best Things to Do in Colorado in Summer

Guide to Hanmer Springs, the South Island's Spa Town

Glacier National Park: The Complete Guide

The Top 9 Scenic and Novelty Train Rides in Switzerland

Come with me on my travels, as you plan yours

Austria Itinerary: 11 Days by Train

Updated March 19th, 2019

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links from my site. I appreciate your support! 

Are you looking for an Austria itinerary? Do you hope to include the must-see cities of Salzburg and Vienna as well as some smaller towns in-between? This Austria itinerary by train includes the country’s most well-known cities and some lesser known gems. It’s perfect for anyone who is hoping to start and end their time in Vienna. 

Even though we would have loved more time at each location and of course wanted to visit more places, my mom and I were both very happy with this Austria itinerary for the 11 days, including flying days, that we had in in the country.

General Train Information

For all our transportation between cities we used trains, the express railjets and the regional trains. To buy train tickets ahead of time use oebb Austrian rail site . All the different types of transportation, including buses, are used on this site and can be bought together. It conveniently shows all of your options.  

You can buy your tickets from machines at the train station, but it is typically cheaper to buy ahead of time and get the ‘sparschiene’ discounted rate.

There is a small extra charge for reserved seating on railjet trains. We never did this and there was only one time we wished we did, from Innsbruck to Vienna. If you do not have a reserved seat you need to make sure you do not sit in a reserved seat. Above the seats and just below the overhead luggage racks you can see an electronic strip with the seat number. The cities written next to it tell when the seat is reserved. If nothing is there is means the seat is not reserved.

Rail platforms are easy to find within every station. Almost everyone we met spoke English well and was more than willing to help with directions whether at a train station or on a city bus.

Remember that Bahnhof means train station and Hauptbahnhof means the main train station in the city. Also note that Wien is Vienna.

There is one or two larger luggage racks in each car as well as the overhead luggage space. As long as you can drag it onboard, you can bring it.

On both regional and railjet trains there are toilets. Railjet trains have a dining car with a fairly good selection of decent meals and snacks.

Within the train electronic screens show the upcoming stops. On the railjets they give precise information with the times in English and German.

Day 1: Flying Day into Vienna & Train to Gmunden

Vienna International Airport is probably the easiest to fly into and out of . Right at the airport is the train station, which provides easy connections to anywhere else you want to go in Austria. You could spend time in Vienna at the end or beginning of your trip. We decided to stay in Vienna at the end because it worked better for obtaining ballet tickets.

Day 2 : Exploring Gmunden & Train to Salzburg

The first stop on our Austrian itinerary was Gmunden, a small town between Vienna and Salzburg within the Salzkammergut region on Lake Traunsee.

From Vienna International Airport to Gmunden Bahnhof it is about a 3 hour trip on two trains. We took a railjet train to Attnang-Puchheim Bahnhof and then a regional train to Gmunden Bahnhof, but there are other options available as well. There are buses within the city, but there would be nothing available at our evening arrival so we pre-booked a taxi with our hotel. They booked us with Taxi Prehm, which was very reliable. If you plan on taking a taxi back to the train station make sure to pre-book. We left it until the last minute and there wasn’t enough time to get a taxi. The kind owners of the hotel gave us a ride instead….but I wouldn’t count on that!

The lake and the main part of town is walking distance (~10 – 20min) from Hotel Magerl.

Hotel Magerl : Ackerweg 18, 4810 Gmunden, Austria

I loved the feel of this hotel with old world charm alongside modern convenience.

Activities 

Kayaking and Walking around Lake Truansee

Take a Steamboat on Lake Traunsee

Exploring the Town

Grunberg Cable Car   to Grunberg Mountain for hiking, biking, paragliding and more

Gmunder Keramik for a tour of the ceramic factory

Within the main part of town along the lake there are several options. We were not disappointed with our Italian meal at Vienna Cafe DP Gastro GmbH :  Sparkassegasse 1, 4810 Gmunden, Austria.

Days 3 – 6: Salzburg

From Gmunden we took a regional train back to Attnang-Puchheim Bahnhof and switched to a railjet to Salzburg. We arrived in Salzburg at the main train station ( Hauptbahnhof). The city buses stop directly outside of the train station. From our pre-booked tickets I knew which platform to stand and wait.

