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TRAIN TRAVEL

The ten best destinations by direct night train from Austria

Want to explore Austria’s neighbouring countries? Then consider travelling by night train to some of Europe’s most exciting destinations.

Published: 10 February 2022 12:12 CET
Updated: 2 July 2023 14:22 CEST
The ten best destinations by direct night train from Austria
Travellers no longer need to show a 3G proof to enter Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

The return of the night train in Europe has been a welcome development for many people that like to travel but are concerned about the impact of flying on the environment.

Plus, with Austria’s convenient Central European location, there are currently around 30 night train routes in every direction out of the country and from several different Austrian cities. 

As we head into spring, here are ten European cities that can be reached by night train from Austria.

The timetables and ticket prices mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing but could change. All ticket prices are for a one-way journey.

Berlin

The Nightjet overnight service by ÖBB (Austria’s national railway system) has a direct route from Vienna to Berlin in Germany. The service takes around 12 hours departing from Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) at 10.10pm, arriving in Berlin at around 10am the next morning.

The train travels north east out of Vienna to the border with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, before transiting through Poland and into Germany.

Ticket prices range from €90 for a Sitzwagen (a seated carriage) to €140 for a Schlafwagen (sleeping carriage).

Paris

From Vienna, travellers can reach Paris Gare de l’Est train station in 14 hours with the Nightjet. The service runs on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.40pm and ticket prices range from €110 to €195.

This route travels west out of Vienna and stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Salzburg before crossing into Germany.

Rome

The Nightjet runs daily from Vienna to Rome with stops at Wien Meidling, Wiener Neustadt, Bruck, Leoban, Knittelfeld, Friesach, Klagenfurt and Villach. The train leaves Vienna at 7.23pm and arrives in Rome at 9.10am.

Ticket prices start at €40 for a seat and go up to €130 for a sleeping carriage.

ÖBB also runs a Nightjet service from Munich to Rome that picks up passengers in Salzburg at 10.02pm and arrives in Rome at 9.10am. Ticket prices for this route range from €70 to €150.

A woman walks her dog past the Colosseum in Rome on May 8, 2020.

Rome can be reached by night train from Vienna and Salzburg. Photo by: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP.

Zurich

The ÖBB Nightjet service to Zurich in Switzerland operates daily, leaving Vienna at 9.27pm and arriving in Zurich at 8.20am the next morning. Ticket prices range from €45 to €140.

This service stops at several other train stations in Austria, including Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Amstetten, Linz, Wels, Attnang-Puchheim, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Landeck-Zams, Bludenz and Feldkirch.

Alternatively, Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) – Hungary’s national rail operator – runs an overnight service between Vienna and Zurich, which leaves Vienna at 11.27pm and arrives in Zurich at 8.20am. There are no sleeping carriages on this route and ticket prices start at €50.

Similarly, a Nightjet service runs daily from Graz Central Station to Zurich. The train leaves Graz at 10.26pm and arrives in Zurich at 9.20am. This route includes the option to load a car or motorbike on the train between Graz and Feldkirch from €39.90.

Brussels

Overnight train services operate between Vienna and Brussels Midi (the main train station in Brussels) on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The train leaves Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives in Brussels at 9.54am, stopping at Brussels Nord seven minutes earlier.

Before leaving Austria, the service stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels. The train then travels through Germany before reaching Brussels.

Ticket prices start at €70 and go up to €160.

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Ljubljana

The Nightjet train service from Salzburg Central Station to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is operated by HŽ Putničkim prijevozom, Croatia’s national rail operator. The final destination is Zagreb in Croatia.

Trains between Salzburg and Ljubljana run daily, setting off from Munich, and the service stops at Schwarzach-St.Veit and Villach before crossing into Slovenia. It leaves Salzburg at 1.40am and arrives at Ljubljana at 6.20am. 

Ticket prices start at €19.90 for a seated carriage. There are no reclining or sleeper carriages on this route.

Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is just five hours from Salzburg by night train. Photo by: Blaž Gostinčar / Pexels.

Amsterdam

From Kufstein in Tyrol, travellers can take the Nightjet service to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The train leaves Innsbruck at 8.44pm and stops in Kufstein at 9.35pm before crossing into Germany. It arrives in Amsterdam at 9.59am.

Additionally, a daily Nightjet service leaves Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives in Amsterdam at 9.59am. This route stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels.

Ticket prices range from €100 to €170.

Split

From June 3rd to September 23, a Nightjet service connecting Vienna and Split in Croatia will operate on Tuesday and Friday, including vehicle transportation. Travellers in Austria can also board the train at Wien Meidling, Wiener Neustadt, Bruck/Mur and Graz.

The route is operated by Slovenske železnice (Slovenian Railways) and offers both seating and sleeper carriages. Ticket prices range from €40 to €120.

Hamburg

Overnight trains between Vienna and Hamburg run daily. The service departs Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives at Hamburg Central Station at 8.50am. The route stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels before crossing into Germany.

