train travel vienna

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Vienna Public Transport

Vienna has a well-developed public transport network. Buses, trains, trams and underground lines will take you almost anywhere in the city in no time at all. Vienna public transport Wiener Linien operates five underground lines, 29 tram and 127 bus lines, of which 24 are night lines. Night lines only operate between 0.30 am and 5 am. On weekends and public holidays the Vienna underground remains at the service of its passengers all night. The Wiener Linien vehicle fleet currently consists of over 500 tramcars and more than 450 buses. A single ticket costs EUR 2.40 .

Where to buy a ticket

• ticket machines at most underground stations
• points of advance sale (German)
• tobacconists also sell tickets
• on board the of the tram at an increased rate of EUR 2.60 per ticket
• Buy tickets online: Wiener Linien Online Shop

Apart from single tickets there are passes for longer periods of time. Passes are available for 24 hours and 72 hours, or as weekly, monthly or annual passes.

• Ticket Guide

How to validate your ticket

Tickets must be validated before boarding. To validate your ticket stamp the ticket at the blue machines located at the entrance of underground stations as well as on buses and trams. Tickets bought directly on the tram are automatically validated and need not be stamped again.

Where is a ticket valid

Vienna public transport is part of the Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region VOR (transport association for Austria's eastern regions) including parts of Lower Austria, the Burgenland and all of Vienna. The city of Vienna accounts for one full zone or core zone ( Kernzone or " Zone 100 "). A single ticket is valid for travelling one way in one zone. You may change to different lines in the course, but you may not interrupt your journey. Validated tickets can be used for all public transport (bus, tram, underground, train, Badner Bahn and most regional bus lines)

Timetable and plans

• Wiener Linien Timetable information
• Plans of underground lines, trams, busses (German)

Vienna City Map with Public Transport

Further information.

• Mobile Tickets

Taxi stands

If you need a ride you can either call a taxi or go to one of the many taxi stands all over Vienna. more

Vienna in Figures

14,986 metres is the length of Vienna's longest road, Höhenstraße. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

1,721 kilometres was the total length of Viennas cycle path network in 2022. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

11,370 tons of dirt and sand were swept and disposed of by Vienna's street cleaning fleet in 2022. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

11 metres is the length of Vienna's shortest street (Tethysgasse in the second district). Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

227.1 kilometres of tracks were part of Vienna's tramway network in 2022. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

4,414 bus stops were part of Vienna's public transport network in 2022. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

137,950 places were available for passengers on Vienna’s five underground lines in 2022. Source: City of Vienna Statistical Yearbook 2023

more statistics

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Public Transport in Vienna: Tickets, Prices, Tips & Transport Types

Guide to Vienna public transport, routes, city passes and possible tickets for locals and travelers in Vienna.

Which City Pass is worthwhile for Travelers in Vienna?

For travelers seeking to maximize their Vienna experience, a city pass is an exceptional choice. It grants you access to the city's key attractions and activities at discounted or even complimentary rates.

Additionally, city passes often provide extra advantages like unlimited access to hop-on hop-off buses or free usage of public transportation. By saving both your money and time, you can optimize your itinerary in Austria's magnificent capital.

Comparison Table for City Pass Options in Vienna

Here are our top two recommendations:

1. Vienna Pass 

The Vienna Pass is an all-inclusive ticket that grants you free entry to over 70 of Vienna's most renowned attractions, including the famous Schönbrunn Palace , the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, Schönbrunn Zoo and the Spanish Riding School . With the Vienna Pass, you'll also enjoy u nlimited access to convenient Hop-On/Hop-Off buses, ensuring seamless transportation between attractions. Say goodbye to waiting in long queues, as the pass offers "skip the line" admission at select sights.  Additionally, you'll receive enticing discounts and a handy guidebook filled with insider tips. You can choose from 1, 2, 3, or 6-day pass options . More details here.

2. Vienna City Card

Unlike the Vienna Pass, the Vienna City Card does not include free entry to Vienna's sights . Instead, it serves as the ultimate companion for public transportation, granting you unlimited access to the subway, streetcars, and buses within zone 100 in Vienna. With this city card, you can travel conveniently and flexibly throughout the city while saving money. Additionally, enjoy a wide range of discounts at museums , attractions, restaurants , concerts, theaters , and stores, enhancing the overall enjoyment of your stay. Choose from 24, 48, or 72-hour options and customize the card's validity period to suit your individual needs and plans. More details here.

• For more information and other Vienna city pass options, please refer to our comprehensive guide: Best City Pass for Vienna | Compare Prices & Included Activities.

How Does Public Transport in Vienna Work?

Local transport in Vienna consists of a network of S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses and trams.

Tickets can be purchased with the multilingual Wiener Linien ticket machines and in the Wiener Linien app. 

There are tariffs for 24, 48 and 72 hours, single journeys, day tickets and weekly tickets. A day ticket pays off after three single journeys.  For travelers, there is also the Vienna City Card as an option. 

Tickets must be validated before departure! 

Wiener Linien 

• U-Bahn: 5 underground lines run in Vienna. The network has a route length of 83 kilometers with a total of 109 stops. 
• S-Bahn: also called Schnellbahn, connects Vienna with the surrounding area
• Trams and Buses: 28 tram lines and 129 bus lines operate in Vienna every day.  

Rates:   A single journey costs €2.40. The ticket is valid in 1 direction, you can change trains as often as you like, but you cannot interrupt the journey. A day ticket costs €8.00.

A reduced fare applies to children up to 16 years of age. Children up to the age of 6 do not need a ticket. 

What Tickets Are There?

Here Is an Overview of the Most Important Tickets. 

• 1 Single Journey:  This ticket is valid until you reach your destination, journey only possible in 1 direction, you can change trains, but not interrupt.  The ticket costs €2.40
• 2 1 Day Vienna:  This ticket is valid until 01:00 a.m. the next day and is valid for all public transport in Vienna.  Any number of journeys and transfers are permitted. The ticket costs €5.80. 
• 3 Day Dicket:  These tickets are valid for 24 hours.  Any number of journeys is possible, you can change trains and interrupt the journey. The card is valid on all Vienna lines. A day ticket costs 8 euros.
• 4 CAT - City Airport Train: runs every half hour and runs directly from the airport to the city center to the Wien Mitte train station without stops. The journey costs twice as much as an S-Bahn ticket, but the CAT is twice as fast. The CAT takes around 16 minutes, the S7 around 30 minutes. Book your CAT transfer online in advance!

An additional overview is the current  Wiener Linien price list  with all special tariffs. Prices are usually raised annually on January 1st. 

Which Tickets Pay Off for Travelers?

City Cards, Tickets and Airport Transfers

Tours and Tickets

Special tickets.

Here is an overview of special tickets for public transport in Vienna. These include, for example, annual tickets, student tickets and senior citizen tickets. 

• 1 Monthly Ticket: The ticket is valid for all public transport in Vienna and costs €51
• 2 Annual Pass: Costs €365 for all Wiener Linien transport in the state of Vienna. An annual ticket including Lower Austria costs €730 and €1095 for all of Austria.
• 3 Vienna City Card:  The Vienna City Card offers free travel on public transport in Vienna and is available from EUR 17. Get your Vienna City Card here!
• 4 Reduced Tickets: These include youth tickets, senior tickets, semester tickets and tax-deductible company tickets.

You can find out more about the price of the individual tickets in the Wiener Linien price sheet .  It also contains an overview of tickets for sponsored groups of people. 

The Wiener Linien Network

The inner area of Vienna is served by bus, tram and subway, all important sights can be reached in this way.

An overview of the most important route networks can be found at Wienerlinien.at and Schnellbahn-wien.at .

Contact the Transport Company

• Wiener Linien: For subway, bus and tram. Call center: +43-(0)1 - 7090 100 / Website: Wienerlinien.at
• ÖBB: for the S-Bahn: call center: +43-(0)5 - 1717 / website: Schnellbahn-wien.at

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Where can I find the Wiener Linien timetable?

You can find the Wiener Linien timetable under the following link: Wiener Linien

Is there a day ticket in VIENNA?

Yes. There is a separate day ticket for travel on the underground, tram, S-Bahn and buses in Vienna. It pays off if you make three or more journeys on public transport in one day. 

Does VIENNA have its own ticket for tourists?

Yes. The Vienna City Card is a ticket for public transport in Vienna and a discount card for entry to many museums, sights and attractions in Vienna.

After how many trips does a day ticket pay off?

A day ticket pays off in Vienna from 3 single journeys at the standard tariff. 

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With the ÖBB rail schedule, you are always up-to-date.

Do you want to know when the next train will be departing on your everyday route? Or what the fastest way is for you to get from A to B? With the ÖBB rail schedule, you are always up-to-date.

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Long-distance travel in Austria

Find an overview of all the main long-distance routes

S-Bahn in Austria

26 S-Bahn-Lines for 385.000 passengers daily

Find train tickets to Vienna

Good to know, top tips for finding vienna train tickets.

• Looking for cheap train tickets to Vienna? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to Vienna for the following prices or less: From Budapest $32, from Prague $36, from Bratislava $38
• Vienna's most searched train station on KAYAK is Vienna Hauptbahnhof. It is located 2 miles from the city center.
• You will generally catch the best train deals if you travel to Vienna in the evening.

FAQs when traveling to Vienna by train

What is the most popular train station in vienna.

Vienna Hauptbahnhof and Vienna Meidling are the most searched stations in Vienna by KAYAK users.