We bought the Salzburg card which included free transportation. Other than the initial bus ride, the rest of our time in Salzburg that we needed transportation was within the two day pass time frame. With the pass you do not need to do anything, simply board the bus.

Alstadt Hotel Hofwirt : Schallmooser Hauptstraße 1, Schallmoos, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Convenient location to the New Town and about a 15 minute walk to the old town. A modern and clean hotel with friendly staff and large selection of breakfast items.

I recommend buying the Salzburg City Card that gives you free transportation and entrance to all of the activities below except the Sound of Music Tours.

Sound of Music Tour – I suggest Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour s if you want an active tour. If not there The Original Sound of Music Tour is another great option for a bus tour.

Museums : Christmas Museum , Mozart’s Birthplace , Mozart’s Residence , Panorama Museum , Salzburg Open Air Museum

Hohensalzburg Fortress – one of the largest medieval castles in Europe

Salzburg City Cruises

Guided Tours of the Festival Halls

Dom Quartier Salzburg

Untersberg Mountain – enjoy a beautiful hike in the snow after taking the cable car

Hellbrunn Palace, Trick Fountains, Folk Art Museum & Salzburg Zoo  

Gasthof Alter Fuchs :  Linzer G. 47-49, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.  Located on the other side of the river from the old town, this cozy place with classic dishes on the menu had a traditional Austrian feel.

Pretzel Stand in Kapitelplatz :  The square with a man standing on top of a big gold sphere.  During our Sound of Music tour our guide recommended this pretzel place to everyone and announced that it had the best pretzels in Salzburg. Sometimes I am skeptical of tour guide recommendations mid-tour, thinking that they are only trying to promote a specific business. Our guide was right about this one! With almost ten different varieties of pretzels as big as your head, you are sure to find a flavor you will enjoy.

Die Wiesse:  Rupertgasse 10, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.  We didn’t know if our hunger could hold on long enough to reach this locally recommended biergarten and were about to give up when we heard music. By following the sound of a tuba we made it to this biergarten that was full of Austrians in their traditional dirndls and lederhosen. As it was a national holiday we were treated to a festive and authentic display of music, dancing, and eating. Even if you don’t luck out with the festive atmosphere we experienced, the outdoor garden and food are still worth a visit. Another great recommendation from our tour guide that is a little off the beaten path.

Hochalm am Untersberg:  Located on top of Untersberg Mountain, this traditional looking restaurant offers classic fare at reasonable prices and close up views of the surrounding alps.

Café Latini :  Judengasse 17, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. This café is good if you want something a little quicker within the old town close to all the sights. I particularly recommend the ice cream and a nice outdoor table for prime people watching.

Days 7 – 8: Seefeld & Mittenwald

To get to Seefeld from Salzburg we took a railjet train to Innsbruck , which I would recommend spending some time in if your schedule allows. There is so much to see and do in Innsbruck . Then we took a regional train to Seefeld. Within Seefeld we walked everywhere. Either google maps seemed a little strange or I wasn’t following the map correctly, because it was a tad difficult finding our hotel initially, but easy every time after that. 

To get to Mittenwald from Seefeld I recommend taking a train. It is about a 22 minute journey. Tickets can be bought ahead of time or at the machine in Seefeld. The cost is so low, about 5 euros, that unless you are positive of your departure times you might as well buy them at the station. Like any train journey, make sure to plan ahead with times. On the way back from Mittenwald there were no machines selling our particular journey back to Seefeld so we bought tickets on the train.

Landhaus Klausnerhof Hotel : Alte Leutascher Straße 57, 6100 Seefeld in Tirol, Austria

A well kept alpine hotel with a friendly and helpful manager. The hotel is close to restaurants in town, the train station and Lake Wildsee.

Seefeld: Visiting Lake Wildsee

Seefeld: Hiking – Many trails in the area.

Mittenwald:  Leutaschklamm Gorge Hike  

Mittenwald: Take a stroll around the town to see the beautifully painted buildings and maybe visit the violin museum.

Restaurant Seefelder Stube:  Innsbrucker Str. 23, 6100 Seefeld in Tirol, Austria.  Our pizza and pasta dishes here arrived exactly as we ordered them and full of rich flavors.

Mittenwald : Several restaurants, cafés and bakeries along the main street around the square.

