Fastest ~3h45 by train
| 🚆 Train | ~3h45–4h | ÖBB railjet via Salzburg and Linz, no reservation needed |
| 🚌 Bus | ~4h30–5h | FlixBus, cheapest, worth it only if fare is much lower |
| 🚗 Car | ~4h–4h30 | A12/A8/A1, vignette required; good for stopping in Salzburg |
| ✈️ Flight | ~55min | Hard to justify given train's speed and city-centre arrival |
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Innsbruck and Vienna lie at opposite ends of Austria — a country that stretches over 550 kilometres from the Tyrolean Alps to the plains of the Pannonian Basin. The journey crosses a remarkable range of landscapes, from Alpine valleys to the Salzkammergut lakes and the rolling hills of Lower Austria. The train is the most practical option for most travellers, but the drive through the mountains has its own appeal.
The main option: ÖBB railjet
ÖBB operates direct railjet services between Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Wien Hauptbahnhof several times a day. The journey takes around 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours, running via Salzburg and Linz. The railjet is a comfortable, modern train with spacious seating in both classes, a bistro car, and good luggage space — ideal for a journey of this length.
ÖBB trains on this route do not require advance reservation, though a reservation is a good idea if you are travelling at a busy time. Advance tickets bought through the ÖBB app or website can be notably cheaper than walk-up fares — the savings on a 4-hour journey make it worth checking online well ahead of your trip.
The route is also covered by Interrail and Eurail passes, with no reservation supplement required on most domestic ÖBB services. For a full overview of rail travel in Austria, see our guide to Austria by train. If you are travelling from Italy, the Brenner Corridor means that Innsbruck also sits on the main rail route from Verona and Bolzano, and onward connections north from Innsbruck reach Munich in about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Scenic highlights: The railjet from Innsbruck to Vienna passes through the narrow Inn Valley gorge east of Innsbruck, then through Salzburg's flat valley before climbing around the edge of the Salzkammergut lake district. The section between Salzburg and Linz along the River Salzach is particularly attractive.
A faster connection: via Munich
A slightly unusual but sometimes faster option is to travel Innsbruck → Munich → Vienna. Frequent trains link Innsbruck and Munich in about 1 hour 45 minutes (operated by ÖBB and Deutsche Bahn jointly); from Munich, ÖBB Railjet and RJX trains reach Vienna in about 4 hours. With a good connection at Munich, total journey time can be competitive with the direct route. However, this adds a change, a longer total distance, and the Munich–Vienna leg requires an international ticket — useful to check if direct trains are sold out or poorly timed.
The cheapest option: coach
FlixBus and a handful of regional coach operators run services between Innsbruck and Vienna, typically taking around 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours on the faster services. Departures from Innsbruck's bus terminal near the main station, arriving at Vienna's Erdberg coach station (U3 metro). Fares can be very low when booked in advance.
The bus is worth considering if you find a significantly lower fare than the train — the journey time difference is not enormous — but for a 4+ hour journey, the train's comfort is a meaningful factor.
Driving through the Alps
The drive from Innsbruck to Vienna via the A12 Inntalautobahn and A8/A1 is approximately 480 km, taking roughly 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes in good conditions. The route goes via Salzburg and across Lower Austria on the Westautobahn. Austrian motorways require a vignette (available at petrol stations and border crossings, or as a digital version); the Brenner motorway south of Innsbruck also has its own toll.
The drive is more interesting if you can take the slower Bundesstraße (federal road) along the Inn Valley as far as Kufstein, adding drama but also time. A car is worth it if you plan to stop in Salzburg, the Salzkammergut lakes, or the wine country around Krems on the Danube — all difficult to explore fully by train. For a direct run, the train is easier and barely slower.
Flying
Austrian Airlines and Lauda Air have historically offered flights between Innsbruck Airport (INN) and Vienna International Airport (VIE), though service frequency varies by season and can be limited. The flight itself takes about 55 minutes, but the two airports add significant transfer time: Vienna International is about 18 kilometres from the city centre (around 30 minutes by rail link from Wien Mitte), and Innsbruck's airport is close but still requires a bus to the city.
Given the train's competitive journey time and city-centre arrival, flying between Innsbruck and Vienna is hard to justify for most travellers. Check current schedules before making plans around this option.
Stopping in Salzburg
Almost all direct trains between Innsbruck and Vienna call at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. If you have not visited Salzburg, breaking your journey here adds one of Austria's most visited cities without any complicated routing — simply buy a through ticket and use your outbound break-of-journey to stop. The old town, the fortress and the lakeside villages of the Salzkammergut are all within range on a half-day layover.
Which should you choose?
The ÖBB railjet is the best choice for most travellers: comfortable, relatively fast, city-centre arrivals at both ends, and no need for advance reservation. Book ahead for the cheapest advance fare. Take the bus only if the price difference is substantial. Drive if you want to explore Salzburg, the lakes or the wine country along the way — the route genuinely rewards exploration. Fly only if schedules work out and you find a good fare, which is rare for this domestic hop.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the direct train from Innsbruck to Vienna?
ÖBB railjet trains on the direct route take about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours, running via Salzburg and Linz. Several direct services run each day.
Do I need to reserve a seat?
Seat reservations are not compulsory on ÖBB domestic trains, including the railjet. Walk-up tickets are valid on any service. A reservation is recommended for busy periods; advance tickets bought online are often cheaper than walk-up fares.
Is it worth stopping in Salzburg between Innsbruck and Vienna?
Absolutely, if time allows. Salzburg is a UNESCO World Heritage city with Mozart connections, a dramatically situated fortress and excellent classical music venues. Breaking the journey there is straightforward — just check your ticket allows a break of journey.
Is there a night train option?
There is no ÖBB Nightjet service specifically between Innsbruck and Vienna as an overnight journey — the daytime journey is short enough to make a sleeper impractical. ÖBB Nightjet trains do serve Innsbruck on international routes (to Amsterdam, Hamburg and Rome), but for Vienna you would travel in the daytime.