Which train companies travel to Vienna?

ÖBB and Regiojet are popular train companies operating in Vienna.

How long is the train journey to Vienna from the closest popular cities?

Linz to Vienna - 1h 08m Prague to Vienna - 4h 00m Salzburg to Vienna - 2h 30m Budapest to Vienna - 2h 27m Graz to Vienna - 2h 29m Bratislava to Vienna - 0h 59m

Book train tickets to Vienna (round-trip)

Search by stops

Search by train company, book train tickets to vienna (one-way).

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12 city trips that are easy-to-reach from Vienna by train that you absolutely must do

Can’t get enough of the city life now that traveling is possible again, why not enjoy a quick trip to some other exotic urban setting we’ve put together a list of easy-to-reach cities you can visit just by hopping on the next train. these all make for a perfect (long) weekend getaway..

Here are 12 city trips that are easy to reach from Vienna by train in less than 6 hours:

Images via Unsplash

Budapest – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Budapest, Hungary

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Budapest-Keleti (around 2h 39min)

Obvious reasons why you should travel there: the giant and beautiful gothic style parliament building, take a dip at the Instagram-famous thermal Széchenyi Baths, to sit at the Danube somewhere other than Vienna, take in the views of the city from the Fisherman’s Bastion, to try the tasty Hungarian cuisine, to enjoy the rough but grand vibe of the city

Less obvious reasons: munch on a delicious langós with various toppings at the central market hall, to take a ship as public transport instead of the metro, partake in endless games of pinball at the Flipper Muzeum, spend rainy days at a former aristocrat’s mansion that was turned into Szabo Ervin Library, to spend a night at one of the very cool hidden open air ‘ruin bars’ located in the courtyard of buildings (like  Racskert ,  Szimpla Kert) , enjoy the view from the 360 Bar

Images © Graz Tourismus - Tom Lamm © Graz Tourismus - Harry Schiffer

Graz – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Graz, Austria

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Graz HBF (around 2h 35min)

Obvious reasons you should travel there:  catch some  scenic views from the Schlossberg and the clock tower, visit an artificial island on the river Mur that looks like a giant shell, admire the beautiful buildings in the old town, take hundreds of pics in front of the outlandish art-museum Kunsthaus Graz that looks like a human heart

Less obvious reasons: build-your-own lunch at one of many Bausatz Lokale in the city, walk through Schlossbergtunnel, take in some modern art in a religious building at church St. Andrä, slide down the largest underground slide in the world at ‘The Slide,’ eat your way through the daily market,  Kaiser-Josef-Platz Market

Munich – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Munich, Germany

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Munich HBF (around 4h)

Obvious reasons you should travel there: to drink  beer in the beer gardens (obvious, right?), visit the Hofbräuhaus , to eat Weißwurst for breakfast with a Wheat beer in a place where both is socially acceptable, to check out the town hall at Marienplatz aka. the city’s most favourite postcard-building, to explore the multiple periods of art in the Neue Pinakothek, to experience a car-lover’s dream in the BMW Museum, Munich’s former Olympics Venue at Olympiapark, spend time shopping and walking around the so-called ‘bohemian neighbourhood’ of the city, Schwabing

Less obvious reasons:  see  the devil’s footprint at Munich’s Frauenkirche, walk a hidden stairway that leads to nowhere called ‘Umschreibung’, the pavement memorial of the nazi-opposing student group White Rose, to explore the nearby alps on nature day trips out of the city, to indulge in some heavy and hearty Bavarian cuisine, to watch (or join in yourself) the people surfing on the one wave in a stream known as the Eisbachwelle, go for a walk in West Park or the English Gardens, spends some thinking time in the NS-Dokumentationzentrum , go for a swim in the Müller´sches Volksbad

Images via Pixabay

Nürnberg – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: NÜRNBERG in GERMANY

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Nuremberg HBF (around 4h 14min)

Obvious reasons why you should travel there: to explore the castle of Nuremberg, beautifully arranged fresh fruits and vegetables in the Hauptmarkt, see where renaissance-painter Albrecht Dürer lived and did his work

Less obvious reasons: Bratwurst at the last real “Bratwurstküche”, to let your inner kid loose in the Toy Museum, a medieval Holy-Spirit-Hospital turned restaurant, a rather grim interpretation of married life in the form of the fountain-sculpture Ehekarussel, the home of the city’s former executioner and some surprisingly beautiful views out his windows

Prague – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Prague, Czech Republic

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Praha hl.n. (around 4h)

Obvious reasons why you should travel there: to marvel at the   astronomical clock in the main square , for strolls across the Charles Bridge, to take a scenic route to the Prague Castle, for some very affordable Bohemian cuisine and local beer, for the buzzing nightlife (including the likes of Chapeau Rouge  , Roxy , Hemingway Bar ), to enjoy the romance of its medieval streets

Less obvious reasons: ice-cream filled chimney cake, a huge graffiti wall in honor of John Lennon, to dance the night away in the five-story club, Karlovy Lazne , for pickled cheese, relaxing at the Beer Spa (just please don’t drink the bath water)

Blick über die Salzburger Altstadt vom Mönchsberg Images: © Tourismus Salzburg, Fotos: Breitegger Günter

Sehenswürdigkeiten Salzburg, Blick vom Kapuzinerberg auf die Salzburger Altstadt und auf die Festung Hohensalzburg, Untersberg im Hintergrund

Sehenswürdigkeiten Salzburg, Blick über den Mirabellgarten auf die Salzburger Altstadt

Salzburg – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Salzburg, Austria

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Salzburg HBF (around 2h 30min)

Obvious reasons why you should travel there: to binge on the  original Mozartkugel chocolates to satisfy your sweet tooth, to check if the hills are actually alive with the sound of music, frolicking in a flower field between scenic mountain views, baroque architecture, to visit classical music’s most famous Wunderkind W.A. Mozart house, to catch impeccable views of the old town from the Kapuzinerberg, to explore the blissful nature surrounding the city, to climb up to the fortress and see the city from above, wandering through the narrow streets of the old town, do a kitschy skip in the idyllic setting of the Mirabell gardens

Less obvious reasons: beer with the locals at Augustiner Bräu , visit the stone dwarfs at the Zwerglgarten, five human-sized gherkins (unfortunately not edible), visit the Eagle’s Nest

Images: © Vienna Würstelstand

Bratislava – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Bratislava, Slovakia

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Bratislava (around 1h 7min)

Obvious reasons you should travel there:  it’s just a stone throw away from Vienna, cheap booze resulting in fun nights out, to check out the UFO bridge and enjoy the view up high in the Flying Saucer , the charming streets and squares to wander through

Less obvious reasons: enjoy Middle Europe’s renowned and very affordable cuisine, find out how closely connected the city is to Vienna, to go on a hunt throughout the city to find ALL the hidden human-sized bronze statues, listen to some music in an upside down pyramid or in a granary, lounge on the ‘Magio Beach’ on the Danube riverside, to get messy with the amazing racks of ribs in Meštiansky pivovar 

Images: via Pixabay & Vienna Würstelstand

Brno – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Brno, Czech Republic

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Brno main train station (around 2h 11min)

Obvious reasons you should travel there:  it’s very easy to reach from Wien, the cheap beer, the heartwarming bohemian comfort food, the mix of gorgeous Modernist and Medieval architecture

Less obvious reasons:  it’s undiscovered by tourists, there’s plenty of Instagram-worthy buildings and spots to take pictures at, to climb the highest church tower and have a grand view over the city, to enjoy a vibrant city during summer, to experience the hip cafe scene

Dresden – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Dresden, Germany

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Dresden (6h 40min)

Obvious reasons you should travel there: to visit one of the trendiest city’s to visit at the moment in Germany, to taste some quality German beer, to check out a historically important city that’s been rebuilt from scratch, to check out the halls of magnificent masterpieces by the old masters in the  Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister , visit the architecturally unique, Semperoper , to marvel at the plentiful architectural gems

Less obvious reasons: to really check out why it’s known as a living and breathing book of German history, to taste a glass of fine wine from the surrounding wine-growing region, to take a long stroll and check out the alternative scene of the city that tries its best to match Berlin’s vibe (and it’s doing a damn good job), for some serious bar-hopping

Images © Pixabay © Vienna Würstelstand

Innsbruck – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Innsbruck, Austria

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Innsbruck (4h 14min)

Obvious reasons you should travel there: to visit the Goldene Dachl and the Bergisel Ski Jump stadium , to get that priceless Alpine feeling, to experience some epic hikes around the city

Less obvious reasons: to take the Hungerburgbahn funicular railway and the Hafelekar cable car all the way up the 2,556 metres mountain for the breathtaking views over the region, to rent a bike and explore the city and its surroundings, to check out the hip café and foodie scene in the old town, to see Innsbruck’s version of their own unique Ampelpärchen aka. Ampelskier

Images via Pixabay & Unsplash

Košice – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Košice, Slovakia

How to get there: from Wien HBF to Košice (around 6h)

Obvious reasons you should travel there: to check out a former European Capital of Culture and enjoy some Central European charm

Less obvious reasons: to eat your way through town and try some Lokše (thin pancakes), or Bryndzové halušky (dumplings with sheep cheese – the national dish), to admire the historic buildings of the old town, to check out the nearby Spiš Castle which is the largest castle site in Central Europe

Linz – City trips from Vienna by train

Where: Linz, Upper Austria

How to get there: from Wien HBF, or Wien WBF to Linz HBF (1h 14min)

Obvious reasons why you should travel there: to check out the rich cultural scene, take the steep Pöstlingberg tram up the Pöstlingberg for the great view over the city, the stunning old town

Less obvious reasons: to eat the famous Linzertorte, to check out the Hip Hop capital of Austria, to check out the local club and somewhat underground party locations such as KAPU , Stadtwerkstatt , Exxtrablatt or Solaris , to enjoy the summer breeze next to the Danube in summer, to eat and dance at the cafés/bar/art and cultural space mix on the ship that is the Salonschiff Fräulein Florentine , check out the Ars Electronica Center

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      Vienna Hbf station guide

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Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets .  They answer all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or €35 point-to-point ticket?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

Which station in vienna.

