Top 10 Scenic Train Rides
Find out which European train rides you should take for the scenery alone! Here's our list of the 10 best.
Trains in Austria
Trains in Austria will take you to Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck and more, all while you sit back and admire enchanting mountain scenery. Discover Austria by train with an Interrail Pass and see beautiful cities steeped in history.
Train types in Austria
The Austrian train network is mostly operated by ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen). You can check train times on the Interrail train timetable.
- Route map
- Private railways
- Domestic trains
- International trains
- Night trains
Private railway companies in Austria
The following private railway companies accept Interrail Passes on their trains:
- Micotra trains operate on the route Villach – Tarvisio (Italy)
- Westbahn
- Vienna – Linz – Salzburg – Innsbruck – Bregenz
- Vienna – Linz – Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart
- 2nd class Passholders can buy a reservation for Standard Class
- 1st class Passholders can buy a reservation for Standard Class or an upgrade for Comfort and First class
- Raaberbahn, ONLY from Ebenfurt to Sopron and from Neusiedl/See to Pamhagen (Gr)
- RegioJet trains connect Vienna with Brno and Prague (Czech Republic). You need a Interrail Global Pass to travel with this train
For more details, check railways comapnies covered by this Pass.
Domestic trains in Austria
Regional Express (REX) and Regional (R)
Regional trains throughout Austria
S-Bahn
A suburban train network that runs within and around major cities in Austria
With an Interrail Pass, journeys are FREE on the S-Bahn in Vienna, Salzburg (except for lines S1 and S11) and Innsbruck
Cityjet Express (CJX)
- Commuter trains for short distance traffic
InterCity (IC)
Trains which connect larger cities in Austria, including Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz
Reservations are optional but recommended during peak season (May to September) and for public holidays
EuroCity (EC)
- Connects Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Kufstein
- Reservations are optional but recommended during peak season (May to September) and for public holidays
InterCity bus (ICB)
This bus runs between Graz and Klagenfurt until the Koralm tunnel is finished
Reservations are required
Domestic high-speed trains by ÖBB
Railjet (RJ) (RJX)
Links Vienna to larger Austrian cities like Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz
Reservations are optional but recommended during peak season (May to September) and for public holidays
International high-speed trains in Austria
- Links Austria to several European cities on the routes:
- Vienna – Linz – Munich – Stuttgart - Frankfurt
- Vienna – Gyor – Budapest
- Graz – Vienna – Brno – Prague
- Bratislava – Vienna – Salzburg – Innsbruck – Zurich
- Vienna – Graz – Villach – Venice
- Munich – Innsbruck – Verona/Bologna/Venice
- Seat reservations are optional all year round only for domestic Austrian trips
- Mandatory supplement if you are travelling to/from/within Italy.
- 1st class: €15 (including supplement)
- 2nd class: €10 (including supplement)
- Business Class upgrade: €30 (including supplement)
- A supplement can be bought on board for a small extra fee, costing €5, on top of the standard fee mentioned above
RegioJet
The yellow RegioJet trains connect Vienna with Brno and Prague (Czech Republic). You need an Interrail Global Pass to travel on this train. Reservations available via RegioJet.
- Links Austria to several cities in Germany on the routes:
- Vienna – Nürnberg – Frankfurt – Cologne – Dortmund
- Vienna – Nürnberg – Erfurt – Berlin - Hamburg
- Innsbruck – Munich – Stuttgart – Berlin
- Innsbruck – Bregenz – Stuttgart – Berlin
EuroCity
- Links Austria to several European cities on the routes:
- Vienna – Ljubljana – Trieste
- Graz – Vienna – Ostrava – Wroclaw/Krakow – Rzeszów – Przemysl
- Klagenfurt – Salzburg – Munich – Cologne – Dortmund
- Zagreb – Ljubljana – Salzburg – Munich - Frankfurt
- Munich - Innsbruck – Verona – Venice/Bologna/Rimini
- Mandatory supplement if you are travelling to/from/within Italy.