Day 8 – 11: Vienna

From Seefeld we took a regional train back to Innsbruck and then the high-speed railjet to Vienna , the last stop on our Austria Itinerary. The whole journey takes about 5.5 hours. It is the longest train journey of this itinerary and the one I would recommend booking reserved seats for. Perhaps it was our particular time we traveled, but the train was incredibly booked and it was initially hard to find single seats open, much less two seats together.

We had tickets for a tram that stopped a couple of minutes away from our hotel. Within Vienna we mostly walked. To take the metro you need to buy a ticket from a machine before boarding. Make sure you validate the ticket, by sticking it inside a little box, before going down the escalators to the metro train.

Suite Hotel 900 m zur Oper :   Wiedner Hauptstraße 44, 04. Wieden, 1040 Vienna, Austria

The hotel is an pleasant 10 minutes or so walk from the Opera house and other central attractions. The tram stops only a couple of minutes from the front door.

Sisi Museum : Learn about the intriguing life of Empress Sisi.

Albertina Museum : An art museum known for its print rooms.

Vienna Museum : Overview of the history of Vienna with some special exhibitions.

Schönbrunn Palace : More on the life of the Imperial family and fun gardens to explore.

Free Walking Tou r : Good to do your first morning in the city as it gives an overview of Vienna.

Austrian National Library : Where you can visit the impressive great hall.

Spanish Riding School : Along with seeing a show you can buy tickets for the morning practice or for a guided tour.

Vienna Opera House : For a night on the town this is a classic and elegant choice. Guided tours are also available some days.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral : Visit the gorgeous interior or pay to walk up the tower for a view of the city.

Bierhof:  Haarhof 3, 1010 Wien, Austria

We weren’t quite ready for lunch when we stumbled upon this restaurant, but it was too good to pass up. It was almost hidden within a little courtyard. I had a chicken salad here. It sounds really basic, but the spices in it made me scarf down my salad at the rate of which I would usually eat a piece of chocolate cake.

Restaurant in the center with green boards:  Intersection of Ballgasse & Blumenstockgasse  

Another slightly more secluded area with several cafés. Although we typically ate outdoors only for lunch when it was warm enough, we wanted to experience the area outdoors for dinner as well. We were given blankets as we enjoyed our top notch salmon and schnitzel dishes.

Ristorante San Carlo:  Mahlerstraße 3, 1010 Wien, Austria

This ristorante near the Opera House has a slightly more elegant feel so when we came in drenched from the rain we wondered if they would even let us get a table. When the waiter led us to a table and then turned around we were left standing awkwardly in the middle of the room starting to get concerned that we wouldn’t get a table for real. It was our last meal in Austria so we were starting to get the hang of the Austrian restaurant world so we kept calm and waited until we finally got a drafty table near the door to the rainy weather outside. Soon enough we were served our food and my luscious pasta dish made me quickly forget about the temperature.

Salud Restaurant and Bar:  Johannesgasse 23, 1010 Wien, Austria

Don’t go here if you want attentive service, but do go here for some good tex-mex food.

Viennese café culture:  Most importantly don’t leave Vienna without having cake. So many cafés to choose from!

I hope this suggested Austria Itinerary by train will help you prepare your travels throughout the country! 

Not quite what you are looking for? Don’t worry, I can help! Through my Personal Travel Planning service I can plan the perfect Austria itinerary to meet your travel needs…or any other place you dream of visiting! 

Share this:

• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

You May Also Like

The Sights of Salzburg

November Museum of the Month: Salzburg Christmas Museum

Salzburg Sound of Music Bicycle Tour

11 comments.

What a great itinerary. I live in Austria – but whenever someone asks me what can I visit , I suddenly am at a lost. So you provided me with a solution, that I will just send this link to someone who asks. Nice tips on the restaurants as well , that I will be using it for myself 🙂

Thank you, that is so nice to hear from someone who lives in Austria! I would love it if you share this Austria itinerary with anyone planning to visit and I hope it is helpful to you too! Where do you live in Austria?

I live in Villach – great location at the border of both Slovenia and Italy – do holler If you are ever in the region and we can have a cuppa coffee

Will do, I have never heard of Villach, but the google images look beautiful!

Follow My Anchor

Very informative post with useful details. I love touring journeys by trains and see different places on the same trip. I have been to a few places in Austria like Salzburg, Innsbruck and Kitzbuhel but I definitely need to go back and visit Vienna. I’ll make sure I’ll visit Gmunden too as it looks a very cute town on your picture!

