Austria by train

Map with popular domestic routes in Austria

View approximate train travel times between Austria’s most popular cities using high-speed trains that don’t require a reservation.

Chalet in the Alps

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.

Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg

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.

Belvedere Palace, Vienna

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.

Clock Tower, Graz

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.

Christmas market, Vienna

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.​

Bus travel 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.

See all pass benefits for Austria

Train station Innsbruck, 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

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:

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.

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.

• EuroCity trains connect Kufstein, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Graz.

• Railjet trains link Vienna with larger Austrian cities like Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz.

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 - Düsseldorf

• D-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 1^st 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 or 3 or 4 Country 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).