Vienna Hauptbahnhof is Vienna's modern central station, opened in 2015.  All long-distance & international trains now use this station.  See Vienna Hbf station guide .

Vienna Meidling :  Many trains call at Vienna Meidling before or after calling at Vienna Hbf .  See station guide .

Vienna Westbahnhof is a terminus, once one of Vienna's major stations, now relegated to secondary status by Vienna Hbf.  It's now only served by regional trains & the privately-run Westbahn trains to Salzburg & Munich.  See station guide .

Vienna Franz Josefs Bahnhof is a small terminus for regional trains.  You're only likely to use it if heading for Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.  See station guide .

Vienna to Salzburg

Vienna to innsbruck, linz, graz & other destinations in austria.

You can buy Austrian Railways ÖBB tickets online at www.thetrainline.com which is quick, easy, international credit cards accepted and it has the advantage over oebb.at that it book both ÖBB and Westbahn trains on the Vienna - Linz - Salzburg route.  There's a small booking fee.

Vienna to Hallstatt

Option 1, Vienna to Hallstatt - the direct route

You can travel from Vienna Hbf to Hallstatt station in as little as 3h18 with one easy change at Attnang-Puchheim.  There's a departure at least every hour, fares start at only €19.90 if you pre-book, that's a cheap Sparschiene fare, specified train only, no refunds, no changes.

The train arrives at Hallstatt station (Hallstatt Bahnhof) on the east side of Halltstatt Lake (Hallstatter See) .  Hallstatt town is on the west side of the lake, so you need to take a small local ferry called the Stefanie from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt town, this sails shortly after most train arrivals and takes 15-20 minutes, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for the timetable.

Option 2, Vienna to Hallstatt via the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway - the scenic route

Railjet, Austria's premier train

Railjets link Vienna, Linz, Salzburg & Innsbruck, and Vienna & Graz, as well as running internationally from Vienna to Venice, Zurich, Prague, Budapest.

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Vienna to London

See the London to Austria page for times, fares & how to buy tickets , in either direction.

Vienna to Paris from €49.90

Option 1, Vienna to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train , 3 times a week - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and two ordinary seats cars.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

It's planned to increase frequency to daily from autumn 2024.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 2, Vienna to Paris in a single day - the high-speed daytime option

Leave Vienna Hbf at 09:13 every day, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (arrive 15:36, depart 16:56 by TGV Duplex ), arrive Paris Est 20:43.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 11:13 daily except Saturdays, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (arrive 17:36, depart 18:56 by ICE ), arrive Paris Est 22:52.

It's a day relaxing through the 3 different countries with a good book and a beer or glass of wine.  You travel from Vienna to Frankfurt by luxurious German ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then from Frankfurt to Paris at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on a German ICE3 train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, or a French double-deck TGV Duplex .  Book an upstairs seat for the best views on the TGV, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Suggested places for a beer or coffee between trains in Frankfurt .

Step 1, book a morning train from Vienna to Frankfurt at int.bahn.de and pay for that ticket.

Option 3, Vienna to Paris using the Vienna-Zurich Nightjet sleeper train - runs every day

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, several larger 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and several 3-berth compartments with washbasin.  It has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  Sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Tip:   If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with tea, coffee, soft drinks & free WiFi.

Buy tickets at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee, this keeps all your bookings together in one place) or using the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Option 4, Vienna to Paris with overnight stop in Zurich, via the Arlberg Pass - the scenic route, watch the video!

This is the leisurely scenic route from Vienna to Paris via the lovely Arlberg Pass between Austria & Switzerland, see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the video here .  This route takes longer, so is best done in 2 stages with an overnight stop in Zurich.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or using the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Crossing the Salzach at Salzburg :  View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the left hand side as the railjet crosses the river after leaving Salzburg Hbf .

Cutting across Germany :  From Salzburg to Kufstein the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here .  All fast Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even they spend an hour on German territory!  Such a train is called a Korridorzug .

Kufstein :  The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.

Above right, lunch is served.  In railjet first & business class, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

Mountains near Innsbruck .  The train calls briefly at Innsbruck Hbf .

River Inn :  Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Ötzal & Landeck.

Arlberg Pass :  Above, brooding skies over the Arlberg pass.  The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.

Arlberg Tunnel :  Between St Anton am Arlberg & Bludenz the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884.  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel .

Swiss lakes :  Between Sargans & Zurich the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Walensee and then the Zürichsee.

Vienna to Bordeaux , Toulouse, Lourdes, Brittany & northern France

Option 1, via Paris.  You can get to anywhere in France via Paris, although it usually means changing stations by taxi or metro .

The most time-effective way is to take the Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Paris, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est in the morning.  Buy tickets as shown in the Vienna-Paris section .

Or you can travel from Vienna to Paris by day & stay overnight.  Hotels near Paris Gare de l'Est with good reviews include the Libertel Gare de l'Est Français (opposite the station, 3-star);  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (350m from the station, 2-star), OKKO Hotels Paris Gare de l'Est (2-star).

Step 2, take an onward train from...

Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans, Tours, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, Lourdes, Brittany.

Paris Austerlitz to Orleans, Limoges, Brive, Cahors

Paris St Lazare to Rouen, Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg.

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

Buy tickets from Vienna to Paris as shown in the Vienna-Paris section above .

Buy tickets from Paris to any French city at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Vienna to Strasbourg

Option 1, Vienna to Strasbourg by daytime trains

Take a fast ICE-T from Vienna to Frankfurt and a double-deck TGV Duplex to Strasbourg.  There are two daily departures with 1 change:

Leave Vienna Hbf 06:49, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf , arrive Strasbourg 16:02.

Leave Vienna Hbf 09:13, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf , arrive Strasbourg 18:48.

Vienna to Regensburg (where we're going to split the booking) starts at 27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class.

Regensburg to Strasbourg starts at 39.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.

There are no through tickets from Vienna to Strasbourg, at least not at affordable advance-purchase prices, so split the booking.  Instead of splitting at Frankfurt, it's better to split the booking at Regensburg, as then you'll be on a through ticket Regensburg-Strasbourg and your connection in Frankfurt will be 100% legally protected by the CIV international conditions of carriage should there be a delay and missed connection.  Just common sense, really.

Step 1, go to the German Railways website int.bahn.de and book from Vienna to Regensburg on the departure you want, 06:51 (ICE 228) or 09:15 (ICE 28).

Step 2, still at int.bahn.de , now book from Regensburg to Strasbourg, leaving Regensburg on exactly the same train, ICE 228 leaving 10:32, or ICE 28 leaving 12:32.

Option 2, Vienna to Strasbourg by Nightjet sleeper train , 3 times a week - the time-effective option

Option 3, Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train , onward trains to Strasbourg

Book the Vienna-Zurich sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket.

Book from Zurich to Strasbourg at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or at www.raileurope.com or at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch .  Booking opens 60 days ahead for Swiss trains, up to 4 months ahead for French TER trains.  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Lyon, Avignon, Aix, Marseille

Option 1, Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train, Swiss train to Geneva, regional train to Lyon

Book the Vienna-Zurich sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Book Zurich to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch .  Booking opens 60 days ahead for Swiss trains, up to 4 months ahead for French TER trains.  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Nice , Antibes, Cannes, Monte-Carlo

Option 1, Vienna to Monaco, Nice & Cannes using the Vienna-Milan/Genoa sleeper, then a scenic coastal ride

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Fares start at €59.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €69.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket.

When travelling via Milan, transfer from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Milan Centrale by taxi (€6, 10 minutes) or walk (25 minutes) or local train .

This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia.  There's a refreshment trolley.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

The fare is €9.20, promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com .

Option 2, Vienna to Monaco, Nice & Cannes with overnight stop in Verona - the scenic route, mountains & coastline

It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo.  If you'd like a morning in Verona, a 13:02 departure from Verona to France is also available, see the timetable on the Nice to Italy by train page .

Fares start at €38.90 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com .  You can also book at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Option 3, Vienna to Monaco, Nice & Cannes with overnight stop in Venice

Or take the earlier railjet leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:25 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:05 and spend an afternoon in Venice.

The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the lovely UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Villach , a real treat.

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo.  If you prefer, an earlier 07:18 departure from Verona to the South of France is also available, see the timetable on the Nice to Italy page .

The fare is a fixed-price €8, though promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com , keeping all your bookings in one place, or book this ticket at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Vienna to Brussels & Bruges from €59.90

Option 1, Vienna to Brussels by direct Nightjet sleeper train on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays - safe, comfortable, time-effective

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Tip:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own tickets.  Child under 6?  See here .