This service offers seating, reclining and sleeper carriages with ticket prices ranging from €80 to €180.

Krakow

A daily Nightjet service runs between Vienna and Krakow in Poland, leaving Vienna Central Station at 10.10pm and arriving in Krakow at 5.46am. Vienna is the only stop in Austria for this route.

The service is operated by Polskie Koleje Państwowe (Polish State Railways). Ticket prices start at €49 and go up to €84.

Essential German words for train travel

Hauptbahnhof – main train station

Zug – train

Sitzwagen – seated carriage

Schlafwagen – sleeping carriage 

Liegewagen – reclining (chair) carriage

Einzelfahrschein – one-way ticket

Rückfahrschein – return ticket

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VIENNA

The essential rules you need to know for using Vienna’s U-Bahn

When using the U-Bahn subway system in Vienna, you should keep certain things in mind if you want to avoid paying fines or having Viennese locals rolling their eyes at you.

Published: 12 March 2024 16:07 CET
The essential rules you need to know for using Vienna's U-Bahn

Vienna is famous for having one of the most efficient subway networks in the world.

On top of that, it is one of the cheapest, and for only €365, you can get an annual ticket for the whole network.

Furthermore, getting around the city with public transport is easy and something enjoyed by many, but there are certain things you need to know in order to follow the rules.

Some rules for traveling within the subway system are unwritten, while others are written and listed on the website of Wiener Linien, the state’s public transport company.

Here we list some of the most important unwritten and written rules. 

Buy a ticket and validate it

Vienna’s subway network does not have ticket barriers, and even though it may seem tempting to enter without a ticket, it is recommended not to do so. If you are caught by controllers from Wiener Linien, you will have to pay a fine of €103, and they are famous for not accepting any excuses.

Buying a ticket might not be too bad though, since Vienna is famous for its affordable public transport system. Apart from the considerably cheap yearly ticket, you can also buy a monthly ticket for €51, a day ticket for €5.80, a weekly ticket for €17.10, and a single ticket for €2.40. All prices are available on Wiener Linien’s website.

After buying your ticket, always remember to validate it in one of the validation boxes, which are normally placed at the entrance of a U-Bahn station. If you do not do this, your ticket has no value, and you will face the same fines as if you had not bought it. You can also choose to validate them after as you are buying them.

Stand on the right side of escalators

In Vienna, there is an unwritten rule that says you should stand on the right side when using escalators at subway stations. People who do not follow this rule are immediately identified as tourists by the locals.

 If you are caught standing on the left side, be prepared to face annoyed facial expressions and some aggressive “Excuse me!” (Entschuldigung!) to make you move as fast as possible to the other side.

Always stand on the right side of the escalators. Photo by 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳 on Unsplash.

Buy a ticket for your dog, and use a muzzle

Dogs are allowed in the subway, and if you have a yearly ticket, your dog can join your travel for free. If not, you have to buy an extra ticket, except for when the dog is so small that it can be placed in a dog carrier.

All dogs need to wear a muzzle and be on a leash if you do not want to face a fine – if they are small enough, they can be carried in a carrying basket or container.

Don’t drink alcohol or eat smelly food

You are not allowed to drink alcohol while using the Viennese public transport.

Eating is allowed, but even though there are many food stands at the subway stations, it is not the best idea to feast on a smelly kebab or sausage inside of the subway. If you do so, you tend to get disapproving looks from other passengers.

Do not put your feet on the seat in front of you

This is an unwritten rule for all public transports in Austria. If ticket inspectors catch you with your feet placed on the seat, you can expect both a telling-off and sometimes also a fine for ‘Verschmutzung’ (dirtying the seat).

Don’t smoke e-cigarettes or skate around the stations

You are not allowed to smoke anything inside of Vienna’s public transport system, including electronic cigarettes. You are also not allowed to bike, rollerblade, or skate inside the stations and subways. You can bring your bike, roller blades or skateboard on the subway by carrying or leading them. Bikes are allowed to travel with you during certain hours.

Do not try to talk to strangers

Small talk is not something common while traveling on the Viennese subway. Trying to make conversation with a stranger is seen as more strange rather than polite.

If you definitely want some contact with other passengers, stick to short eye contact and a discreet smile; if you overdo it, it tends to be frowned upon. In general, keep to your own business like most locals.

READ NEXT: Train travel in Austria – The best day trips from Vienna

Don’t try to open already closed doors

If you use the subway frequently, you will come across people rushing to subways that are about to leave and trying to open the doors even if they are closed. It is recommended not to do this since you hurt yourself and others. Also, there is no reason to perform this dramatic action since the next subway is likely to arrive within 4-5 minutes.

Do not play loud music

Even if you forgot your headphones, do not consider playing music out loud. This will not only annoy everyone around you but also means that you are breaking the rules since it is actually not allowed. Doing this can lead to a fine or might temporary ban you from using the U-Bahn network.

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