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Austria By Train
Traveling by rail is the best way to discover Austria. Incredible natural beauty, elegant cities like Vienna and Salzburg, and centuries of history are just waiting to be discovered. Travel through the Alps with your Eurail Pass, and find out all of the treasures awaiting you in this exciting country.
Domestic connections in Austria

View approximate train travel times between Austria’s most popular cities using high-speed trains that don’t require a reservation.
Innsbruck to Salzburg |
1hr 50min |
Innsbruck to Vienna |
4hr 15min |
Graz to Salzburg |
2hr 30min |
Salzburg to Vienna |
2hr 30min |
Salzburg to Villach |
2hr 30min |
Vienna to Villach |
4hr 15min |
International connections to and from Austria
We suggest the following routes to travel between Austria and other European countries:
France – Austria
Travel by TGV train from Paris to Zürich (Switzerland) and take the Railjet train to Vienna, Innsbruck or Salzburg.Germany – Austria
Travel by day from Innsbruck to Munich (1hr 50min) on EuroCity trains. Or take a Railjet train from Vienna to Munich (4hrs).Italy – Austria
Take a EuroNight train from Vienna to Milan or Venice or travel by EuroCity train.Hungary – Austria
Take a Railjet train from Vienna or Salzburg to Budapest or travel by EuroNight train.Czech Republic - Austria
Take a Railjet or RegioJet train from Prague to Vienna or Graz.
Reservations for trains in Austria
Reservations for ÖBB trains are not required. For InterCity and EuroCity trains are optional if you want to be sure of a good seat. We recommend you make a seat reservation during the busy summer period (May-September) and public holidays. Reservations are required for night trains. Prices for night trains depend on the type of sleeping accommodation you choose.
How to make reservations for trains in Austria
You can make reservations for domestic and international high-speed trains and night trains:
- Through our Reservation Service.
- Online through the ÖBB website (please note that you can only make reservations for domestic trains)
- At a ticket desk or self-service machine at local train stations.
- By phone through the ÖBB call center.
Phone number: +43 5 1717
Opening hours: 24/7
When calling, you'll hear a menu in German. Select extension "1" for train information and bookings. Austria's ÖBB booking center has English speaking staff. The booking center can deliver your reservations to any country you prefer, without charging you a booking fee. 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.

Rail passes for Austria
Whether you’re after winter sports or the Sound of Music, experience the beauty of Austria up close with a Eurail Pass. Enjoy art and music in Vienna and get a taste of the nightlife in Graz, then take in the fairytale scenery of Salzburg and the mountain views of Innsbruck. You can even venture into the stunning principality of Liechtenstein, all with just one rail pass.
Rail Pass options for Austria
Austria Pass
Use your whole vacation to discover Austria by rail.
Standard prices from € 127
Global Pass
Have the freedom to visit Austria and up to 32 other Eurail countries.
Standard prices from € 185
Benefits in Austria

Bus travel in Austria
With a Eurail pass valid in Austria, you get free travel (pay only the reservation) on the following bus routes as an extra benefit:
Klagenfurt – Graz
Klagenfurt – Villach – Venice (Italy) (Venezia Mestre & Venezia Tronchetto)
Your Eurail Pass needs to be valid in both Austria and Italy on this route.
Boat trips in Austria
Eurail pass holders also get discounted boat travel on several Austrian lakes and rivers.
More about Austria

Quick facts
Capital: Vienna (local spelling: Wien)
Population: 8.4 million
Language: German
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dialing code: +43
Austrian hub stations
Austria’s main hub stations are Wien Westbahnhof (Vienna), Innsbruck Hbf and Salzburg Hbf. At these train stations, it's possible to connect to trains to Austria’s main cities and many international destinations.
Station facilities
Stations in Austria usually have excellent facilities, often including:
Luggage lockers
Foreign exchange desks
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information offices
ATM cash machines
Elevators and escalators
Access for disabled passengers
Train types in Austria
There are a number of train types in Austria ready to transport you both day and night. Most of the Austrian network is operated by ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen). Use the Eurail train timetable to check times for trains in Austria.
Regional and intercity trains in Austria
The main rail network in Austria is made up of the following regional trains and intercity trains:
REX |
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S-Bahn (suburban) trains |
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InterCity trains |
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InterCity bus |
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High-speed trains in Austria
International high-speed trains in Austria
These high-speed trains operate to and from Austria:
Railjet links larger Austrian cities with Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czech Republic), Munich (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland).
ICE connects Austria with various German cities.
InterCity buses link Klagenfurt and Villach with Udine and Venice (Italy).
- EuroCity operates between Innsbruck, Munich (Germany) and various Italian cities like Milan and Venice. There are also EuroCity connections from Austria to Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Poland.
- RegioJet mainly operates in the Czech Republic, but offers routes into Austria as well, connecting Vienna with Brno and Prague. You need a Eurail Global Pass or a Czech Republic Pass to travel with this railway company.
Domestic high-speed trains in Austria
EuroCity and Railjet are Austrian trains run by the railway company ÖBB. These high-speed trains transport passengers quickly and comfortably to cities across Austria. WESTBahn private trains also operate domestic routes.
EuroCity trains connect Kufstein, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz.
- Railjet trains link Vienna with larger Austrian cities like Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz.
- WESTBahn trains connect the Vienna area to Salzburg.