Option 2, Vienna to Brussels using the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train - on days when the direct Vienna-Brussels sleeper isn't running

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Buy tickets for this Nightjet sleeper train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (on €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own tickets.

Option 3, Vienna to Brussels in a single day - the daytime option

Leave Vienna Hbf at 06:49, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf , arrive Brussels Midi 17:35,

Leave Vienna Hbf at 09:13, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf , arrive Brussels Midi 19:35.

Tip:   Look for journeys with just 1 change.  If you click Stopovers , enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with a length of stay of 20 minutes, this should then show the 1-change options via Frankfurt with few irrelevant multi-change options.

Stopover in Nuremberg or Cologne?

Vienna to Amsterdam from €49.90

Option 1, Vienna to Amsterdam by direct Nightjet sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Tip:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf , with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

Option 2, Vienna to Amsterdam in a day - the high-speed daytime option

Leave Vienna Hbf 09:13, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf , arriving Amsterdam Centraal 20:29.

Vienna to Luxembourg

Option 1, Vienna to Luxembourg using the Vienna-Koblenz sleeper - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Vienna to Koblenz by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:38 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving in Koblenz at 05:45 next morning.  This train is expected to become daily from Autumn 2024.

Step 2, travel from Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train, leaving Koblenz at 06:03 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Luxembourg 08:23

On Sundays (or if the sleeper is late), leave Koblenz 07:06, change at Trier, arrive Luxembourg 09:23.

The line from Koblenz to Luxembourg is very scenic, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards.  For the best river views, sit on the left hand side when going west from Koblenz (the train leaves Koblenz station heading north before turning west).

The fare is €31.50 in 2nd class or €53.40 in 1st class, fixed price, always available.

Buy this ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Option 2, Vienna to Luxembourg by daytime trains

You can travel from Vienna to Luxembourg in a single day with just 1 change at Koblenz - these are the ones to go for:

Leave Vienna Hbf at 09:13, change at Koblenz Hbf, arrive Luxembourg 20:23.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 11:13, change at Koblenz Hbf, arrive Luxembourg 21:29.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 13:13, change at Koblenz Hbf, arrive Luxembourg 00:34.

You travel from Vienna to Koblenz by superb ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

This train travels along the Rhine Valley from Mainz to Koblenz, past vineyards, river boats, castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, it's worth making sure you do this bit in daylight.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page .

You then travel on a CFL (Luxembourg Railways) double-deck regional train from Koblenz to Luxembourg, along the Moselle valley which is also a scenic ride at least in summer when it's light, see the photos above.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

These fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Vienna to Zurich , Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €39.90

Option 1, Vienna to Switzerland by daytime train - the direct route through the beautiful Arlberg Pass

These railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, treat this as a chill-out day, especially if you splurge on business class, a real treat.  Railjets travel at up to 230 km/h (143 mph) on new sections of line, and at lower speed on the classic lines, which account for the vast majority of this route.  They call at Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck , then travel through the Arlberg pass, clipping a corner of Lichtenstein before running alongside the Walensee & Zürichsee lakes into Zurich.  The Arlberg offers some superb scenery, watch the Arlberg Pass video & see the Arlberg Railway page .  It's worth checking sunset times for your date of travel and making sure you do the Innsbruck-Zurich bit in daylight.

Option 2, Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train - the comfortable & time-effective option that saves a hotel bill

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, four larger 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and several 3-berth compartments with washbasin.  It has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  Sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Change in Zurich for destinations all over Switzerland.

Tip:   In the search results you'll see a second sleeper train leaving Vienna around 23:25 and also arriving 08:20.  This is the Hungarian EuroNight (EN) sleeper train from Budapest to Zurich which gets combined with the Vienna-Zurich Nightjet (NJ) in Salzburg.  By all means take this if you need to be in Vienna until late, but otherwise I'd stick with the Austrian Nightjet leaving 21:39 as this has higher quality cars, the option of deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet & a better breakfast.

Vienna to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy from €29

Option 1, Vienna to Italy by nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option

These comfortable Austrian Nightjet trains have one or two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars , each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The trains have couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Tip:   You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz .  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj .

Tip:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.

Option 2, Vienna to Italy via Venice - a scenic route over the wonderful Semmering railway

Step 1, two smart Austrian  railjet trains link Vienna with Venice every day:

The morning railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 06:24 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 14:05.

The afternoon railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:24 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 20:05.

These smart modern railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They travel via the UNESCO-listed Semmering railway through the mountains , a real treat.  More about the journey from Vienna to Venice .

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Step 2, travel from Venice to Florence, Rome or Naples by Frecciarossa .  If you take the morning railjet from Vienna, you can leave Venice Santa Lucia 15:26 arriving Florence SMN 17:39, Rome 19:25 & Naples Centrale 20:48.  If you take the afternoon railjet, stay overnight in Venice and continue next morning.

These high-speed Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Tip:   You can arrive an hour earlier by changing at Venice Mestre on the mainland, but I wouldn't risk any tight connections on separate tickets and I couldn't pass through Venice without at least a glimpse of the Grand Canal outside Venice Santa Lucia .  In fact, I'd be tempted to book the later 16:26, 17:26 or 18:26 Frecciarossa and have a quick scoot to the Rialto Bridge & Piazza San Marco between trains.

Venice to Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 1st class.

Venice to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at [email protected] afterwards) or Italian Railways' own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names, read this advice on using it first ).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead .  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Option 3, Vienna to Italy via the Brenner Pass - another scenic route

Leave Vienna Hbf at 06:28, change Innsbruck Hbf , arriving Verona Porta Nuova 14:58 & Bologna Centrale 16:19.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 08:28, change Innsbruck Hbf , arriving Verona Porta Nuova 16:58 & Venice Santa Lucia 18:25.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 10:28, change Innsbruck Hbf , arriving Verona Porta Nuova 18:58 & Bologna Centrale 20:16.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 12:28, change Innsbruck Hbf , arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:56.

You travel west from Vienna to Innsbruck by fast railjet train , then south by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the Brenner Pass to Verona.  One or two trains a day continue to Bologna, one or two a day to Venice.

Step 2, take an onward Frecciarossa from in Verona (or on the 1st & 3rd train of the day, from Bologna) to Florence, Rome & Naples.

If you left Vienna Hbf at 06:28:  Leave Bologna Centrale at 17:27, arriving Florence SMN 18:04, Rome Termini 19:49, Naples Centrale 21:13.

Vienna to Verona, Bologna or Venice starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 1st class.

Verona to Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 1st class.

Verona to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 1st class.

First try booking from Vienna to your Italian destination all in one go at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

Booking for the Austrian trains opens up to 6 months ahead , booking for Italian trains opens up to 4 months ahead , but can vary.

For Austrian trains, you print your own ticket, the Italian trains are ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Vienna to Trieste

Option 1, Vienna to Trieste by EuroCity train

A EuroCity train called the Emona leaves Vienna Hbf at 07:58 every day, arriving Trieste Centrale at 17:16.

The Emona has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian 1st & 2nd class cars, 1st class is open-plan seating, 2nd class offers a choice of open-plan saloon seating or classic 6-seat compartments.  An excellent Slovenian restaurant car (cash only) & Slovenian seats cars are attached between Vienna and Ljubljana.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

It's a lovely scenic ride.  South of Vienna the train travels over the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway , a real treat, with more great scenery across the border in Slovenia along the beautiful River Sava.  Between Ljubljana & Trieste you'll discover where Prosecco comes from as you pass through Prosecco station, closed to passengers since 2012, see the photo & account of the journey on the Ljubljana-Trieste page .  And in my opinion, Trieste is one of Italy's most under-rated cities, along with Turin.

Option 2, Vienna to Trieste using the Vienna-Venice sleeper train

Vienna to Sicily

Option 1, Vienna to Sicily using the Vienna-Rome sleeper

Option 2, Vienna to Sicily by daytime trains with overnight stop in Rome

Vienna to Barcelona , Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Vienna to Barcelona & Spain via Zurich & Paris - the most time-effective option

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey - I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views. More about the Paris-Barcelona journey .

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the station .

Day 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to any Spanish destination next morning by high-speed train.  Check times & book at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com .  Booking opens 60 days ahead , but this varies as Renfe loads blocks of dates at a time.

For Madrid:   AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35, check times at www.raileurope.com .

For Granada:   Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

For Malaga:   Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

For Cordoba & Seville:   Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

For Valencia & Alicante:   EuroMed trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48.  Fares from €23.

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo , there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here .

Option 2, Vienna to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva

The TGV Duplex passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more about the journey .

Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead .  You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba, Seville, Valencia or Alicante and so on by high-speed train.

A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station.  Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it ) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).  You print your own ticket.

Booking normally opens 60 days ahead , but this varies greatly.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.

Vienna to San Sebastian

Option 1, Vienna to San Sebastian using the Vienna-Zurich sleeper - the most time-effective option

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Day 2, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes.

Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  You can check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus .  More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey .

Option 2, Vienna to San Sebastian with overnight stop in Paris

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey .

Vienna to Lisbon & Portugal

Option 1, Vienna to Lisbon via Paris

Stay overnight in Paris .  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon .

Option 2, Vienna to Faro & the Algarve using a bus from Seville

Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  Other suggested hotels near the station .

Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com .  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Andorra

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Vienna to Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Cologne & Germany from €27.90

Option 1, Vienna to anywhere in Germany by ICE  - the daytime option

Every hour or two, a luxurious German ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf for Regensburg, Nuremberg & Germany

Leave Vienna Hbf 06:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf .

Leave Vienna Hbf 07:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

Leave Vienna Hbf 09:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

Leave Vienna Hbf 10:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf .

Leave Vienna Hbf 11:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

Leave Vienna Hbf 13:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Hannover & Hamburg Hbf .

Leave Vienna Hbf 15:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

Leave Vienna Hbf 17:13 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf .

Change at Nuremberg or Frankfurt for destinations all over Germany. 

ICE trains are a pleasure to travel on, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains .

Enjoy the scenic ride along the Rhine Valley if going to Koblenz, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Dortmund.

Fares from Vienna to Germany start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

You can book from Vienna to anywhere in Germany for an inclusive price.

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train - the comfortable overnight option

There are excellent Nightjet sleeper trains from Vienna to Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hannover, Hamburg & Berlin.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 19:38 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (expected to be daily from October 2024), Koblenz 05:45, Cologne Hbf 06:58.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Cologne Messe-Deutz 06:53 & Düsseldorf 07:23 en route to Amsterdam.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hannover 06:49 & Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:15.

Tip:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf , with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

Vienna to Berlin from €37.90

Option 1, Vienna to Berlin by ICE train - the daytime option

Stopover in Nuremberg?

In Nuremberg you'll find a pleasant old town, a railway museum and of course the thought-provoking Party Rally Grounds (take tram 9 from outside Nuremberg Hbf, it's well worth the trip).

Option 2, Vienna to Berlin by railjet train departing 13:10 - another comfortable daytime option

A swish railjet train called the Vindobona leaves Vienna Hbf at 13:10 every day, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:54.

Update:   This train won't run from 10 December 2023 until 19 March 2024, due to trackwork on the Berlin-Prague line.

This modern Czech railjet train has 2nd class, 1st class, business class (premium 1st class, just 6 luxurious seats at one end of the train) and a restaurant car.  There's free WiFi & power sockets at all seats.  In 1st & business class a steward takes food orders from the restaurant menu and serves them at your seat.

Although it takes a bit longer than the direct ICE train in option 1, this train is routed via Prague & Dresden, and in summer when it's light the scenery along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden more than makes up for that, see the scenery photos & video for the Prague to Berlin part of the journey .

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class or €84.90 in business class (premium 1st).

Option 3, Vienna to Berlin by nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective overnight option

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 4, Vienna to Berlin by day trains with overnight stop in Prague from €37.90

Vienna to Hamburg

Option 1, Vienna to Hamburg by daytime train:

Three direct ICE trains now link Vienna & Hamburg every day.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 06:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 16:00.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 10:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 13:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:55.

ICE trains are a pleasure to travel on, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch and an Erdinger Weissbier in the restaurant car - in 1st class class a steward takes orders and serves you at your seat.  More about ICE trains .

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

Option 2, Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper

From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation .  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in the sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

Fares start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Vienna to Munich from €27.90

Option 1, Vienna to Munich by railjet train - the most frequent & fastest option

Option 2, Vienna to Munich by Westbahn - up to 6 per day, cheaper at short notice, great double-deck trains

In April 2022, private operator Westbahn started operating up to 6 daily trains from Vienna Westbahnhof to Munich Hbf .

Their swish modern double-deck trains compete with the ÖBB's railjet trains, with 1st class, comfort class and standard class.  There are power sockets at seats & free WiFi.  There's no restaurant car, but self-service areas have vending machines for tea & coffee and snacks.  In WESTbahn first class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.

Advance-purchase fares start at €23.99 if you book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com , this shows both railjets and Westbahn trains.

Option 3, Vienna to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective option

The daytime journey only takes 4 hours so most people travel by day.  But to save both daytime hours and a hotel bill, there's also a sleeper although even by night it only takes 7 hours.

The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Vienna Hbf at 23:28 and arrives Munich Ost at 05:50.

This is a Hungarian sleeper train en route from Budapest to Munich, it has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  See the Hungarian sleeping-car video & see photos of the sleeper & couchettes on this train in the Budapest to Munich section .

Fares start at €49.90 with couchette in 6-berth, €59.90 with couchette in 4-berth, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or €129.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Vienna to Passau

Many river cruises start from Passau in Germany, just over the border from Austria.

Superb German ICE-T trains run from Vienna Hbf to Passau Hbf in around 2h16 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Vienna to Copenhagen , Gothenburg & Stockholm

Option 1, Vienna to Copenhagen in a single day.  Overnight stop, on to Gothenburg & Stockholm next day.

The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Fares & booking are shown in step 2.

Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train , leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:53 & arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.

Fares from Vienna to Copenhagen start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Book from Vienna to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Stay overnight in Copenhagen .  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here .  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel , First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

Option 2, Vienna to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss.  Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near Hamburg Hbf .

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Book tickets at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se .

Option 3, Vienna to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm with an overnight stop in Hamburg

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by ICE train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 13:13 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:55. 

This comfortable ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you like for a leisurely evening in Hamburg.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train , leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.

If you're only going as far as Copenhagen , book from Hamburg to Copenhagen from €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Tip:   If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, it can be cheaper to book from Vienna to Copenhagen as one transaction, clicking Stopovers , entering Hamburg Hbf with length of stay 11 hours.

Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train , these run every 20-30 minutes, taking 39 minutes.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö as one transaction at int.bahn.de .

For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central by Öresund train , these run every hour, journey time 3h50.  Book from Hamburg to Gothenburg as one transaction at int.bahn.de , Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.

Book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €56.90 at int.bahn.de , looking for the morning departure with 1 change marked EC, X2 (X2000s are shown as X2 on bahn.de).

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train .  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey .

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo .  Larger photo .

Option 4, Vienna to Copenhagen by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:20, change at Hamburg Hbf , arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

Or there's a later departure leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21, change at Hamburg Hbf , arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

How much does it cost? 

Vienna to Munich starts at €27.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class.

Option 5, Vienna to Copenhagen & Malmö using the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper train

From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos .  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg , travel from Copenhagen to Malmö or Gothenburg by Öresund train , these run several times each hour to Malmö taking 39 minutes, and once an hour to Gothenburg taking 3h50.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg as one transaction at int.bahn.de (Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central).

Step 1, Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train .  Above, a new generation Nightjet ready to leave.  More about new-generation Nightjets .

Vienna to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Vienna to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen

Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train , leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:53 & arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.

Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets .

Option 3, Vienna to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train :

Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:34.  Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central at 18:20.

The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey .  The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Tip:   If you're clever, you may be able to book a through ticket all the way from Vienna to Gothenburg using int.bahn.de .  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the departure from Brussels you want and the 08:50 departure from Hamburg next morning.

Tip:   If you don't see any affordable fares (which may be the case if you want 1st class), split the booking:  First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de .  Then buy a ticket from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se .

Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 23:47.

Option 3, Vienna to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo

Money-saving tip:   It's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164.  You'll need to use Google Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated .

Step 1, Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train & regional train to Kiel.  Above, a new generation Nightjet.  More about new-generation Nightjets .

Vienna to Helsinki

Option 1, Vienna to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51 (times may vary).

Day 1, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, see the Hamburg page for full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing .

Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Munich).

Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com .

Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi .

Option 2, Vienna to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

Step 1, travel from Vienna to Stockholm as shown above .

Vienna to Prague from €14.90

Option 1, Vienna to Prague by railjet

Option 2, Vienna to Prague by competing RegioJet train

Vienna to Český Krumlov from €12

The Austrian regional express (REX) train from Vienna to České Velenice is a comfortable City Shuttle train using ÖBB's double-deck air-conditioned Weasel trains .  2nd class only, sit upstairs for the best views!

At České Velenice you simply get off and walk a few metres across the same platform to the waiting Czech regional train for České Budejovice.  If the Austrian train is a few minutes late the Czech train will wait for it.

The Czech train from České Velenice to České Budejovice is also 2nd class only, modern & air-conditioned.  Both Austrian & Czech trains have plenty of luggage space & toilets.  Bring your own food & drink.

If you're happy to commit to a specific departure, advance-purchase fares from Vienna to Ceský Krumlov start at €12.

If you want to stay flexible, a Standard-Ticket (Local Trains in Czech Republic) from Vienna to Ceské Budejovice costs around €38.10, good for any train on this route that day, unlimited availability so it cannot sell out.  You need to pay separately for the GWTR local train from Ceské Budejovice to Ceský Krumlov, this costs 40 Koruna (€1.55), bought from the GWTR kiosk in the main hall at Ceské Budejovice station or on board the train.

How to buy tickets - if you want the cheapest price

If you are happy committing to a specific departure, go to the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Search for Vienna to Ceský Krumlov.  Booking opens 3 months ahead .  In the results, look for journeys via České Velenice & České Budejovice.

You'll also see journeys from Vienna Hbf via Linz (Donau) & Ceské Budejovice, this is a longer way round but the trains are faster so it only takes a little longer.  The trains have 1st class on this route.  However, it's less frequent and more expensive, so I'd stick with the direct route via České Velenice unless the main Vienna Hbf is significantly more convenient for where you're staying.

You'll see prices in a green button.  If you are happy committing to a specific departure, click one of those.  You'll get a First Minute advance-purchase fare for the Vienna-České Budejovice trains plus a OneTicket fare to cover the GWTR local train between České Budejovice & Ceský Krumlov, all booked as one easy transaction.