I always enjoy exploring different places on the same trip too and getting to know a country by visiting both the larger and smaller cities.

Wow! You’ve really covered everything here. I love Austria and have been there many times. Your in-depth comments are really valuable for everyone.

Thank you! I would love to go back and visit again.

This is a great itinerary and fabulous tips! I’ve wanted to go back to Austria to explore it more but didnt know how to get around and definitely didn’t want to drive. Great information.

I don’t like to drive abroad, so I was happy that Austria is really easy to get around on your own without a car!

This looks like a great itinerary. I’ve only visited Salzburg and Vienna as part of a larger trip to Europe but would love to go back to Austria and see some smaller towns.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

an independent travel guide about Austria

Traveling by train in Austria

Austria is a train travel country. You can enjoy everything from modern express trains through the Alps to nostalgic steam trains and mountain cog railways with unforgettable views.

With a total of 4865 km (3022 mi) of train tracks, Austria has a relatively well-developed rail network. In comparison, Norway which is more than four times as large as Austria has 600 km of railway tracks. Trains are popular in Austria and at peak hours around 570 trains are on the tracks at the same time. Moreover, travelling by train in Austria instead of by car does not mean you miss some of the best countries can show – on the contrary.

From plane to train

The train journey can start as soon as you leave the aeroplane. If you fly to Vienna you can board a train directly, to for example Innsbruck , at the railway station at the airport. Nonetheless, we would always recommend that you stay a few days in Vienna, before travelling on to the next destination in Austria. Modern and comfortable trains make train travel a great way to see Austria. Moreover, trains are great for moving swiftly between the biggest cities, such for example Vienna – Linz – Salzburg or Vienna – Graz . A comprehensive schedule and frequent departures allow for lots of options. For example, the Vienna – Innsbruck route runs 12-14 times a day. The trip can take as little time as 4 hours and 14 minutes. Furthermore, on mainlines such as Vienna – Linz – Salzburg , the trains run at speeds of over 200 km/h (125 mph), making travel times short.

< Click on the images to enlarge >

Slow scenic routes

Express trains are not always the best way to travel. If the landscape speeds by the window, you can’t enjoy it. We have taken proper slow trains on several occasions. Such as the train between Fehring in Styria and Vienna . It took 3 hours and 20 minutes including a change at Wiener Neustadt. Nevertheless, what a great trip, as the train was winding itself slowly through small villages, cultural landscapes and forests. In tight turns, we were down to 30 km/h (19 mph). Allowing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. The majority of the trip went through Styria and we came to see places you do not usually pass in a car. There are many such tracks in Austria, which you can either take as part of a long journey or as a day trip.

S-Bahn / Regionalzug

Regional and suburban rail (the so-called S-Bahn) systems are well developed.  Most cities and larger towns have extensive local train coverage. These trains often take you to the smaller stations, where Intercity or Express trains do not stop. Usually, S-Bahn lines are found near major cities, as they are often used by commuters. Notwithstanding, these trains are also very useful for tourists for short-distance travel. Moreover, because the S-Bahn has more frequent departures than long-distance routes, it’s often a faster alternative to the bus.

Advertisement

Through the alps.

For those who are interested in more than just transport between points A and B, trains in Austria also offer scenic routes. One of the most scenic routes, between Innsbruck ( Tyrol ) and Feldkirch ( Vorarlberg ), takes you through the wild alpine landscape of Arlberg. The north-south route between Salzburg ( Salzburgerland ) and Villach ( Carinthia ) takes you through the Tauern massif. Even though the summer months attract the most train tourists to Austria, a midwinter rail trip may also be a good way to do your skiing holiday. Many of Austria’s most popular ski resorts, such as St. Anton , Zillertal , Badgastein, Kitzbühel, Seefeld , Zell am See and Schladming, are easily reached by train.

Three classes

Austria’s main railway company ÖBB offers three different classes on board the trains; Economy, First and Business Class. The biggest difference is more space, food service, seat reservations and extra service, the more you pay for the ticket. Most of the trains in Austria are modern and have ample space, even in economy class. Hence, there is no point paying for the more expensive classes, unless you feel the need to travel more extravagantly and enjoy a bit more luxury and tranquillity during the trip.