Night trains in Austria
International night trains in Austria
The following night trains connect Austria with Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Serbia and Hungary:
ÖBB Nightjet (EN):
Vienna - Florence - Rome
Vienna - Venice - Milan
Vienna - Florence - Pisa - Livorno
Vienna - Linz - Zürich
Vienna - Munich - Berlin - Hamburg
Vienna - Munich - Cologne - DüsseldorfD-train:
Villach – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Zagreb (Croatia) – Belgrade (Serbia)
Vienna – Katowice (Poland) – Warsaw (Poland)
Vienna – Krakow (Poland)EuroNight Kálmán Imre
Vienna – Budapest (Hungary)EuroNight Metropol
Vienna – Prague (Czech Republic) – Berlin (Germany)
Private railway companies in Austria
The following private railway companies accept Eurail Passes on their trains:
Micotra trains operate on the route Villach – Tarvisio (Italy)
- WESTbahn trains connect Vienna with Salzburg.
WESTbahn offers 1st class pass holders an upgrade to WESTbahn PLUS for only €9.90. With this you can enjoy superior seating, a free welcome gift and newspaper as well as refreshment services to your seat. You can get this upgrade on the train. - Raaberbahn, ONLY from Ebenfurt to Sopron and from Neusiedl/See to Pamhagen (Gr)
- RegioJet, yellow trains that travel to the Czech Republic. You need a Eurail Global Pass to travel on this train.
The following private railway companies do not accept Eurail Passes on their trains:
Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, travelling between Krimml and Zell am See.
NÖVOG ( including Mariazellerbahn, Wachaubahn, Waldviertelbahn, Reblaus Express, Citybahn Waidhofen, and Schneebergbahn)
- ÖBB Postbus
- Stubaitalbahn
Wiener Lokalbahnen
Pinzgauer Lokalbahn
Graz-Köflacher Eisenbahn
Montafonerbahn
Salzburger Lokalbahn
Steiermärkische Landesbahnen
Stern & Hafferl
Zillertalbahn
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a tiny country situated between Switzerland and Austria. When your Eurail pass is valid in Austria, you can also travel to Liechtenstein. There is a ÖBB rail connection through Liechtenstein from Feldkirch in Austria to Buchs in Switzerland. Liechtenstein only has four small train stations: Forst Hilti, Schaan-Vaduz, Nendeln and Schaanwald. From Schaan-Vaduz it is a short bus ride to Liechtenstein's capital Vaduz (bus not included in your Eurail pass).
Events in Austria

Christmas markets
Nearly every Austrian town, but especially Vienna and Salzburg, put on spectacular outdoor Christmas markets, complete with food, mulled wine, and gifts of all shapes and sizes.
Places to visit in Austria

Alpsolutely fantastic scenery
Active Eurailers won’t want to miss the plentiful opportunities to hike, climb, ski and snowboard while in Austria. There’s certainly no shortage of great places to do it. Top wintersport resorts include delightful Kitzbühel and neighbouring Saalbach and Hinterglemm which are perfect for intermediates. Innsbruck, sat snug within the Inn Valley, is a lively student town with a wealth of museums and energetic nightlife, and not forgetting gorgeous views of the surrounding Alps.

Hear the sound of music
Strolling through the 17th century streets of Salzburg gives the feeling that you’re seeing the city as Mozart did 250 years ago. Don’t miss the High Salzburg Fortress (Hohensalzburg), which offers unmatched views of the city below. Salzburg’s old town features the Residenzplatz and the cathedral Dom. Continue your trip with the Sound of Music tour of the city, sites filmed in the movie, fun facts and more.

Europe's culture capital
Your Austria Eurail pass takes you to the capital city of Vienna (Wien), known for music, literature, theater and cuisine. Vienna has a moderate climate, exciting art and dance festivals – and don’t forget the famous Vienna coffee houses. Don’t miss the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) and the Oberes Belvedere Museum, in a baroque palace. It’s no wonder this city is often called Europe’s cultural capital.

Old meets new in Graz
Austria’s second largest city, Graz, has a large student population, and this is probably the reason why the city has a younger, funkier feeling than many cities in Austria. Burst of colorful modern architecture and an active nightlife contrast sharply with the historic old town and the world-famous Clock Tower (Uhrturm), built in 1712 and still operating on its original clockwork.
Change of currency
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