- 1st class: €15
- 2nd class: €10
- A supplement can be bought on the train for an additional fee, costing another €5
Westbahn
- Runs frequent trains on the route Vienna – Linz – Salzburg – Munich
- 2nd class Passholders can buy a reservation for Standard Class
- 1st class Passholders can buy a reservation for Standard Class or an upgrade for Comfort and First class
Night trains in Austria
ÖBB Nightjet (NJ) runs one daily domestic night train on the route Vienna – Bregenz.
Night trains run from Austria to France, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Poland, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Czechia and Switzerland:
- Vienna – Florence – Rome
- Vienna – Verona – Milan – Genoa – La Spezia
- Vienna – Linz – Udine - Venice
- Vienna – Linz – Zürich
- Vienna – Linz – Munich – Stuttgart - Paris
- Vienna – Linz – Munich – Cologne - Brussels
- Vienna – Nürnberg – Hannover – Hamburg
- Vienna – Nürnberg – Hamm – Münster – Amsterdam
- Innsbruck – Munich – Hamm – Münster – Amsterdam
- Innsbruck – Munich – Hannover – Hamburg
- Graz – Vienna – Prague – Dresden – Berlin (EN Metropol)
- Graz – Innsbruck – Zurich
EuroNight (EN)
- Munich – Linz – Vienna – Katowice – Krakow – Warsaw (EN Chopin)
- Bratislava – Vienna – Graz – Maribor – Split
- Stuttgart – Salzburg – Graz/Ljubljana – Zagreb (EN Lisinski)
- Stuttgart – Munich – Linz – Vienna – Budapest (EN Kalman Imre)
- Zurich – Feldkirch – Innsbruck – Vienna – Budapest (EN Kalman Imre)
- Zurich – Feldkirch – Innsbruck – Graz/Ljubljana – Zagreb (EN Alpine Pearls)
- Zurich – Feldkirch – Innsbruck – Ceske Budejovice – Prague
European Sleeper (ESL)
- Brussels – Breda – Cologne – Munich – Innsbruck – Verona – Venice
- Twice a week in February and March
Travel to Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small country between Austria and Switzerland. If your Interrail Pass is valid in Austria, you're also covered for train travel in Liechtenstein!
An ÖBB train runs through the country, from Feldkirch (Austria) to Buchs (Switzerland). Liechtenstein has 4 train stations: Forst Hilti, Schaan-Vaduz, Nendeln and Schaanwald. You can reach the capital city Vaduz by bus from Schaan-Vaduz (not included in the Interrail Pass).
Popular connections
- Domestic routes
- International routes
What are the travel times between Austria's top cities? You won't need a reservation for the following high-speed train routes:
| Route | Travel time |
|---|---|
| Graz to Salzburg | 2h 30m |
| Innsbruck to Salzburg | 1h 50m |
| Innsbruck to Vienna | 4h 15m |
| Salzburg to Vienna | 2h 30m |
| Salzburg to Villach | 2h 30m |
| Vienna to Villach | 4h 15m |
| Route | Which train? | Travel time | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna to Amsterdam / Brussels (Netherlands / Belgium) | Nightjet | 14h / 13h 45m | Required |
| Vienna to Dortmund (Germany) | ICE | 10h 20m | Optional |
| Vienna to Berlin (Germany) | ICE | 7h 30m | Optional |
Innsbruck to Munich (Germany) |
EuroCity / Railjet |
1h 50m |
Optional |
Salzburg to Budapest (Hungary) |
Railjet |
5h 10m |
Required |
| Salzburg / Innsbruck / Vienna to Zurich (Switzerland) | Railjet | 5h 25m / 3h 30m / 7h 50m | Optional |
| Vienna to Budapest (Hungary) | EuroCity / Railjet | 2h 40m | Optional / Required (EuroCity & Railjet) |
| Vienna to Milan (Italy) | EuroNight | 12h 25m (overnight) | Required |
| Vienna to Munich (Germany) | Railjet / Westbahn | 4h | Optional / Optional |
| Vienna to Prague (Czech Republic) | Railjet / RegioJet | 4h 30m | Required (Railjet) / Optional (RegioJet) |
| Vienna to Venice (Italy) | EuroCity / Railjet / EuroNight | 7h 45m / 10h 40m (overnight) | Required |
Reservations
How to make reservations for trains in Austria:
Interrail reservation self-service system
Administration costs when booking through Interrail self-service
- € 2,- p.p.per train
- Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)