ÖBB also runs nightly couchette or sleeper car services between Austria and several cities in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. You can even bring your car or motorcycle with you on the overnight trains. This service saves you from long days on motorways through Europe, and you can enjoy a good night’s sleep on your way to next the destination. For more info, see more on ÖBB’s Nightjet website .

Special train trips

All around Austria you will find special tourist or museum trains that offer trips that run on tracks close to normal services. These trips range from the great historic steam train to local electric rail buses and to cog railways that take you up to mountain peaks. They are too many to mention all of them, but we recommend the Schafbergbahn . Since 1893 the cog wheel train has taken passengers from Lake Wolfgang and up to the Schafberg at 1783 metres above sea level. At the peak, you will get unforgettable views of the Salzkammergut. In a completely different type of landscape, the Gleichenberger Bahn carries passengers between the small town Feldbach and the spa resort Bad Gleichenberg in south-eastern Styria. Among the locals, the route is known as the “Jungle express” (Dschungelexpress). This is because the train travels through a mix of farming landscapes and dense forests on its 21 km long trip.

Trains for any occasion

No matter if you are on Interrail, self-made trips combining flights and trains or simply on a road trip, you have countless opportunities to experience Austria by train. Moreover, Austria offers train services, not just for hardcore train enthusiasts, but for the entire family. Whether you are looking for a nice getaway with the kids for a few hours, or if you need fast and modern transport from A to B, the Austrian railways are the way to travel.

Culinary Traditions in Austria

With a culinary heritage reflecting diverse cultural influences and historical roots, Austria offers a hearty and flavorful gastronomic adventure. Signature dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, Knödel and Tafelspitz showcase the country’s love for robust flavours and quality ingredients. Street foods like Käsekrainer add a savoury touch to Austrian culinary traditions. Buschenschanks in Austria: A Blend of […]

Vienna Unveiled: A Journey Through Architectural Marvels

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city where history and innovation intertwine seamlessly. As you wander its streets, you’ll encounter a fascinating array of architectural styles, each telling a unique story. From Gothic cathedrals to avant-garde masterpieces, Vienna invites you to explore its rich heritage. Let’s embark on a visual tour of the city’s […]

Sausal – Wine, hiking and beautiful scenery

The contrast between the forest groves and the straight-lined vines in the hilly landscape that characterizes the view is fascinating. What’s more, the small villages you pass are nothing more than clusters of houses. However, in these picturesque clusters of homes, you’ll find what makes the region worth a visit: the restaurants and wine shops […]

5 stunning viewing platforms in Austria accessible by cable car

Austria boasts a number easy accessible viewing platforms, where you simply board a cable car. To truly appreciate the Alps, you have to get up on the mountains. 1. Dachstein Skywalk From Ramsau, in Styria, you can pick up the cable car to the Dachstein massif. You can enjoy the stunning view from 2 spectacular […]

• Wintersports

Ski resorts near Vienna accessible by train

Are you looking for some excellent ski resorts near Vienna that you can easily access by train? We’ve got you covered! Check out these fantastic ski destinations that offer excellent family-friendly slopes and unforgettable skiing experiences. Hop on a train and get ready for an adventure. Stuhleck ski resort – Spital am Semmering At Stuhleck in […]

Schladming: A Ski Destination with a World Cup Flair

The historic small town in the Styria region of Austria, with about 4500 inhabitants, is surrounded by the majestic Dachstein mountains. The winter season usually starts at the beginning of December and runs until the beginning of April. Skiing day and night Schladming offers 123 km of slopes spread over four interconnected ski areas: Planai, […]

Advertisements

Share Facebook , Twitter , Google Plus , Pinterest , Email

Written by Ana Lucia Marcos

Ana Lucia has traveled the world, but fell completely in love with Austria. She loves the dramatic mountain landscape, the phototastiske lakes and the captivating castles. Moreover, a real Wienerschnitzel is always on the menu when she explores the alpine country.

Austrian Trains

Obb & cd railjet train features, popular routes.

Seeking a new adventure in Austria? Explore some of the most popular train routes the country has to offer and conveniently book your tickets online today!

Train Stations

Austrian railway stations are renowned for offering exceptional comfort and convenience to passengers. Embark on an exciting journey and experience the best that Austrian trains have to offer!

FAQ: What to Know Austrian Railway

​​WHAT IS RAILJET?