You can also buy flexible full-price tickets at www.cd.cz , these are called International ticket , good for any train that day.  But this is over €50, for flexible tickets it's cheaper to use www.oebb.at as I'll explain now:

How to buy tickets - if you want to stay flexible

If you want to remain flexible and not commit to a specific departure and/or want to buy on the day, go to the Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and run an enquiry from Vienna (just plain Vienna ) to Ceský Krumlov.

In the search results, look for journeys from Vienna Franz Josefs Bahnhof with 2 changes marked REX, Os and then a greyed out train symbol.  It'll specify via Ceské Velenice and Ceské Budejovice underneath.

Oebb.at will show fares including advance-purchase Sparschiene tickets, but it will say Ticket for section only because ÖBB can't sell tickets for the GWTR local train from Ceské Budejovice to Ceský Krumlov.  The fares shown are only for Vienna to Ceské Budejovice.

Click on the Sparschiene fare and other fares appear.  To remain flexible, select Standard-Ticket (Local Trains in Czech Republic) for around €36 .  You can either carry on and buy this online or buy it at the station on the day, fixed-price, it cannot sell out.

Vienna to Brno from €7

Vienna to ostrava.

Several times a day, direct EuroCity trains link Vienna Hbf with Ostrava, journey time 2h50.

Check times at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

The final destination of these trains is usually Warsaw, carriages are usually supplied by Polish Railways, comfortable and air-conditioned, and there's usually a restaurant car and power sockets at seats.  You can see the train formation, on-board facilities and photos if you go to www.vagonweb.cz and search for the train number once you have found that at www.oebb.at .

Fares start at €19.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

Book at the www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (where booking usually opens 90 days ahead).  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Bratislava for €11.60

Regional express trains link Vienna Hbf with Bratislava Hlavna every hour in 1h09, see the Vienna to Bratislava page .

Important:  If travelling between 4 March & 14 December 2024, see the update here .

Vienna to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice

This excellent air-conditioned Slovakian Intercity train has a Slovakian restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk .

Booking opens 60 days ahead .  Switch it to English by clicking EN top right.  It's a little fiddly, but it works.  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Budapest from €9

Advance-purchase Sparschiene fares start at €19.90.

Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest from €58

Option 1, Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest by Dacia Express sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective & scenic

The Dacia Express leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:42 arriving in Simeria 07:10, Sighisoara 09:13, Braşov 12:36, Ploeşti 14:28 & Bucharest Nord 15:06.

It has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

A Hungarian restaurant car is attached in the evening, treat yourself to dinner with wine.  A Romanian bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 10:47. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

Booking normally opens 90 days ahead .  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it (booking may not have opened yet), but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.

You can also book this train in either direction at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro .

Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 60 days ahead .  For Vienna type Wien , for Bucharest type Bucuresti.   It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. 

Tip:   Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

Option 2, Vienna to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest - a good alternative

Step 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti 17:19.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car.  By all means take an earlier train and spend a day or an afternoon exploring Budapest.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class, €44.90 in business class (premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead.

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train , leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Brasov 08:50, Bucharest Gara de Nord 11:30.

This comfortable sleeper train is called the Ister , the ancient name for the river Danube.  It has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine, although a bistro-bar is usually attached within Romania.  Enjoy the alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Bucharest.

Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu , see my advice on using it .

For Bucharest type Bucuresti .  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.  Tip:   If it won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, book 3 tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy.

Option 3, Vienna to Romania with an overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet , leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant afternoon or evening in Budapest.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Stay overnight in Budapest .  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel , the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel , 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station .  More hotels in Budapest .

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Transylvania & Bucharest by daytime train.

A comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train called the Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:10 and arrives Bucharest Nord at 00:31. 

Another InterCity train leaves Budapest Keleti at 09:10 via Simeria & Sibiu arriving Brasov 22:42.

Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or €40.50 in 1st class.

These are advance-purchase fares with limited availability.

Book these trains at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu , see my advice on using it . 

Booking opens 60 days ahead .  You show the ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro .  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead .  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.   You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Vienna to Bled, Ljubljana & Slovenia

Option 1, by direct EuroCity train Emona

Fares start at €23.30 in 2nd class or €32.60 in 1st class.

Option 2, Vienna to Bled & Ljubljana with a change of train

Leave Vienna Hbf at 08:24, change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 13:50 & Ljubljana 14:31.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 10:24, change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 15:48 & Ljubljana 16:58.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 12:24, change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 17:50 & Ljubljana 18:32.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 14:24, change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 19:50 & Ljubljana 20:34.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 16:24, change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 21:47 & Ljubljana 22:38.

Vienna to Zagreb , Split, Dubrovnik & Croatia

Option 1, Vienna to Zagreb & Croatia, every day all year round

Other departures are available:

Leave Vienna Hbf at 08:24, change at Villach, arriving Zagreb 17:10.

Leave Vienna Hbf at 12:24, change at Villach, arriving Zagreb 20:45. 

These trains also take the UNESCO-listed Semmering route .

Fares start at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

For Split , stay overnight in Zagreb and take a train from Zagreb to Split next day, a lovely scenic ride.

The fare is only around €20 in 2nd class.  See the Trains from Zagreb page for details .

Buy tickets at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr , though it's not usually a problem to get places on the day.

For Dubrovnik , take a train to Split then a bus from Split to Dubrovnik.  Buses leave every hour or even every half hour from Split bus station taking between 3h45 and 4h35 to Dubrovnik bus station.  There are various operators, the fare is between €13 & €17.  Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.

Suggested hotels in Zagreb & Split .

Option 2, Vienna to Split by direct sleeper train (for bus to Dubrovnik), 3 times per week in summer - recommended

A EuroNight sleeper train links Vienna with Split 3 times a week in summer.

It runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays from 3 May to 2 October 2024.

It leaves Vienna Hbf at 18:05 and arrives in Split at 08:10 next morning.

The train starts its journey in Bratislava, with three comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Slovakian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  You can see details of train formation & carriages if you go to www.vagonweb.cz switch it to English, click train formations and search for train number EN 1153.

Fares start at €29.90 in a seat, €49 in a couchette, €79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, €149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.

Book at either www.thetrainline.com (easy, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, international credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead , you print your own ticket.

For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split .  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

Option 3, Vienna to Split using the Budapest-Split sleeper train Adria , 3 times per week in summer - if option 2 is fully-booked or expensive

Step 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 13:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Split by sleeper train Adria.

The Adria runs on Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays from 18 June to 30 September 2024.

It leaves Budapest Keleti at 18:45 and arrives in Split at 08:46 next morning.

The Adria is a pleasure to travel on.  It has two comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-cars (with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin) and three or four couchette cars with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  There are no seats cars.

It has a Hungarian restaurant car serving dinner and breakfast - start your day in Croatia with a cooked breakfast of ham & eggs!  The restaurant car usually used on this train is an older wood-panelled type which used to be part of the Hungarian governmental train, see the photo below.

Fares start from €49 with couchette in 6-berth, €59 with couchette in 4-berth, €64 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €79 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €119 in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

You can book it at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu , see my advice for using it .  Booking opens 60 days ahead .

Option 4, Vienna to Croatia using the Regiojet sleeper from Bratislava to Rijeka - summer only, 3 per week

Step 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna by regional train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:16 and Bratislava Hlavna at 20:23.

By all means travel earlier and have dinner in Bratislava, these trains leave every hour at xx:17 minutes past each hour, journey time 1h09.  See the Vienna to Bratislava page .  Transfer to Bratislava Nove Mesto by local train or taxi.

Step 2, travel from Bratislava to Rijeka by Regiojet sleeper train, 3 times a week from 16 June to 30 September 2023.  2024 dates to be confirmed.

It leaves Bratislava Nove Mesto (4km from Bratislava Hlavna ) at 21:26 on Tuesday, Friday & Sunday, arriving Rijeka at 10:40 next morning.

This excellent train has 4-berth couchettes & seats.  The couchette fare includes all necessary bedding and a light breakfast.   There's excellent on-board at-seat service from an extensive menu, with complimentary bottled water and excellent Illy coffee.  There's free WiFi.

Open-access operator Regiojet introduced this train in 2020 and it was the surprise runaway success of that year, with every 500-seat train averaging 90% occupancy and carrying tens of thousands of passengers on holiday.  It came back for summers 2021 & 2022, expanded to serve Zagreb, Rijeka and Split, with bus connections to other resorts along the Croatian and Montenegrin coast.  It's back again in 2023, but without a portion for Split.

The fare is €22.90 in a seat or €29.90 with a couchette in a shared 4-berth compartment, or €89.60 for sole occupancy of a private couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people.

Buy an e-ticket online at www.regiojet.com .  Booking is a breeze, it even allows you to choose your exact place from a carriage plan.

Vienna to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, Vienna to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb

This is a round-about route, but the direct Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade route is currently blocked for several years by major track rebuilding.

Step 1, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train Croatia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving Zagreb at 22:20.

The Croatia has a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine so treat yourself to dinner, and at least in summer enjoy the fabulous scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz .

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Zagreb .  There are good hotels just a stone's throw from the station, I suggest the historic Esplanade Hotel , the Palace Hotel or Central Hotel , all near the station with good reviews.

Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2024.

This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

Option 2, Vienna to Belgrade with overnight stop in Budapest - slower, but by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Budapest Keleti in 2h40 on any train you like, see the timetable here .

Transfer by taxi, tram or metro to Budapest Nyugati .