With railway carriers
- ÖBB (Austrian railways): Domestic and international trains
- Westbahn (Private Railway): Only Westbahn trains, domestic and international
- ČD (Czech railways): Domestic and international trains
- DB (German railways): International trains to/from Germany
- ÖBB Nightjet: Only Nightjet and some Euro Night trains
By calling the ÖBB booking center
- +43 5 1717 (open 24/7)
When calling, you'll hear a menu in German. Select extension "1" for train information and bookings. The booking center can deliver your reservations to any country you prefer, without charging you booking costs. The delivery cost is €5. You can also pick up your reservations at large Austrian train stations. Just take your order number to a ticket office in the station. This call center can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.
Locally at the train station in Austria
- How to book your reservation in Austria
-
- Book reservations for Austrian trains on the ÖBB website.
- For international (night) trains to/from Austria and throughout Europe using the following steps:
- Enter your departure/arrival stations and the time/date of your desired journey
- Click on the Passengers’ info box (where you see “1 x Adult – Without Discounts”) and another page will open
- Add as many travellers as you need, and for each Passholder click on 'add discount'
- Scroll down or search for 'Interrail / Eurail - Globalpass', then select it and click confirm
- Once you’re done with all travelers, click ‘OK’, and you’ll be redirected to the main page
- Click on ‘Find’ to proceed to the next screen
- Here you can select the train and then the type of accommodation (either seat, couchette or sleeper cabin) you want to take
- Once the desired accommodation is selected, click on ‘Continue with € __’ and finalise your reservation with the payment
- Needed for all night trains and long distance trains in Italy (Frecciarossa, IC and EC trains Italy-Switzerland)
- Also applicable for EC/Railjet trains across the Brenner pass to/from Italy
Book reservations for Westbahn trains on the Westbahn Website.
- Click on ‘Reservation / Upgrade / Bike / PRM’
- Choose the preferred route.
- Choose ‘Reservation / Upgrade’
- Select the quantity, travel date and exact train departure
- Choose the travel class
- Seat number and coach are shown
- Reservation fees in Austria
-
ÖBB Railjet, ICE, Intercity and Eurocity trains
2nd and 1st class: €3
1st class: ÖBB Railjet trains have a business class, which can be booked for €15
Westbahn trains
For Westbahn trains, Passholders can buy a reservation for Standard Class and upgrade for Comfort and First Class online via westbahn.at or directly on the train for an additional fee.
Fees (depending on the travel distance)
- First Class: €9.90 – €44.90
- Comfort Class: €7,90 – 11.90
- Standard Class (optional): €1.90 – €4.90
Get your Pass for Austria
Tips and tricks for Austria
Austrian main train stations
Austria's 3 main stations have connections to many domestic and international destinations. These stations are:
Wien Hbf (Vienna)
Innsbruck Hbf
Salzburg Hbf
The main stations in Austria have great facilities for travellers. They usually include:
Lockers
Cash machines and a foreign exchange desk
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information
Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers
Spelling of names in Austria
You'll usually find the local spelling of Austrian cities on Austrian train timetables and at train stations in Austria.
Good to know:
Wien = Vienna
Bus routes and other discounts
If your Interrail Pass is valid in Austria, your ticket on the following bus routes is FREE. You'll only have to pay for the seat reservation.
Klagenfurt – Graz
You'll also get discounts on boat cruises on the beautiful rivers and lakes of Austria.
Get inspired
Change of currency
You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.