​​Railjet trains were introduced to the public in 2008 and are now a major part of national pride. These electric-powered Austrian/Czech Railways trains travel at speeds up to 230 kmh (~143 mph), making them one of the fastest trains in Europe. In addition, the Railjet trains have better energy reduction cost compared with previous generations, which means that they are environmentally friendly as well!

​​WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BOOK RAILJET TICKETS?

Booking Railjet tickets is a fairly simple process. You can visit the Rail Ninja website  and check out train schedules to plan your perfect journey, then book your ticket online! You can also check Rail Ninja Reviews  to find more information.

Book Austrian Train Tickets

Popular austrian train routes.

Would you like to experience an Austrian train journey? Choose your perfect ticket from different routes today!

Prague to Vienna Train

Budapest to innsbruck train, zurich to vienna train, vienna to linz train, prague to salzburg train, vienna to prague train.

About OBB Trains

OBB Trains: Austrian Railway Tickets Service

45+ amazing train routes​.

The most popular regular high-speed railway connections all around Europe

100k+ Satisfied Travelers

Convenient high-speed trains.

Train Types Operated by OBB

The comfortable trains operated by OBB is the best and easiest way to journey through Austria and admire gorgeous alpine landscapes, historic towns and as well as lavish valleys. Here you can find out more about OBB's long-distance and suburban trains.

DO OBB TRAINS HAVE WI-FI?

Of course! ​All the trains in OBB’s fleet provide everything for a comfortable ride, including free WiFi.

WHAT DOES OBB STAND FOR?

OBB is the acronym of Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundes Bahn, translated from German)

WHAT IS SPARSCHIENE TICKET?

All Sparschiene Austria tickets are exclusively available online and through the OBB App. They are cheaper than regular, that’s why the number of Sparschiene tickets per train is limited, so it would be better to book them in advance.

HOW DO I BUY OBB TRAIN TICKETS?

Good news! Today you don't need to spend a lot of time lining up in the train station. Instead, you can easily buy your OBB train ticket online on Rail.Ninja  or in OBB mobile app. To learn more about online booking platform, check Rail Ninja review

ARE OBB TRAIN TICKETS REFUNDABLE?

It depends on the type of ticket you have. For example, Sparschiene tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged. ​But if you have a regular OBB train ticket, it can be refunded following the rules.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET A TICKET?

You can get a ticket online faster and easier than ever before. The Rail.Ninja platform lets you book train tickets for more than 1.5k routes in 50+ countries. Hence, Rail.Ninja can help you book tickets globally. You can learn more by reading the Rail.Ninja review .

Book Austrian Train Tickets

Explore the most popular railway routes ​with obb trains.

Would you like to take a train journey to Austria? Choose your perfect ticket from different routes today!

Train from Prague to Vienna

Train from budapest to vienna, train from vienna to prague, train from munich to salzburg, train from vienna to budapest, train from salzburg to vienna.

Why Our Clients Trust Us?

Fast & Easy Booking

Make all of your travel plans

​come true booking train tickets in advance in just a few clicks

Convenient & Secure Payments

​Choose among the 15+ payment methods you mostly prefer that ensure the safety

​of your personal data

Best Quality Seats

15 scenic train rides across Europe

Posted: June 7, 2024 | Last updated: June 7, 2024

For tourists, Europe is synonymous with train travel, and there is truly no better way to explore the continent. All the options make it difficult to choose one — or two, or even a few — for your transatlantic adventure. That’s why we’ve rounded up 15 of the most scenic train rides across the region!

Munich, Germany to Salzburg, Austria

Bavaria is known as the most beautiful region in Germany and Austria, and if you spend even just a few minutes there, it’s easy to see why. This part of Europe is a true fairytale, with snowy mountain peaks, charming alpine cabins, and rushing rivers. And while road trips here are fun, the train ride between the two major cities, Munich and Salzburg, lasts about two hours and provides some of the best views of the Bavarian Alps and surrounding villages.

You may also like: 15 essential scenic drives in the United States

Sarajevo to Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Balkans aren’t known to have an amazing rail system. However, one train ride that is a must on any visit to the area is the two-hour journey between Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Travel through the Dinaric Alps and catch sights of elevated bridges, waterfalls, and peaks that would otherwise be hard to reach.

Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive lifestyle content.