Stay overnight in Budapest .  The highly-recommended 3-star  T62 Hotel is across the road from Budapest Nyugati and a traveller's favourite.  The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is few minutes walk away.  The 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is one block away.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade as shown on the Budapest-Belgrade page .

You leave Budapest Nyugati at 05:50, change at Szeged, Subotica & Novi Sad, arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:27.

All direct Budapest-Belgrade mainline trains remain suspended until at least 2025 while the line is modernised for 200 km/h operation.  However, in 2024 it's possible for the determined traveller to reach Belgrade on local trains via this somewhat round-about route.  It's a long but interesting journey, with time for lunch in Subotica.

Serbian local train of the type used between Szeged & Subotica and Subotica & Novi Sad.  They are air-conditioned, 2nd class only, with toilets.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels , DiscoverByRail.com .

Vienna to Sofia

Option 1, Vienna to Sofia via Bucharest

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.

The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en .  You print your own ticket.

The fare is around €34.

Option 2, Vienna to Sofia via Belgrade

Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.

Vienna to Warsaw from €42.90

Option 1, Vienna to Warsaw by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option

The EuroCity Sobieski leaves Vienna Hbf at 06:10 and arrives Warsaw Gdanska at 13:45.

The EuroCity Polonia leaves Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 21:34.

Option 2, Vienna to Warsaw by sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective

Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually.  Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 3, Vienna to Warsaw using the Bratislava-Warsaw sleeper - often cheaper than option 2 and you get to bed earlier!

These regional express trains run every hour, why not leave earlier and have dinner in Bratislava?  More about Bratislava to Vienna trains .

The fare is €11.60, fixed-price, unlimited availability.

Buy at the station on the day or at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at .

Booked via Czech Railways, the base fare is around €74, plus one of the following supplements:  Couchette in 6-berth €14, couchette in 4-berth €21, bed in 3-berth sleeper €24, bed in 2-berth sleeper €34, bed in single-berth sleeper €72.

Buy tickets at the CD (Czech Railways) website www.cd.cz .

Vienna to Krakow from €32.90

Option 1, Vienna to Krakow by daytime train - morning departure

An air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Porta Moravica leaves Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arrives Krakow Glowny 13:56.

Option 2, Vienna to Krakow by daytime train - afternoon departure

From 10 December 2023 there's a second direct daytime EuroCity train between Vienna & Krakow called the Danubius , leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 21:13.  It has a through car to Wroclaw, arriving 21:30.

The Danubius has one Austrian 1st class car with open-plan seating and two Polish 2nd class cars with 6-seat compartments.  Refreshments are available.  It has a Czech through carriage to Wroclaw, 2nd class only.

Step 2, Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is the Danubius to Krakow at Vienna Hbf on a winter afternoon.  That's the Czech through car to Wroclaw nearest the camera, the Polish cars to Krakow are ahead of it.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments.

Option 3, Vienna to Krakow by sleeper train - the time-effective option

Fares start at €43.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €116.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually.  Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 4, Vienna to Krakow using the Bratislava-Krakow sleeper - often cheaper than option 2 and you get to bed earlier!

Vienna to Vilnius , Riga, Tallinn

Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Warsaw by EuroCity train, as shown in the Vienna to Warsaw section .

Or take the overnight sleeper & spend the following day exploring Warsaw.

Vienna to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Vienna to Lviv & Kyiv by direct sleeping-car, still running in spite of the war.

Be warned, these direct sleeping-cars sell out well before departure, sometimes soon after reservations open.

Option 1, book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

This will book one-way or return trips starting in Vienna.  Tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria, they cannot be collected in Ukraine. Booked through oebb.at:

Vienna to Kyiv costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

Vienna to Kyiv costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

Option 2, Vienna to Lviv using the Vienna-Lviv daytime connection, useful when the direct sleeping-cars are full

 Option 3, Vienna to Lviv & Kyiv using the Vienna-Chop daytime train then sleeper, useful when the direct sleeping-cars are full

This train has comfortable 2nd class 4-berth sleepers.  Bring your own food & drink.

 Option 4, Vienna to Lviv & Kyiv with overnight stop in Krakow - comfortable, easily booked online & usually has availability

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train Danubius , leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 21:13.

The Danubius has one Austrian 1st class car with open-plan seating and two Polish 2nd class cars with 6-seat compartments.  Refreshments are available.

Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or from €42.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

Leave Krakow Glowny at 05:05, change at Przemysl (arrive 07:33, depart 09:35), arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv 19:57.

Krakow to Lviv starts at €24.80, Krakow to Kyiv starts at €44.80.  The fare varies by date, check your date online.

Vienna to Moscow , St Petersburg & Russia

Vienna to athens & greece.

Option 1, Vienna to Athens & Greece via ferry from Italy - currently the most practical route

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bologna by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18 & arriving Bologna Centrale at 05:15.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  There are couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Fares start at €49.90 with couchette, €99.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, light breakfast included.

Day 2, travel from Bologna to Bari by Frecciarossa , leaving Bologna Centrale at 09:45 arriving Bari Centrale at 15:27.

The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a pleasant run along the scenic Adriatic coast.

In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth .

You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes.  A taxi will take 10 minutes.

Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.

You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com .

You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck.  You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

Corfu:  The Bari-Patras ferry calls at Corfu on certain dates in summer.  It calls at Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland on all departures year-round.  If you can't find a direct ferry to Corfu, book the ferry from Bari to Igoumenitsa, then take the local ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu with Kerkyra Lines ( kerkyralines.com ).  These sail half a dozen times a day, crossing time 60-90 minutes, fare around €5-€10.  Buy a ticket at kerkyralines.com or when you get to Igoumenitsa.

Option 2, Vienna to Athens & Greece by train through the Balkans - currently suspended

Vienna to Istanbul & Turkey

Option 1, Vienna to Istanbul via Budapest & Bucharest - 3 nights, 2 days, currently the most viable route

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bucharest overnight on the sleeper train Dacia Express as shown above .

Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.

Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page , arriving in the morning on Day 4.

Option 2, Vienna to Istanbul via Belgrade & Sofia

Take a train from Vienna to Sofia as explained above .

Stay overnight in Sofia.

Then take overnight sleeper train from Sofia to Istanbul as explained on the as shiown on the Trains from Sofia page .

Railbookers custom-made tours

If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page.  However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, the people to talk to are Railbookers.  Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification.  Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels.  They get good reports and a lot of repeat business!  They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk .

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, see website .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website .,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., hotels in vienna, hotels near vienna hbf, hotels close to the sights, backpacker hostels.

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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How to Get From Vienna to Venice by Train

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The splendor of Vienna and the famous canals of Venice are not to be missed on any European trip. Luckily both cities are well connected by train. Let us tell you what your travel options are and how you can have a smooth and pleasant journey.

Video train route Vienna - Venice

Train options for Vienna to Venice

Traveling by EuroCity train

The EuroCity train offers the fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Vienna to Venice by day. This modern and luxurious train will get you to your destination in 7 hours and 35 minutes. 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 reservation fee. We recommend you book your seats as far in advance as possible.

Traveling by night train

If you want to fall asleep in Vienna and wake up in Venice, you can travel between the two cities with the ÖBB Nightjet . This fast and comfortable night train takes about 7 hours and 25 minutes. 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 Venice means you'll have a slightly longer trip. It also means you don't have to reserve a seat and you can stop along the way in charming cities like Klagenfurt, Villach and Udine. 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 train 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 vacation plans.

Check out our Eurail Passes .

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• Getting around

The tickets are valid in all trams, buses and subways of the Vienna Transport Authority. Each stamped single ticket is valid up to the destination, including multiple transfers.

• Single ticket: € 2.40 (Children € 1.20)
• 24-hour Vienna ticket: € 8.00
• 48-hour Vienna ticket: € 14.10
• 72-hour Vienna ticket: € 17.10
• Vienna weekly ticket (valid from Monday to Monday at 9.00 am): € 17.10
• Flexible weekly ticket (valid for 7 days, freely selectable date): €17.10 Available exclusively in the online shop of Wiener Linien and via the WienMobil app for iOS or Android

Single tickets are also available in trams with a surcharge for € 2.60 (children: € 1.40). They are valid for one ride including transfers. Children up to six years of age travel for free. Children under fifteen years of age ride free on Sundays, holidays and during the Vienna school holidays .

Tickets are available at:

• the multilingual ticket machines (subway stations)
• all advance sales points and the online shop of the Vienna Lines
• in most tobacco shops
• on a smartphone via the WienMobil app for iOS or Android

The Vienna City Card. The official City Card.

• For 24, 48 or 72 hours
• Free travel on the underground, trams and buses
• Over 210 discounts
• the sales points and in the online store of Wiener Linien
• at www.viennacitycard.at
• in ivie , the free city guide app for Vienna

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The Best Cities to Visit in Europe by Train

Last Updated on March 4, 2024

Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful places, with many easily accessible by train. The continent’s extensive rail network takes you to picturesque countryside past scenic vineyards and into remote villages and bustling cities, providing a scenic journey. Train travel allows for immersive experiences, enabling you to witness the diverse scenery that Europe is known for. With efficient connections and high-speed trains, exploring Europe by rail is convenient, eco-friendly, and affordable.

Here are the best cities to visit in Europe by train.

Vienna, Austria

As one of the most culturally rich and historically significant European cities, Vienna is one of the best cities to visit by train. Traveling to Vienna by train is the best way to soak up the beauty of the Austrian countryside, passing through picturesque villages, rolling hills, and majestic mountains.

