Austria by Train
Trains - Tickets - Tours[rank_math_breadcrumb]
A Travel Guide For Train Travel In Austria.
Here you will find information for Austria about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.
Useful Information
Population: 8.82 million
Currency: Euro
Language: German
Capital: Vienna
Country Code: +43
Time Zone: Central European Time
Train Companies
Most of the country’s trains are operated by the Austrian rail company ÖBB; however, there is an abundance of smaller, private train operators around Austria. Some other well-known companies are listed below:
- Achenseebahn AG
- Optima Tours
- Westbahn
- Zillertalbahn
- Micotra
- Regiojet
- Raaberbahn
Copyright: RAILWAYHERO
Train Tickets
Buy your train tickets for Austria online on the official homepage of ÖBB.
Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.
Rail Passes
Interrail / Eurail Pass
Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.
TrAIN tYPES
The major rail network in Austria is composed of the following trains:
Regional Trains in Austria
S-Bahn (suburban trains) is a train network operating in larger cities.
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required, nor possible
Regional train (R) connects small towns and cities to one another.
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required, nor possible
Regional Express (REX) is a commuter train that quickly connects Vienna to the surrounding cities.
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required, nor possible
D train (D) operates as a supplementary train during rush hour on the line to and from Vienna.
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required, but possible: 3,50 €
- The trains are equipped with air-conditioning and power outlets.
Intercity (IC) connects major cities in Austria, such as Salzburg, Graz, and Vienna.
- 1st and 2nd Class offered
- No reservations required, but possible: 3,50 €
- Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, air-conditioning and a mini-bar service.
Railjet (RJ) are high-speed trains that are used on national and international routes. These trains connect Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and other countries with Austria.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), offering more legroom, Business Class is also offered. Purchase of a 1st Class ticket is required to be able to upgrade to the Business Class.
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- No reservations required, but optional:
- 2nd Class €4,50
- 1st Class €5,90
- Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
- Bicycles are allowed on trains; however, reservations for the bicycle are mandatory (online cost €3) and the bike needs an additional ticket.
WESTbahn offers fast trains that link Vienna to Salzburg
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required, but optional: €5
- Trains are equipped with power outlets, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with a self-service bistro.
International Trains in Austria
EuroCity (EC) trains connect Austria to Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia Austria, Germany, and Poland
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Reservations are not required, but optional
- Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi (on most services, for most of the journey), and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a restaurant car offering a range of hot foods and drinks, in addition to an in-seat refreshment service.
Intercity Express (ICE) connects Austria with cities in Germany.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2) or 6 seat compartments
- Reservations not required, but optional:
- 1st Class: 5,90 €
- 2nd Class: 4,50 €
- Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
Micotra trains run between Villach – Udines – Trieste.
- 2nd Class only
- Bicycle transport possible
Night Trains in Austria
Night trains run from Austria to France, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Poland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, and Switzerland.
ÖBB Nightjet:
Routes:
Graz – Zurich
Innsbruck – Düsseldorf
Innsbruck – Hamburg
Innsbruck – Brussels
Salzburg – Milan
Salzburg – Rome
Salzburg – Venice
Vienna – Berlin
Vienna – Bregenz
Vienna – Brussels
Vienna – Düsseldorf
Vienna – Hamburg
Vienna – Livorno
Vienna – Milan
Vienna – Rome
Vienna – Venice
Vienna – Zurich
Reservations are included in the ticket price
- Sleeping Carriage:
- Standard cabin includes your own bed, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
- Deluxe cabin includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
- Couchette Carriage:
- 4 berth and 6 berth couchette, as well as private compartments, are offered
- Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
- Breakfast is included in ticket price
- Sitting Carriage:
- 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
- Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
- Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages
Optima Express
Routes: Villach – Slovenia – Croatia – Serbia – Edirne, Turkey
- Reservations required
- Sitting/Sleeping Carriages:
- 2nd Class only, compartments of 6 seats which can be converted to 6 beds at night
- Toilets and a washbasin are located at the end of the car
- Most services have a dining car
- Vehicle transport possible
- The train runs from April to November and offers 2 – 6 trips per month, depending on the month.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Majestics Imperator
Achenseebahn
Zillertalbahn
Semmeringbahn
Reblausexpress
Prinzgauer Lokalbahn
Bregenzerwaldbahn
Night train Vienna to Bucharest
Routes
Frequent Travelled Routes In Austria
National
| From > To |
Duration (h) | Change | Trains |
| Vienna to Graz | 2:35 | Direct | RailJet |
| Vienna to Linz | 1:28 | Direct | RailJet, ICE |
| Vienna to Innsbruck | 4:34 | Direct | RailJet |
| Innsbruck to Salzburg | 1:48 | Direct | RailJet |
| Innsbruck to Villach | 4:26 | 1 | RailJet, EC |
| Salzburg to Hallstatt | 2:35 | 1 | RailJet |
| Graz to Klagenfurt | 3:34 | 2 | RailJet |
International
| From > To |
Duration (h) | Stops | Transport |
| Salzburg to Budapest, Hungary | 5:11 | Direct | Railjet Xpress |
| Graz to Zagreb, Croatia | 3:54 | Direct | EuroCity |
| Innsbruck to Zurich, Switzerland | 3:32 | Direct | Railjet Xpress |
| Innsbruck to Munich, Germany | 1:35 – 2:49 | 0-1 | EuroCity, RB |
| Vienna to Budapest, Hungary | 2:20 | Direct | EuroCity |
| Vienna to Prague, Czech Republic | 4:03 | Direct | Railjet |
| Vienna to Venice, Italy | 7:39 | Direct | Railjet |
| Vienna to Bratislava, Slovakia | 1:07 | Direct | RE |
| Villach to Istanbul, Turkey | 44:05 | 1 | Railjet, Bospor Express |
Austria travel routes
From Sea to Sea: Italy to Sweden
Train Tour Around Austria
Vienna – Bratislava – Budapest
Main Train Stations
- Vienna Hbf
- Innsbruck
- Salzburg
- Graz
- Klagenfurt
- Linz
- Villach
Good to know
Best Time To Travel To Austria
There is no horrible time to visit Austria; however, we recommend traveling anytime between April – June, and September – October because of it being the shoulder seasons. You will see fewer tourists and the weather is still great. During summertime, popular destinations see an increase in tourists as well as prices.
Austria is for foodies, classical music enthusiasts, and mountain appreciators alike. Any season of the year there are beautiful old cities to be discovered, opera concerts to be attended to, alps to be hiked (or skied) and Weiner Schnitzel to be eaten. Come around Christmas time for the markets or a folk music festival in the summer!
- High Season: June – August
- Low Season: November – February
Accommodation In Austria
Booking
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Hostelworld
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE
Guidebooks For Austria
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