Oslo to Bergen, Norway

This seven-hour journey is a full day of travel, but not one that you should dread, thanks to the spectacular scenery through the heart of Norway! You’ll enjoy glimpses of fjords, rivers, and the lovely Norwegian countryside. The Oslo to Bergen route is at its best in winter when Norway is blanketed with snow. It’s also much less nerve-wracking than driving this route in cold weather conditions.

You may also like: 20 U.S. locations you might recognize from film

Athens to Meteora, Greece

When you picture Greece, sandy island beaches and vibrantly blue water probably come to mind. But that’s not all there is to the country. It has epic mountains as well. The four-hour ride (but budget longer, Greek trains are notoriously slow and late) from Athens to Meteora takes you through the heart of the peaks and ends in the perfect spot for a walking adventure. You can hike from the main towns of Kalambak or Kastraki to the various monasteries that dot the mountains.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg to Cologne, Germany

No, the tiny country of Luxembourg isn’t part of Germany, but it is right next door and ideally located for terrific train rides across Europe. The one from the capital city, also called Luxembourg, to Cologne takes approximately three and a half hours and usually requires a change in Koblenz. But it will take you along the Moselle River, dotted with vineyards, castles, and adorable towns that make the ride fly by.

You may also like: The 21 best beaches on the West Coast

Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland

The West Highland Line is the most picturesque in all of the United Kingdom. You’ll follow the Clyde River into the country and through Trossachs National Park and Rannoch Moor. The five-and-a-half-hour journey is perfect for those looking to see a bit of Scotland in a short amount of time.

Kristinehamn to Gällivare, Sweden

The most fantastic train ride in all of Sweden (and that’s saying something in this country) is this just-over 800-mile journey through the interior. The summer-only route operates between mid-June and late August annually. You’ll see the verdant forests of Sweden and the breathtaking backcountry dotted with wildflowers. 

You may also like: The best national parks on the West Coast

Jesenice, Slovenia to Trieste, Italy

The Bohinj Nostalgia Train is a three-and-a-half to four-hour ride through some of the prettiest parts of Slovenia. Visit the breathtaking Vintgar Gorge and the imposing Julian Alps before crossing into Italy. It’s the perfect way to see the area without a car!

Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland’s Glacier Express

Switzerland is known for top-notch public transportation, which is efficient and charming. It is not cheap, but the smooth ride and out-of-this-world window views are absolutely worth it. The all-day, eight-hour Glacier Express will take you through the heart of Europe’s most famous Alps, the Rhine Gorge, and multiple tunnels.

You may also like: 20 top travel destinations for epic marine life

French Riviera Regional Line

The Cote d’Azur was legendary long before Emily in Paris  visited the coast. And while cruising around in a convertible might be stylish, it’s not exactly realistic for most visitors. Plus, one of the best ways to see the South of France is by a regional RER train. Sure, it’s not the super quick TGV, but that just means you’ll see more of the lovely area. There are multiple lines, and most tickets can be bought on the day of travel.

Lucerne to Interlaken, Switzerland

This isn’t a standard commuter rail between two domestic cities; it’s an experience. The two-hour ride will take passengers through the lovely Swiss countryside. Before departing, you’ll see alpine blue lakes, cascading waterfalls, and quaint mountain villages.

You may also like: The best uses for overripe bananas

Dublin to Galway, Ireland

Ireland is a delightful country, full of rolling green hills and a stunning coastline. Most visitors opt to rent a car, but if you’re not keen to drive or want to enjoy the sites without worrying about traffic, the train is a great option. The route between Dublin and Galway takes passengers through the heart of Ireland, perfect for a scenic ride!

French Alps Regional Line

Like its neighbor down south, the regional RER line through the French Alps is one of the best ways to see the mountains and villages. Relax in style and enjoy snowy peaks with a cup of hot chocolate aboard one of the many daily trains between alpine towns and cities.

You may also like: 24 facts, stats, and other stories about Starbucks

The Orient Express, London, England to Venice, Italy

The original route might have gone from Paris to Istanbul (and the French rail operator is working on getting this route ready for the 2024 Olympics), but now you can travel from the British Isles to Italy. In 2023, La Dolce Vita began running and provides luxury train travel in carriages reminiscent of another time. You’ll also enjoy superb Italian dining on this two-day overnight journey!