As you get off the train, Vienna will delight you with its grandeur, charm, and timeless elegance. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , invites exploration with its magnificent architecture, opulent palaces, and cobblestone streets lined with quaint cafes and boutiques.

Marvel at architectural masterpieces such as the majestic Schönbrunn Palace, the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the splendid Belvedere Palace, each offering insights into Vienna’s rich cultural heritage and history.

Art and music lovers will enjoy Vienna’s vibrant cultural scene, with world-class museums, galleries, and concert halls showcasing the works of renowned artists and composers such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Food lovers can indulge in Vienna’s culinary delights, with traditional coffeehouses serving decadent pastries, cozy wine taverns offering regional specialties, and Michelin-starred restaurants specializing in Austrian cuisine.

Vienna’s blend of history, culture, and sophistication makes it a perfect destination to visit by train, allowing you to embark on a journey of discovery and enchantment amidst the city’s timeless beauty.

Florence, Italy

Often referred to as the “Jewel of the Renaissance,” Florence beckons for a luxurious vacation and is best seen by rail. Offering a seamless and scenic journey through the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany. Traveling to Florence by train provides a convenient and comfortable mode of transportation while soaking in the beauty of the Italian countryside, with its rolling hills, vineyards, and charming villages.

With its Renaissance architecture and artistic treasures, Florence will have plenty to delight visitors. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to iconic landmarks, including the magnificent Florence Cathedral, the elegant Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the renowned Uffizi Gallery, housing masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Wander through the narrow streets of Florence’s medieval quarters to discover hidden gems, artisan workshops, and bustling markets selling local delicacies and artisanal crafts. Art and culture enthusiasts can discover Florence’s rich cultural scene with visits to world-class museums, galleries, and churches showcasing the city’s unparalleled artistic legacy and cultural heritage.

Florence’s blend of history, art, and culture makes it a perfect destination to visit by train, where you can immerse in the timeless charm of one of Italy’s most beloved cities.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most delightful destinations to visit by train, offering a convenient and picturesque journey through The Netherlands’ scenic landscapes before arriving in the vibrant and culturally rich city. Traveling to Amsterdam by train provides a hassle-free and sustainable mode of transportation, allowing you to relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery en route.

Upon arrival, Amsterdam welcomes you with its charming canals, historic architecture, and dynamic cultural scene. The city’s iconic canal belt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fun place to stroll around, with its picturesque waterways, charming bridges, and historic canal houses lining the streets.

Wander through Amsterdam’s bustling neighborhoods to discover hidden courtyards, lively markets, and trendy boutiques selling Dutch design and fashion. Amsterdam’s world-class museums and galleries are a delight to explore, especially the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House.

Don’t miss the chance to indulge in Amsterdam’s culinary delights by visiting cosy cafes, serving delicious Dutch pancakes, bustling street markets offering a variety of international cuisines, and traditional brown cafes serving local beers and snacks.

London, United Kingdom

Offering a seamless and scenic journey through the picturesque English countryside, London is an exceptional destination to visit by train and the perfect little UK getaway . Traveling to London by train provides an immersive experience, allowing you to witness the gradual transition from lush landscapes to the bustling heart of the British capital.

London will welcome you with its blend of history, modernity, and cosmopolitan energy. The city’s historic landmarks, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses of Parliament, showcase centuries of British heritage and architectural splendour.

Explore the vibrant neighborhoods of London, each with its unique character – from the eclectic markets and street art of Shoreditch to the upscale boutiques of Mayfair and the cultural richness of Covent Garden.

Soak up London’s culinary scene on a gastronomic adventure, with diverse options ranging from traditional British fare at historic pubs to Michelin-starred dining experiences showcasing international flavors.

Paris, France

Paris is one of Europe’s most enchanting cities to visit by train, offering a romantic and scenic journey through the charming French countryside. Traveling to Paris by train is the best way to savor the beauty of the changing landscapes, from rolling vineyards to quaint villages, immersing in the quintessential French experience.

Paris fascinates with its timeless beauty, iconic landmarks, and romantic atmosphere. The city’s majestic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum, epitomize centuries of art, history, and architectural brilliance.

Wander through the charming neighborhoods of Paris, each with a unique charm – from the historic streets of Le Marais to the bohemian vibe of Montmartre and the chic elegance of the Champs-Elysees.

Art and culture enthusiasts can revel in the city’s world-class museums and galleries, such as the Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, and Centre Pompidou. Foodies can indulge in Parisian cuisine at charming cafes serving croissants and café au lait, bustling bistros offering classic French dishes, and Michelin-starred restaurants specializing in fine dining. 

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Best night trains in Europe

Growing in popularity, sleepers offer the perfect combination of travel and accommodation in one

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Long-distance train travel is having a moment it seems. Whether the appeal is the old-school romance of being rocked to sleep on the rails, perhaps waking up in another country, concerns about climate change and the carbon footprint of flying, or a desire to experience slow travel and take in more of your surroundings on your journey, a sleeper train offers the perfect combination of travel and accommodation in one. 

Taking a night train across Europe "is an exceptionally convenient, efficient and budget-friendly way to explore the region", said Rail Europe . That's because the price of your ticket also covers the cost of a night's accommodation. "So take the money you would have spent on a hotel and add another leg onto your trip or splurge at your next destination."

Here are some of Europe's best night train journeys.

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London to Venice

The Venice Simplon Orient Express is the "grand dame of sleeper trains", said The Times . Since being immortalised by Agatha Christie it's "become the byword for yesteryear elegance", as "one of the few surviving chariots of the golden age of travel". Luxe to the max, its interiors feature "wood panelling and lush drapes, antique lamps and art deco mirrors, and a Bar Car with live music". If money is no object, "splash out on one of the six grand suites for marble en suites, butler service and as much champagne as you can glug". Nowadays, you travel from London Victoria "aboard the luxury private Belmond British Pullman" to Paris, before joining the Orient Express for the overnight leg to Venice.

Find out more: belmond.com

Trondheim to Bodo

"Under normal circumstances, the jaw-dropping views offered by any Norwegian rail journey would make a night train a wasted opportunity," said Lonely Planet . However, travel this 430-mile route into the Arctic Circle in summer and "you needn't miss anything – the sun will hardly set". This means you can "enjoy views of woodland, lakes, mountains and tundra at any time of the night", said The Times. In winter it "looks like an understudy for the Polar Express" as it "snakes past pine forests laden with snow". And between September and March there's the chance of seeing the northern lights.

Find out more: sj.no

Brussels to Prague

The European Sleeper leaves Brussels Midi station at around 7.20pm and pulls into Prague just before 11am, "perfect timing for passengers to enjoy lunch and a stroll around the Czech capital before checking into a hotel", said CN Traveller . This route is an extension of the Brussels to Berlin service and "it's an ideal starting point for UK-based travelers looking to snooze their way deeper into Europe", said Lonely Planet, "since there's no need in Brussels to change stations (as in Paris)".

Find out more: europeansleeper.eu

Paris to Vienna

The French capital is "gradually restoring its reputation as a hub for overnight services", said The Times , with plans for multiple routes from 2025. For now, try the Nightjet from Gare de l'Est, a short walk from Eurostar's Gare du Nord, to Vienna. With "perhaps the most perfect timings of any overnight sleeper, leaving mid-evening and arriving just before elevenses", there's plenty of time to "savour this cross-section of Europe". In the evening, you're "traversing Champagne country to Strasbourg", then "sashaying along the Danube from Salzburg in the morning, with a big chunk of Germany in between".

Find out more: nightjet.com

Milan to Palermo

"Long and skinny", Italy is "ideal for train travel", said The Telegraph . And it's "still quite an odyssey" to leave Milan, "one of Europe's grandest railway palaces" and "go all the way to the toe of the boot and cross over to Sicily". This represents "the chance to ride a train and a boat at the same time", said The Times. After leaving the northern capital in the evening, and "heading south through the hours of darkness" it's time to enjoy "coffee and a croissant in your cabin" while "admiring the coastal views". The train is "shunted on to a special ferry" to cross the Strait of Messina to Sicily, and you'll reach Palermo late that afternoon.

Find out more: trenitalia.com

Zurich to Zagreb

Crossing five countries in around 15 hours, this is "one of Europe's most scenic routes", said Lonely Planet. It is particularly "worth taking" in summer, as it passes through Austria and Slovenia – "both countries where you're hard-pressed to find an unattractive railway line". The train leaves Zurich at 7.40pm and, next morning, "be sure to wake up before 8am", said The New Zealand Herald , "as the last section between Ljubljana and Zagreb, when the train snakes alongside the Sava River, is one of the most picturesque".

London-Scotland

One of the UK's two sleepers, both of which "have recently benefited from major upgrades" that "many see as a vote of confidence in the country's overnight services", said Lonely Planet. Departing from London Euston, the "legendary" Caledonian Sleeper heads north "via a series of carriage shuffles unnoticed by the snoozing passenger, reaches Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Fort William and points in between". On a moonlight night you can expect "sweeping views of stately castles and remote Highland wilderness", said The Times. These new trains "provide proper 21st-century comforts" including Wi-Fi, room service and complimentary sleep kits. Accommodation options include en-suite double cabins, twin bunks and "comfort seats". And in the morning "the menu features everything from porridge to a cooked full Highland breakfast".

Find out more: sleeper.scot

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