Austria is one of the great pleasures of European overland travel. Its rail network is exceptional — punctual, comfortable and comprehensive, threading through alpine valleys, along lakeshores and across passes that require engineering feats of nineteenth-century ambition. From Vienna in the east to the Vorarlberg in the far west, the country can be covered entirely by train, revealing a sequence of landscapes and cities that no flight could ever deliver.
Why Austria works so well by train
ÖBB — the Austrian Federal Railways — is one of Europe's most admired rail operators. Trains are frequent, reliable and well-maintained; the main corridor from Vienna to Salzburg and on to Innsbruck and Bregenz runs several times an hour for much of the day. Intercity and Railjet services are comfortable, with catering and power sockets as standard. Seat reservations on domestic ÖBB trains are not compulsory in most cases, unlike in France or Spain — you can generally buy a ticket and board.
Austria also sits at the heart of Europe's international rail network. The ÖBB Nightjet overnight sleeper network connects Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck with Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Rome, Zurich and beyond — making it possible to arrive or depart Austria without ever sitting in an airport. Nightjets require advance reservations and the couchette or sleeping-car supplement, but deliver you rested into a city centre.
Vienna: the starting point
Vienna is one of the great capital cities, and it rewards at least three to four days. The Ringstrasse boulevard, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere, the Naschmarkt, the second-hand shops of the Seventh District and the coffee house culture — this is a city designed for lingering. Wien Hauptbahnhof (the main station) is modern and central, easy to navigate and well-connected internationally.
From Vienna, ÖBB Railjet trains reach Salzburg in about 2h30, Innsbruck in around 4h, and Graz (the second city, in Styria) in about 2h40.
Salzburg and the Salzkammergut
Salzburg is compact, Baroque and heavily visited — the birthplace of Mozart, the setting for The Sound of Music and a UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right. Stay at least two nights to absorb it at a reasonable pace.
East of Salzburg lies the Salzkammergut lake district — a region of clear lakes, saltmine villages and dramatic limestone peaks. Hallstatt is the most photographed village in Austria (and possibly in Europe), accessible by train to Hallstatt station and then a short ferry across the lake. Bad Ischl and Gmunden are equally appealing and far less crowded. The local rail and post-bus network connects the Salzkammergut well, though for some of the more remote lakesides a combination of bus and ferry is needed.
The route west: Innsbruck and the Tyrol
The rail journey from Salzburg to Innsbruck takes about two hours on the direct service, passing through the Bavarian lowlands before climbing into the Inn valley. Innsbruck is the Tyrolean capital: a compact city in the floor of the Inn valley with the Northern Alpine range rising almost vertically behind the old town, which runs to a characteristic medieval kern of coloured merchant houses. The Golden Roof, the Hofburg and the Triumphal Arch are all within an easy walk of the main station.
From Innsbruck, the Brenner Pass to Italy and the rail route south to Bolzano, Verona and beyond is one of Austria's most important rail corridors. Day trips by local rail reach Innsbruck's ski villages (Seefeld, in particular) and the Stubai valley (by tram).
The ÖBB Nightjet and overnight travel
Austria is the home of one of Europe's most extensive overnight rail networks. ÖBB's Nightjet services connect Vienna and other Austrian cities with destinations across the continent, offering couchette seats (six-berth compartments), private sleeping cars and seating carriages depending on budget. Booking opens months in advance and the most popular routes (Vienna to Berlin, Vienna to Paris, Innsbruck to Amsterdam) fill early. A Nightjet is a sensible way to enter or leave Austria without losing a travel day or flying — the combination of practical transport and an experience in itself.
See our flightless travel guide for an overview of how overnight trains fit into a broader Europe-without-flying approach.
Graz and Styria
Graz is Austria's second city and is regularly voted one of the most liveable in Europe. Its old town, dominated by the Schlossberg rock and clocktower above a Baroque city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kunsthaus Graz — a contemporary art museum in a building that looks like a gentle alien creature landed in the old town — is among Europe's most striking recent architecture. Graz is well-connected by ÖBB from Vienna (about 2h40) and has its own local rail and tram network for exploring Styria.
Crossing into neighbouring countries
Austria's borders with Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary are all crossed by frequent ÖBB services. Useful direct connections include:
- Vienna–Budapest: about 2h40 on EuroCity trains
- Vienna–Prague: about 4h on direct service
- Salzburg–Munich: about 1h30–1h45, with onward connections across Germany
- Innsbruck–Bolzano (South Tyrol, Italy): around an hour by regional train via the Brenner
- Feldkirch/Bregenz–Zurich: under two hours, connecting the Austrian west into Switzerland
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book ÖBB trains in advance?
Advance reservations are not compulsory on most domestic ÖBB trains — you can buy a ticket at the station and board. However, advance-purchase tickets (Sparschiene) are considerably cheaper and worth buying if your dates are fixed. Nightjet sleepers and international Railjets require reservations.
Is the ÖBB Nightjet comfortable for overnight travel?
Couchette compartments (six-berth) are functional and include bedding; private sleeping cabins are more comfortable and more expensive. Most travellers find the experience pleasantly nostalgic. A light breakfast is typically included in the sleeping-car fare. Book early — the private cabins sell out fastest.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass in Austria?
Yes. Austria is included in Interrail and Eurail passes, and most ÖBB domestic trains do not require an additional reservation. The Nightjet requires a reservation and sleeping supplement even with a pass — book this early as the pass-holder allocation is limited. See our Interrail vs Eurail guide for details on which pass suits which itinerary.
How do I get from Austria to Italy by rail?
The main routes are over the Brenner Pass (Innsbruck to Bolzano and Verona, very frequent regional trains) and via the Tauern Tunnel (Salzburg–Villach–Venice on the EuroCity). The Brenner route is scenic and frequent; the Venice connection on the EC takes about five to six hours from Salzburg. A Nightjet also serves Vienna–Venice–Rome overnight.