Levanto to La Spezia, Italy

Cinque Terre is one of the most magical destinations in Italy, but it can be a bit tricky to get around. But the train from Levanto to La Spezia, which lasts just under an hour, is the perfect solution. You’ll catch epic coastline views and candy-colored houses in the hills of the villages.

Did you enjoy this slideshow? Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive lifestyle content.

More for You

Trump Chooses J.D. Vance As His Running Mate, And People Bring Receipts

Patrick to CenterPoint: 'A freight train is coming, you better be prepared'

Zelensky Issues Stark Warning Over F-16s

I ran the Pentagon under Trump and we need to fight like Reagan

Hawk Tuah Girl graces Rolling Stone and is dubbed 'Gen Z Dolly Parton'

I live in a tiny home mansion and fell in love with it — it's the only way I could afford to live in California

People are just learning why there are no skeletons on the Titanic

Here’s how almost half of Dubai’s trash is turned into electricity

‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva' Adds New Series Regulars; Production Kicks Off In Budapest

Browns QB Deshaun Watson now an afterthought among NFL coaches and executives

MLB Home Run Derby Results: Historic First-Time Winner Takes Home 2024 Title

5 notable moments from Biden’s interview with NBC’s Lester Holt

We Ordered 7 Fast-Food Breakfast Sandwiches to Find the Best One

You Won’t Have to Crouch in the Lofted Bedrooms of These Tiny Homes

Society for the Rule of Law releases statement of principles

Rare earths found in Sweden: a game-changer?

DeSantis Signs Law That May Force 1.5M Florida Condo Owners to Lose Their Homes

Here’s the retirement savings that put you with the richest 10% of Americans — it’s a much smaller number than you may think

My wife and I are boomers with no kids. We moved to Paris for retirement and enjoy the food and cheap travel.

Donald Trump Jr. spars with MSNBC reporter on convention floor: 'I expect nothing less from you clowns'

Save 20% on selected Passes for travel from September 1 2024. Offer ends July 18. Shop the sale →

Get our Rail Planner app

Plan your trip, get extra discounts, and show your Pass as you go.

Our favorite offseason routes

Chase the sun long after summer ends with these 7 train routes

All about seat reservations

Everything you need to know about booking your seats

Alternatives to Busy Routes

Travel between popular European cities without seat reservations

Through our Chatbot in the bottom right corner.

Ask the Community

Browse questions from fellow Eurail travellers, or ask your own!

• Plan your trip
• Popular Train Routes in Europe

How to Get From Vienna to Budapest by Train

• Order overview
• Reservations overview
• My Trips & Travelers
• {{translatedTraveler}} {{#promotional}} {{currencySign}} {{standardPrice}} {{/promotional}} {{quantity}}x {{currencySign}} {{finalPrice}}
• Child {{childPasses}}x FREE
• {{translatedPassType}}
• {{translatedValidityPeriodDescription}}
• {{translatedClass}}
• Remove Pass(es)
• {{variant.localizedTravelPackDescription}} {{quantity}}x Free
• {{variant.localizedPassUpgradeDescription}} {{quantity}}x {{currency}} {{price}}
• Your order will arrive by {{expectedDeliveryDate}} 1 x {{currency}} {{price}}

Your cart is empty

Vienna and Budapest, two of Europe's most beautiful capitals, are just a short train ride apart. Traveling between these cities is easy, affordable, and fast. Find out everything you need to know to make this journey for yourself.

Video train route Vienna - Budapest

Train options for Vienna to Budapest

Traveling by high-speed train

The fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Vienna to Budapest is by taking the Railjet high-speed train. This modern and luxurious train will get you to your destination in just under 3 hours. For actual travel times, check out our timetable . If you're traveling with a Eurail Pass you don't need to buy a ticket and only pay a small reservation fee. We recommend you book your seats as far in advance as possible.

Traveling by regional train

Taking a regional train from Vienna to Budapest means more travel time than by high-speed train. It also means you can stop along the way and discover some less-visited Hungarian towns, like Győr. If you're looking to get inspired, check out our blog entry on traveling between Vienna and Budapest.

If you have a Eurail Pass, you don't need to buy a ticket. You can travel on this train for free and get on and off whenever you like.

Eurail Passes

The Eurail Pass is a pass that lets you travel on nearly every train in Europe. It comes in all shapes and sizes, so you can pick the one that best fits your holiday plans.

Check out our Eurail Passes .

Change of currency

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.